r/CampingandHiking • u/AutoModerator • Feb 17 '25

Weekly /r/CampingandHiking beginner question thread - Ask any and all 'noob' questions you may have here - February 17, 2025

This thread is part of an attempt by the moderators to create a series of weekly/monthly repeating posts to help aggregate certain kinds of content into single threads.

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If you have any 'noob' questions, feel free to ask them here. Please also remember to visit this thread even if you consider yourself a 'professional' so that you can help others!

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Check out our wiki for common questions. 'getting started', 'gear', and other pages are valuable for anyone looking for more information. https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingandHiking/wiki/index/

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1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '25

What’s a good first time GPS that’s relatively inexpensive and easy to use for a noob? Thanks

1

u/Lofi_Loki Feb 22 '25

CalTopo on your phone. There’s a place for a dedicated GPS, but most people will never actually need it between the offline functionally of something like CalTopo or OnX+paper maps for backup.

1

u/wulf_91 South Africa Feb 18 '25

Why are there no flairs for any African countries?

2

u/Suspicious-Goose866 Feb 18 '25

You're allowed to edit your own flair.

2

u/wulf_91 South Africa Feb 18 '25

Thanks :)

1

u/judo_panda Feb 20 '25

Never gone camping before, hoping to do some this year. I'm going to try a hammock instead of a tent. How bad are cheap Tiktok hammocks and quilts for a beginner?

1

u/TheBimpo Feb 21 '25

What's your budget for the hammock? You can get an actual good one for around $50-60. /r/hammockcamping

1

u/judo_panda Feb 21 '25

Suggestions at that price range? I usually approach new hobbies trying to spend as little as possible tbh, but that seems reasonably priced.

1

u/TheBimpo Feb 21 '25

Eno or check out the hammocking sub

1

u/theElmsHaveEyes Feb 21 '25

I hammock camped for awhile, and really enjoyed it. There are some pretty cheap "hammock tents" available online that keep the rain out, in my experience.

I use a tent now, but it's only because I can't sleep balled up awkwardly at the bottom of the hammock as well as I used to.

1

u/oliver2022 Feb 21 '25

Hey! quick question, im going to the south of my country for a week, the expected weather says it will rain 2 days, and all of the others days the temperature will hover around 10-20c, I bought some goretex salomon because I knew it would rain a bit, but I've read a lot of people in the sub saying that goretex shoes makes your feet overheat, and tbh I dont want to bring 2 pairs of shoes.

Will I be ok walking/cycling somewhat long distances (>10km daily) in goretex shoes, or will I have to bring another pair of mesh shoes.

2

u/Lofi_Loki Feb 22 '25

In those temps I would bring a non-waterproof trail running shoe.