How would you spend my birthday money?

[Wind Gypsy]

I have a well used but functional tarptent stratospire 2 I’d send your way for a little more than the cost to ship. If looking new I’d recommend it or the durston tents for a great balance of weight, comfort, cost, weather resistance, and durability.

 

[Spedray]

No way would I buy a budget spotter. It seems like anything under 1,000 isn't worth it. Go too of the line or keep saving. A few cheaper things that you didn't mention is

Good game bags. I have used caribou gear for 5 plus years and really happy with them.

A nice light weight knive. I love my aragli. Worth every penny.

Puffy. Eddie Bauer has really decent coats. Love my first ascent. I buy earth tone colors, wear it for a year or two then switch to use as hunting coat.

Tent. I like Rei or Big Agnes. Both can be found used for very cheap. I found a Rei 10x10 for $100 in the gear garage used once, and a msr bubba with a broken like for $5. I emailed msr and they sent me a free pole.

Head lamp. Can never go wrong here

Last trekking poles. I don't use them a ton but always carry them. With a 100 lb pack after shooting something they are a game changer.

 

[ismith]

No way would I buy a budget spotter. It seems like anything under 1,000 isn't worth it. Go too of the line or keep saving. A few cheaper things that you didn't mention is

Good game bags. I have used caribou gear for 5 plus years and really happy with them.

A nice light weight knive. I love my aragli. Worth every penny.

Puffy. Eddie Bauer has really decent coats. Love my first ascent. I buy earth tone colors, wear it for a year or two then switch to use as hunting coat.

Tent. I like Rei or Big Agnes. Both can be found used for very cheap. I found a Rei 10x10 for $100 in the gear garage used once, and a msr bubba with a broken like for $5. I emailed msr and they sent me a free pole.

Head lamp. Can never go wrong here

Last trekking poles. I don't use them a ton but always carry them. With a 100 lb pack after shooting something they are a game changer.

Yeah, please tell your wife you're going to buy Big Agnes, and sleep with Big Agnes probably every time you go hunting. Please report back on how that goes, if you're able.

 

[A2Z]

I have a well used but functional tarptent stratospire 2 I’d send your way for a little more than the cost to ship. If looking new I’d recommend it or the durston tents for a great balance of weight, comfort, cost, weather resistance, and durability.

I appreciate the offer, I will let you know. I need to look into it more about what kind of tent.

 

[A2Z]

No way would I buy a budget spotter. It seems like anything under 1,000 isn't worth it. Go too of the line or keep saving. A few cheaper things that you didn't mention is

Good game bags. I have used caribou gear for 5 plus years and really happy with them.

A nice light weight knive. I love my aragli. Worth every penny.

Puffy. Eddie Bauer has really decent coats. Love my first ascent. I buy earth tone colors, wear it for a year or two then switch to use as hunting coat.

Tent. I like Rei or Big Agnes. Both can be found used for very cheap. I found a Rei 10x10 for $100 in the gear garage used once, and a msr bubba with a broken like for $5. I emailed msr and they sent me a free pole.

Head lamp. Can never go wrong here

Last trekking poles. I don't use them a ton but always carry them. With a 100 lb pack after shooting something they are a game changer.

Thanks for the input, I use the same game bags and they have been awesome! I have a decent black diamond headlamp and some black ovis trecking poles that do a good job.

I will look into a knife as that might be an option as well.

 

[A2Z]

I’m leaning towards the tent option as that would seem to give me the best bang for my buck. To be honest it was at the bottom of my list of the three I listed. I like the kuiu mountain star or the copper spur that were mentioned.

I like the idea of being able to use the whole tent or just setting up the fly and going super light.

All the input has been super helpful!

 

[JohnCushman]

Midget hookers and blow....

 

[Nick87]

Midget hookers and blow....

Times are tight John, I think only one is in the budget.

 

[TN2shot07]

Times are tight John, I think only one is in the budget.

Probably depends on your standards, low expectations are the key to happiness

 

[2rocky]

What is Re/Supply at REI?​

Re/Supply, REI’s used gear business, is a more sustainable and affordable way for members to purchase gear and apparel. Re/Supply consists of items that customers have either returned or traded in. Putting these items back into use helps avoid filling landfills and gives usable gear a second life.



