Camping Gear in The USA & How to Get It Back Home

AncientWisdom on 11/08/2017 - 22:25
Last edited 11/08/2017 - 22:26

Hi fellow ozbargainers!

I'm about to leave for a trip to the USA. During the trip I'll participate in two festivals (including Burning Man - lucky me!), so I need:
- Tent
- Mattress
- Sleeping bag

The mattress and sleeping bag need to be able to handle close to zero temperatures. Also happy to compliment them with some second hand blankets I can get along the way.

I plan to buy the gear there and then send it back home via the cheapest possible way. I land in Seattle tomorrow, and then drive through Portland next week. I don't know much about US based camping retailers etc.

1) Any recommendations for where I should get the gear or what I should get?
2) What's the cheapest way to get stuff posted over? I don't care if it takes a very long time.

Thanks heaps!

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • altomic on 11/08/2017 - 22:31
    +2

    go to a large thrift store/ OP shop. buy loads of blankets. buy a pile of yoga mats or something to insulate you off the ground and buy a large cheap tent. cheap.

    and after you use it then just leave it there (i.e. dispose of thoughtfully afterwards - e.g. donate to a thrift shop)

    it will cost you $$$$$ to send it back.

    just use it and leave it.

    when I went to Glastonbury many years ago so many people just walked out and left all there stuff behind.

    • mskeggs on 11/08/2017 - 22:44
      +1

      As a regular camper, it is a dream to be able to walk away from your gear…

      The advice above is the best. You don't want super high quality gear for festival camping. Go cheap and cheerful, thrift shop or Walmart, and leave it in the USA when you return.

    • altomic on 11/08/2017 - 23:14
      +1

      *their

    • AncientWisdom on 12/08/2017 - 01:25

      Yes I have considered going down that path. Will it be easy to get yoga mats in a thrift shop? And what thickness of foam is enough to insulate on a cold night?

      • AncientWisdom on 12/08/2017 - 01:24

        "empty" boxes back. Got ya.

  • afoveht on 11/08/2017 - 23:21

    Solar eclipse will be the ultimate festival.

    • AncientWisdom on 12/08/2017 - 01:25
      +1

      Yep that's my first stop :-D

      • afoveht on 12/08/2017 - 10:43
        +1

        Sounds like an awesome trip. Bon voyage.

  • AncientWisdom on 12/08/2017 - 01:27

    Another thing I haven't mentioned, is that since continuing to Europe afterwards and nor needing/wanting to carry other gear that I am bringing with me specifically for the festivals, I would like to send some of it back as well (even if I don't send back any camping gear).

  • Heracles26 on 12/08/2017 - 08:11

    I don't have anything to contribute but man that sounds like an amazing trip! Enjoy :D

    • AncientWisdom on 12/08/2017 - 09:06
      +1

      Yep it sure is, long time planning it. Thanks!!!

  • Randxyz123 on 12/08/2017 - 12:23

    Go to Walmart or something to get a tent. They should be cheap.

    Then just google "camping stores near me" for the rest of your stuff… REI for example is fantastic. Not sure if there will be one near you but I'd recommend them highly if there is one around.

    I think it will cost a bit to post home. US postal services are expensive. You are much better off donating it to a charity who can give it to a homeless person.

    After the festival go to a laundromat and wash your sleeping bag then donate it.

  • BuyoTheCat on 14/08/2017 - 10:44

    www.campsaver.com

    is my favourite retailer for camping stuff.

    For festivals, I wont be buying high quality stuff.

    It will never be warm in a tent. regardless.
    usually the inner wall of the 3 season is mesh which is not as good for retaining heat. The way to keep warm in a tent is a good sleeping bag and sleeping mat.

    • AncientWisdom on 16/08/2017 - 11:45

      A bit out of the way (the warehouse is in Utah) but thanks!

  • AncientWisdom on 16/08/2017 - 11:48

    In the end I managed with the following:
    - Coleman tent from Target
    - Foam mattress ("Camping pad" as apparently they call them here) from Fred Meyer. This shop actually turned out to be awesome with water containers and other stuff I've needed.
    - Coleman sleeping bag from Walmart.
    - I did initially buy a self inflating mattress from Big 5 (a bit dearer than Target but awesome selection - worth a visit for sure) but it's not that comfy so I'll be returning it.

    The Walmart I visited was shit, totally messed up: stuff were really stressed and couldn't help much, there wasn't much selection at all.
    Foam mattresses (think Swag mattress) were crazy hard to find (or crazy expensive) for some reason - go figure.

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