Hiding gear from wife/girlfriend

[ninjapuppet]

As the space needed to store my gear continues to grow, my mrs thinks I'm a gear buying addict. She's probably right, but I've concluded she doesn't need to know about every purchase. She doesn't know the thrill of hunting down the good deal. "So what if I won't use it until next year, it's 50% off." Shipment tracking numbers are key; I have to beat her home on the delivery date, and get rid of the packaging before she sees it. I have become........a gear junkie. Are there support groups?

[Strider]

I am afraid the only cure is RETAIL THERAPY!

[wayno]

i shop regularly to satiate my fixation with outdoor gear, over the years i've learned to resist the strong urge to purchase more than i used to , i've managed to slow down the rate at which i accumulate gear.....

[Moondog55]

Just ask to see the new handbags and shoes your truly beloved has bought
ALL of them

[ofuros]

Ahhhh .....50% off & free postage, is the magic incantation, my eyes glaze over, I break out in a sweat & my heart pulpitates.
My wife on the otherhand has a different reaction......Not More $%#&* Bushwalking Stuff !
Although she won't part with her compact Jetboil, collapsible cup, home-made hammock, TQ, beanie, thermals etc etc that she uses when we
go fishing off the local jetty.

[Dale]

Tell her the gear addiction is cheaper than cocaine... but only just.

[ggorgeman]

Remember that EVERY item of gear that you purchase IS necessary, you WILL need it one day.... So relax.

And don't forget to use your work address for delivery of online purchases

[wayno]

work address for delivery, great idea. hang on, i commute and work with my girlfriend.....

[norts]

I always use " it will make my walk safer, you want me to be safe don't you?".

Although losing a jobs slows down the habit.

Roger

[wayno]

i'm future proofing myself and stocking up in case of redundancy....

[LandSailor]

For those looking for ...ermm...a discreet method of receiving parcels this might be an option.

[stepbystep]

I always use " it will make my walk safer, you want me to be safe don't you?".

+1. Evil I know
Also there's a good case for shopping in store, no awkward deliveries...

I'm also fortunate in that because walking is part of my work, it's all tax deductible

[Strider]

I always use " it will make my walk safer, you want me to be safe don't you?".

Thanks! I've been doing a few solo night walks lately, and this will provide the perfect excuse for a new.headtorch

[BigBearHiker]

Although she won't part with her compact Jetboil, collapsible cup, home-made hammock, TQ, beanie, thermals etc etc that she uses when we
go fishing off the local jetty.

[/quote]

Hahaha that's awesome

[Bluegum Mic]

Im the reverse. Im the gear collecting female (bugger shoes and handbags...they're no use on the trail
My husband has long given up caring and wouldn't have a clue what gear I have. So long as I sell something when buying to clear the space in the gear cupboard (which reminds me of that super cheap auto add where he's craming stuff in the garage and it blows open). My problem is when Im not buying hiking gear Im buying skiing/snowboarding stuff

[wildernesswanderer]

Um I have never hid a purchase but some have cost me more, like the merino midlayer I bought yesterday from Macpac, it was $90 bucks off so thought yep got buy that, well the wife was with me and found a nice jacket, so that mid layer just cost me a extra $70 bucks but that was ok the jacket had $130 off it.
And she's the same, here I am buying a midlayer and she asks can I get this jacket. So she doesn't just buy thing either.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Um I have never hid a purchase but some have cost me more, like the merino midlayer I bought yesterday from Macpac, it was $90 bucks off so thought yep got buy that, well the wife was with me and found a nice jacket, so that mid layer just cost me a extra $70 bucks but that was ok the jacket had $130 off it.
And she's the same, here I am buying a midlayer and she asks can I get this jacket. So she doesn't just buy thing either.

You got screwed. She got a free jacket.

[Snowzone]

Tell her the gear addiction is cheaper than cocaine... but only just.

Depends what gear your buying... At least its a healthier addiction though.

Just ask to see the new handbags and shoes your truly beloved has bought
ALL of them

The shoes and handbags in my wardrobe become boots and packs.

[wildernesswanderer]

Um I have never hid a purchase but some have cost me more, like the merino midlayer I bought yesterday from Macpac, it was $90 bucks off so thought yep got buy that, well the wife was with me and found a nice jacket, so that mid layer just cost me a extra $70 bucks but that was ok the jacket had $130 off it.
And she's the same, here I am buying a midlayer and she asks can I get this jacket. So she doesn't just buy thing either.

