July 1982 Issue of Backpacker Magazine – Superlight Revolution

Great stuff. Interesting for me is that many of the shelters, from obviously mainstream manufacturers of the time, are reasonably light compared to today's mainstream offerings. In many cases, lighter! May have something to do with the current lifetime warranties – manufacturers have to build heavier, more durable gear (?).

I want one of those 14 oz Marmot 25 degree down bags for $229…

How is that even possible?

I have to comment!

That article was the one that got me started into UL backpacking in 1982. I must have been a tiny child at the time.

That download file was strange for me. Every time that I tried to print it, the first three pages would print, and then it blew away my printer spooler. The only way I could get it to print was to keep restarting the printer spooler, and then printing the article two-up. Strange.

–B.G.–

Wow a blast from the past! I was a sophomore in high school when this came out. Printed it out just fine. A lot of companies not around anymore. When was the last time you had a 7 and 7?

I noticed the add too

Of course you would!

I especially liked the beginning where Nepalese and Mexicans were discussed. When you visit the Great Wall in China villagers in their 60's attempt to escort you for half a day just hoping for a chance at selling you a book at the end. Watching the loads of pop and water carriers gives you pause. Easily 60-80 lbs.Hardscrabble is barely adequate to describe the things I saw in China. I also think that the first attempts at lightweight gear benefited from a first take on the problems. There was light gear even in the early 70's. And I'll never forget Ray Jardine's discussion of plastic tarps which he was exposed to when he worked as a guide or instructor.

the weights on that gear is the same or lighter than gear that is almost 30years new. its all the features that the brands tell us we need. the blue kazoo on that is 2lbs, now its 3lbs. the tents are in the 4lbs range, now there all 5lbs. imagine if the people who owned all those companies back then didn't sell them off. All the gear might be like that but lighter. but I guess making money from features and add on items was more important than anything else in most cases.

I confess this is an analogy ,but 20 years ago I plunged into a different but analogous realm with lots of human labor. The audience didn't know what they were buying. Had I continued the next gen would have been the cheapest and easiest. Overtime it is clear that monopolists eventually dominate . Mostly inertia and a failure to challenge the models. But it costs nothing to shake it up.

anybody know a bit more information on this? season, exact route? it would be cool for someone to do this again.

Who still has gear that is on those lists? I still have my North Face Gold Kazoo. Anybody else?
As an aside, I was working in the outdoor retail business at that time – used to know Fred Williams, had a friend who cut fabric for Moonstone – and the shops I worked in could never sell any quantity of the lighter packs that came out then. Sleeping bags, yes; tents, to some degree; but the light packs just wouldn't move – everybody thought they were too flimsy.

A lot of the gear on those lists was some prototype made specifically for this purpose. So, it is unlikely that you are going to find much of it still floating around.

Immediately after reading that article, I purchased my Feathered Friends Swallow sleeping bag, and it still looks almost like new.

–B.G.–

That airlift got me thinking…granted its only 42" long…but 11oz for something with a modular feature doesn't seem bad for the materials available at the time…I mean heck…the NeoAir small is what…46" long and about 9 oz…i have no knowledge of the materials integrity but hey….

reminds me of something my uncle used to say. He pretty much specialized in Model A restoration and well vintage customization (not like new crate motors, but say custom parts that were available in say the 50s and 60s). Anyway, he would tell me about other car manufacturers who had air ride, power steering, advanced wiper systems years and years ago but were virtually forgotten about….'Nothing is new under the sun' is what he'd say…

Bob – Not thinking of the lists for the "Challenge" – I know that stuff was mostly custom, since the guys were in the biz. I meant the lists in the main article, of tents, packs, etc.

Reading this makes me want to grow out a "Magnum" stache :)

A lot of that article read like it could have been written last week. I depth and informative, and intelligent. Too bad they don't adhere to this model anymore.

Yes, Ken. That article was written back in the day when Backpacker still had its credibility. That was back when I still subscribed.

–B.G.–

I remember reading that article when it was originally published, and thinking "What a great idea".

Reading it again made me wonder whatever happened to Sierra West?

time to change mine

I just tried to download the backpacker article from Mediafire, but the article has gone. Google Books has a large number of Backpacker issues but not the July 82 edition.

Could someone please email me a copy of the article.

Or share a working link to download?

I believe that is copyrighted material.

–B.G.–

Not sure how far back their stock goes or if they reprint but here’s the info from backpacker.com

“If you know the exact month and year of the issue you want, call our customer service department at (800) 666-3434 to order it. Back issues cost $7.00 each.”

Apparently Backpacker's available issue for back order only goes back to 2009. Image to try contacting google next.