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100 Years of Camping Gear
Three days in Yosemite carrying 1925 kit, then 1975 kit, then 2025 kit. Scored out of ten at the end of each day: 4, then 7.5, then 9. The surprise was that the jump from the seventies to now beat the jump from the twenties to the seventies.
Canvas Duluth Pack
“No zippers, no mesh pockets, just leather straps and an indifference towards suffering, which apparently was part of the experience back then.”
Mackinaw Wool Jacket
“It performed well and you can tell it will last forever. It stinks though.”
Mountaineering Boots (1970s)
“The boots were a huge upgrade.”
Aluminium Frame Pack (1970s)
“Okay, the game has changed. I don't think they're that much lighter — I think they're only a few pounds lighter, but it feels like it's half the weight.”
External Frame Pack
“Dick Kelty, a Boeing aircraft worker, built one of the first commercial aluminum frame backpacks. And by the late 1950s, the Kelty pack became the gold standard for serious backpackers.”
Two-Man Nylon Tent (1970s)
“This tent is actually from 1975. We bought it off eBay and when it showed up it smelt so bad. So we've done our best to destink it.”
Svea 123
“Once the backpacking boom hit in the '60s and '70s, this was the stove to have. It's simple and elegant and sounds like a tiny little fighter jet.”
Unbound Pack
“It is unbelievable how light and comfortable they were. I really can't add anything else. Zero negatives. 10 out of 10.”
Dyneema Trekking-Pole Tent (2P)
“Two people who are in love. It's like one person, or two people if they're in love.”
Inflatable Insulated Sleeping Pad
“Last night was the best sleep I've gotten on this trip. And with the pad, I could actually sleep on my side.”
Vented Down Sleeping Bag
“Side vents for when you overheat, a pocket that turns into a pillow, and the ability to zip into another sleeping bag — you know, in case you're camping with someone you're allowed to kiss.”
Jetboil
“The Jetboil boils water way faster than even the Svea. Whoa, that thing is really jet. But it isn't that much lighter and requires you to buy pressurized isobutane canisters, which are kind of a pain to recycle.”
Energy Chews
“In 2025, gorp has been replaced by caffeinated gummy gels. It's candy that gets you jacked. Dude, I feel like I'm in sport mode.”
Freeze-Dried Ice Cream Sandwich
“Astronaut ice cream was like one of my favorite things when I was a kid. It tastes like a meringue. — We're over here saying 'oh, it tastes like Lucky Charms.'”