These 20 Pieces Of Gear Changed Backpacking Forever

This article originally appeared on Backpacker

The best backpack is the key to going faster and feeling more comfortable while pushing those boundaries. The ultimate steak obsession to completely change the way you play wild and in some cases save your life. That's why our editors and testers have put the trail fighter kit through the toughest test in the fifty years the Backpacker has been on newsstands. This serious and objective reporting provides us with an excellent history of archeology for die hard geeks. We look back to the 1970s, when high-horned boots, hypothermia-inducing cotton and compressed outer frames reigned supreme. We take a journey from the great creativity of the 80's, the great style of the 90's to today.

Our test methods are sometimes unconventional. In 1985, testers hung a winter sleeping bag between the meat and pork to measure the accuracy of the temperature. In 2009, we put our backpacks in the back of a Jeep for 60 miles and tested our hiking boots in a cement mixer with a bucket filled with rocks and sticks. Those extreme levels - in modern test labs or Mad Max style through Death Valley - are crucial to distinguishing hard gear from carnival tricks. (We'll never forget the mid-1980s "trailer"—a rod that holds multiple bullets, has a solid steel tip for "self-defense," and is "dart-friendly").

This list features the most impressive innovations in backpacking technology over the last half century. But the most traditionally significant mechanisms we've worked on so far support it: Nalgenes dominate the entire size and color spectrum; Before the 1970s, passengers drank from the cafeteria. Today, you'd be lucky to meet a hiker who wasn't on the Appalachian Trail, where leather boots were all the rage a century ago. So strap on your favorite shoes, strap on your bag and embark on this journey through amazing discoveries and lucky mistakes that will make your gear look old-fashioned.

Early years: 60's and 70's

As the backpacking culture developed, backpacker equipment was also used.

Journey Down the Alps (1967)

Author: Corey Buhay

Until the late 1960s, travel bags were generally large. It all depended on the massive exoskeleton which had to be shoulder-width apart for the average person to adequately support the load. It's great for walking on soft ground. But for the technical climb envisioned by climbers Greg and Jeff Lowe, the massive frame simply won't reach the nose.

Looking for something smaller and sleeker, they decided to replace their pack's massive frame with a lightweight resin-mounted back panel. In 1967, the Expedition, the aptly named multi-day duffel bag, was born. In the 1970s, word began to spread beyond the climbers. "External frame packs are not ideal [for backpacking] in the UK - a lot of our routes are very steep," explains famed British hiker Chris Townsend, who used Expeditions on many of his early adventures. In addition to facilitating the transport of large loads in technical conditions, the rear panels allow the internal frame to be made with wider materials. This has opened the door to new technologies that lighten the load. As for a more obvious legacy of travel? "I think every frame package inside is carried on the shoulders of the Lower Alps," says Townsend. "The base design has defined the design for every interior frame package since then."

Nalgene (1972)

Author: Corey Buhay

When chemist Emanuel Goldberg founded Nalgene in 1949, he had no idea that the 32-ounce bottle would become an outsider's badge of honor. In fact, he never thought he would leave the lab. But in the 1960s, Goldberg discovered that his employees in upstate New York were stealing bottles for camping trips. Nalgene added the iconic plastic strap to the lid and started selling the bottles in an outdoor shop. One tester recalled what it felt like to switch from old aluminum cigarette bottles to the newly released Nalgene in the 1970s: “Nalgene had a nice two-part seal. We camp in winter. In Rocky Mountain National Park, they tucked melted snow into our sleeping bags without worrying about ruining our trails and walks. In addition to releasing new colors and switching bottles from plastic to BPA-free Tritan material, Nalgene hasn't changed its 32-ounce bottles since 1972. Around: Today, you can find a variety of water filtration systems, from custom-sized bags to stem 32-ounce bottles, to suit Nelgenes.

Period-A-Break (1972)

By Benjamin Tepler

Before the 1970s, almost everything was a nocturnal "bug": blue closed-cell foam mats and inflatable pools were the limits of mat technology for pools. If you can't wake up and sleep, you probably won't be still. But when Seattle-based airline giant Boeing laid off 50,000 workers in 1971, it gave engineers and outdoor workers Jim Lea and Neil Anderson room to invent something new. In her free time growing weeds in her free time, Leah discovered that an open-cell foam mattress on her knees could potentially replace a sleeping bag. Leah, who works with Boeing co-founder John Burroughs, used an old sandwich press to seal the bright yellow air in the open-cell foam and added a tiny brass valve to let the air out. Results? As the valve rotates (without lung power, no less), the bearings shrink to their original size when they are compressed. Kristin Hostetter, Backpacker 's longest-running clothing editor, says, "Backpacking in the early '90s was all about fighting the sweet foam between your skinny, skinny hips." And earth Around three I spend the night as much as possible. Then I started working in an open store and using my employee discount on Therm-a-Rest, which was what growth was all about. New technologies have supplanted original designs for insulation and compression, but 50 years later, open cell bedrooms are still the sleeping platform for many backpackers around the world.

