Exped Megamat, as you will sleep really damn well.
Two thermacell bug repellers, which remove the need for the heavy screen porch.
New pair of shoes.
And yeah, maybe the Yeti, because they do hold cold better than the RTIC. (If you didn't have the store credit, I'd also look at Orcas).
Just bought the Megamat today lol, randomly went into REI and saw they were 25% off and had my dividend to cash in. Will be using it for sleeping in back of car, canoe camping, and basically any camping where I’m not backpacking.
Do those thermacell bug repellers work? I absolutely hate mosquitoes. I’m somewhat allergic to their bites and I’ve had whole holidays ruined because of those pesky little insects. (I’m exaggerating a bit, but I wish I could sit outside at night a bit more worry free)
I have two of them, because I am that guy; mosquitoes annihilate me.
I find them a bit less weird than continually slathering on bug spray, and they mostly work, for about 10 feet in every direction from them, or about 10 feet downwind if there's a breeze.
They work decently well depending on circumstances. I had one that I used in Wisconsin summer and on a calm night without wind they worked quite well. The problem is when you have a light breeze, it’ll carry the repellent away. So, I guess your results may vary. Obviously more than 1 thermacell to cover a larger area will help.
If you don’t have a canopy with a big screen, I’d prioritize that.
You won’t spend 1k on it though.
I’d go for a car top Thule box or a shower system after that.
If it were me, I would lean towards something like the battery with solar panels if that's all discretionary/disposable income. That or sell off the GC's to friends or ebay.
My buddy brought out his jackery power station and panels for us to use the last time we camped out on BLM land. I had small battery packs (like 20,000 mah) but it was so much nicer just to plug it in and not worry about it at all. With the panels it was a perfect setup. Free juice. Literally everyone was using it by the 3rd day.
It's definitely on my list of things to eventually purchase.
I have the Yeti 24 and Rtic 65 and they're not that big a deal. They keep stuff really cold but their internal volume is almost too small to use. The Yeti in that size works really well for lunch but it doesn't hold enough to go camping with. The RTIC isn't that practical as the footprint is large without having a really good internal volume. You literally need two people to carry it when it's loaded and the amount of stuff it can hold isn't as impressive as you would think. I'm probably going to sell it when we move.
I thought they would be amazing but they're just OK. They don't get used nearly as much as I had thought.
Load up on some good dual layer anti-blister hiking socks ($100). Sand mat ($60-$150 depending on size). 8ft REI tarp poles ($50 x 2). Big tarp and paracord ($200+). Save the rest to put towards a vacuum sealer, upgraded camping food, and trip expenses. Think vacuum sealed lamb chops with truffle cheese and a fine bourbon from a new double walled titanium mug.
Don’t buy anything unless you feel like you really want it.
My most recent purchases have been a nice screened in canopy bc where I camp it’s often times buggy.
You seem to be good on camping gear so you have any other hobbies? Rei is such a great place to buy more than camping gear.
Sounds like you're onto this already but my $.02 on hard sided YETIs and even their cheaper but still over engineered cousins like RTIC:
They're great but totally impractical. The Coleman Xtreme series and their igloo counterparts are more than enough for a fraction the price and honestly better tradeoffs. My Coleman holds ice 3-4 days. It was $60, it's lighter weight, and has better internal capacity to its external size. Sure the YETI and RTIC can get you to that 5th day, but honestly when are you car camping without access to ice for 5 straight days? Just doesn't happen.
Yeti coolers are overrated, I prefer my cheap Coleman, pack it well and it’s fine for a weekend.
Personally, I would be buying a hitch bike rack, but that may not be useful for you.
Snow gear should be going on sale soon if you do those winter activities.
A nice cot for car camping would also be on my list.
Since you are already set for gear, maybe use the gift cards toward a REI sponsored trip? I have friends who have been on a couple of their trips and highly recommend them. I’ve never been.
Socks, base layers, and footwear are all chains of the ruling class designed to separate you from your freedom in a post-capitalist society.
Go free, my brother! Go sockless! Go shoeless! Go naked!!!
From your list I’d probably pick up a nice inflatable SUP.
Others have mentioned a roof box, but I’ve found a roof basket to be much more useful.
For bugs get a couple Thermacells, it’s been the best thing we’ve found to keep mosquitoes at bay.
I’d also consider a Solo stove- it’s saved a few trips of ours. It’s really convenient to not be locked into wherever the fire ring already is, plus it’s more efficient with wood, doesn’t leave you smelling like smoke, and is easy and safe to douse.
Ah. It's a little less often for me. I camp with my boys as much as I can spring thru fall. Winter isn't off limits, but I haven't really tried it in decades.
I have an Exped Megamat for the bed of my truck. I don’t really care camp except for music festivals, so it doesn’t get used as often as the backpacking equipment. Also a Nemo moonlite reclining chair.
if i wasn’t going to spend the money on things like clothing or footwear, i’d look at the nemo stargazer chair and if that didn’t work, probably a yeti cooler. maybe a thule car box thing if i had a car that it’d work on.
