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Fall Giveaway


Aaron Zagrodnick

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Note: This giveaway ended 10/30/15.

For fall, we're giving away a brand new Helinox Ground Chair, (Reviewed here in Issue 23) a ~22 ounce chair that's great for those more relaxed backpacking trips, day hikes, or even while car camping or just about anything else you can think of. We'll also throw in a TrailGroove hat or shirt of the winner's choosing!

Helinox Ground Chair

How to Enter:

  • Leave a comment below on this blog entry describing the single backpacking/hiking luxury item you'd never leave behind on a backpacking/hiking trip, and why that's the case.
  • Your comment counts as one entry.
  • Once entered, head over to the forum for an additional entry per post between 10/24 and the giveaway drawing. (Maximum 10 entries total)
  • Entries end Friday 10/30 at 5 p.m. Mountain Time. We'll randomly draw one winner from available entries and we'll contact the winner via a private message.
  • The winner will receive a brand new Helinox Ground Chair, and we'll throw in any shirt or hat from the TrailGroove Store.
  • Premium Members automatically receive an entry into the drawing, and can earn up to 20 total entries!

The Fine Print:

For entries to count, the posts should be applicable to backpacking, hiking, the outdoors, etc., and at least somewhat constructive. For instance, we won't be able to count intentionally repeated posts, one word posts (Unless it's a really good one word post), or posts that don't meet our basic forum guidelines agreed to when you register. Essentially, we'll be able to count all normal discussion.

Thanks for visiting, and good luck!

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124 Comments


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Hike_Maryland

Posted

Starbucks Coffee Via packets, along with sweet and low.

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My luxury item is a book on a backpacking trip.  I'm not generally one of the 'sit around the campfire' gang.  As soon as dinner is over, with the sun setting, I head to my tent.  I like nothing more than hunkering down with my quilt wrapped around me, and a good book balanced on my chest, lit by the tiny glow of my headlamp. While in my tent, reading and silent, I can hear the forest settle down.

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A sudoku book is my luxury item while hiking. I enjoy a game or two while taking a break or settling in for the night. It would be even more enjoyable in a Helinox Ground Chair!

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I would bring a Multi Tool, because you never know when a emergency will arise. 

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Uncle Super Dave

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I carry a luxury 4# self inflating sleeping mat that is extra wide and extra long. Sticks, small rocks, depressions, etc. do not negatively effect my sleep. Extra weight and volume when backpacking, but it  pays for itself. A bear container was my latest "chair", but a lightweight comfortable chair would be a very welcome addition to the next hike when kicked back by the campfire. What is another 1.5# when I already carry nearly 70#? :)

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12x12 piece of blue foam walmart sleeping mat! It's my sit pad, my front door mat, my changing room! light and handy and really useful! Yep, it's definitely a luxury, 'cause it's not on the need/must take list!

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My luxury item is a book.  I usually bring a book about the area I am in so I can read up on it's history, geology or other info to greater appreciate where I am & why it's so special.

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A pocket shower. Super small and light, this delightful luxury item provides me with a warm backcountry rinse every afternoon when I'm out backpacking (if there's not a nice-looking lake to jump into!).  I simply hang it off a tree and emerge clean and refreshed minutes later, and get into my clean set of clothes for the night. An amazing "reset" for the evening at camp...ideally followed by happy hour (I guess the flask is a very close second!), dinner, a nice fire, star-gazing and reading a good book (#3? I obviously don't count ounces...). :)

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An ultralight hiker would consider my hammock a frivolous indulgence, I just consider it necessary. It is very nice to not care about the flatness of a campsite or to spend time moving rocks, especially if it is getting dark and the rain is about to start again. Sounds like my last overnight trip :)

 

Bourbon is the other luxury I always have, can't imagine not having a nip as the stars come out.

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Unless I'm expecting a lot of rain, I bring my "big" camera in addition to a waterproof point and shoot.  I also bring a small (think 6") tripod with flexible legs for getting group shots.  I love photography and I'm willing to put up with an extra 2 1/2 pounds.  I've cut lots of things but my camera is like an extension of me!

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My DLSR camera and extra lens. I love to take pictures while backpacking and so it almost always goes with me - wide angle and zoom lens.

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I never camp without Vaseline! It works as a barrier in the winter and insect repellent in the summer... not to mention on anything that may get chapped or irritated during my back packing...

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My luxury item is my Samsung Galaxy 5 and a spare battery. Great to have some movies and books along in case you need to wait out the weather.

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My luxury item is my heavy nalgene bottle.  I fill it with hot water and snuggle up with is for cooler nights backpacking~  

My other luxury item is my phone.  It is waterproof and has a better camera than any other camera that little.  I also download books to read at night.

My Luxury item is honey~ I'm sweet enough but honey makes everything better. ;-)

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I don't go into nature without my french press travel mug and home ground gourmet beans. Coffee is a necessity.

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My luxury item is a pack towel.  Just like in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a towel is one item you should never be without.

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When I was a kid and the family went backpacking it was the solar shower, but now it is definitely coffee.  I'm not too picky about quality (instant packets, tea bag style, etc) just the stronger the caffeine infusion the better.

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My item is my camera and PLENTY of extra batteries. The only thing worse than not being able to go hiking is not having extra batteries if the camera battery dies.

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A pillow is my must-take. Used to be a Therm-a-rest compressible, now a lighter Sea-to-Summit inflatable. Either way it's worth the weight as it is much more comfortable than the lumpy clothes-in-a-stuff sack method.

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I love my pStyle!  I could live without it, but it makes backcountry bathroom breaks so much easier!

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an am/fm pocket radio (w/ speaker).  we backpack in summer and summer means baseball.  we're avid SF Giants fans and try to follow them even in the Sierra backcountry.  plus you might catch some news (if you really want to get bummed) and weather plus some terrible music.  our radio is about 4 oz. so it's not too big a sacrifice.

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My luxury used to be a Sudoku book as mentioned by another hiker.  But then I discovered a really good Sudoku app for my phone, so that is no longer carried.  But the one item that weighs more than I wish but I still carry, is a ThermaRest SlumberWrap.  It fits on the head end of my Thermarest 40th Anniversary Women's pad, provides a fleece pocket to stuff clothing in for a pillow (that must by design stay in place!), and has a flap that protects the mattress when it is rolled up and attached to the outside of my pack.  I think it weighs 3.2 ounces but it's utility far outweighs the extra weight.  Oh and a Platy of bourbon is seldom not found in my pack either...

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My luxury item is my solar charger so I am never without my phone for taking pictures, listening to music, keeping in touch, GPS and using it as a flashlight!

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My luxury item is my camera... I love to share our adventures.

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