It seems hiking gear has gotten to be a lot like cars, hot new models come out each and every year, and if you succomb to sales pressure (or just want to keep up with the Jones), you have to ditch that "old" version for the latest thing. Or, NOT.
What piece(s) of gear do you hold on to, and use, in spite of all the nifty bright new shiny things in outfitter stores and catalogs?
I still have my 30-year-old brass Optimus 00 kerosene stove. Got it via REI back when they were mail order and have sent it back to Seattle twice over the decades to have it over-hauled. It still works great, puts out lots of heat, and sounds like a jet engine to boot!
And speaking of boots, I only retired my heavy, all-leather Vasque boots after about 25 years, when the insides got so worn out that they began to cause blisters.
RainMan
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