You got screwed. She got a free jacket.

Yeah that's why I said my mid-layer cost me a extra $70 bucks...

[corvus]

I know this is all tongue in cheek however having a really open sharing relationship with your wife/partner I have found over the past 44 years works best and even now that we are both OAP's she always says if that is what you need just buy it perhaps that is just to "shut me up" eh!!
corvus

[nq111]

so many familiar anecdotes.

First one works for me is to make a quick scan of her 'essentials' - 3hr haircuts, earings for every 2nd day of the year, footwear to match all 600 dresses. Don't go too hard - it is very obvious with a little prodding and more damage can be done!

Second point out the cost of what most 'real blokes' get into for hobbies - motorbike? 4x4? big boat for fishing?

Last attempt would be to suggest buying gear is the only substitute for even more trips to exotic mountains - and much cheaper. "I would have gone to Mt Blanc but thought of you so bought a nice climbing pack instead'

I must admit - i am pretty lucky. Other half spends fairly well so can't really complain of my purchases.

[forest]

My name is Nathan and I too have an addiction to buying gear

My excuse is I don't drink & smoke so I use that money towards fueling my gear addiction. Figure outdoor activities are a healthy option to spending money.
Sometimes it works....others not.

Every now and then I'll slip in a sly unknown purchase but that's a bit hard now with my wife at home with a baby.
Used to be able to intercept the postie sometimes before she got home from work.

Selling off some gear always works when wanting new stuff. Funny thing is even though I might sell some gear to fund other equipment..... I always end up with more than I started with

[Wollemi]

Try buying a new wind-surfer (2.8m) and two sails, and not telling for weeks.
Oh - we live in a unit...

[sailfish]

From when we got married, we just put everything into consolidated revenue but that meant getting agreement on all purchases which I found too restricting because there was always a good logical reason why money should go on other than my recreational activities. So we decided to each have a small personal allowance. Now there is no need to hide anything as I am free to spend my allowance how I want. I do have to stay in budget and ensure there is storage space.


Regards,
Ken

[Lindsay]

It starts out innocently enough - go on, its only a spork, just one won't hurt you....then before you know it you have parcels from Tarptent and Gossamer Gear landing on your doorstep and you are a lost cause....Pointing out your good ladys expenditure on shoes does not hide the fact that you have bcome a hopeless gear junkie.

[Strider]

Just pulled the trigger on one of these. I am a dead man when she finds out

http://www.zebralight.com/H51Fw-AA-Floody-Headlamp-Neutral-White_p_47.html

So we decided to each have a small personal allowance. Now there is no need to hide anything as I am free to spend my allowance how I want. I do have to stay in budget and ensure there is storage space.

I like the sound of that. I will have to have a chat to her when the Zebralight arrives

[Pongo]

You folk are all so nice, but really what you need is a way to have her encourage you to shop.

So for a couple of weekends do a day hike in the same area, same departure time, time return time. The 3rd or 4th time you're out there (once she's used to your routine), when you finish up find a nice warm pub and settle in for a few frothies, wait a few hours past dark, smear yourself in mud and return.

Now begin to share you tale of woe... Landslide? Lost map? Solar Eclipse? What ever it was, you JUST made it out of there in one piece, you JUST averted a crisis... and it was all thanks to your trusty new piece of gear, you'd have been a goner without it! But in hindsight, you really need to change that other widget over, its become a liability after your brush with death.

She'll be so relieved you're back, she'll ask who to make the cheque out to.

* Sadly, I've adapted this story from reality. It wasn't nearly as tongue-in-cheek and there was no pub involved , but it will justify buying some more kit

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Just pulled the trigger on one of these. I am a dead man when she finds out

http://www.zebralight.com/H51Fw-AA-Floo ... _p_47.html

You won't be disappointed (even if she's livid and you get the silent treatment).

Zebralight make UNREAL quality gear... I've got two - the H502 & SC51 - so far

[Mountain Rocket]

I just convinced my partner to come along more often. The beauty of this is it means I get to go gear shopping for her as well as me!

Option two is to dig a gear cave in your yard and hide everything there. She would be none the wiser I am sure...

[Strider]

[quote="Robert H"]I just convinced my partner to come along more often. The beauty of this is it means I get to go gear shopping for her as well as me! /quote]
Unfortunately this doesn't work when she's 30 weeks pregnant and:

A) Can't walk more than about 100m on flat ground.

B) Struggles to fit into her own clothes, nevermind the likes of technical walking gear.