REI equipment

[GerryS]

"help g-strings".

I assume you meant "kelp". Which is gross.

I meant hemp, but famous autocorrect stepped in. I spend more time fixing autocorrect errors than I do my own

[canonsue]

REI replaced mine free when it broke in high winds. That is one reason I buy my gear there. I love the alcove.

[stumphugger]

I could do a double jack by mentioning religion now

As far as hippies go, it's just every time I got here the folks working are the pierced types that you would expect to see in an occupy crowd. I expect be preached to about benefits of unbleached, hand woven hemp g-strings. This is obviously a stereotype, but I do assure you that me (45 year old, NRA member, with an understanding that herd management often requires the use of propellants and copper jacketed lead) would stand about a zero chance of employment at my local REI.

That's pretty funny. The store I go to has some gray haired folk mixed in with the pierced folk. The last one who waited on me was pierced but knew where to find things.

By the way, I worked in the evil tree killing (harvesting) business for 32 years. Yes, I've hugged a lot of trees to get a diameter tape around them, or to keep from falling down a steep hill.

Not me, but a picture of two fallers in our "office" and a tree to hug before it got cut.

[Via]

Recently spent a week camping in Grand Teton National Park where it rained heavily each afternoon. I used an REI Alcove as a rain shelter over the TD because it is easy for 1 person to set up. Thanks to the earlier post I brought along and used inexpensive 36" bungee cords for the rafters and hung 2 sidewalls which completely wrapped the TD (each sidewall covers 2 sides, sidewalls sold separately). They hang inside the roof cover (so no drips) w/ 3 hooks and can be folded back to open just half a side or a full side for easy access. Great for keeping wind blown rain out and made a nice private dressing area also. No problem with water pooling on roof or leaks. The tension from the cords seem to stabilze the structure. Used the cord ties also and other long bungee cords to tie down the legs and center. Everything including bungee cords packs into the not too big case. Love REI stuff.

[GerryS]

I'm glad you do...good luck with it. REIs change in return policy and not making replacement parts available has removed them from my list of preferred vendors...

If you do have problems, talk to Verna about her one-man build of the paha que tent. We bought one just like hers and it is simply awesome....wind and rain just rolled off,...

[Shadow Catcher]

REI has things you can not find elsewhere i.e. our Kelty tarps. I have given up on Cabela's and Bass Pro and the only thing I have gotten from Wall mart is tent stakes. Yes the vast majority of tenty sorts of things are made in China. If you want something that is not Pahaque custom is it as far as I know other than a few other awning makers.

[working on it]

There has only been one store that was snooty.

Make that two. I finally found a "Luggable Loo" at a REI (after looking at every other sporting goods store on my 120 mile round-trip to work every day). I drove a few miles out of my way to get there. The clerk was distant, but grew distinctly cold when I stated that the Loo was for Tiny Trailer use, and I didn't bike or hike. The cold grew to ice when I refused his kind offer of a membership, since I didn't think I would really need any of their specialty items in the future (some of their prices were very high). And I had the feeling that I needed to grow my hair out like I had it 40 years ago to blend in, and put it in a pony-tail. I'm too old for that now, and not enough hair anyway.

[GerryS]

I can't say my experience hasn't been much different. Now we are fortunate here though that gander mountain has 2 locations within an hour, and directly across the street....I've got a lot more in common with those guys.

But it's more than that. It's the fact they simply don't stand behind their products. Not selling parts is a deal breaker. I refuse to buy a $120 anything that is designed with light weight parts that they don't sell replacements for.

I do t expect them to be in the store, but they should be orderable from a parts department. It's been a while, but places like radio shack used to special order battery compartment covers, antennas and knobs all the time. No different than a tent top, pole or knuckle.

I guess the reduce, reuse, recycle is just a sound bite with the neo-hippies. It was their policy that put 90% of a good tent in a landfill.

As I've said, YMMV but my experience hasn't been all that good with them, and I exercised my opinion with my feet and simply won't go back...

