Backpacker’s “Gear Guide” just out

PS I have a personal theory on why people still insist on traditional backpacking, and it's this: the ladies in their lives.

My sister (a heavyweight backpacker) finally helped me understand this. Basically, girls in general have a higher affinity for (perceived) security and cleanliness. (Not all girls, not all the time. But your average female could be said to place more importance on security and ability to get clean and stay clean than your average male.)

So the more your camping setup is big, complicated, and "Eddie Bauer," the more comfortable/relaxed/secure your (stereotypical) female companions are likely to feel. And the more likely they are to, well, you know. Want to come… err… along. Well okay I'm not articulating myself well here. Please ignore any double entendre you may think you are reading.

Anyway, back to the subject. I say who can blame the heavyweight backpackers? I'd hump (excuse me) a 50-lb pack 6 miles a day for the comfort of my girlfriend. The fact that it would take me 4 days to walk a distance I could dayhike is irrelevant, I guess. In that hypothetical situation, there would be different drivers. After all, lots of us go car camping right? There are different drivers for that, too.

When it comes to true Backpacking, for me, my goal is simple: get to places that take more than one day of walking to see. I camp to walk, rather than walking to camp. But I also have a girlfriend who hates the bush!

Every year the Backpacker Gear Guide gets published and like clockwork it gets roundly trashed as being utterly irrelevant to backpackers needs. Somehow when people publish things contrary to our own establish beliefs they’ve fallen into that hellish pit of bias. As if somehow our own opinions have reached the heavenly heights of the Gods by somehow circumventing that tar pit.

Truth is we’re all bias. In fact the more time, energy, money and thought we invest in our particular phobia, the more bias we become. The only way we can overcome the bias of others is to first deal with our own, untoward tendencies.

As a member in (hopefully) good standing of the UL community, I don’t really care too much what Backpacker published, at least with regard to the UL backpacking. The fact that they’ve published anything at all and continue to do so, at least indicates that they recognize the community exist and is a force to be reckoned with.

Nor do I believe that their copy is somehow tied to ad rates. I’ve gotten several good write-up’s in Backpacker (including the current Gear Guide) and have never been approached to buy advertising. I do believe they tend to focus on more mainstream products, ie. products from larger more established manufactures. Frankly that not only doesn’t bother me it makes me feel somewhat relieved.

I’m not sure I want to be a mainstream manufacture. I can’t think of any good reason to trade my time designing gear and talking with customers with trying to maintain a payroll, chasing government regulations, employee problems, etc. that plague larger businesses. Granted if I’m to remain in business for the long haul I’ll likely to get drug there kicking and screaming. But I, for one, view that day with a significant degree of apprehension.

Remember, not all of us stand on the same step on the staircase to backpacking nirvana. Nor are all of our destinations and desires the same. That which lacks value to some, may be quite valuable to others on a different path.

Ron

Ron's post is one of the most insightful that I've seen, whether in this thread or others. I've never seen "hike your own hike", or a variation thereof, put more elegantly.

I normally am not one for an 'attaboy' post, but felt that I had to comment on this one.

roosterk

"That which lacks value to some, may be quite valuable to others on a different path."

True. But when a publication that purports to serve a niche (i.e. backpackers) chases after profits by morphing into a "lifestyle" magazine with Gollum-like determination, then some of the criticisms leveled at it are actually quite legitimate.

LOL… that reminded me of a hard-core backpacker who schlepped an aluminum lawn chair for his urban girlfriend! (It was a wimp hike) She (wearing blue jeans) was most put out that he was offering to buy her a backpack for her girlfriend. I gently suggested that he get her another present that would be more to her liking AS WELL AS the pack.

Yeah buying a backpack for your non-hiking girlfriend is in the same realm as Homer buying Marge a bowling ball for her birthday.

They say it's easier to make a wife of a backpacker than it is to make a backpacker of a wife!

Good words, Mr. Moak.

Excellently spoken, Ron. Might I add the following:

If someone who subscribes to a magazine doesn't like its content, cancel the subscription. And if that person doesn't have a subscription in the first place, well just don't get one. Save your energy and money for whatever tickles your fancy, and leave others to do the same for whatever they like. IMHO.

All within the bounds of law and good manners, of course.

JRS

I purposefully chose to respond here to Jeffrey's post, and not Ron Moak's — which is a short version of my long winded thoughts. That is because I entirely respect Jeffrey's response to me, feel I need to respond, and totally respect Ron Moak (of Guru status in my mind) at the same time.

Jeffrey — Thank you for your post, I am not criticizing nor am I condemning what you wrote previously. Thank you.

Et al.,

If this is taken for granted to be a world in which the majority of people do not care about wilderness or the value of wilderness, then people who do care need to condition their converstations on that recognition of a matter of fact — they don't care and are greedy. Talking about or to those people will really not get you anywhere. That is and was my sole point previously.

