Backpacking Tools of the Trade

I started hiking and backpacking way back during the 1970s. My 20 year USAF career took me and my family to some of the best hiking, backpacking and climbing locations in America.  I was stationed in Alaska, Colorado, California, Florida and South Carolina.  During one of my Florida assignments at McDill AFB, Tampa, Florida I hooked up with an explorer scout post in Pinellas County Florida.  This post had a lofty vision of hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), Maine to Georgia. How that turned out is a totally different story to tell.  

But what I want to blog about is the difference between the backpacking equipment in the 1970s and the equipment today.  As we planned for the AT hike we needed the best equipment available. During the 1970s, Bill Jackson's was the go to outfitter on the west side of Florida. A lot of our gear came from this store.  We also wrote sponsorship letters to many of the big national brands. We were able to get two sponsor, one from Jansport and one from Vasque Boots. Because many of the explorer post scouts, the post scout master and I were already seasoned backpackers, we already had lots of the basic gear that was we need like sleeping bags, stoves, fuel bottles and other associated backpacking accessories.  

In this blog post I want to focus on the three of the most important pieces of backpacking equipment every backpacker will have, a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and a small backpacking stove.  Without these three important pieces of backpacking gear, your trip may turn out of be one miserable venture. 

Let's start with the stove. Back during the 1970s while stationed at McDill AFB, I hiked the AT across the Great Smokey Mountain National Park two times.  We started at Davenport Gap and ended our two hikes at Cades Cove Campground.  I carried a SVEA 123 brass single burner stove and used a red SIGG aluminum fuel bottle. During the 1970s there were not very many lightweight backpacking stoves available to buy. I joined REI in 1973 where I ordered my stove. My REI member number is 3XX,XXX. I often wonder how many REI members from the early days are still living.  

The MSR stove was also good choice for a light weight stove.  I did not see many of the MSR stoves on the AT when I hiked it. The SVEA seemed to be the stove most backpackers I came a crossed used.  Both stoves get the job done. If you have ever used a SVEA stove my most memorable memory is the sound it makes when fired up.  It sound like a blow torch. The SVEA stove is now part of the Optimus brand of stoves. Optimus is part of the Katadyn Group of outdoor sports related companies. Without a reliable, high quality stove, not being able to heat up your freeze-dried meals will will ruin a great day on the trail.   Both of these one-burner stoves are lightweight. They are perfect for boiling water and heating backpacking meals. Over the years the SVEA stove has not changed but the MSR stove has gone through many design changes. 

The next very important piece of gear is your backpack.  Jansport and Kelty backpacks were two of the leading backpacks one would see on the trail.  The Kelty backpack was the trailblazer of today's modern rigid framed backpack. The Kelty history is a great read. Click HERE to read about the backpack that opened up the great outdoors for many hikers. Back during the 1970s one did not have a lot of choices as to fit of the backpack to your size.  Kelty had different frames sizes but I do not remember any other backpack manufacturer offering that feature. Fast forward to 2020 and you can get a backpack that will perfectly fit your body type from many different brands.  

Osprey is one of those brands that offers many different sizes of their backpacks. All their backpacks have internal frames and come in small/medium and large/extra large. Unless you already know your frame size, it is best not to order a backpack online. REI has a great web page that explains how to fit your backpack. Click HERE for the link. Today there are a lot more backpack designers and manufacturers than there were in the 1970s.  Mystery Ranch is one of the new comers to this industry. 

Mystery Ranch  offers different sized internal framed backpacks. If you need a waste belt larger than what they offer, they can make you a custom belt. The price points for their outdoor backpacking packs range from $169.00 to $450.00 and come in different sizes and colors. In addition to outdoor packs they offer packs for the military, police, fire fighters, and hunters. Their military packs are probably the most expensive I  have ever seen.  Their top military pack, the Blackjack 100, is close to $1,000.00. But you get what you pay for.  

My first pair of boots were Vasque. I got them at Jesse Brown's outdoor outfitter in Greer, SC in 1973.  This store is now closed. These boots gave me many years of trusted service. I wore them on all the many hikes and backpacking trips I took. Once you break in a new pair of boots it is hard to give them up. I have moved so may times during and after my USAF career, I have no idea  when I parted with my boots. Vasque was one of the many brands back during the 1970s offering very good boots.  DANNER and LOWA were two of the more notable brands of hiking, backpacking and mountaineering boots at that time. Boots today have changed little except for the fact that boot upper part are now made from man-made water proof materials instead of leather. Remember the days water proofing your leather boots with Sno-Seal? I even knew a few hikers that used Vaseline on their boots. Those days are gone for many hikers and backpackers. 

Today, almost every sporting goods brand offers hiking boots. You can find boots for $50.00 to $350.00 at retailers like REI, Cabalas, Bass Pro, Dicks and Academy Sports . There are boots and there are boots. There are so many choices one needs to be real careful when selecting a pair of new boots.  Here are two links to "Best Hiking Boots" articles. Click HERE for article one and HERE for article two. Here is another good article I was able to find is by Jeff Ryan, author / Speaker. It is titled "How to Buy Hiking Boots". And here is one for women by Diane Spicer titled "Tips For The Best Hiking Boots for Women". Please read all these articles before you buy your next pair of boots. 

If you are seriously considering going on an extended hiking or backpacking trip I highly recommend that you go to a retailer that specializes in selling to the hiking and backpacking community. Select the right boot for the type of hiking or backpacking you plan to do. Style and how they look on your feet are not as important as how they fit your feet. You need to be properly fitted for your boots or you will regret every minute you did not do that. Painful feet are no picnic when you are miles and miles from your car and your feet give out.  

Picking out the right backpacking boots, backpacks, stoves, sleeping bags, tents and all access you will need for an extended trip should not be taken lightly.  Do your homework. Talk to seasoned backpackers, search the web and by all means do not be pressured into buying equipment your are not comfortable using.  

Remember the movie "WILD" from 2014? The story of a woman who's first hike was the Pacific Crest Trail. She hiked 1,100 miles solo. Watch the movie if you can.  It has great scenes with her and her new equipment.  

I hope sooner than later the Coronvirus will start to subside so we all can get back on the trail. But if you cannot wait, wear a mask and keep your distance from strangers. Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.