Well, I guess it is close to that time when everyone posts their favorite gear for the year.
Category Archives: Backpacking Gear
Patagonia, shame on you
Let me state up front: I like Patagonia products. I have lots of Patagonia items and have been doing business with them since the early 1980’s, when they were Chouinard Equipment. The gear is good, and Patagonia gets top dollar for it.
This may surprise you, but I am not going to talk about gear; I am going to talk about advertising.
Dave Chenault on Gear Reviews…
CREDIBILITY
Nice article on Bedrock & Paradox by Dave, “That’s not a review”
Dave is not as subtle as me:)
But in the same vein as what I wrote in several posts:
I took it a bit further in Backpacking Gear Is Getting Boring
Managing Your Recreation Inventory
No, this isn’t about gear. A while back I wrote an article about backpacking gear getting boring. So is camping gear.
It is time to talk about getting out into the wilderness and actually using your gear.
Sometimes I am amazed by the amount of time so many folks spend on the Internet talking about camping or backpacking, but not really going out and actually doing it. So many people talk about not having the time to camp or hike. Here is a little secret, you can go camping and/or backpacking over 100 days per year and work full time!
Before you say, “But I don’t live close to wild areas,” consider doing this: MOVE
If getting outdoors is important, which I assume is true for most people who spend days on end on Internet forums talking about it, then move if you live far from recreational opportunities.
The 4 (not 10) Essentials for Hiking and Backpacking
Where I live and hike, each year dozens of people are rescued because they lack the skills, experience, common sense, brains, or equipment to stay safe. And almost every year some die. And each year it gets worse, because people read about places to hike on the Internet or in trail guides and head out without the skills, experience or gear that could keep them alive.
Picture by Craig Wisner.
Gear and equipment is important, if you know why you need it, how to use it, and when certain items are necessary.
If you hike or backpack, then you probably have heard of the 10 Essentials that should be carried on every trip, even day hikes.
Continue reading The 4 (not 10) Essentials for Hiking and Backpacking