Lekki Makalu (1974)

Author: Patrice LaVin

Like many geared inventions, the first adjustable stud was born out of frustration. German skier Karl Lenhardt revolutionized the quality and functionality of wooden skis in the 1960s by adding plastic grips and wheels for better powder flotation. Then he turned his attention to the running posts, which played with threaded aluminum rods that slid in and out of the telescope, with plastic caps to lock everything in place. Ki Makaluk's patented locking system for the first adjustable studs is still in use today. On May 8, 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler used McCalls on the first ascent of Everest without oxygen, making the product famous for high-level ascents. A medical study conducted in 1981 helped increase the use of a cane, with data showing that eight hours of walking avoided 250 tons of stress on the knees and lower joints. After that, grandparents, advanced juniors, and ultra runners swore by telescopic poles (some still ride with them). This has changed.

Winter Gore-Tex Jacket (1976)

By Benjamin Tepler

Every self-respecting clothing enthusiast knows the story of Gore-Tex: Bob Gore was a chemist trying to save money by developing polytetrafluoroethylene, which was used to wrap electrical wires in his company. One night in 1969, after several failed attempts to heat and carefully stretch the material, it pulled fast: like Laffy Taffy, it stretched a thousand percent without breaking. In the process, it creates an airy material with micropores large enough to allow steam to escape, but small enough to prevent liquid entry. Travelers are skeptical about waterproof breathing. In the 1970s, all technical rain gear was made of urethane-coated nylon, which is non-breathable and prone to punctures. The first brand to enter this market was Early Winters, a small Seattle company that is now defunct. Genuine Winter parkas and anoraks must be sealed to prevent leaks, moisture and leaks. The backpacker version of 1979? "Some people thought Gore-Tex laminate was too worn, too brittle, and too expensive to breathe. But in the end, the widespread adoption of Gore-Tex proved itself." Disappointments aside, this was the first product to demonstrate the potential of the material, as fifty years later it is still the most widely used breathable waterproof technology in the world (and not just in spacesuits). Although the basic properties of the Gore-Tex layer between the outer and inner layers have not changed much over the years, their breathability, flexibility and durability have been greatly improved with advances in materials science. Although, as the original Backpacker editor pointed out, there is always room for improvement.

Yogyakarta (1977)

Author: Amelia Arveson

Before Jogbra, bras were no longer designed to restrict movement during exercise, but to accentuate a woman's breasts. Underwire bras penetrate your skin, which hurts from the weight of the backpack. Without proper equipment, women have no incentive to participate in sports or outdoor activities. says Lagen Lawson, a design and marketing consultant who has researched the sport brake industry since 1987. While its scope extends beyond schools, it is college athletics. Five years later, Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller, and Polly Smith created the Jogbra prototype, consisting of two straps glued together. Later models featured the world's first cross supports, wide bottom bands and technical fabrics; features that reduce friction, increase absorption and breathability, and provide smoothness on and off the road. Sportswear is still a work in progress – materials, fit and fit still have a long way to go. Jogbra, however, paved the way for the inclusion of women in march speeches.

80s: Advances in technology

From multi-fuel stoves to camels and the first civilian GPS, gadgets have become commonplace on the road.

Petzl's Zoom (1981)

Author: Corey Buhay

In the 1970s, flashlights were expensive and expensive pieces of equipment, primarily intended for spies and military agents. Even Petzl, who started producing the first modern flashlights in 1973 by attaching rubber bands from the underwear section of flea markets, worked to make flashlights affordable to small or modern consumers. Later, in 1981, Paul and Fernand Petzel evaluated a new lantern developed by a competitor. Fernand was quick to point to Petzl's zoom example, famously saying, "Shame, [they] could use a zoom function." Beam as needed. In the 1990s, zooms became a status symbol, recalls Kevin Phillips, who grew up using zooms on Boy Scout trips to Scotland. There, in winter, the sun sets at 16.00, and subdued lighting is essential. "Before [growing up], you could just get your flashlight out of your mom's drawer," says Phillips. "Like many hikers, Phillips went from a two-handed job with Maglite to his Petzle. And like many hikers, he never looked back."

