2
Cleaning out my gear shed and found my old tent from 2003
I laid it out and counted 21 different patches on the fly, a mix of duct tape and tenacious tape. That number really got me thinking about how much simpler and tougher gear used to be, before everything was ultralight and had a phone app. What's the oldest piece of gear you still use on every trip?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
allen.amy1mo ago
Old gear being tougher is a bit of a myth. My newer stuff has held up just fine without needing constant repairs. Modern materials are a real step up.
5
kevin_sullivan1mo ago
Read an article a while back about how old nylon tents actually get brittle with age and UV damage... that patched-up fly might be more of a ticking time bomb than a badge of honor. My old stove from the 90s finally gave out last year, the plastic just crumbled in my hands. Sometimes stuff just wears out, and newer designs can be safer, like not having a fuel bottle that cracks.
-1