Chris Wallace joined our team as Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking School Manager in 2010. We're pleased to welcome him aboard as our new Gear Editor to see us through 2012 and beyond!
Chris brings a unique blend of analytical, perceptive, and experiential talents to this position - firmly grounded on his growth in and participation from our community, and in our school (as both a student and an instructor), for several years. Chris is best known for pushing the limits of ultralight in contexts that require extreme levels of fitness and tolerance for the unknown, rapidly evolving skill in gear design, manufacturing, and do-it-yourself projects, and an awareness of the wider market for ultralight gear that allows him to fairly evaluate trends and opportunities for lightweight hikers.
In appointing Chris to this position, my primary goal was to increase Backpacking Light's reputation as a voice of authority in the analysis of lightweight gear. In 2012, we will:
- Increase our coverage of cottage industry gear;
- Increase the extent to which we evaluate gear under harsh conditions (I have promised Chris a “test-to-failure” budget);
- Increase the fairness and objectivity of Backpacking Light’s whole review program by not only reviewing the products we think are worthwhile, but also by reviewing products that we feel have serious limitations and shortcomings;
- Increase the engagement of our readers during (not just after) our review process.
In that context, we expect to:
- Increase the visibility and awareness of the cottage industry as providing high-performing, viable, and useful product alternatives to what is available from specialty and mass market retail outlets;
- Challenge the status quo of performance expectations for lightweight gear in order to urge the industry as a whole to produce goods that are more durable, higher performing, more repairable, more sustainable, more soundly designed, and lighter in weight;
- Educate our readers not only about the benefits and limitations of lightweight philosophy and techniques, but also about the benefits and limitations of every bit of gear we review. It is my sincere desire that Backpacking Light helps you make informed decisions about what you spend your money on. We are entering a new age where waste in spending and in gear disposal are no longer acceptable options, and we’d like to help you travel down a path that keeps you in the backcountry more and working overtime less.
Please join me in welcoming Chris to the team, and for the exciting changes he will bring to Backpacking Light in 2012!
Ryan Jordan
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- A Letter From Chris
- Multi-Part Rolling Gear Reviews
- Expansion of Technique-Related Content
- Exploration of Other Modes of Backcountry Travel
- The Use of Alternative Media
# WORDS: 1150
# PHOTOS: 1
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to:
Introducing Chris Wallace as Backpacking Light’s New Gear Editor
Good for you Chris!
Congrats Chris on getting my dream job and Ryan for being willing to make the change. I call second if Chris is unable to fulfill his duties.
Congratulations, Chris! Your plans sound good to me!
I'm excited to see where this takes BPL in the future. Ryan has been promising good things to come lately, and I am glad to see him make good on that promise.
Congratulations, Chris! You've really developed a comprehensive plan.
It sounds great, except for one question: What's a "podcast" and does it require taking a class? Sounds kind of alien. (;>)
I'm looking forward to seeing your work. Good luck in the new role and have fun! We're all a little bit jealous of that job!
DM
Chris, congratulations. I wish you much success!
Can't think of a more worthy person for the job (except maybe me).
Congrats Chris!!
A lot of good news packed into the post (more of 24 series, other modes of travel, etc.).
best of luck chris … youre definately the right person for the job
as long as you dont put down my jetboils ;)
Or maybe my condolences, ha ha!
You have outlined more work than a team of seasoned outdoors people could put together in a coons age. Good Luck and Play hard!
I am looking forward to working with you, and I am very excited to see how your master plan shapes up!
Congrats and best of luck in your new role! I look forward to the new content and vision for BPL.
Congratulations Chris! Looking forward to see how things unfold.
Living Reviews, you say? Sounds familiar ;)
Looks like a great start for the new era. I wish you all the best, Chris. Ryan picked a good man for this role.
Go get 'em, Chris! :-)
Great news. The plan going forward sounds solid.
Chris is very knowledgeable, makes excellent posts on forums
Congrats, Chris. Nice to see the support for a role like this, and Chri's comments about his goals.
Tom
Congrats and looking forward to the reviews and articles that you will be bringing in the months to come.
Also, wanted to thank everyone at BPL for giving a glimpse of the changes to come, to see that you are addressing the concerns that came up in the forums and with the survey you sent out.
Really excited to see BPL moving forward and becoming better for all of us.
Going to be a great year!
-Tony
Chris,
Congrates!!! I think you will do agreat Job!!!
Now I look forward to reading, and listening and watching, BPL 2012. Sounds like you've really listened to us all. :)
Good luck!
If you start doing podcasts again, please include a text transcript. I can read way faster than you can talk, and text can be searched. Thanks!
Why not also put the podcasts back on the site that you already have produced.There is alot of good content for new BPL visitors.
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