MSR WhisperLite (1984)

Author: Nathan Pippenberg

Before Mountain Safety Research released Whisperlite in 1984, camping stoves were loud, noisy tools. MSR's first design, the Model 9, was a true jet engine that hikers loved for its ability to melt snow, but loud enough to convince campers not to eat anything but ground oatmeal. The aptly named Whisperlight changes all that. This significantly removes balance and introduces better landing control. The use of heat reflectors and wind deflectors in remote burner designs allows the fuel tank to overheat, increasing efficiency and reducing cooking time. In 1988, Whisperlight International introduced a variable fuel nozzle burner for burning gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in addition to "ultra-pure white gas". For international travelers, it's revolutionary. By today's standards, Whisperlight is a bit clunky; There's no power switch and it still needs to be turned on, which could potentially trigger the sound. Despite its current design and relative weight, the WhisperLite is still a great camping stove. One tester had the original 1980 model given to him by his father on the mountain taking the Whisperlight on a trip to Denali. "Now I use it a lot when I go camping," he says. "There's just something about the kitchen that keeps me coming back. Reliable, cool weather, country service. Truly timeless."

Leatherman (1983).

By Justin LaVigne

After spending ten months in Europe repairing a 1969 Fiat 600D with his wife, Tim Leatherman noticed a gap in the portable equipment market. For travel and field work, he needs a full-size laptop and various other gadgets. After eight years of perfecting designs, he launched the multitool category with the Leatherman PST (Pocket Survival Tool). It's not a Swiss army knife: now backpackers can use it to cut moleskin for balloons, drill new holes in belt loops, cook, clean horns and cramped oven compartments. Performance was surprising: one backpack tester praised the device's effectiveness when fishing in the field, using pliers to close small nails, and hooks closed within minutes. After Cabela's started selling Leatherman creations, around 30,000 PST were sold in the first year. Over the last decade, the Leatherman multi-tool line has exploded with dozens of offerings for everyone.

Electric Rod (1986)

Author: Patrice LaVin

"Terrible roar." Co-founder Brian Maxwell calls up the first Powerbar sample. Many generations of Xera remember chewing skis and making a mess while hiking on a hot day. Many couldn't believe it wasn't doused in electrical fuel and said the texture was like chewing on grandma's leather slippers. Say what you will, but the original bar—a fructose-sweetened combination of wheat bran, maltodextrin, and milk protein, and rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—is especially helpful with vertigo and related weaknesses. , this is Maxwell's goal. It was the first commercial energy bar that allowed passengers and luggage to consume it on the move, saving the space and weight of conventional peanut butter cracker and GRP packaging. Without much competition, Powerbar sales increased from $30 million in 1994 to $97 million in 1997. (They were especially big with racers following racing legend Greg LeMond in the Tour de France. It had spread, many other companies were playing in the energy bar market, and nowadays there are many choices, almost all edible and many. delicious.

CamelBak ThermoBak (1989)

Author: Corey Buhay

Camelback's first sales manager, Jeff Weimer, was an avid biker and mountain biker who loved the idea of ​​health and wellness. Vemmer guffawed when a friend brought him a prototype ThermoBak hydration reservoir, an infusion bag that CamelBak founder Michael Edson tucks into a tube sock before cycling races. There was no way they would find him dead when he was wearing this. "One day I was hooked," says Weimer. But the tank did not immediately take over all of America. Over the years, most of Camelback's customers have been military. Hydration was largely ignored by the outside world, until Weimer began riding his motorcycle preaching the "hydrate or die" punk rock mantra. Between these efforts and the growing sports movement of the 1980s, drinking water started to become fashionable. Meanwhile, hikers on the Appalachian Trail are pursuing the idea of ​​hands-free hydration. Soon, even casual travelers started switching from bottles to cans. Today, the entire hands-free watering industry owes its name to the humble ThermoBak.

Magellan NAB 1000 (1989)

Author: Amelia Arveson

In a world where we reach the top with smartphones, it's a shame considering backpackers rely solely on paper maps. The first publicly available portable GPS was invented by Edward Fenton Tuck, Jr., engineer, pilot, and founder of Magellan. It weighs 1.5 pounds, has short battery life, and costs $3,000. But the real problem is the adhesive device? He only worked a few hours a day.

President Reagan opened GPS devices for civilian use in 1983, but signal range began to expand a decade later. GPS historian Norbert Lau says the 1986 Space Shock disaster delayed further critical satellite launches. "[Tuck] dreamed of getting this thing that would allow precise navigation anywhere on Earth. It probably helped because he didn't recognize the problem that needed to be solved first."

