Gear talk? - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Cube · 10-27-2003, 02:28 PM

Howdy,

Is there a forum for comparing gear, shopping recommendations and poor performing items?

Many thanks!

copuswalker · 10-27-2003, 02:58 PM

Bacpacker.com is a very good forum. It has a great search capability for finding almost anything. Some of the ultralight folks are a little intense but???

Cube · 10-27-2003, 05:59 PM

thanks for the tip. I'll be cool

copuswalker · 10-28-2003, 07:43 AM

I should have mentioned backpacking.com as well. If you want to hear about the latest spanking fads and why Bush needs to get us out of "wherever". Then this is the place. Oh, and every now and then they have a backpacking article.

Shannon · 10-28-2003, 07:53 AM

If there's interest I'd be happy to add a Gear Talk forum to the collection here at WildTexas.com. It would certainly fit with the other areas we've got thus far.

For that matter, if anyone ever spots a gaping hole where a new forum should be, let me know and I'll consider adding a new forum for that topic. Obviously, we're focusing on Texas parks, outdoor recreation, nature and travel, but there are still many opportunities for growth in all those areas.

copuswalker · 10-28-2003, 08:20 AM

I have always been a little confused when I visit your site. It seems to me until you get more visitors you might combine and streamline the forum subjects. This way more people will discuss subjects in a "smaller" area invite more participation.
I still do not know where to post some of the post I would make. Just my 2 cents worth.
Please do not take it as criticism as I think your site will draw more people as time progresses.

Cube · 10-28-2003, 10:58 AM

Howdy,

I agree that more traffic would help make this place more informative. However, I like the breakdowns and they will help as the word spreads and more folks post.

Use the new post feature and you can browse quickly.

Take Care,

Shannon · 10-28-2003, 12:03 PM

I appreciate the comments and suggestions. I've never had to get after anyone for posting a message in the "wrong" area (except for spammers, but that's a different story!

About a year ago we got a lot less traffic and tried having only 4 or 5 total forum areas. Posting rates were much less than they have been in the past 6 months, and we got less visits from folks that were interested in activities other than just hiking or camping. One reason we feature the variety of forums we do is to remind folks that WildTexas.com is about all forms of outdoor recreation in Texas, as well as conservation, parks, tourism and travel. Four or five forums don't meet that need quite as well, at least in our experience.

I'm working on some other major projects until mid-late January, so there have been a lot of content updates (new park reviews, articles and updates) to this site that are currently on the back burner. We always see our traffic shoot up when major content updates get posted and a new newsletter is mailed out. We haven't mailed out a newsletter in over 6 months, except for a few short features, so I'm to "blame" for stagnation in that regard. Not bad for a free, unfunded site, however! ;-)

Thanks, all. For what it's worth, if anyone wants to discuss gear feel free to do so in any forum related to that gear's usage. So, tents in the Camping forum; backpacks and boots in the Backpacking & Hiking forum; binoculars in the Wildlife Observating forum, etc. Gear that has multiple uses, discuss wherever you think it relates best. I'm not picky.
:ribbit:

copuswalker · 10-28-2003, 12:16 PM

O.K. I guess I should stick to my construction business.

Shannon · 10-28-2003, 12:30 PM

Ha!

The fact that I'd tried the "less is more" approach -- fewer forums for fewer visitors -- proves your suggestion is a good one. It may still be, but I just wanted to chime in with past experience on the issue.

Construction and building inviting forums go hand-in-hand, y'know?

copuswalker · 10-28-2003, 12:37 PM

Keep it up your doing a great job. I have forwarded the page to some hiking buddies (do not hold me responsible for the humor).

ploddinTod · 10-29-2003, 12:54 PM

:cool: My 2 cents says to keep the forums the way they are. If you're a hiker, you'll find the corresponding forum. Wildlife viewers will be able to find theirs also. etc. I will have to commend Shannon for the overall tone of this site, it's very Texas friendly.

toejam · 11-03-2003, 07:39 PM

I just found your forum thanks to copus. We need more trip reports and gear talk here, but that should happen as the word gets around. This is a great site!:cool:

11-05-2003, 08:57 AM

I like it the way it is.....I would like to see a gear and equipment area.

Not sure how many of the folks that come here are associated with boy/cub/girl scouts but that might not be a bad idea to have an area for them too.

BSA has opened up some state parks for Cub Scouts to start using so hearing about that might be good too.

Ca Leath

ploddinTod · 01-29-2004, 04:03 AM

I currently have an inflatable sleeping pad but have thought about reducing pack weight by going with a cell pad. However, I'm concerned about sacrificing comfort for a lighter load. Has anyone else had this dilemma? How did you solve it?

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