L
23

My nephew asked why I still use my old canvas tent from the 90s

He was helping me pack for a trip to the Adirondacks and said my gear looked like it was from a museum... I told him it's never leaked once, but his comment about weight and setup time got me thinking. Do you think we focus too much on new features and forget about gear that just plain works?
3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
3 Comments
stone.sarah
Ever set up a new tent in the rain? That old canvas one is probably faster when you know it by heart.
7
jessel35
jessel353mo ago
Wow, you just changed my whole view on this. I always chased the newest, lightest gear, but fighting with unfamiliar poles in a storm sounds awful. Guess there's no substitute for knowing something inside and out.
7
hall.quinn
hall.quinn1mo ago
Right there with you. That familiar canvas tent practically sets itself up with your eyes closed, every crease and pole slot just where you expect it. Meanwhile a new ultralight model has you reading instructions by headlamp while your sleeping bag gets soaked. There's something to be said for gear that's been through enough trips to have its own memory, the kind that doesn't fight back when you're already cold and tired.
2