This guy at the REI in Boise told me my tent choice was 'overkill for a weekend'

I was picking out a new 3-person tent last spring, looking at a solid one that cost about $280. This older guy next to me, looking at the same shelf, just shakes his head and says, 'You don't need all that. That's overkill for a weekend in the Sawtooths. Get the cheap one.' He pointed to a $90 model. I told him I wanted something that would last and handle some wind. He laughed and said, 'It's two nights, not a siege.' It really got under my skin because he didn't know my plans or if I even camp in the same place twice. I bought the better tent anyway and it's been perfect for three seasons now, rain or shine. Has anyone else had a stranger give them gear advice that just missed the mark completely?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_terry1mo ago

Honestly though, he had a point. Most people do buy way more tent than they actually need for casual trips. That cheap one probably would have been fine.

the_stella1mo agoMost Upvoted

Cheap gear fails when you need it most.

mary_foster921mo ago

My buddy's bargain sleeping bag totally fell apart on a cold night last fall. The zipper jammed halfway, then the stitching just gave out near his feet. He spent the rest of the trip wrapped in a tarp shivering. It was a real bummer and cut the trip short.