I'm going through the same thought process, replaced so much gear with 'better, lighter' stuff over the last 2 years. I actually have a complete set of kit spare now. I decided to donate it to a local scout group to pass on to a DofE student who can't afford the gear. I wonder how many disadvantage kids can gain outdoor experience from our spare kit. Food for thought.
You're on the right track. I'm much older than you but there is a certain satisfaction I get when I look at allot of my equipment and remember the places it took me. It's like an old friend or that faithful dog or friend that never left your side when the wind blew and the rain fell. I trust it.
agree 100% - my outdoors hacks: buy a trift shop sewing machine and pure nylon thread for repairs to packs/tents etc Tent waterproofing: use the silicone bathroom sealer & mineral turps trick for re-waterproofing tents. rip off sealer tape and apply the 1:3 mix (1 part silicone goo, 3 parts turps - apply with a brush inside then outside) Use a kitchen chux with a 1:5 mix everywhere else for general waterproofing - inside of fly to reduce UV on silicone. I always buy gear based on design excellence that will stand the test of time, maintain gear you love!
Good, interesting points. I am too tight to keep buying! My boots' soles would probably fail and MOT now and they will be an essential buy pretty soon but they have done a ton of miles over about three years so I don't grudge buying (leather) again.My Berghaus jacket I bought about the same time for hillwalking and it is going strong so no change there! We try to look after gear: wash, air dry and re-dubbin boots, wash in right stuff and tumble/ air dry base layers/jackets as appropriate. Nothing is left any longer than overnight before cleaning up. I hate waste. Love your walks and reviews. Thank you!
I think at some stage, we`ve all be guilty of buying to much. specially new walking gear. the outdoor market is getting like the fashion industry. but that famous quote is so true. " I can resist everything except temptation. "
Hi. That was an excellent talk. It's so true to buy well, but look after kit and make it last. That is exactly my thinking. It makes so much sense to look after the planet first rather than piling up the landfill. You have my full support with your standpoint. A fellow mountaineer. :-)
Totally agree, I often buy used gear, mostly for the huge money saving aspect of £400 jackets going for £25 but there is also no need to purchase new gear all the time. Obviously there a some things that I wouldn't buy second hand without knowing the exact history, such as ropes. I'm currently wearing an old second hand softshell, and yes there is delamination and I've had to fix the Zips but it's still super reliable. I've even taken up patching my gear instead of leaving holes after watching Sean Villanueva's worn wear video
You made some excellent points about our throw-away culture! It is such a shame that the outdoor community is pummeled with adverts and products that are nearly the same as the previous year's model. Sure, it is in the best interests of companies to convince us that we need to purchase more of their goods, but it creates such a perverse relationship with an outdoors/adventuring/general exploring lifestyle. As you said, we should be focused on the world around us, not that shiny new bit of gear in our packs. I wander off into the wilderness to detach from consumer culture, not to be subject to more of it. And one of the fundamentals of bushcraft is in acquiring a skillset that can help you in an emergency situation, or when you want to have a simple camping trip - not in depending upon the most up-to-date equipment to get you through whatever the world will throw at you. Liked and subbed! Thanks for the content!
What you are saying is completely correct. A consumer society leads to a throwaway society. It's too temping to just buy the new. Plus some times the price of buying new out weighs the cost of repair. We should all try and make thing last. I actually think its sometimes called the can't be arsed factor. Good vid keep it up mate.
I still use my Rab downpour guide jacket that i got in April/May 1996, there was a time that i would only use Craghopper trousers/shorts for walking, but that was only because i knew how well they performed, but at the same time i was getting them from my local shopping village retail park, i also tend to use a lot of ex-army clothing, because it is usually pretty bombproof & CHEAP ;-) really enjoyed this vid, atb Barry
something which gets on my nerves is the over marketing and exaggeration of kit none of it is anywhere near as good as the marketing ever suggests. Membrane breathability is the biggest con In the technical clothing industry.
Love the video!! Love what you are doing!! The more you learn about what you are doing and how you like to hike or camp then you will start to use and bring less. But when you go to another country all that start all over again. I moved to Japan from Ireland and I am learning all the time now on what I need and what to use. It's fun to learn , but I do miss my old hiking and camping ways from Ireland.