While the NAV 1000 wasn't very useful without satellites, the combination of high-end and inexpensive processing chips resulted in major advances in GPS navigation for backpackers, pilots, and sailors over the next decade. Magellan was followed by competitors familiar to today's travelers, such as Garmin. and with the dream of bringing GPS to the general public, you can use something as compact as a smartwatch to complement your next trip.

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Comfortable and versatile wool socks are the highlight of the decade.

Smartwool Socks (1994)

Author: Amelia Arveson

Splash, Smell, and Smell: Before Smartwool was started in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 1994 by former ski instructors Peter and Patty Duke, few people loved the outdoors. Most socks at that time were made of cotton, a man-made material, or patchwork, a dry fiber with a diameter of 35 mm. The Appalachian Trail is not suitable for hiking. but Dukes found a very fine, soft New Zealand wool type called merino, 21 millimeters in diameter.

Its natural properties (odor control, humidity control and temperature control) are perfect for active situations like hiking and running. Stephen Wilkinson was working in retail when he was first introduced to Smartwool. The sales representative called the socks "asmat" and gave them to the employee. "At one point I owned maybe 30 pairs of Smartwool socks," he says. "I said to my husband, 'Take off all my other socks.' Because wool at the time conjured images of military uniforms and shabby blankets, Smart Wall was strategic about educating customers about the benefits of merino. The successful campaign helped other companies bring merino clothing to market, including Darn Tuff, Farm Tuff, and Ibex. Today is one one of the most widely used fibers in mountain clothing.

Patagonia R1 (1999)

Author: Ryan Wicheln

Even though fleece made its way into backpacking after the dawn of technology, you know what it was before: fleece was usually made of super thick polyester, until Patagonia came out with the giant, super warm, breathable R1. category of 1999. At R1, Patagonia made the polyester in thin sheets and added channels between the polyester meshes for better heat, ventilation and moisture management. The result is a fleece you can train with, the first in a new category for "active defense" today.

э. In the early 2000s, one of our dry cleaners, swapping out his traditional lab coat for sheepskin, commented, "Patagonia 1 is a game changer." “Unlike the heavy and light fleeces of its day, the R1 has a soft, stretchy body that's designed to move. , more than enough warmth for cold weather needs, it worked well and quickly became my go-to layer for everything from hiking to hiking to skiing.

Today, each brand that sells down jackets has its own technical specifications. While there may have been minor differences in material weight, body mapping and styling beforehand, the still wildly popular R1 hasn't changed much since a facelift in the late '90s.

GoLite Wind Package (1998)

Author: Corey Buhay

"The revolution started with the wind," says Demetri Kopounas, creator of the GoLite ultralight suit. Before the late 1990s, travel bags were bulky and heavy; Most of them weigh between 6 and 8 kilograms. Then Ray dropped the jar. Known as the father of ultralight climbing, Jardine dabbled in his own gear, including a bag that weighed less than 2 pounds. He then worked with Copounas to turn that design into a commercial product. "It is a path in its simplicity," said Kopounas. "Our job in bringing it to market was not to direct an engineer or mistranslate this perfect little font pack." Frameless and lightweight yet durable, the Breeze uses lightweight nylon webbing with dynamo thread, making it the first backpack to use fabric. "We wanted to make the backpack indestructible, so that no one would associate lightness with a lack of durability," recalls Kopounas. The pack made a big impact across categories: With the comfortable Breeze carrying less than 20 pounds, Coupons and Jardin set out to create ultralight tents, sleeping bags, shelters, and other materials that work as a system. э. In the early 2000s, they broke weight standards in nearly every category and completely changed the American backpacking paradigm.

2000-present: the modern era

From Crocs to jetboils and first spot gear, we've come a long way in the last 20 years.

Crocs Classic Plug (2002)

Author: Justin LaVigne

One of the most hated and loved shoes in modern history, Crocs have been around for a long time, going in and out of style time and time again. In recent years, shoes - some 850 million have been sold since 2002 - have been introduced to their line by celebrities such as Justin Bieber and fashion houses such as Balenciaga. For backpacks, cartoon foam covers never go out of fashion. Made of closed-cell resin, this recovery shoe is a revelation: it bends and shapes around the foot and fits snugly in the bag. It has closed ends, drains water like a sieve and is very easy to clean. Crocs are the shoe of choice for many backpackers, with some using them as their main outfit on the road. Hannah "Zucchini" Redmon has hiked most of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Pacific Northwest trails on Crocs. He started wearing sneakers and sandals, but found they were too tight, causing his feet to swell or swell. "The furthest I've ever run as a couple is over 1,000 miles," he says. Do you think Bieber likes his Crocs? After his first shoe got a hole, Redmon walked more than 26 miles over three days to get his next supply of Crocs.

