Author: Dustin Walker

When it comes to gear, I think most experienced hikers will agree: Newer isn’t always better. After all, no one really needs a solar-powered backpack or boots forged from the latest synthetic-leather polymers. (although I admit, the former does sound kinda cool) And yet, it seems we’ve entered an age of hyper-competition in the world of backpacking and trekking gear. Outdoor companies have been scrambling to out-develop each other for a couple decades now, pumping out shiny new products on a surprisingly regular basis. Now, I’m certainly not complaining that there’s too much awesome gear to choose from. Not...