I am reviewing options for a PLB or Garmin in-reach and am leaning toward the Garmin for the messaging function, and with that the Garmin Messenger as I would use my phone for navigation and can use the Garmin app connected to the Messenger. My main uses are hiking, riding and camping - nothing too remote but does have areas of poor reception and often solo.

I was wondering if anyone uses these and has any issues in Australia? Aside from me being able to contact people out to give updates as I am walking and also be able to notify rescue services if I am in an emergency situation, My main interest is being aware of emergencies such as fires and having a way to be notified and also be able to navigate my way to safety - does anyone know if this is possible with a Garmin Messenger + App (phone) in a mobile network black spot?

The risk I see for the messenger is that my phone needs to be charged to have that navigation, but it would be very rare it isn’t charged as I carry a battery pack sufficient. The phone getting lost or damaged is the other potential risk resulting in relying on the messenger in an emergency over another device with map capabilities.

Thanks

What 3 Words doesn't work even a tiny bit accurately outside internet range. Have you found the same or a way around?

What does the local area modelling say will happen to the Snowy mountains region with climate change?

We are replacing a 12yo Coleman 9CV 3 room pole tent. It's been great, but has had its day. Looking for a quality and ease of use upgrade. We are 2 adults and a soon to be teenager.

I first looked at instant up tents. What I hear is the bigger sizes are not so great. Inflatable is better for bigger tents, though more expensive.

Zempire seems the go-to inflatable brand. We like the look of the Evo TL V2, but we are unable to see it in person in Adelaide. Been looking at every review and video I can find, but want to make sure before spending $1599 + more on accessories.

Any experiences or advice? We need to order one in the next few days if we want to use it on our next trip.

Concerns and thoughts:

1. Slightly bigger than the old Coleman. Might not fit in as many places.
2. But with the awning, we might sometimes not need our 2.4m gazebo that we use now.
3. In the Coleman, the 2 side "bedrooms" were a chill out area for reading etc if it's dark or not nice outside. The Zempire has smaller bedroom space and it will be darker in them. Still thinking through how the bigger central living area of the Zempire will work for this. Maybe we drag a mattress out from the bedroom to sit on.
4. The roof cover is out of stock everywhere. Zempire told me it's expected to be available later in the year. Hope so, and that this is not a run out model tent - they said it is not.
5. Thinking the optional awning wall set and footprint might be good.

Interested to hear any usability comments.

Note - I have been known to overthink things. That might be happening now.

Thanks.

EDIT - here are screenshots showing the difference in ventilation (I think) between the Evo TL and Pro TL. Can someone please confirm the Pro has more ventilation in the sleeping area?

Evo: https://www.zempire.au/evo-tl-v2-002

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https://preview.redd.it/238axp8sdusc1.png?width=1805&format=png&auto=webp&s=8d5a6a2cf165805dae283083818a710f6f4dd449

Pro: https://www.zempire.au/pro-tl-v2

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https://preview.redd.it/4pdla6jtdusc1.png?width=1765&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6397690089c8cfc58936c84d0b77441dbee9ee6

Hey outdoor community. Hope you're getting your flat lay packing setup ready for a great weekend. This is our weekly fireside chat where rule two will be less enforced.

• Please let us know if you are heading anywhere outdoors?
• Planning to head somewhere fun in the future?
• Brought some new kit recently you want to tell us about - Good or bad!
• Basically, anything slightly focused around the outdoors.

Last week I purchased a Dune double swag from anaconda for a 3 day 2 night camping trip along on the great ocean road. I was aware I needed to season it before I used it and it was forecast to rain quite a lot.
My method was to set the swag up on the flat level ground of my yard, then hose it down till the entire thing was wet, and wait like an hour or three for it to dry off (it was very very sunny when I went to season it). I hosed it down like 4 times, and after I noticed condensation on the inside I made sure to leave some ventilation on the inside while I was waiting for it to dry.
Despite this the swag leaked quite significantly while I was still weathering it, and it didn't get noticeably better after each seasoning. Before the trip I acknowledged I was going to get some pretty significant leaks and set up like one of those standard generic blue tarps over the whole thing with some pegs and rope. I didn't put a tarp underneath; on the first night it was set up on an an artificial turf thing that wouldn't pool water ( hard to explain without a picture, which I don't have) and the second night it was set up on some dirt without a tarp (my second tarp was too small).
The swag leaked pretty significantly, I knew ahead of time that one corner was prone to leaks and set up a towel there. I took to toweling off the swag for user comfort every morning and before sleeping basically, and ended up with 4 fully wet towels by the end ( I packed a lot because I knew this would happen). I always left ventilation so there was no condensation I noticed anyway.

Am I stupid????

Did I somehow mess up the instructions of "hose it down and let it dry"? Is there something I missed when I set the thing up? Cause if there isn't I'm going to attempt to exchange the thing and then follow the same method basically and cross my fingers. In spite of the leaks it was fairly comfortable because the mattress kind of rested on top of most of it.

I bought a Mountains Designs sleeping bag in 2011 and nowhere on the bag or the sack does it say what the warmth rating is. I’ve looked all over and on all the tags and nothing. All that’s printed on the bag is ‘Acrobat 225’ and it’s synthetic. I’ve tried Googling this and nothing comes up.

Does anyone had advice about how I can find out the warmth rating? Due to go camping the the Blue Mountains next month and don’t want to freeze. Thanks!

