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Overheard a guy at the REI return counter call his new sleeping pad 'a noisy betrayal'
I was waiting in line in Portland last month and the guy in front of me was returning a fancy inflatable pad. He told the clerk, 'Every time I moved, it sounded like a bag of chips getting murdered. I felt like I was sleeping on a giant whoopee cushion.' It made me realize I never check reviews for noise. Now I'm paranoid my own gear sounds like a symphony of crinkles. Has anyone else had a tent item that was just way too loud?
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torres.drew5mo ago
My old rain jacket was so loud in a quiet forest... sounded like I was wrapped in fast food bags.
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felix_jones5mo ago
That "wrapped in fast food bags" sound is the worst. I've noticed so much outdoor gear is stupid loud now, like they forgot people use it to actually go outside. My last pair of hiking pants could wake up a bear from a mile away.
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wendy6744mo ago
Have you ever tried washing the pants with a fabric softener that's meant for outdoor gear? It actually helps break in that stiff, crunchy coating without wrecking the waterproofing. I had a pair of Columbia pants that sounded like I was walking on potato chips every time I moved... drove me crazy. Used a tech wash with some fabric conditioner made for Gore-Tex and it toned it down a lot. Still not completely silent but way better than that fast food bag thing. Also just wearing them around the house for a while helps too, the friction softens them up over time.
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