High Sierra Topix

oldranger wrote:Tim, that first bag in 62 was an Eddie Bauer bag and cost $54. Bauer made a lighter bag but there was something about it I did not like. In 69 I bought a pair of N. Face Unimog bags, I can't remember whether they were $90 apiece or $180 each but $180 is the amount I remember. These bags were about 4 lbs. In the mid 90s I bought a 20° Marmot bag on sale for around $200. Around 2004 bought a pair of REI Sub Kilos for about $150 each. In 2006 I finally got around to buying my WM Alpinlite for whatever and it weighs 1lb 15 oz.

Interesting - it does sound like down bags have tended to increase in price whereas some other stuff appears to have stayed the same price or got much cheaper in the last 20 years (e.g. stoves, tents). I guess that methods of producing down haven't changed much (not many economies of scale there).

My oldest piece of gear is my red flannel shirt. I got it for x-mas when I was about 12 years old; 39 years ago. It's been on every backpacking trip I've ever been on.

Well, I still have my Sierra Club cup that I got back in 1962 for a week long trip up Pine Creek. Just wouldn't feel right in the backcountry without that hanging from my belt; it's almost a whole kitchen!

All my '76 gear.. peak Coleman stove; the camptrails pack which i still own but dont use, and various other items.. my -20 bag is from that era. she's fine, but not cold enough lately to use.

SVEA 123. Given to me secondhand in the '80's. Probably circa 1960 or so.

A Jansport "Brass Bed Series" sleeping bag--synthetic on the bottom and down on the top. Dates from the mid-1970s as far as I can figure out, but I picked it up at a yard sale in Chicago in about 1987.

I have an old sleeping bag (don't even know the brand in fact) that I recall my dad bought for me as a birthday present circa mid to late 70's. I used on backpacking trips into the 90's until its bulkiness caused its "retirement" to my car camping stash. I still use in on my colder car camping trips. I have an old REI external frame pack from the mid to late 80's (?) that I didn't use for a number of years but I brought it out of retirement for backpacking with my kids because I can carry an enormous amount of stuff with it (probably between 80 and 90lbs on the first backpack trip with the kids). It's so old that the shoulder pads are now almost rock hard. One of my backpacking tents that I now use as my standard car camping tent on geology trips is an REI Trail Dome circa 1995 or 1996. My main backpacking sleeping bag dates from the early to mid 90's. An old backpack cooking pot I have may date back to the 70's but I'm not sure (I know I've used it at least as far back as the early 80's).

i'm starting to feel that our collective oldest gear is actually us..

This is a fun thread to read.

My oldest gear that's still in regular use are my Kelty Tioga XL from 1980-81, an ultralight Silva compass and an Opinel folding knife, all of the same vintage. The Kelty bears brand-new shoulder straps this year (thanks to Kelty for the free replacement!), but is otherwise as I've always used it, as are the Silva and the Opinel. When I got them, they were the ultimates: "dream items" on my list to replace older gear that was heavier or less comfortable (ie pre waistbelt Kelty torture device) and each still works great.

Other old gear has been phased out as weight and utility of new gear obsoletes them or they wear out, but I take great satisfaction from using my three old friends on every trip.

Oh boy the fun and remembrances in reading through the threads! Some pieces I still use, occasionally...

North Face down jacket, circa 1975, polar model. This down jacket has more patches and duct-tape then the original rip stop fabric! Still in-service for winter forays and cold weather expeditions. North Face has replaced the zipper twice and re-downed the jacket once.

Kelty Ruck Sac, circa 1974. The original 'go lite' pack, with ski slots, leather bottom, metal expansion zipper, metal pocket zippers, and a clip waist belt. Retired now yet, still functional.

Svea 123 stove. Missing the tune key. This stove has served me well throughout the 70's-80's. Can't toss it out...you never know!

bill