Members can participate in the following ways:

- Shop the dedicated used gear section in most REI stores

- Shop the used gear section of the REI website

- Shop our REI Re/Supply store in Manhattan Beach, CA and Clackamas, OR

- Trade in used gear in exchange for an REI gift card

 

[MaddH]

Watch Camofire and Black Ovis for deals on down jackets. Seen a few lately. I have the Blavk Ovis puffy and love it

 

[Indianajoe]

I bought a blemished salt creek ls2 tent from big agnes a few years ago. Allegedly it had a color imperfection somewhere but all the people that looked for it could never find it. It had a steep discount and retained the warranty. It could also be set up as a fly only

Gear Outlet

You'll love Big Agnes outdoor gear even more when it's on sale. Check out our current specials and clearance tents, sleeping bags, and more.

www.bigagnes.com

 

[TexAg09]

No such thing as a "budget spotter" save and do it right!

Yup, I bought a "budget spotter" and barely use it because it's about as good as my nice binos. It's a bit of a disappointment. Save your money for a nice one. Also, I rock an Eddie Bauer down jacket, and I'm very happy with it. I think it was less than $100.

 

[noharleyyet]

Sitka gore-tex

 

[CowboyLeroy]

If go tent first, 600 can get you a lot of tent. Any of the others first and you start eating up budget

 

[Khunter]

I’m leaning towards the tent option as that would seem to give me the best bang for my buck. To be honest it was at the bottom of my list of the three I listed. I like the kuiu mountain star or the copper spur that were mentioned.

I like the idea of being able to use the whole tent or just setting up the fly and going super light.

All the input has been super helpful!

Do consider if need a 3 season or 4 season tent. Love my copper spur UL2 (2 man that is really a perfect one man) but would be poor choice for a winter-y hunt. I hunt mostly Aug/September bow hunts at all elevations from 5k-12k elevation.

 

[stevejfarms]

The last 2 years Sam’s club has had eddie bauer down jackets for 20 bucks. Awesome value, I actually will pack an xl and a 2xl to layer when it’s really cold. Packs down to about a quart jar size.

 

[A2Z]

Do consider if need a 3 season or 4 season tent. Love my copper spur UL2 (2 man that is really a perfect one man) but would be poor choice for a winter-y hunt. I hunt mostly Aug/September bow hunts at all elevations from 5k-12k elevation.

I have seen the BA Fly Creek UL 2 for a reasonable price and think that would be a great fit for me. It’s much cheaper than the copper spur or mountain star or other tents. Hard to beat the price and weight. I understand the durability is not great but for the price and weight It might be my best option.

I hunt mainly in October, have had some light snow but nothing crazy and I’m usually not above tree line setting up my tent.

I love the idea of being able to just run the fly and poles and be around 200 bucks for an UL tent. Also considering my backpacking ozark tent has lasted double digit days and in a huge storm in the winds.

Any reason why I shouldn’t send it on this?

 

[WVmike]

I love my wife to death but where does one find such a wife that gives you $1,500 for your birthday. Where did you find such a thing? Like others have said I would upgrade your tent and puffy. I personally will be purchasing a tent from viam outdoors as I have a sleeping quilt from them and a few other things and their stuff is great quality for a price that won't ruin your budget. Do you want a tent for just you, a 3 season tent, a stove compatible tent? I have a seek outside cimarron and it is good for me and one other with a stove, I'm looking to get a madison tipi from viam to allow for more room as it is a 6 man tent or 4 man with a stove and storage of gear than the seek outside I have now.

The puffy depends on preference. Duluth has some good sales going on for one of their puffys I was about to buy my son. Columbia and LL bean have cheaper options too. I have a sitka puffy in black and layered with midlayers underneath I can be comfortable down to a pretty frigid temp.

Camping Archives - VIAM Outdoors

viamoutdoors.com

 

[TheTone]

I have seen the BA Fly Creek UL 2 for a reasonable price and think that would be a great fit for me. It’s much cheaper than the copper spur or mountain star or other tents. Hard to beat the price and weight. I understand the durability is not great but for the price and weight It might be my best option.

I hunt mainly in October, have had some light snow but nothing crazy and I’m usually not above tree line setting up my tent.

I love the idea of being able to just run the fly and poles and be around 200 bucks for an UL tent. Also considering my backpacking ozark tent has lasted double digit days and in a huge storm in the winds.

Any reason why I shouldn’t send it on this?

I’ve got an older fly creek; it’s a great tent for weight, space, etc but I don’t love the end door. I much prefer a side door as crawling over all your stuff to get in and out isn’t my favorite