Are you a Gearoholic?

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Yipes!

deanmacg said:
12 pr of mounted tele skis
16 tents
20 packs
10 sleeping bags - 7 of them Feathered Friends
the list is long

This probably rivals the inventory of mall-based EMS stores.

It seems that no one pays full price for gear anymore, but assuming you did, conservatively:
12 * 500 +
16 * 200 +
20 * 200 +
10 * 200 = $15,200

On the flip side, this probably makes you popular among co-workers, etc...
 
Okay gear geeks, here it is!

From Backpacker magazine-

Are you a gear geek?
One point for every one you answer yes to.

You give gear to non-hikers for Christmas hoping they'll give it back.
Your watch is bigger than your MP3 player.
You store sleeping pads under your bed (unrolled of course, with the valves open)
Your REI co-op number is stuck to your driver’s license.
You once purchased several yards of fleece to make hiking clothes.
You actually made the clothes.
You know the boot size of one of Backpacker’s regular field testers.
You’ve lain awake at night designing the perfect pack.
You’ve built shelving or storage space for your gear.
Your repair kit is larger than your first aid kit.
You have a filing system for gear catalogs.
You know what “e” in ePTFE stands for.
You wear tattered old boots so the new ones stay nice.
You keep Gear Guides beside your bed.
You shine your headlamp at those glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls so they will glow all night.
You bought extra trays for your food dehydrator, just in case.
You have a fond wilderness memory associated with your trekking poles.
You think a nipple ring is something you must unscrew when you convert a stove from gas to kerosene.
You currently have several boxes of powdered refried beans in your pantry.
You’ve taken a date to EMS.
You own an ultralight headlamp, a summer headlamp, a back-up headlamp, and a headlamp that you loan to friends.
You oil your multi tool.
You disassemble stoves just for fun.
You’ve learned to convert liters to cubic inches because you couldn’t stand not knowing the exact capacity of European-made packs.
You upgraded to Kevlar boot laces.
You applied Seam Grip to the stitching around your tent’s mesh windows.
You told your fiancé that titanium wedding bands are all the rage in Paris.
You’ve used superglue to close a cut and duct tape to prevent blisters.
You’ve upgraded GPS units three times.
You bought something you didn’t need from Sierra Trading Post because it was $8.97 (plus $13.95 shipping).
You know the difference between water filters and water purifiers.
You’ve used the term “wicking” in everyday conversation.
You spent more on your soft shell than your last suit.
Your REI dividend is larger than your IRS refund.

Scoring-
25 or more
Yo Marvin, let that freak flag fly

12-24
There’s a 12 step program in your future

1-11
A few thugs from The North Face will be by your place tonight

0
Yeah, right, an Amish backpacker


I got 15. But since I knew that the quiz existed, still own the issue (March 2005), knew where to find it, and then typed it up??? Yeah, I bump my score up to 25. I'm a freak. :D
 
12 - 24 = twelve step program. Been there done that. That`s why I`ve got the $$ for gear.
 
Last edited:
jrichard said:
This probably rivals the inventory of mall-based EMS stores.

It seems that no one pays full price for gear anymore, but assuming you did, conservatively:
12 * 500 +
16 * 200 +
20 * 200 +
10 * 200 = $15,200

On the flip side, this probably makes you popular among co-workers, etc...


It's funny you should mention the cost of the gear. On my gear spreadsheet, where I have the item, weights, where I bought it, etc, I have a subtotal at the bottom, not only for the pack weight, but also for the cost of what I have in my pack.

.................................................Total........................Cost if
.................................................Price.........................Bought
...........Pack weight...# Items.........Paid.......$$ Taken.......New...........% of New
Subtotal: 0.0 lbs...........269...........$1,784........$0...........$16,259..........11.0 %

Deals can be found, you just have to look for them and be lucky. Someone once defined luck as where preparation meets opportunity, and with lower prices all you need to do is find the item to be lucky. :)

.
 
......On the flip side, this probably makes you popular among co-workers, etc...

Self employed. But sure comes in handy with the Boy Scouts.
 
additional points possible

sleeping bear said:
From Backpacker magazine-

Are you a gear geek?
One point for every one you answer yes to.

A few additional items were left out by Backpacker Magazine:

1. You bought a cookbook because it had a recipe for "GORP Bars."
2. You bought hiking boots for your child while you were still pregnant with her.
3. You own more hiking boots and crocs than you do high heels.
4. You buy a new pair of hiking boots before your last ones wear out so you can break them in ahead of time and not have a blister on the trail!
5. TechWick, Smart Wool, Bergelene, and Gortex are your favorite "designer labels."
6. You bought an additional dresser just for your hiking clothes.
7. When contemplating a career change, you send your resume to EMS, LLBean, and Timberland regardless of what your degree is in because being able to see all the newest stuff first is a fringe benefit for you!
8. You ask your date what gear he owns and what he wears hiking and decide whether or not you will hike with him based on his answer (no, he doesn't have to match colors!)

sleeping bear said:
Scoring-
25 or more - Yo Marvin, let that freak flag fly

12-24 - There’s a 12 step program in your future

1-11 - A few thugs from The North Face will be by your place tonight

0 - Yeah, right, an Amish backpacker

If it weren't for the additional items, I'd be expecting company tonight, but now I think I have to say, "My name is Roxi and I will be taking those 12 steps in my hiking boots up the next trail." ;)
 
Roxi said:
A few additional items were left out by Backpacker Magazine:

6. You bought an additional dresser just for your hiking clothes.

8. You ask your date what gear he owns and what he wears hiking and decide whether or not you will hike with him based on his answer (no, he doesn't have to match colors!)


What if you bought 2 dressers, one for winter clothes and one for summer? :D

I typically turn down dates because they don't hike or wear the "designer" labels. A guy's gotta have standards! :cool:
 
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