Hello redditors. I spent the Easter long weekend hiking and bushwalking in the Warrumbungle NP with my dad. I realised my shoes are HORRIBLE for walking in terrain.

Any recommendations for proper shoes?

Hi everyone,

I’m setting off on an East Coast road trip this weekend from Port Douglas down to Melbourne.

I’m after some recommendations for unmissable beachside camp spots along the way that are either free or cheap!

I have a Honda CRV with rooftop tent so campsite recomendations that will be accessible with that type of vehicle and setup.

Thanks so much!

Hi there,

I normally backpack with a lightweight tent and inflatable mat but I'm looking to get my girlfriend into camping, and I think I need a comfier setup. We're in Tas so I was thinking a swag would be warm and comfy for some car camping but we both just have hatchbacks. Would a swag still work or am I better off just buying her a hiking mat for my current small tent and hoping she doesn't hate it?

Open to any other suggestions as well! Just want to make sure that she is as comfy as possible for her first time camping. Thank you!

Looking for campground recommendation as there are a few in the area - will need walking access to water and toilets

Or if you have recommendations for other campgrounds north of Sydney - please let me know

Thanks in advance!

Bought my first swag, Dune Titan Deluxe for a sick price.

Been spraying it with the hose all day today every few hours and it seems to leak more and more? Have I overdone it with 4 times?

I’m in Tasmania, so I figured I’d shower it with jet spray on the hose incase of harsh rain?

Bottom corners leaked at first, then it began leaking from the top of the seam where the pole goes head to toes, then a little leak at the entrance that wasn’t there on the first spray.

I’ve left it setup under the verandah to let dry as it’s about to rain, so figured I’d repeat tomorrow?

Hi Everyone that sees this.

I've been looking for a 65L backpack to buy for 2-3 night hikes, possibly longer.

I'm looking at back pack comparison reviews but they all seem to be for US made and pretty expensive. Anyone have any good reviews for locally made backpacks or ones that are imported here that don't cost north of 400.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-31/bushwalker-near-death-blue-mountains-wilderness-walk/103626960

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Be safe out there people. Can attest to the regrowth in the BMs and surrounding areas being off the charts difficult these days. If you are an off track bushwalker or thinking of doing it I would go a step further than this bloke and just buy your own beacon.

I want to walk it this weekend but according to the website the North Era campsite is closed. Does anyone know if there are alternative places to hike along the way?

Thanks!

Hey outdoor community. Hope you're getting your flat lay packing setup ready for a great weekend. This is our weekly fireside chat where rule two will be less enforced.

• Please let us know if you are heading anywhere outdoors?
• Planning to head somewhere fun in the future?
• Brought some new kit recently you want to tell us about - Good or bad!
• Basically, anything slightly focused around the outdoors.

Hi! I’m looking for Oboz hiking boots, specifically sawtooth II low waterproof womens or sawtooth x mid womens. Only Kathmandu seem to stick and they have low stock and barely any styles. I’m wondering where is I can reliably buy Oboz from ? Thanks

Currently looking at a Coleman 26L.

Is there anything else i should be considering? Preferably stuff that is stocked by retailers as i need to purchase it this week.

I'd like a portable fridge/freezer like this one from Ryobi, but prefer if it would charge the batteries from the mains when not in use. Can someone recommend a good alternative that also has batteries? I've heard Brass Monkey is a good bet, but can't work out which ones have batteries...

Hello, I'm planning a camping trip and was looking into some dog GPS tags. She will be on a leash during the day, and sleeping in a crate during the night. But because I'll be going up bush where there's no reception I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a GPS to put on her collar incase she does get away. She's still a pup and one hell of a fast runner so I'd feel better having the GPS just to be safe. But ill need one that works with no service. Anyone got any suggestions on a good one? Shes still just a puppy at the moment, but she'll be 1 year old when we take this trip, she's an alaskan malamute.

Would like suggestions of suitable camping places. Have 99% of the gear including dog cages that fit in my tent. I don't however have a 4x4 . I'm doing it as a solo female because my partner and teen son aren't interested!

Hey outdoor community. Hope you're getting your flat lay packing setup ready for a great weekend. This is our weekly fireside chat where rule two will be less enforced.

• Please let us know if you are heading anywhere outdoors?
• Planning to head somewhere fun in the future?
• Brought some new kit recently you want to tell us about - Good or bad!
• Basically, anything slightly focused around the outdoors.

I've booked a camp site at Jimmy Creek in the Grampians for three nights in the first week of April. I've been figuring that the high temps at that time of year could be 10C or could be 30C, so it's a bit of a gamble with my younger kids in tow. If I look at Halls Gap weather, is that going to be the most accurate forecast for the area? Looks to be the same elevation as Jimmy Creek, so I'm guessing it will be about right.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some recommendations for a 6P tent specifically from BCF as we have a gift voucher to use there. It’s for a family of 3 (2 Adults and 1 Kid), we’re not super experienced but will be camping with friends who are.

We like the idea of a blackout fly as our 3 year old will be up with the sun otherwise.

I’ve got it narrowed down to these two tents:

Wanderer Nightfall Instant Tent 6 Person

OzTrail Blockout Fast Frame 6 Person Cabin Tent

I like that the OzTrail one has the integrated screen room and it seems to have better ventilation (although that could just be marketing). I like that the Wanderer one has a better waterhead rating and the room divider will be handy for when our kid gets older and wants his own space. However since the Wanderer one is a newer model I can’t really find anything much about it online other than from the sites that sell it.

What do you all think? Any others on the BCF website that you think I should be considering?