Bounce box redux

imported
#1

OK, so what are the dimensions of your bounce box? Does the post office charge you more for a bigger box even if it weighs the same?

I have some old moving boxes but they seem a little big.

greaver

#2

I used a small box about 1 cubic foot. You can use any size since the PO charges by weight not size. Do note that priority mail is times better for a bounce box even though it is more expensive. Priority mail can be forwarded if you don’t open the box but parcel post has to be paid each time. There where times when I didn’t want to wait for my box so I left a forwarding card or just didn’t need anything out of it at that town. Talk to the postal workers. I found most of them very helpful when I was mailing stuff ahead or home.

Darth Packman
MeGa '99, GaVa '01

Darth Pacman

#3

Okay, unless there are things you seriously must have at large quanities that you’ve already bought, then dont use big ass postage boxes. I have seen too many hikers take all that they have bought and either send them home, or stick 'um in hiker boxes.
Then it takes more cash to buy what they need, or desire besides the immense amounts of garbage they thought they would love, but after 3 months hate…

The best bet is this…

send yourself travel checks.

Easy, fast and safe.

It saves $10-30 bucks per box on postage, plus the expense of the items you bought, plus the later postage to bounce stuff that you may never use around.

If you use Trav.Check, then you know after a while what you will spend, you keep the diet varied, and you can buy yourself exactly what you need till your next Trav.Chex drop, and know what you can drop to eat like a king.

Account for $30-50 per stop…unless you plan on living as if you were home…then of course it goes way the hell up.
(Again this varies…say every 120-150 miles…$70 is plenty FOR FOOD ALONE!!!)

I think having too much cash on hand takes away the experiance, so go sparingly…but tastes vary.

May The Ankles Roll Sparringly.

Lion King

Lion King

#4

Interesting take Lion King. I really dont like the idea of bounce boxes but I feel like they may have a useful purpose. There a number of items that I would like intermittently but would not want to carry the whole time. i.e. nail clippers, razor, shaving cream, vitamin refills, spare socks, map and guidebook sections GrantedI could buy most of these items along the trail but I would end up throwing them away after a single use which seems a bit wasteful. The guide book sections and maps of course probably wouldnt be available.

I’m also kind hard to fit shoe-wise so I was thinking of putting in a spare set of shoes that have already been broken in.

Now you have me thinking…hmmm

:boy

ggreaver

#5

Well, of course things like that you may want on the occasion…I was thinking of food costs, and the like alone. I sent a pair of New Balance All terrian to Damascus and used them till Harpers Ferry, where I had my first set of boots (Mailed from Damascus) wating in a box…and my winter clothing I mailed out in Erwin and got back in Dalton Mass…again, tastes vary.

LK

Lion King

#6

OK, the fundamental question to figure out is how are you going to resupply yourself while on a thru-hike.

First, figure out what you are going to need resupplied. As a minimum, it probably includes maps and sections of the ALDHA Companion or Wingfoot’t handbook. Maybe camera film, or prescription medications.

Second, figure out how you are going to be resupplied. If you have a home base, and some one there dependable, then have them mail boxes according to your adjusted base line schedule. If you don’t then you will probably need to use a bounce box.

Myself, I relied on periodic resupply mail drops, and didn’t use a bounce box. And never missed it either.

Peaks

#7

in 2000 i used drops and bounces…in 2001 i used neither… much happier in 2001…no closed post offices to deal with, no rushing to beat the clock, could purchase fantasy foods like dominos’ and put it in a big zippie for later massacre…you are never really that far from a re-supply and can save a ton of money and frustration and you can still have un-attainables sent to you as you need or want them…you will surely learn what your needs are and they will change dramatically as you stroll along…

fausa

fausa