Is your Hobbie bushwalking or ru a gadget geek who walks

[walkon]

Let's be honest here! Is your Hobbie/Pastime really bushwalking or are you a gadget geek who walks. Me first and foremost, I'm a bushwalker. Gadgets are nice and I have a few, though when I leave home a fair chunk of my stuff comes with me, I do have enough gear to equip another back packer though they might be cold/hot. If I have it, I use it simple. I can honestly say that all my gear gets used a lot. If it starts to fail then it's gone, maybe on to the wall of fame in the shed or most likely in the bin. Buying something bright and shiny that wizzes, whirls and is 10gms less doesn't float my boat. Sure the design and workings may interest me but I'd rather be in the Bush. So if I don't need it I haven't got it.

Recently I listened to a Walker who scantily gave a word to the day just gone, one of the best of the year I felt. Instead I heard all about gadgets and gear. Surprisingly he was quite offended when I pointed out that he seemed to be a Gadget Geek who walked and not just a bushwalker. His mate laughed and was proud to be a Gadget Geek walker.

Given two choices, one go to gadget central and spend a day or go Bush. Trees, leaves, High Plains or beaches wins for me.

So which are you?

[Travis22]

My hobby is simply being in the bush, i don't care what I'm doing or what stuff I have got.

95% of my gear is from high school days.

Travis.

[perfectlydark]

Bit of both for me. Was pretty heavy into gaming a few years ago and while I dont mind playing now and then ive lost the passion. Being in the bush is what does it for me too, the quiet, the peace. I dont bring any gadgets with me (except phone which stays off unless im gps tracking). Bushwalking would be my primary hobby/interest, just wish I had more time to devote to it

[Swampy460]

Can I be both !!!!;-)

Swampy

[walkon]

Perfectly dark that's what I meant, I should have been clearer. Bushwalkers would rather do just that, whereas the gadgetgeek fellow who walked spent most of his time playing/buying his toys with a bit of walking thrown in. Nothing wrong with that, I just spend my time differently.

PS Daniel come on post who you really are, be honest or I will out you

[icefest]

Porche non los dos?

I like camera and GPS and will always have them but I don't take many other electrical stuff out. I do wish I had a lighter kindle that I could take though.....

[Gadgetgeek]

Despite evidence to the contrary, When its time to hit the trail, I'm much more likely to leave gadgets at home. But that said, I generally take a long time (like most of us here I think) to pick my gear, so thats the geek side.

[north-north-west]

It's all about being out there. Cameras are good to play with and store memories, GPS can sometimes be useful for nav, PLB is a sensible backup, Kindle fills in the long evenings alone (especially in winter).
But with or without them, it's still just about getting out and exploring.

[GPSGuided]

The two feed each other...

[ULWalkingPhil]

I use gadgets everyday for work being a computer tech, I own my fair share of gadgets, people are often surprised I dont use gadgets on my travels, its great to get away from gadgets. Last thing I want to do is dig into my backpack and pull out gadgets.

I have in the past carried a Kindle Reader, mobile phone, camera, GPS and solar panel.

Kindle, I would have been lucky to have used it for half hour on a 4 day walk, solar panel I only take if im out longer than 4 or 5 days. Mobile phone is mainly for safety, it dont get switched on. GPS is mostly switched off. Camera I always take with me. Sometimes I leave camera behind and use my phone to take photos.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[GPPJ]

Walking is all things. Sometimes its therapy for me. Sometimes a photo hunt. Sometimes looking for a certain place, history or landscape.
Gadgets for safety are gold. GPS is gold but do I need a solar battery charger? No. Do I need a Yellow Brick or a PLB? I suppose so... I'm guilty of an above average meds kit; gadgets like Imodium, eye drops, sports tape.

[walkerchris77]

Both, gadgets make life a little more enjoyable. Your welcome to get a friction fire going if you like but I will use a match

[GPSGuided]

Ok, so how many vials of these do you want?

[walkerchris77]

Ok, so how many vials of these do you want?

Lol. Wft lol
just add whiskey.

[drewmac]

Too much tech around now in our world, sorry Phil....

My return to minimal bushwalking is everything about leaving all the complications somewhere else.

Kindle? I take a book...currently Tess of the D'Urbevilles, almost finished.
Sure take the gear you need, use current technology to make it lighter, better etc and gadgets achieve this but not to excess.

Surely the point is enjoying the natural environment.

[neilmny]

Always take my GPS, PLB, phone (dumb Bluetick phone for making phonecalls) and compass, but it's about getting out in the bush not using the gadgets.

[GPSGuided]

When did compasses get classified as a gadget for bushwalkers? Should we go back to sun, moon, stars and watches for navigation? Wait, isn't a watch also a gadget?

[perfectlydark]

When did compasses get classified as a gadget for bushwalkers? Should we go back to sun, moon, stars and watches for navigation? Wait, isn't a watch also a gadget?

its funny you mention this. People often talk about the advantages of compass vs gps usually in terms of reliability.
well on the weekend I decided to go to BCF and burn a $50 voucher I got given months back. After finding next to nothing I need, I settled on a better compass than the cheap ebay thing I use and a lifestraw.
The compass lasted the afternoon as I dropped it onto the tiles lol

[GPSGuided]

The compass lasted the afternoon as I dropped it onto the tiles lol

Yep, that satisfied the definition of a "gadget"!

[perfectlydark]

Breakable = gadget

[north-north-west]

Breakable = gadget

In that case, my body is a gadget. A cheap and nasty gadget, at that.

[cajun]

In their fishalogue series "A River Somewhere", Rob Sitch and Tom Gleisner talk about how people are attracted to accessory sports.

As noobie bushwalker I am amazed at the number of gadgets available, but still nowhere near as many as I need for fishing though

A River Somewhere has an episode set on the Howqua, and another on the Cobungra. Both excellent episodes from a geat series.

[perfectlydark]

Lol. Plus a buggy,.unreliable and heavy one

[neilmny]

When did compasses get classified as a gadget for bushwalkers? Should we go back to sun, moon, stars and watches for navigation? Wait, isn't a watch also a gadget?

Never mind the watch what about a chronometer and I imagine that the sextant was once thought of as a gadget.
Based on a recent thread one only needs a dog with an urgent need to defecate to find north.

[GPSGuided]

Based on a recent thread one only needs a dog with an urgent need to defecate to find north.

So why did our NPs ban dogs? I think they are in cahoot!

[nq111]

The gadget geek part of me is a poor substitute for not enough time to actually get out there.

At an earlier stage of life when I had more time for it my gear was much more basic and didn't concern me.

[Bluegum Mic]

I'm not a gaget geek at all. My phone comes with me but is switched off in my pack for emergencies. I have a plb and a gps but the gps doesn't always come along. I am however a gear geek. I love chopping and changing my kit every couple of years (pack, tent, sleeping bag/quilt etc). I will never be super ultralight but I'll be ultra comfortable and durable at the lightest possible weight
That being said when I'm out bush, I'm there purely for the experience. The gear fetish only comes out when I'm home stuck thinking about my next adventure. Tis why the summer months are so bad for me. I'll always wind up with some new snowboarding/skiing gear whilst waiting for winter to roll around lol

[GPSGuided]

Isn't CMA an earlier name for LPI here in NSW?

[GPPJ]

Isn't CMA an earlier name for LPI here in NSW?

Yes, used to be located at Bathurst. I was too.

[puredingo]

Hmmm. I've only just recently bought myself a mobile phone!....So I guess that demonstrates my position.

A PLB is definitely on my purchase list though.