"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
09/17/2018 at 14:35 • Filed to: overland? Or overkill
2
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"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
09/17/2018 at 14:35 • Filed to: overland? Or overkill | 2
| 6 |
I was standing on pavement when I snapped this pic.
Okay, *maybe* this guy is usually more adventurous. But I still got a little chuckle.
He’s got a nicely outfitted FJ, lifted I guess, fancy-looking wheels that are probably worse for off-roading than stock, a complex-looking (read: expensive)
roof rack system with a nice
rear awning, expensive-looking tables, camp stove, coolers, and just... everything looked new and shiny
. And here we were, about 400' from an interstate highway, 30' from pavement, on level ground that wouldn’t have bothered a #stancebro.
But you know what
, he’s not at the mall. He’s camping, and making use of all his expensive toys. So I can’t give him too hard of a time. Maybe he’s just testing out his new stuff before relying on it in a more remote location. Maybe this is adventure for him, and he just likes the appearance of the FJ kitted up a bit. I always liked how they looked regardless. But something just always bugs me about people whose gear looks too shiny. Maybe I just have never been able to afford all the newest, shiniest stuff; b
ut the people I’ve met in life who have the best stories aren’t the ones with the shiny gear. Anyway he’s out there and I’ll give him that.
We saw this after a night spent up in the mountains with my son, his first night staying at one of the AMC’s White Mountain Huts, and he LOVED it. We will be doing many, many more.
Then, t
his gem was parked next to us
at the bottom:
Oh, but more importantly, this is where we spent the night:
Lonesome Lake, Franconia Notch, NH.
If you’re still reading, this is one of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s huts, where you can spend the night and get dinner, breakfast, and a bunk for the night. It’s a great way to get up into the mountains without going full-camping-gear overnight backpacking. You wake up already in the mountains, and it makes some
remote areas just that much more accessible. They’re all different, the crews and guests always have interesting stories, and it’s just an all-around great experience, especially for kids. I highly recommend it. Just plan in advance. WAY in advance. Or go on a weeknight -
we went on a Friday because we live so close, and it was only half-full, about 18 people.
Berang
> functionoverfashion
09/17/2018 at 14:39 |
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It’s all shiny at some point.
random001
> Berang
09/17/2018 at 14:43 |
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Too True...
Nothing
> functionoverfashion
09/17/2018 at 14:57 |
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I haven’t camped in a while, but I used to get similar comments when I’d go. “Did you just buy that for this trip?” No, I bought it in ‘89. It looks new! Granted, any stuff I had was used only a handful of times a year, and well cleaned/stored when I put it away. I always wanted to make sure my stuff was in good shape next time I headed out.
For what that fellow is doing, we just call that car camping. I’m ashamed to say we didn’t get out once this summer. My wife’s idea of camping is a hotel room, so it may just have to be me and my son at some point next summer.
Also, cool M roadster. I saw a non-M Z3 today and though that would be a fun little third vehicle.
farscythe - makin da cawfee!
> Nothing
09/17/2018 at 15:07 |
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got a couple titanium tools for my bike about 6 years ago... and they’re stubbornly refusing to look used.... kind of annoys me really
6 years on and im still having that odd twitch of cant use these.... they’re too nice to risk scuffing them
that said the closest ive come to camping in the last 20 years was spending the night passed out near the road after crashing my bike (downhill after dark no lights no helmet im an idiot)
jasmits
> functionoverfashion
09/17/2018 at 15:18 |
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As someone who overl ands with a very weird hodgepodge of nice and new gear, nice and old gear and neither nice nor new gear I have a few observations. First, if you don’t want to explore the same spots every weekend and don’t have time to take extended trips(read: weekend warrior who gets to head out Friday and back Sunday) there are lots of pavement miles to crush Friday and Sunday afternoon to have a good day Saturday and half of Sunday off pavement. Usually we try to get a little into the backcountry Friday, but if we’re going somewhere further away and/or people can’t get out of work a little early Friday(as was the case this past weekend) we meet at a state park or RV park near where we want to enter the wilderness so people can make camp and chill as they arrive Friday and we don’t need to be driving forest roads and looking for dispersed camping in the dark. If I had a RTT, an awning and all kinds of nice overlandy gear to pull out damn straight I’d be that guy with an RTT and an awning in the RV park. As it is I’m the guy in an old backpacking tent next to someone’s $150k glamper.
Also, if I bought my rig used and someone put cringy wheels on they’d need to be extremely cringy before I’d prioritize finding a different set of wheels . Also you have to be awfully close to see pinstripes and if you’ve got a properly functioning brain and feet you can go a lot of places without risking visible body damage.
As for the people with stories, their gear used to be shiny but everyone starts somewhere. Overland gear is tough to find on CL because so much is so specific to individual wants and needs, quality gear especially because people keep it and use it.
vicali
> functionoverfashion
09/17/2018 at 15:28 |
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Prinsu is actually one of the cheapest roof options.
Seems like they are enjoying the outdoors.. good enough for me.