Have to totally agree,unfortunately we live in a throwaway culture. I hate wasting things so recycle as much as possible. Time to educate people young and old , keep up the good work.
I agree wholeheartedly that we live in a throw away culture. Many things can be made to last for years. I still wear shoes that I bought in the 70's and drive a 17 year old car that works perfectly well. The down side to this is what would we do with all people employed in India, China etc whose lives depend on us continuing to buy new stuff. Do we let them starve? If everyone drove 17 year old cars like me we wouldn't have a car industry. What would those employed in that industry do?
You've a good head on ya young lass. For your viewers let them know that second hand waterproof coats and jackets are easy reproofed with the likes of Nikwax or Fabsil and instead of dumping your worn out hiking boots what about resoling them!! Like you say good gear is essential but enjoying the camping/hiking experience is equally important. Great upload lass keep them vids coming. 😀👍
I've had the same thoughts on gear and all the stuff we buy in general. Also try to get "green" alternatives such as plant fiber cord, wool hat, look for biodegradable things and wraps. Everything we buy one day will end up on a landfill. Everything
I can't actually afford to buy new kit all the time and if I did I wouldn't have the money to the things I like. So I use what I've got which means walking in army Goretex because that's what I've got and I can't afford to buy new gear. I do need to learn how to repair things and look after my kit. Making an investment in quality kit does make sense. I was out in horrendous weather in a 15 quid single skin tent I wouldn't recommend it. So I had to ask my dad for the money for a tent so I got a banshee and I hope it will last a long time. Interesting video, thanks.
I actually have a sprayway Goretex jack that I really should have taken better care of. It's seen a lot if bad weather and is now at least 8 years old. I really should try and patch it up. It belonged to my brother if it hadn't I might have thrown it away. I know that I will not be able to replace it anytime soon.
I fully concur there. I think people in the outdoors have become or are more concerned with the external image than they are the adventure or the actual environment in which they are in. Always the external image - I.E new gear for the gratification of the self via others. It's awesome! I like the worn wear campaign...a great vibe. I must say I'm learning but have put a couple of web pages together, which you and your viewers might be interested in. If I've missed something or need education please let me know. Here's the link: www.wyeexplorer.co.uk/#/greener-gear/4586485255 . Well I've messaged you also on account of you not responding to any of the videos here. All the best. Mark. P.S - not spend at all. EAT OF THE BINS!
The majority of my kit is made up of cheap army surplus stuff as its built to last and gets the job done. Some of the new gear is so damn expensive I'd be able to buy a new bass guitar and amp for the same. The great thing about the outdoors is its a hobby that doesn't have to and shouldn't cost a lot to enjoy
For second hand stuff i go straight to the facebook page 'outdoor gear exchange', about 60K people in the group, so someone will have what you looking for.
In my opinion the environmentalists are going at it all wrong. Instead of trying to bully people into changing their ways, they should approach it from the point of view of increasing production quality in everything, not just particular things. Planned obsolescence should be illegal. Everything that is manufactured should come with 3 or 5 year guarantee with a few notable exceptions. It would increase prices but in the long run it would even out with second hand sales and not having to replace things every year. Charging 5p for carrier bags does nothing for the environment when there is so much resources being wasted through cheap Chinese made Amazon shit.
it dosnt matter about fashion its about keeping alive whle your outdoors i use army surplus mostly i know it looks military but its cheap and you dont mind to much if you wear it to death
Kit these days is not made to last it's made by the cheapest bidder alot of companies have also sold out. brashers once great boots have been ruined by Berghaus,North Face is owned by a magazine now quality has taken a total nose dive I've spoken to employees in go outdoors who told me to stay clear of north face as they often receive brand new kit dropping to bits labeled wrong the list goes on its just greedy corporations.
