copuswalker

Hadn't posted for a while so thought I would drop a line on this rainy drizzly day.
I have finally gotten my better half to spend three nights camping out in the woods. Two nights at Big Bend and one night at Lake Georgetown.
She has really enjoyed the hiking but still does not like the tent?? But sleeping with a 6'2" guy in a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent is not on most peoples "wish list".
Having our son move back in after college has given us the oppurtunity to get away more often and we hope he sticks around awhile longer!!
I know Shannon backpacks but have heard little from other ladies or couples about back packing. Maybe one day we could get a group going somwhere. We may even have enough people to carry a keg!!

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

campcookie

My husband and I backpack together. I have noticed that there are significantly more men than women interested in putting on a pack.

I think there are a number of factors to blame. First is the lack of appropriate gear (this is slowly being remedied). I am 5'3" and weigh 103lbs. Gear is nearly impossible for me to find even now that women's gear is becoming more available. I have a great, highly-adjustable back pack (jansport) that fits better than any of the pricier brands and has toughed out many trails. I'm still stuck choosing baggy thermals or children's thermals with short arms and legs, gloves with fingers an inch too long, etc. I think as more women become involved in backpacking, the manufacturers will begin producing more appropriate gear.

Second, women aren't quite as anatomically suited to backpacking - but it really isn't that big of a deal.

Bottom line is, the women I know who backpack (including myself) are absolutely in love with it and are every bit as resilient as the men we hike with. Oh, and as for the tent - tell her to dig an indention under the tent for her hip and shoulder. It'll take pressure off her spine and make for a cozy night's sleep.

copuswalker

Well I'll be darned? I thought REI carried it all?

My wife does outhike most of the men I have hiked with. She tends to put her head down and walk,,,,,,then again so do I. So we are compatible. Sometimes I have to make us slow down...
We have done a lot of day hiking and she has always been strong.

As for the indentation. I am afraid to suggest it in case it rains and she talks me into going out and filling them. She does have a nice pad though.

I will get a larger tent if we continue to have the time together..Perhaps an REI half dome with two doors and vestibules??

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

Shannon

Actually, Justin and I are still more day hikers and overnight campers than backpackers, though I desperately aspire to that. In my case, it's in part a matter of helping along Justin's comfort level (mental as well as physical) to being further removed from so-called civilization. I've always been a bit of a "tom boy" so sleeping in a tent, using a pit toilet, getting a little sore/muddy/wet is no big deal to me. Justin had never really camped (except a couple KOA experiences when he was very young) before we met and married, so it's a process of acclimatization and education. He's done awesome, and I think he's ready for a 3 or more mile hike-in campsite for one or two nights now.

Now, I need to purchase a good backpacking pack. I have an LLBean rucksack but that's not what I need anymore. Campcookie, what's the model name/number of your Jansport pack? I don't want to sink needless $$ into a high end pack (I've been looking into the Kelty's Women's Pack) if a Jansport will do. I've got a little more height and weight than you (5'5", 140lbs), but still want something that fits a women's build better than the average pack.

Weight-carrying and distance-covering wise, I consider myself a backpacker due to the camera equipment I regularly carry on my day hikes as a pro photographer. Justin and I are both not strangers to carrying a lot of weight for long periods, though doing it on a trail with our overnight equipment is still foreign to us. We are learning that even the pros split their backpacking and their photography up into scouting vs. shooting excursions. A scouting backpacking hike would mean lightening up on all the camera gear and heavy tripods and lenses to scout likely photo opportunities and determine the best time of day for that area (better light). Then, we'd return with a lighter "hiker load" but all our proper camera gear to do our serious shooting. We don't want to stop doing either, and up until this point both have been limited by one another because we tried to do it all on the same hike.

PS: Hiking and camping, like flying together (Justin's an instrument-rated private pilot; we rent an aircraft when we want to fly), are some of our happiest times. It's always exciting sharing an experience with your partner, particularly if you both feel like it's challenging, educational, relaxing and different. At different moments, both camping/hiking/backpacking and flying are all of those things and more.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

Shannon

PS: Copuswalker, Justin and I have used the Sierra Designs Meteor Light CD tent for over 6 years (since before we were married). We loved it so much, we bought the newer model that has two-doors and vestibules when it came out. (We use the original model when our nephew or others camp with us.) Plenty of room for us, though do check the length as neither of us are 6'2" (Justin's 5'8"). We got the works -- ground cloth, gear loft (love it!) and the new model has a pitchable rainfly that can be used as a floor-less shelter if you really want to cut pack weight and avoid packing along the tent itself.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
http://www.twitter.com/ageekgal

copuswalker

The clip has those features as well (minus the second vestibule and door). It really is a nice tent with one person.
Both times we hiked we had rain so were forced to try and play cards in the tent which was hard. Strip poker in a small tent is tough... Just kidding....
i will take a closer look at the Meteor?? Thanks for the input

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

hiwayman

My wife loves the hiking part but hates the sleeping on the ground part. We have a Sierra Designs Clip 3CD which is a fairly roomy 2 person tent but kinda cramped for my wife, daughter and me. My wifes idea of a great backpack trip would be one in which we carry minimal gear to a hut and at that point have the nice room with hot showers and meals. To me, the whole point of backpacking is getting away from all or most things we associate with civilization. I love being out in the middle of nowhere with only the coyotes or bigfoot for companions.

ploddinTod

Actually, Shannon, my regular hiking partner and his wife both use Kelty backpacks and like them very much. He's 5'8" or 5'9" and she's about 5 foot. The packs are adjustable up or down depending on where you are most comfortable carrying the weight on your back. I believe they purchased their packs for $100 each at a close-out sale. You might be able to find something similar at Ebay or Campmor, etc.

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PloddinTod

copuswalker

Do we have the same wife?

Mine has always liked the hike to an Inn approach as well. Hey I could get used to that.
Though I agree the home on the back is most rewarding. And the views can't be beat.

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.

toejam

My wife is happy to sleep in a tent as long as the weather is perfect and she's enjoying the company. She's not willing to walk more than 100 yards. I hike and backpack because I'm inspired by the scenerey, but to her there's nothing to see that's worth getting out of the car and being exposed to the elements.

copuswalker

I don't know toejam??? Might have to trade her in for a new model? Or at least have a major overhaul??

__________________
There are those that hike and those that don't and those that say they will but won't.