Not too long ago I went into the shop to get a new backpack. Some of the inner stays on my older pack had broken while on a long trip, and while I was able to lash things together long enough to complete the trip, it was time for something new. The purchase went fine (a new Gregory Baltoro, if anybody’s interested), except for one comment that rubbed me the wrong way – “Wow, I can’t believe you’re still out there with THAT pack.”

Fast forward about a month, I was riding my mountain bike – a 20-year old aluminum frame Specialized Rockhopper – when a fellow biker noticed it. “Wow, I remember those! Killer bike back in the day, but no way I’d be riding one these days.”

Now, I’ll grant that in the case of the backpack, I had an actual material failure that forced me to upgrade – but the salesperson didn’t KNOW that. The comment clearly revealed a belief that my pack was exceedingly old, out of date, out of fashion, an antique. (Honestly it wasn’t really that old, and not substantially different in material or construction than the new one.)

Similarly, the bike comment was a clear judgment suggesting inferiority. My bike IS old, and very different from modern, lightweight, composite bikes. But it was RIGHT there, and I was ON it, to hear the derogatory opinion (I doubt the comment was meant to glorify me as a superior human for being able to ride an older machine).

So, what’s the point of comments like this?

I will grant that the outdoor industry, like any other, is filled with technological advancements that make adventuring easier. As a backpacker, for example, I’m very aware of the ongoing trends in the ultralight community and the emerging dominance of a handful of manufacturers using lightweight Dyneema fabric. I would also argue, though, that you don’t need it. My tent still works even if it weighs a pound and a half more. My anodized aluminum cook pot works just as well as the lighter titanium.

I may sound like a curmudgeon here (“Back in my day we wore bulky external frame packs and they were great!”), but I’m not trying to wax nostalgic about older gear — although there is clearly a subculture that LOVES old gear. Classic 2-burner Coleman stoves have become collectors’ items. And you still can’t beat the original old gear in some cases – cast iron, anyone? Oil-burning hurricane lamps?

No, the truth is that I LOVE new gear… but there’s a big difference between APPRECIATING new stuff, and truly NEEDING it.

Can I ride farther on a carbon bike before exhaustion than I can on an aluminum frame? Sure, at least, I assume so. But does that mean that I shouldn’t go out and ride if I don’t have the latest tech? Absolutely not.

Gear shaming is gate keeping. If cheap gear from the box store will get you out camping, by all means, go for it! If you decide this is something you enjoy and want to invest in, THEN you consider the more durable gear that might last longer. If you’re going to try and perform at an elite level where every ounce counts, THEN you can splurge on the ultralight, high tech stuff.

But if you’re an occasional adventurer, or your budget won’t support the newest best stuff, OR if you develop a comfortable relationship with an older backpack or a heavier bike, and just don’t see a need to upgrade as long as they continue to perform, then by all means, do what you can with what you’ve got, and ignore the shamers.

Get Out There