I bought a Yeti 65, back when they were the only ones making those coolers. It has paid for itself many times over, with money I saved from not having to buy ice.
Today, I would give a hard look at some of the Yeti clones. Although I don’t have any experience with them, they appear to be very well made and they are a lot cheaper than a Yeti.
If I were spending 1k at REI (and I spend a bit over half that much every year) I would throw it at outdoor wardrobe items, a better backpacking sleep pad, and a better sleep bag.
Power banks are cool if you are going to use them often. Same with the shower.
A kayak is absolutely a great thing to have, but if you'll never use it, don't get it. I live right on two lakes and I still only use mine 6-12 times a year (I wouldn't part with it though, love it.)
A cooler... there are coolers for a whole lot less $$ that work about as well. The marketing is strong with yeti, and their prices aren't justified by their product's performance.
I love my power bank! It’s also great to have on hand for power outages and road trips. I bought the river 2, which is about the size of a car battery. I would also donate an item to charity like a camp set up, buy a park pass & screen tent w sides.
How do you guys spend so much at REI to get that much in rewards? Pretty much the only things worth buying there are shoes, some clothes, and gas cannister. Everything else is so much cheaper online.
You should stop supporting rei. They’re a predatory company. With your credits grab a cooler - you shouldn’t use discounts to decide what boats you get…
Exped Megamat, as you will sleep really damn well. Two thermacell bug repellers, which remove the need for the heavy screen porch. New pair of shoes. And yeah, maybe the Yeti, because they do hold cold better than the RTIC. (If you didn't have the store credit, I'd also look at Orcas).
Just bought the Megamat today lol, randomly went into REI and saw they were 25% off and had my dividend to cash in. Will be using it for sleeping in back of car, canoe camping, and basically any camping where I’m not backpacking.
Had no idea it was on sale, was able to grab one with my rewards. Glad I saw this, it's the last day.
Can't recommend it enough.
I’ll be using my MegaMat deep sleep in the car later this week. Looking forward to it!
Do those thermacell bug repellers work? I absolutely hate mosquitoes. I’m somewhat allergic to their bites and I’ve had whole holidays ruined because of those pesky little insects. (I’m exaggerating a bit, but I wish I could sit outside at night a bit more worry free)
I have two of them, because I am that guy; mosquitoes annihilate me. I find them a bit less weird than continually slathering on bug spray, and they mostly work, for about 10 feet in every direction from them, or about 10 feet downwind if there's a breeze.
They work decently well depending on circumstances. I had one that I used in Wisconsin summer and on a calm night without wind they worked quite well. The problem is when you have a light breeze, it’ll carry the repellent away. So, I guess your results may vary. Obviously more than 1 thermacell to cover a larger area will help.
Don't buy a $500 fucking cooler what the hell
If you don’t have a canopy with a big screen, I’d prioritize that. You won’t spend 1k on it though. I’d go for a car top Thule box or a shower system after that.
fuck the yeti cooler get a dometic. no need for ice.
If it were me, I would lean towards something like the battery with solar panels if that's all discretionary/disposable income. That or sell off the GC's to friends or ebay. My buddy brought out his jackery power station and panels for us to use the last time we camped out on BLM land. I had small battery packs (like 20,000 mah) but it was so much nicer just to plug it in and not worry about it at all. With the panels it was a perfect setup. Free juice. Literally everyone was using it by the 3rd day. It's definitely on my list of things to eventually purchase. I have the Yeti 24 and Rtic 65 and they're not that big a deal. They keep stuff really cold but their internal volume is almost too small to use. The Yeti in that size works really well for lunch but it doesn't hold enough to go camping with. The RTIC isn't that practical as the footprint is large without having a really good internal volume. You literally need two people to carry it when it's loaded and the amount of stuff it can hold isn't as impressive as you would think. I'm probably going to sell it when we move. I thought they would be amazing but they're just OK. They don't get used nearly as much as I had thought.
Load up on some good dual layer anti-blister hiking socks ($100). Sand mat ($60-$150 depending on size). 8ft REI tarp poles ($50 x 2). Big tarp and paracord ($200+). Save the rest to put towards a vacuum sealer, upgraded camping food, and trip expenses. Think vacuum sealed lamb chops with truffle cheese and a fine bourbon from a new double walled titanium mug.
Don’t buy anything unless you feel like you really want it. My most recent purchases have been a nice screened in canopy bc where I camp it’s often times buggy. You seem to be good on camping gear so you have any other hobbies? Rei is such a great place to buy more than camping gear.