jetboil (2004)

Author: Amelia Arveson

The First Jet Kettle. It was launched in 2004 and consists of an independent neoprene pan, a sheet metal burner, and a control valve - basically a cup connected to a gas cylinder and boiling water. The integrated cooking method is simpler and faster than other stoves on the market, and half of the fuel required is the bottom burner which protects against drafts while retaining heat. Like any new gadget, there's a learning curve to liquid-based jet cooking: "The first attempt was to put burnt food in a black carbon brick and the food on top remained unchanged," says John Cameron, a former backpacker. and forest officials. But that makes it worth it. The JetBoyle became a must-have for guides like Cameron for sneaking out of the group for breakfast or coffee. "We didn't know how good it would be if we had a personal stove that we didn't have to share with the other people in the group," he says. "That's what Jetboy does."

dot (2007)

By Justin LaVgne

"I'm fine." Over the last 15 years, these two words spoken in one key have saved the friends and family of travelers traveling abroad from a great deal of stress and anxiety. Спот сателяйт комуюникетер came out at a time when mobile phones weren't among the top 10 essentials; If you have one, try to get the signal with your arms up and your way around the court. Satellite phone? the weight and price alone is enough to deter everyone. Instead, this palm-sized personal tracker allows pedestrians to send pre-written emergency messages to their own car, track their progress and, most importantly, notify emergency services when dirt has hit the ventilator. . Spot has saved about 8,626 people since launching in 2007, including a hiker in Colorado who coughed up blood from a balloon that hit a tree in a remote part of Idaho. Even with stiff competition, Spot remains one of the best satellite communicators available, now with Bluetooth functionality and two-way communication. It's still the main form of communication - and a huge source of help - for one of our regular testers and his family during the annual Denali expedition.

Another Lone Peak (2011)

By Nathan Pipenberg

Fino ai primi anni, quasi tutti i viaggiato zaino in spalla donsosavano scarponcini tricky traditional trekking. Ma i tempo sono cambiati. Last year, a hiker survey found that 77% of hikers on the Appalachian Trail wore running shoes. We owe that mania, in part, to the launch of the Lone Peak Altra model in 2011, which has become a go-to shoe for hikers, ultrarunners, and the occasional hiker in the past decade. With Lone Peak, Altra co-founders Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper took the classic take on the trail shoe — a breathable mesh upper, large fin and comfortable midsole — and added a few unconventional, egregious design modifications. zero, retro e style, above all, un'ampia tipa a forma di piede. In general, 2000s trail running shoes were elegant, tight and occasionally scuffed. In contrast, the Altras has a slightly unsightly profile, but plenty of legroom of all shapes and sizes. For legions of wide-legged climbers, the Lone Peak has been the first shoe they have stepped into without a doubt, more comfortable than their trusty leather boots. Also, Lone Peak, for all these iterations, è is so popular that it's practically part of the hiker's uniform. Among AT escursionists who have adopted trail running shoes, almost a third wear Lone Peak. On PCT, they've been the most-worn shoe for five straight years, according to an annual gear survey of a former hiker and blogger Halfway Anywhere who calls himself a Mac.

Impermeable Giù (2012)

At Ryan Wicheln

The Achilles Down heel is always damp: when wet, it turns a wrinkled pallor without any insulating properties. Downtek solved a decades-old conundrum in 2012, when it became one of the first companies to introduce a durable waterproof jacket. According to Downtek partner Andy Payne, a do-it-yourself garage scientist approached the company with a treatment that could artificially increase the filling power of down. Downtek is not interested, until he arrives at his true power point: "Ha buttato fuori a caso che questa nanotecnologia potentiale rendere il piumino idrorepellente. Questo era interestinge per noi". It debuted at the Ultralight 850 FP classic featherweight at LL Bean. While the idea behind the technology base hasn't changed, Downtek has (mainly) moved away from using potentially hazardous C6 polymers and long-lasting DWR treatments to PFC-free water repellents. New technologies have made it down, still the most efficient insulation in terms of space and weight available, a legitimate choice in humid climates and for use in more subject areas with humidity, such as condensation protection in hair bags. What was once the instrument for special clothing for wet weather has become the gold standard in insulation and is almost ubiquitous in modern piumini and hair bags.

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