My friend Cara and I went to check out REI recently. One of the most important things I can pass along to people is: Don’t be afraid to try it out in the store.
If you are interested in a tent, ask if you can set it up in the store. You need to make sure that it’s pretty easy and intuitive to setup as you may be doing that on the trail when you are cold or exhausted. Then lay down in the tent to get a feel for what it would be like to stay in it night after night. Here’s Cara hanging out in the REI’s Quarter Dome T2 tent.
Cara sits in the tent for a while
For sleeping bags, see if you can actually get inside of the bag for a while. You need to make sure that it’s truly comfortable. This picture is of me inside the REI Halo 25+ bag.
Addy zips up a sleeping bag in the store
And REI employee, Julie, gives us tips as Cara lays on the Thermarest NeoAir.
Julie helps us out at our local REI
All in all, don’t be afraid to look a little silly! Backpacking gear costs a lot of money and you need to be sure that it works for you.
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