Very thought provoking. Have you thought about all the people who are watching your films and who are now going to climb or hike in the areas you have shown? Pressure on fragile environments and potentially erosion of habitats that would otherwise not have occurred? Just being Devil's Advocate. Most PU membranes of waterproof jackets have some pretty nasty chemicals in their manufacturing processes. Take DWR durable water repellency applied to many PERTEX wind proof jackets to make them water repellent is not nice stuff. Or making down filling hydrophobic so the down keeps you warmer in damp conditions and doesn't clump up so much by absorbing moisture - the chemicals used to do this aren't very nice. But every couple of years I simply must have a new jacket, trousers, tent or sleeping bag as technology improves. The bag or down jacket that has kept you warm for 15 years can be replaced with one half the weight and half the size which is major consideration if you are hiking carrying all your own gear. Carrying too much weight or too bulky items is just not fun. And in any case new gear comes out which makes you think "Why didn't I think of that, it's so good!" or "This item will solve the problems I have been having!" You just have to have it. Buy cheap crap buy twice.
Hi Alex, couple of great points there. It's a hard decision but if i had to choose between more people getting out and enjoying wild places, but doing so responsibly and knowing the effect they have on the environment, and those people not having that experience... i'd pick the first one every time. We can teach people to leave no trace, but you cant teach the host of benefits the outdoors has on an individual. I should also say that realistically the number of people who are influenced into getting out by my videos is not enough to have a significant effect on the environment. Despite that it does sometimes worry me that people might take my vids the wrong way and just go outside, and end up causing more harm than good. I think that's why i like making vids like this that stress the environmental impact of having great adventures in the outdoors and everything that goes along with it. And as for your point about the physical problems of the production of gear, I'm not saying we should never buy new gear. I think the focus should be on moderation, yes you need to replace waterproofs ever few years, but not every year! And why cant that replacement be last seasons model (which is often pretty identical to the current one), and/ or a 'like new' second hand jacket? I didn't mean to make a blanket statement that people just shouldn't buy new kit/ kit using modern technology. I just want people to think about the consequences of what their doing. Thanks for commenting, its great to get questioning responses that someones put thought into. All the best :)
Often it is not a failure of trying. For example, I recently contacted the company who make the tent I own. It has been through the mill for three years now where it has probably been pitched for 7-8 months if totalled up, often taking the brunt of gale force winds carrying scouring and, torn at (inside) by wild boar (outside of the UK of course), holes nibbled by smaller animals picking up old scent of food, and prolonged intense UV exposure even though I treat the outer with anti UV coating. Despite this, what I only really 'needed' to replace was the inner section where the zip had finally given up the ghost due to sand getting inbetween the teeth, the mossie mesh had thinned out with a few holes in it and some damage on inner panels by small nibbling animals. That's pretty much it. The outer, as weatherbeaten as it was, would still go a long way, possibly two years more and I could put up with that. I contacted them to see if they could repair that part of the tent (I was of course going to pay them for that) or try and purchase just a new inner alone, but they don't do either. Parts are essentially not sold for much gear these days, so what can the customer do? Ultimately they offered to sell me a brand new tent the same, for the price of what half of it (say, the inner) would have cost, so a brand new one for half the price. After some thought I chose to go for that. The problem is that companies are not used to people contacting them for a zip of that unique shape, or a repair. I can think of some companies like Trangia who do sell things in a modular manner, so that (for example) you can buy the rubber O-rings for the stove lid seal if accidentally burnt or worn out. However, they usually charge relatively silly prices for little parts like that (£3 or so for something that probably costs less than 10p in manfacture), but at least the option is there to do so. Other companies would require you to purchase the entire system all overagain, if one little part of it wears out or something. Myself, I reckon a lot more outdoor gear gets recycled in the system than people realise as people always seem to be selling off gear rather than throwing it out. I may be wrong, but I think most people will try and at least try eBay or outdoor forums to try and sell their items first before going down that route unless the item was in shreds. I've had similar issues with boots that are wrecked in 2 months of continous use when you 'expect' them to last for years given how much you pay for them, but companies usually just refund you in full rather than have any repair service for their fabrics or soles. It's just too much hassle for them. Repair companies that may surface, need to be reasonable in what they charge too, or many will just call it quits and purchase a new item if the price difference between repair and a new purcahse is not wide enough.
