What gear have canoe forums "made you buy"?

[Glenn MacGrady]

Up until three years ago I had never owned a gun in my life. After a series of very informative posts about guns, bears, guns, self-defense, and guns on the former solotripping.com site, I bought a nice used Ithaca Model 38 shotgun with two barrels -- on some sort of flimsy rationalization that I could bring it on certain canoe trips or at least practice with it. I've never used it.

The recent knife threads on this site, which I'm now heavily involved in, no doubt "made me" buy three fixed blade knives this month.

I'm sure there are many other examples of "the canoe forum made me do it" purchases. Thank goodness I didn't participate in canoe forums until 2008.

 

[Rippy]

I'm on my third folding saw. I got several ferro rods even though I carry stick matches in the food barrel and a lighter in my pocket. This winter thanks to Bob B, I upgraded from my old boy scout hatchet to a forest axe. Vacuum sealer for my solo size portions. Now I'll probably have to bring a ash board and my draw knife along on the next trip in case my paddle breaks.

 

[memaquay]

Geeze, almost everything I use came from the evil inter-web forums. I remember way back before the inter-web came out I thought that the way I did things was the the right way, and that the packs, paddles and canoes that I used were the only things that should be used. Imagine my surprise, way back when, when I stumbled upon Canadian Canoe Routes, that I was doing everything wrong, and using bunko gear. It took me a long time and several thousand dollars to accumulate several closets and a garage full of "stuff".

Now here's a challenge for you inter-web specialists. I'll bet something from my closet that by the end of the day someone can't convince me to buy something new from the inter-web. In other words, if you can convince me to buy something canoe related today, I will send you an item free of charge from some other impulse inter-web buy. (The rusty Mora is out, I heard from the company rep and sent him pictures, so maybe that will result in something good).

 

[Rippy]

I didn't want your rusty Mora anyway. (sour grapes)

 

[memaquay]

It suddenly occurred to me, after reading the the paddle making thread, that the inter-web has never made me buy an axe. I've always been happy with my oxhead, and a variety of cheaper full size axes. I've read the various axe threads over the years, but have never pulled the trigger. Hmmmmmmm......new thread maybe......

 

[Rippy]

Maybe you should purchase a new axe today on the interweb.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Mike McCrea made me buy a tent. It wasn't the spider web, it was his bargain hunting eye.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

if you can convince me to buy something canoe related today

Canoe related is relative. How about doubly canoe related.

OR

 

[memaquay]

dang the interweb, I would buy that beer today, right now (even though I'm a little hung-over), but like really cool guns, I'll probably never see that really cool beer in Canada.

 

[Guest]

I'm sure there are many other examples of "the canoe forum made me do it" purchases. Thank goodness I didn't participate in canoe forums until 2008.

I have participated in canoe for a since the early days of rec.boats.paddle and I cannot think of a single thing that canoe forums “made” me purchase.

Perhaps the knives threads have moved me forward on replacing a knife or two, but that was a known need where I needed a push. I bought one knife, and will eventually buy another.

Most everything I use I had in some fashion long prior to the inter-net age. Canoes, tents, tarps, clothing, stoves, shoes. Almost everydamn thing. I mention those because they immediately spring to mind as gear I have replaced and upgraded over the years, sometimes aided by inter-net research.

I am still far more influenced by actually seeing something in the field and realizing “Hey, that works!”, but the vast amount of research and opinion available today with a few pecks at the keyboard can be a valuable resource, despite the occasion of “It’s a 10!” conformational bias.

Simply having instant research access to specifications - size, weight, shape, materials and construction has made purchases more informed.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I too often want what I see.. Seems I have collected some boats that way and many paddles. I admit Facebook is tempting. Two friends of mine with superzoom point and shoots post incredible bird pictures from far away. Tack sharp.. So I want.. and I did some research. Turns out there is only one superzoom that fits my needs ( in crappy conditions in the boat with splash).

I bought and was so looking forward to birdwatching in FL.. I have gotten some good shots here though

But this was fitting a "back of the burner" need. I love my DSLR but dont have any budget nor means to use from a boat a 1,200 mm lens.. So FB friends pix were just the nooodge

 

[Waterdog]

Empire Canvas wool shirts and Anorak which I use all the time. A PLB that has only left my basement once. I always wanted a wood canvas canoe too when I was younger, the forums forced me to finally get one.

Cheers,
Barry

 

[yellowcanoe]

Empire Canvas wool shirts and Anorak which I use all the time. A PLB that has only left my basement once. I always wanted a wood canvas canoe too when I was younger, the forums forced me to finally get one.

Cheers,
Barry

I don't know if a forum forced that on me.. I think it might have been that I won one at SnowWalkers Rendezvous and I learned of the shirt on wintertrekking.com which isn't a canoeing forum at all. The shirt made perfect sense especially when I saw one at SnowWalkers. The wood canvas trio of canoes were sirens luring in person..Touch, smell feel and I was sunk

 

[Iskweo]

Two canoeing guns for protection against bears that I have never seen. One I didnt even get around to buying bullets for. I eventually sold them both to finance a lawn tractor, so that part worked out in the long run. Of course now I have to buy a NEW gun. Better than the old ones ( in other words, exactly the same.)

Christy

 

[Odyssey]

This is a hard question. Let's see. I'd have to blame internet forums for a few things:
1) Food Barrel. I was really unhappy with food packs till I learned of dedicated (non olive) barrels.
2) Dry Bag Canoe Pack. I hated a wet fabric pack with dry liners. A big rubbery pack feels weird and very untraditional, but I like the total dryness.
3) Larger silnylon tarp. I wasn't sure if I'd really want or need a lighter and larger tarp. I think I love tarps more than tents now.
4) Twig Stove. It feels like a revelation that I have more choice than either a fuel stove or a camp fire.

Future blame to be attributed to the nasty net.
1) Reflector Oven. I want one. After my first batch of pizzas, turn-overs, buns, biscuits...every trip may become a tripping kitchen party.
2) A fixed blade knife. Don't get me started.
3) Another knife, probably a folder. Ditto.
4) Rite in the Rain notepad. I'd like to keep a diary of trips for myself along with sketches and pics.

ps 5) Maybe another axe. Internet sites shouldn't be allowed to post nice photos of their wares.

 

[sweeper]

The easiest one would be a Helinox chair.

At least a half dozen books.

A SPOT

 

[scoutergriz]

very little- I've started paddling before there was DOS never mind internet, but I do admit to checking online when I've had to replace something I've worn out

 

[daveo4]

I bought my Bob's folding bucksaw when it was reviewed here. I think YCs comments on it made me do it. (Great saw by the way!)
Blue barrel.Many books. (The interweb may me do it!)

 

[ppine]

Helinox chairs
Thermarest cot
and now I am keeping an eye out for a decent used solo boat.
Thanks to everyone.

 

[Seeker]

Canoe web sites, zilch. Bushcraft and Ultralight Camping websites? tons of stuff... however, I'm pretty careful to research before I buy, and I have only a couple seriously expensive regrets. These include an MSR Titan Kettle, an MSR Mini-Works water filter, an MSR Blacklite cookset (anyone seeing the trend here), and a Marmot windshirt (that was actually an REI impulse buy, but I'd heard about it on the net.) Most of my other gear is still used frequently, transportation dependent.

On the flips side, gear I learned about on the internet that I wish I'd bought first include a merino wool sweater, Palladium boots, a USGI poncho, Hennessy hammock with zipper entry, McCat tarp, GoLite and ULA packs, "Mors" pot, Hawkvittles, Fallkniven and Condor knives, Gransfors and Norlund axes, and Tilley hat.