Knol article: “How To Backpack”

[David Schroeder]

I'm new around here and wanted to say hello. Has anyone else seen this article?

http://knol.google.com/k/ryan-moulton/how-to-backpack/oggVvQ9h/aMOKbQ#

Found it on the front page of Google's new Knol service (a competitor to Wikipedia).

A good bit of this is good, traditional backpacking advice, but there's some things which are really overkill and others that are overlooked.

Particularly, the section on footwear is interesting, some excerpts:

"Boots….Some people prefer a lower top boot, but unless you are also investing in trekking poles I don't think this is safe."
"You'll inevitably slip into a stream at some point, and a well waxed boot with a high top will minimize the amount of water sloshing around your feet for the rest of the day."
"Fabric that advertises being "breathable" just isn't going to cut it long term, and won't buy you much comfort after its first few days on the trail. So, get the sturdiest stuff available. Gore-tex can help on the inside, but make sure the outside is leather."

[Roger Caffin]

If that is the level of the competition, it could get a bit boring …

[David Schroeder]

At the very least, it is missing the different perspectives that others could bring to the site. Having articles written by one person means original research and narrow points of view, two of the things Wiki strives to avoid.

[Author]

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