To fight with people with more money, more power, and generally with the freedom to accomplish their goals at your expense is foolish — although it is understandable, laudable, and I will and would support it to do so. (Don't think I am saying all this because I am a wuss.)

People like Ron Moak and pj have taught me, inspired me, and are providing me with both insight and gear here by their endeavors. I would not otherwise have either the gear or the insight to write this.

Therefore, all I was saying is, to quote an old phrase, "give peace a chance" — especially dealing with Rodale and publishers or other business interests who might help in building what I can only call an "UltrLIte Consciousness".

I have seen more fights between people than I wished, as a lawyer, because they wouldn't respect each other in the first instance and in the second insisted on beating on each other, when it could produce no good result, ultimately, for either. I think, unless proven wrong, with the size of what I perceive as the growing UL movement or reality, those people (Rodale, et al.) will listen and listen even more seriously as the UL community in a directed, concentrated, and articulate manner addresses the Backpaker magazines or individuals of the world with sharp, coherent comments. So go for it Ron, pj, Jeffrey and the rest …. one for all and all for one — but watch out for my tent or tarp space, a grizzly I might want to handle but not a human.

bd

I haven't seen the new one yet, but just the fact that they could recommend the Big Sky tents as a best ultralight knowing the production issues they have turns me off.

Nothing new about recommending stuff from problematic gearmakers… Backpacker did a little splash for "Light Is Right" about three years ago. Remember that one?

The more people that Backpacker magazine can bring into the outdoors the better. One of the benefits of Backpacker's large readership is that they have some ability to influence key environmental issues with their fantastic pictures and trip reports. If the general public does not know that these places exist, will they care if they are destroyed?

I've also seen articles about LNT, volunteer trail work, basic safety in addition to some recognition of the smaller gear manufacturer's. It's not all bad, it's simply written to a different audience.

Kirk

Back in 1987 I began guiding beginning backpackers and subscribed to Backpacker. After reading a few of their equipment reviews I wondered if the reviewer had even seen a photo of the gear. They reviewed a tent that I had and the review was completely bogus.

That being said: Back is the early 90's, they had a group of hikers review a number of packs, with every hiker carrying each pack. This aggregate review was, IMHO, great. Unlike most of their reviews it was several pages and I used the information as a guide to buy my first Mountainsmith backpack. Until I bought a LuxuryLight, two years ago, the Mountainsmith was my pack-of-choice.

From time to time I get a stack of Backpacker back issues from a friend and flip through for a look at what they're up to. I think that for the casual reader Backpacker provides as good a place as any to start getting information. I don't have a problem with folks carrying a 60# pack. If they keep at it they'll run into some of us and eventually may "see the lightitude".

Denis, I agree with your estimation of the mag. I read a review of a tent recently where the reviewer commented on how the mesh vented the tent wonderfully in hot rainy weather.. only problem is the tent fly had no vent; so mesh or no mesh, the tent won't vent. I think sometimes these reviewers just write up some fictional text to go with the stock pictures they are given by the companies who buy ad space.
Nonetheless, back when I knew nothing about civilian hiking gear, and before the internet was a source of information, the mag showed me some cool gear, and got me interested in the sport.
If it can bring responsible newbies into the sport, that's good for future product demand and development. If it brings tequilla swilling frat boys with eddie bauer packs and portable printers into the backcountry; I hope it goes out of print.

Brett,

On occcasion I have run into TSFB. They only go out once or twice before they realize that it's hard work and there aren't many TSF chicks in the woods. Noisy hunters are more of a problem during hunting season. I'm especially wary of bow hunters. One morning, in the Mokelumne Wilderness, I found a razor sharp arrow, sticking in a log next to my tent. It hadn't been there the evening before. I don't think hunters read Backpacker much. Come to think of it TSFB probably only see back issues of Backpacker at the laundromat.

"PS I have a personal theory on why people still insist on traditional backpacking, and it's this: the ladies in their lives.

My sister (a heavyweight backpacker) finally helped me understand this. Basically, girls in general have a higher affinity for (perceived) security and cleanliness. (Not all girls, not all the time. But your average female could be said to place more importance on security and ability to get clean and stay clean than your average male.)

So the more your camping setup is big, complicated, and "Eddie Bauer," the more comfortable/relaxed/secure your (stereotypical) female companions are likely to feel. And the more likely they are to, well, you know. Want to come… err… along. Well okay I'm not articulating myself well here. Please ignore any double entendre you may think you are reading."

What the heck?? Offhand I have around 40 lady friends who hike and backpack-many of whom are divas in normal life-but not ONE of us is prissy in the backcountry. I meet tons of other ladies every year when hiking, and they are all like us: we get filthy and sweaty just like the men, and most of us have lighter packs (because duh, heavy packs are not so easy to haul when you are short!)
Methinks you need to meet more womenfolk. Or maybe it is because we are not out there impress men, but rather to do what we like!

