I have long been a bit conflicted about the huge array of gear and clothing that retail stores — nowadays almost exclusively dominated by “big box” stores — sell to all skills levels of outdoors people at fairly astonishing prices. I suppose that what most bothers me is the disconnect between the gear that we need (perhaps better defined as the gear that we are told, or believe, that we “need”) just to enter the Great Outdoors. To me, the Great Outdoors should be the great equalizer where everyone, regardless of skill level and wallet or purse size, can experience and share the beauty and wonder of our natural world. Still, I accept that having proper gear and clothing can make this experience not just more safe, but more comfortable. Heck, let’s face it, not having a tent, or a cheap one at that, or an inappropriate sleeping bag, on a […]
Read more →