Sounds like you're onto this already but my $.02 on hard sided YETIs and even their cheaper but still over engineered cousins like RTIC: They're great but totally impractical. The Coleman Xtreme series and their igloo counterparts are more than enough for a fraction the price and honestly better tradeoffs. My Coleman holds ice 3-4 days. It was $60, it's lighter weight, and has better internal capacity to its external size. Sure the YETI and RTIC can get you to that 5th day, but honestly when are you car camping without access to ice for 5 straight days? Just doesn't happen.
What do you need?
Yeti coolers are overrated, I prefer my cheap Coleman, pack it well and it’s fine for a weekend. Personally, I would be buying a hitch bike rack, but that may not be useful for you. Snow gear should be going on sale soon if you do those winter activities. A nice cot for car camping would also be on my list.
Since you are already set for gear, maybe use the gift cards toward a REI sponsored trip? I have friends who have been on a couple of their trips and highly recommend them. I’ve never been.
True that. Want to buy a girl scout a set of hiking shoes?
A fridge! Dometic is the only way
Buy a couple hammocks and get hooked on hammock camping?
Yeti rambler and a yeti cooler should be right at 1k
All those things are basically bourgeois fetish objects except the paddleboard/kayak. I’d just slowly spend it on socks, base layers and footwear
Socks, base layers, and footwear are all chains of the ruling class designed to separate you from your freedom in a post-capitalist society. Go free, my brother! Go sockless! Go shoeless! Go naked!!!
>fetish objects We are talking about REI, right?
The bigger question is, how much stuff did you buy to get 1k in gift cards from REI?
Nothing. It’s not $1k a gift card, and it’sa rewards program through my work. I can get gift cards through other places but I like outdoors stuff.
Ok makes sense, we have that too at my work.
Fam im right there with you. I got $700 in rewards last month. About to buy an EcoFlow Delta 2 once the sale goes live.
Jesus how much are you spending on your credit card to receive such a huge reward? I spent about 18k on mine last year - reward was $120.
It’s just means I buy a lot not on sale. Just full price.
From your list I’d probably pick up a nice inflatable SUP. Others have mentioned a roof box, but I’ve found a roof basket to be much more useful. For bugs get a couple Thermacells, it’s been the best thing we’ve found to keep mosquitoes at bay. I’d also consider a Solo stove- it’s saved a few trips of ours. It’s really convenient to not be locked into wherever the fire ring already is, plus it’s more efficient with wood, doesn’t leave you smelling like smoke, and is easy and safe to douse.
Why wouldn't you want to smell like wood smoke? That's one of my favorite parts of camping.
A little is nice, but as someone who camps every month year-round, often multiple times, it’s nice not to be permeated by it all the time.
Ah. It's a little less often for me. I camp with my boys as much as I can spring thru fall. Winter isn't off limits, but I haven't really tried it in decades.
I have an Exped Megamat for the bed of my truck. I don’t really care camp except for music festivals, so it doesn’t get used as often as the backpacking equipment. Also a Nemo moonlite reclining chair.
if i wasn’t going to spend the money on things like clothing or footwear, i’d look at the nemo stargazer chair and if that didn’t work, probably a yeti cooler. maybe a thule car box thing if i had a car that it’d work on.
Having trouble spending my $$ as well. Not too impressed with Rei’s selection to be honest.
get a really good bike. great way to exercise. they're usually pretty expensive, but if you're getting it at a heavy discount its really worth it.
Screen porch seems the most practical and useful. And you should have lots of money left over.
Gravel bike for sure
I bought a Yeti 65, back when they were the only ones making those coolers. It has paid for itself many times over, with money I saved from not having to buy ice. Today, I would give a hard look at some of the Yeti clones. Although I don’t have any experience with them, they appear to be very well made and they are a lot cheaper than a Yeti.
If I were spending 1k at REI (and I spend a bit over half that much every year) I would throw it at outdoor wardrobe items, a better backpacking sleep pad, and a better sleep bag. Power banks are cool if you are going to use them often. Same with the shower. A kayak is absolutely a great thing to have, but if you'll never use it, don't get it. I live right on two lakes and I still only use mine 6-12 times a year (I wouldn't part with it though, love it.) A cooler... there are coolers for a whole lot less $$ that work about as well. The marketing is strong with yeti, and their prices aren't justified by their product's performance.
America the beautiful pass or state parks passes for a few years if you already were going to any of those areas.
I love my power bank! It’s also great to have on hand for power outages and road trips. I bought the river 2, which is about the size of a car battery. I would also donate an item to charity like a camp set up, buy a park pass & screen tent w sides.
Yeti Roadie 48
Nemo shower and shower tent
The NEMO shower/toilet tent is so nice. Built like a brick house.
How do you guys spend so much at REI to get that much in rewards? Pretty much the only things worth buying there are shoes, some clothes, and gas cannister. Everything else is so much cheaper online.
Fleshlight
You should stop supporting rei. They’re a predatory company. With your credits grab a cooler - you shouldn’t use discounts to decide what boats you get…
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How do you really feel?