*as a side note, I also provide my own security when backpacking, and while having menfolk around is nice, they are not needed to protect me or to haul my junk. Mr. Kimber does that for me-and never backtalks either. (My husband is a backpacker also, but has a bad work schedule. Ironically when my husband does come along, my pack weight goes up as he carries tons of photo gear, and I carry his gear.)

Sarah:

No, please, not more filthy, sweaty women! Whatever happened to damsels who fuss over husbands and children, bathe in rose scented waters, and do embroidery?

And no, sewing silnylon stuff sacks is NOT embroidery!

— heh heh —

Well, see, I do most of that in my spare time (I can cook, sew, make bread, embroider fabric (I used to make hippie clothes for Grateful Dead shows that I sold), I spoil my kid (yes, I am a Suburban mom that drops her kid off at school in an SUV I admit) and I give my husband tootsie rubs nightly. I like being pampered and using foo-foo body products.

But alas, I love getting filthy on the trail ;-)

Ok, I'll pitch in my 2 cents on the guide. For me, I have never understood the GG issue-all it reads as is a large advertisement that you paid good money for.
I guess before the internet it probably had a place, but months before the guide comes out, we already know about the new gear now!
It is honestly the one issue I never buy (though I will admit to flipping thru it at the store.)

OK, back to the subject matter…

I guess since I only started backpacking 3 years ago, I can still remember approaching the sport/hobby with ZERO knowledge whatsoever. The beauty of the gear guide is that it breaks down the gear into major categories (e.g. pack, tent, boot, etc.) and gives you a good listing of choices for each — something to start with.

The internet has all that info and much more, of course, but it's pretty hard for a newbie to wade into material like that. I went through the 2004 Gear Guide in great detail, comparing all the specs in the tables. That helped give me an idea about general features and weight ranges — something to start with before wading chest deep into the Internet.

Sssshhhhhhhhh! Hush you! I guess maybe I should start bringing deodorant? hehheh….but that weighs like a WHOLE ounce!

*side note: after a long trip on the PCT this summer, my husband picked me up. About halfway home, I tiredly noticed he had all the windows cracked. Hahhah. And then he told me to put my boots back on.

Sorry, I changed my post above to get back to topic. No worries, I won't display your post — this time. :)

Well, that is true, for people getting into the outdoors it is scary-and it doesn't help if you are buying gear online or at a badly staffed shop. It does help people compare and see what else is out there. I'll give the GG that!

Sarah,

You missunderstand my post. I totally agree with your Security comments. The majority of our backpacking club (200+ members) are women. A goodly number are totally in love with their Dana Designs Terraplane packs. They're not sure their SunShowers will fit in an ultralight pack. This is also true for a significant percentage of the men. Not for the SunShowers but more likely for the GPS Weather Sattelite reciever with color printer, Leatherman Gargantuan Mulit-tool and 5lb., 26 blade, Swiss Army Knife. LOL. My Sweetheart, Susan is 5'1" and 110#. She loves her LuxuryLight pack and is satisfied with a 26# pack for 7 days.

As to security: In the 21 years I have been leading beginnin backpackers, we have never met a threatening person in the back country. I teach that reasonable prudence is really all you need.

Maybe it is up here, but for the most part I don't see monster loads anymore (unless it is winter or you are on the Wonderland Trail at Rainier, which is hiked by many not from the Northwest).

It has been ages since I saw people with lawn chairs or circus tents. Maybe it is because we have so many REI's and similar shops to buy gear from, or that the Northwest is very outdoorsy. For as much grief as I give REI for changing the stores lately, they do a good job of selling mideight to lightweight gear. They have been very keen locally to promote lighter options. The days of the huge Gregory's seems to be fading a bit ;-)
The ones with the old school heavy gear seem to be either out of staters or good ol boys that hunt and hike and tend to buy middle of the road gear from hunting and fishing outdoor shops.
Many are seeing the light indeed. It has been great the past couple years seeing the packs getting smaller on so many.

Off Topic drift:Reasonable prudence? I politely disagree. The cold blooded killings of the mother/daughter here in Wa opened up many eyes this year on the Pinnacle Lake Trail. A very sad case indeed. At minimum all should be carrying pepper spray, which a couple years ago helped a female ranger take down a serial rapist that prowled on female rangers at Rainier.
I'd rather be prepared (and yes, I even watch the weight in this area) than live on luck alone. I encountered a severely creepy man a number of years ago that had my internal warnings going off while hiking. Many women ignore gut feelings, as it is rude to be rude to other people. This is something that has to be drilled into the brain: You have the right to be rude. You have the right to feel threatened. But most of all: you have to protect yourself if you hike alone or with only a child or another female.