What is your oldest piece of gear that you still use?

[Paul Wagner]

Now that you mention it, we have an old North Face two-man pup tent that my wife used in college to backpack around Europe, and it still functions.  We occasionally offer it to someone who needs it.  That would make it something more than fifty years old.

[Steve Thompson]

A fleece-lined stuff sack. A Christmas gift from my son (some 30 years ago). Yes, there is sentimental value, and when stuffed with my puffy it feels downright nice to lay my head on.

My McHale pack is entering season 21. It is showing some signs of wear, but all the seams look good and it will definitely serve several more

[Darryl C]

Two items come to mind:

1. This one is very surprising but it’s a closed cell pad from July/August 1971.  It’s a bit flakey now and I’ve grown quite a bit ( I turned 10 on the last day of that trip) but I now use it in my dog’s sleeping bag.  Also, I drew a chessboard on it and that still works.

2. A down sleeping bag that was a Christmas 1971 present.  I used it for years, my kids used it and now grand kids.

[Luke Schmidt]

My grandparents used to backpack in the 70s to 80s. We still have their old North Face sleeping bags. They are down, about 2 pounds and that’s all we know about them. My parents used them for a while now my wife (who doesn’t like quilts) uses one. I think my grandads SpyderCo knife that I now use dates back to the 90s. I talked to an older guy b at REI and I’m pretty sure my grandparents had the original model Gregory internal frame backpack. I used them into the early 2000s but new packs are an improvement.

Backpack gear gets better with updates and wears out. I’ve seen horse packers with gear that was probably older then me but it’s not UL!

 

[Terran]

I had a NF Hot Tamale in the late 80’s. It was a pretty popular sleeping bag. I think 800 fill. A blue bag with red trim.

[Stefan H]

Spyderco Worker C01. 1981. THE first Spyderco produced. Older than me. I’m sure the guy who gave it to me had no idea how special it is. Always sharp and usually comes on day packs, cuz it’s fun to slice cheese and make pointy sticks with a relic.

[Haakon R]

Nice catch!

Spyderco has certainly made lighter alternatives in the years since, but for what you gain in style and nostalgia, I’d carry the Worker too :)

[Tipi Walter]

I have alot of old gear but my oldest piece of Active gear—stuff I use on every trip—is probably my PUR Hiker pump filter—great for drought conditions when sources are tiny hence the pump feature.

[Adrian Griffin]

Thinking about the small stuff, I forgot to mention Uncle Bill’s Tweezers. They go my dayhike ditty bag on every trip.  Had them for decades.

[Terran]

I’ve had 2 pairs of Uncle Bill’s tweezers for 11 years. Don’t tell Mr. French. I blamed it  on Buffy.

[Paul S]

a compass I purchased in 1993 when I moved out to Washington State and joined the Mountaineers club. Been using it ever since!

[Eric Blumensaadt]

1.) My 83 year old legs, to paraphrase Terran

2.) SVEA 123 stove (Still works but haven’t used it for backpacking in 20 years. It’s a “lender”)

3.) 30 year old CABELA’S camo GTX gaiters

4.) 12 year old Western Mountaineering overstuffed Megalite mummy

 

[Roland]

20 year or so old Backpackinglight Down Quilt. Always in my summer bikepacking bag.

 

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