Gear list recommendation tool

[B C]

Hi-
After many years helping friends put together trips, traveling on my own around the world, and running logistics and gear for a large non-profit outdoor club, I'm hoping to put some of my gear knowledge and reviewing and database to work, and hoping to expand my database to more areas and trip styles.

To further this effort, I want to offer my help in creating a gear list for your next trip. I want to learn what others really want in terms of gear. Your request and the research I do for you will go into my gear data system, which will then help me make better recs for all. I'll check in briefly after your trip to see what worked and what didn't.

If you're interested, here's the link: Its designed for people without a lot of existing gear– my goal is to get more people outside, not help you pick grams off your stove– so if you're looking for specific recs on a single item, perhaps just ask on the forum here.

[Greg Mihalik]

There are a number of tools to do this. The major issue, IMHO, is how to keep it current.

In two or three seasons, the pants, shoes, and shirts will be unavailable or "updated". In four seasons, tents and sleeping bags will have model/name changes as well as tweaks.

The most useful approach I found is to "standardize" a gear list template into categories and components, and then "drop in" the gear lists of various folks hiking in various climates. I compared the Harldsons, Skurkas, and Dixons, etc, against my list. It served as a "sanity check", and showed where I might improve.

Once I had my gear list completed to satisfaction I stopped comparing and started tuning. My guess is that only newbies will be interested, meaning the tools Has to be current.

The mechanics are easy. The maintenance is hell.

[B C]

My goal, as the database grows, is to develop dynamic link content and crawling with gear companies to find the current products and weights and such. A little exercise in data mining but I think it will work, just need to make sure the demand and platform is there.

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