[markhusbands]

In Colorado REI is considered a big box store.

[GerryS]

I'm was thinking the same here...with only a mediocre selection.

[rowerwet]

after getting a few EZ up type awnings that taco-ed I finally bought a commercial grade easy up.
the first thing I noticed is how heavy it is, the tubes are all much thicker metal.
the cloth for the roof is much thicker.
Every single one of my failed awnings has failed in the joints on the x shaped tubes around the top. this one has very few tubes there and uses a center pole to support the peak, instead of rods runnng up each corner.
the center pole is supported by rods across the middle of the frame, this keeps the whole structure very stiff and strong.
We had haevy rain one night camping, the water couldn't even pool thanks to the stiff fabric and much better design.

[Vedette]

Center Pole?? How do you park your Tear Drop under it?
After a weekend in the heavy rain at the Fall Brigade, we realized the "Cheap" ezee up we bought at Canadian Tire was great for shade but not for heavy rain.
It did pool, and it did collapse, and it did damage itself!
Just made us realize that we should have stepped up the first time and purchased the "Best" one we could find on the market.....not the "Cheapest" one.
So looking in the mirror is usually the easiest place to find someone to blame!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[bc toys]

Brian my ez up is big industrial kind and I can put it over my cargo it goes up high enough I dont do it but it will its for racing events 10x10 goes up over 8 foot

[GuitarPhotog]

Center Pole?? How do you park your Tear Drop under it?
After a weekend in the heavy rain at the Fall Brigade, we realized the "Cheap" ezee up we bought at Canadian Tire was great for shade but not for heavy rain.
It did pool, and it did collapse, and it did damage itself!
Just made us realize that we should have stepped up the first time and purchased the "Best" one we could find on the market.....not the "Cheapest" one.
So looking in the mirror is usually the easiest place to find someone to blame!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

My Caravan canopy has the center pole, it doesn't reach the ground. But because the way it's supported the entire structure is stronger and heavier-duty than those "cheap" canopies.

My Caravan canopy is more than 10 years old and has kept me warm and dry through wind, rain, and thunder storms, without sagging, pooling, or collapsing. The secret is a heavy steel frame and high-quality dacron sailcloth canopy fabric. Not cheap though, the 10 X 10 is about $300 these days.

<Chas>

[GerryS]

I used to own a kettle corn concession. We used an ez-up commercial tent. I have a lot more experience that you will camping with these tents. Mostly in the open, not under trees. So I will concede that wind isn't as much of a problem because of the natural windbreak afforded by the trees, so you might get better life since they aren't being buffeted as bad.

Yes they are a lot heavier than the stuff you buy in the store. Don't fool yourselves though, they still don't stand up it heavy rain or wind. The top will still stretch over 20-30 uses leaving slack for water to pool. This will happen right at the points between the center screws and the corner. Drizzle won't be as much of a problem but if your talking any kind of a serious rain event you will need to regularly empty the pools that form. Once they start, they just get heavier and heavier until there is damage. And the amount of rain it takes to start pooling will be less and less.

I've owned 2 ez-up commercial tents, and was about to buy a 3rd after in 4 years of use. Under heavy use, I'd estimate you get about 30 good 3 day uses before things start to loosen up and stretch to the point serious maintenance is required. At $1000 a pop I'd hope for better resilience than that.

Lastly, guy wires are a must!!! These are not included, nor is there a place designed for them. But the additional support is very important.

I'm not against ez-up, if I built another concession and had to be tent based that's what I'd use. However, I'd reserve at least 500 a year for replacements...they just can't take the abuse of heavy use.

The best canopy I've seen so far for teardrops is the paha que cottonwood. It stands up very well to wind, a lot better than any else I've seen and since the support isn't focused on the sides, the pooling of water isn't an issue either. They are a little harder to setup, but not that bad. Verna has mastered the art of 1person setup. Seriously look at these guys. You won't regret it. They are also about 1/3 the cost of the commercial ez-up....