[at-l] Goretex - a scam?

[spiriteagle99 at hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

William wrote:
>Sort of like the Emperor's clothes?
>
>QUERY: What other BRAND NAME items do y'all consider Emperor's clothes?
>
>Speaking of which: When I planned my AT hike, I was sold some junk from a
>pretty reputable store.  Turns out the sales person was a relative of the
>family who owned that outdoor store and several other retail businesses.
>
>One of the junkers was a multi-task knife.  I sent it home at Suches.  Used
>a couple of GI can openers that a trail-magic friend gave me.  And a
>plain-jane big knife: I think it was my pig-sticker knife or an old
>butcher's knife.  Did better than the big fancy brand name knife.  And
>handled more chores than the brand name would have.


Yep - so do you think you're alone?  Go read Trailjournals - one of the guys 
wrote about how he had to completely re-equip at Neels Gap because of the 
HEAVY crap that his local outfitter had sold him.  One of my partners in '92 
did the same thing.  A LOT of people have been caught the same way - that's 
one of the major reasons why Walasi-yi has survived all these years.

LOL!!!  A few years ago Ginny and I were in a large outfitters store in 
Tucson and the manager was trying to sell an 8# tent to a customer on the 
theory that if he split it with his wife, it was "only" 4# each.  He about 
had a cow when Ginny and I interfered with his sale, telling the customer 
that a 4# tent would equate to 2# each if they split the load - and he could 
carry it himself if he were alone.  Duh.

We've spoiled more than one sale like that.  But not everyone gets the idea 
that lighter is better.  Some people, including too many outfitter 
personnel, still think the 70# pack is "necessary."

Walk softly - and lightly,
Jim

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