Kelty Cosmic Down 20

“Second Kelty Cosmic and searching used. Options for finding good used gear with reduced risk of encountering scammy mcscammerfaces include Reddit UL Geartrade and Backpacking Light gear swap. Whiteblaze is a pretty sparsely populated board these days, but the upshot of that is when someone offers something for sale, which they sometimes still do, you're less likely to be beaten to the punch. There are also still some good FB groups for this. Backpacking Gear Flea Market is one that's well-administered. Caution is always advised, but there are steps one can take to avoid being scammed. One thing that works in your favor is the likelihood the kids' gear will still be in good condition once they've outgrown it, in which case you'll be able to recoup some of the initial outlay. Speaking specifically to shelters there are some really good value choices available. You could pick up a Nemo Hornet 3p for $350 that would accommodate all three of you, then you could grab a tarp to take along when Mom joins. If she's comfy tarping the kids could have the Nemo and she could join you in something like a GG Twin, or if she's not comfy tarping she could join the critters in the Hornet. I mention tarps specifically for the second shelter because they're inexpensive, but they're also super light and take up very little pack space. I also think they're pretty cool! You could undertake something similar by choosing the X-Mid 2, which is even cheaper than the Hornet and a very nice shelter. This would of course mean you'd have to sleep elsewhere, but it doesn't sound like that'd necessarily be a problem. Point is, you have options. Also, while it's true the five year old likely can't (and of course shouldn't) be expected to carry much, I'm willing to bet the eight year old would be proud to accept responsibility for a few pounds. That'd be a game changer,”