[at-l] Have I Made a Pack Purchase Mistake?

[Bob C." <ellen@clinic.net (Bob C.)]

"... The point is that that's old data." says anklebear of Roland Mueser's "Long
Distance Hiking" book.

But  a good pack in 1994 is still a good pack. There have been no revolutions in
backpacking  gear  --  just a slow evolution and a great many fads that come and
go.

The  difference between 1980s gear and 2002 gear is marginal at best. Except for
the  tiny  ultra-lite  movement,  most  gear has gotten heavier, not lighter, as
manufacturers add gimmicks to basic gear to seek hiker attention.

Somewhere's  around  here  I  have  a  book written about 1970 by a light weight
hiking  pioneer that urges a total pack weight of 21 pounds -- including food --
for a week on the Appalachian Trail.

I'd  give  you  the title and author, but my daughter has rearranged my books to
make it "easier" to find things.

Weary