| Topic: Backpacker Gear Issue, The 10 Essentials, How Valid and Accurate are Recommendatio | < Next Oldest | Next Newest > |
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| Post Number: 1
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striker 
Group: Members
Posts: 146
Joined: Jan. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 05 2013, 10:21 pm |
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Can't argue with having a compass, first aid kit, and fire starter as well as extra food. I doubt I need to spend money for the products they list. I've had the same compass for years and rarely use it. I made my own first aid kit and place it in a zip lock plastic bag. Besides, I don't see a tourniquet or Israeli Battle Dressing. Their recommendations for knives suck. The Bear Gryllis one is made of an inexpensive stainless steel, common in kitchen knives. Does not hold edge long. The SOG Power Assist is prone to failures as noted in Amazon reviews. Why would I spend $82 for a hiking sun hat by Tilly or $200 for a Leki Hiking Pole? Are they just looking for what's new?
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| Post Number: 2
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treelinebackpacker
Group: Members
Posts: 409
Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 05 2013, 10:51 pm |
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I think it's mostly that they do in fact recommend only based on what's new.
People, generally, aren't interested in seeing old gear they've seen around for years.
Sure, this stuff might not be the best out there, but apparently someone liked it, or received a check for saying they did.
On the defense of backpacker, it would be pretty boring to see the same gear awards for the same products year after year.
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| Post Number: 3
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10788
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 05 2013, 11:49 pm |
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I think you will find Tilley Hats well recommended all over the place. Just one example. Tilley is the hat you buy once and wear for 15 years.
I see your point, but not all of us are poor students. Some people like to know what is worth the coin, and what isn't. It is like many other articles of gear. There are different pieces of gear for different price ranges.
It may be like comparing Wilderness Systems Kayaks to Nigel Dennis kayaks.
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 4
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wcolucci
Group: Members
Posts: 1755
Joined: Feb. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 06 2013, 3:42 pm |
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Hey I love my WS kayak...and I haven't been a poor college student in over 35
years....(boy it sux to say that)
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| Post Number: 5
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oldhkr
Group: Members
Posts: 34
Joined: Mar. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 06 2013, 8:57 pm |
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The last few years Backpacker no longer publishes the matrix of gear ratings in the annual gear issue. You had to view it online. Is it available this year and if so where?
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| Post Number: 6
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| Post Number: 7
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| Post Number: 8
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KaiWinters
Group: Members
Posts: 64
Joined: Mar. 2013
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Posted on: Mar. 13 2013, 1:56 pm |
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I tried on a Tilley today...wow awesome fit and hat...I have a small head...goes along with the rest of me...sigh...and have a hard time finding hats that don't sit half way down my ears...This hat fit perfectly...I did not buy it because of the cost, $80...but I'm having serious second thoughts.
I downloaded their catalog and several pages of reviews on the hat...the Airflow...perhaps that will push me over the edge to buy it tomorrow.
I too find some of the stuff a bit silly or there are better and less costly ways to go about filling the list.
I like knives and prefer a KaBar BK16 fixed blade and a Benchmade mini Barrage for EDC. I also make my own first aid kits.
I do appreciate what is listed as I use it to review what I have and use...it never hurts to review your kit and think about its' current validity and possible improvements.
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Waking up is a great way to start your day...
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| Post Number: 9
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| Post Number: 10
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10497
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 13 2013, 3:01 pm |
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I don't pay attention to the 10 essentials. Almost everything I/we bring is "essential" depending on the situation or possible situation. I don't bring a hat. I have a hat built-in to my rainshell. I bring backups of things I consider important (two alcohol stoves), two small knives, lighters in several different locations (on person, in firstaid kit, in stove kit, in general goods bag), two headlamps - one on person and one in general goods bag, parachute cord, etc.
I bring snow goggles in all seasons except for mid-summer and then I bring sun glasses (never did until I ran into a freak storm a few years back).
I bring three compasses, two maps, and two GPS systems.
In winter, I bring a backup shelter (bivy) along with my main shelter. I also bring a closed cell foam mattress along with my primary mattress in winter.
Each trip brings it's own challenges and have planned even down to the role of individuals on a particular hike (lead navigator, Medical, Tail of group, etc) depending on the seriousness of the hike.
We often discuss who will be bringing stoves, how much fuel we have as a collective, who has what shelters, items that each person will bring. On an extended hike last winter, we all carried extra items so that if one person lost their gear, we would be able to continue on without concern.
The 10 essentials is a great place to start.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 11
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toejam
the high road is hard to find
Group: Members
Posts: 1461
Joined: Mar. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 15 2013, 12:25 am |
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What are the 10 essentials? Everyone has a different list.
(and I'm not really interested in yours)
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| Post Number: 12
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bigsilk
Group: Members
Posts: 671
Joined: Feb. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 15 2013, 11:41 am |
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The list under the 'NEW TEN ESSENTIALS' is pretty much how I've gotten the basics down; buy it, find it, make it. During the colder weather, I use plastic pint Smirnoff vodka bottles. The are made to conform to the body, so I fill a couple with water for the trail, keeping them inside interior pockets. I fill with warm/hot water before bed to come with me into my bag, providing a bit of warmth at first, and keeping it from freezing for morning coffee.
As for the 'system' approach, I keep my first aid kit, repair kit and sewing kit together. See: 'Repair.' And all are useful in one sense or another all repair situations, be they of the body or the gear. Thankfully I've never had to use the sewing kit on a boo-boo, but I have set a dislocated pinkey with duct tape.
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There are only two things I don't like about people: They take too long to cook and taste like crap when they're done.
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| Post Number: 13
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10497
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Mar. 17 2013, 7:27 pm |
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I've just decided that Fireball Whiskey is now part of my ten essentials..
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 14
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Talus.
Delsolation is my destination
Group: Members
Posts: 1893
Joined: Aug. 2006
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 4:51 pm |
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I'm pretty certain that Backpacker's main purpose is to sell expensive gear.
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“Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.”
― Anatoli Boukreev
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| Post Number: 15
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sarbar
Hiker Trash
Group: Members
Posts: 16476
Joined: Sep. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 22 2013, 1:05 pm |
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Honestly? It depends who is writing the article and what items they have procured for being reviewed, what is new on the market and or hasn't been written about. And of those items, what fits the bill for the article idea.
I can say this as someone who has written a review article for the magazine.....
So take reviews with a grain of salt, but hey...you might find new companies or gear you hadn't heard of before.
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Trail Cooking, Recipes, Gear and Beyond:
Trail Cooking & Freezer Bag Cooking
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| Post Number: 16
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CenAZwalker
Group: Members
Posts: 96
Joined: Jul. 2012
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Posted on: Mar. 22 2013, 3:43 pm |
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Scoff if you will, but if you don't have a $350 rain jacket, you most likely are going to die out there.
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I've never bought one retail, and I'm not sure I could bring myself to spend that much on a hat... but if you know your size you can often score them for next to nothing on eBay. The last one I bought I spent all of $22 on, including shipping. 
Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
