Camp Trails 1977 Gear List

Camp Trails Packing List

I came across this gem in the 1977 Explorers Ltd. Source Book. Camp Trails was founded in 1943 by Jack C. Abert, frustrated with the carrying systems of the day he went about designing a pack that was both light weight and comfortable. Camp Trails was born, and went from strength to strength expanding its offering beyond just packs. Although Camp Trails has been bought a few times the name still lives on.

“Maps Firepermit Fishing license Note Book Pencil Hunting License Identification - Medical allergies & restrictions Plastic Bowl Plastic of Sierra Cup Pot Tongs Table Spoon Waterproof Matches Sunglasses Lunch & Trail Snacks Quart Canteens (2) Cook Kit Backpackers Grill Stove (if needed) Food bags Extra bags GI Can openner Rubber bands Condiment Kit - Sugar, milk, coffee, tea, powdered juice, cooking oil, salt & pepper Toilet Kit - Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap (hotel size), paper towels, toilet paper Scouring Pad Flash Light - Spare bulb & batterys Airmatress and Repair Kit, or Foam Pad Tarp and Ground Cloth, or Tent, or Tube Tent 30ft. Nylon Cord Underwear & Socks bandanas (2) Wind Breaker Jacket Stocking Cap Rainwear First aid kit Sunburn Ointment Repellent Chapstick Whistle Matches in a Waterproof Case Candle 2 Dimes Needles & Thread Signal Mirror Safety Pins Water purification

Carried on Person Knife Compass Waterproof Matches”

— Explorers Ltd. Source Book, 1977

The Hiker's Bible 1973 Gear List

The Hiker's Bible by Robert Elman 1974

This great book by Robert Elman contains a few different lists for different occasions. Lots for 'him and her' and 'how to divide up equipment.' The most concise and relevant for here is one Elman has sourced from a Sears Hillary catalogue for "longer backpacking trips."

“Pack and frame 4 lbs. Down sleeping bag 4 lbs. Nylon tent 7 lbs. 8oz . Canteen 1 lb. Stuff bag 6 oz. Short foam pad 1 lb. 4 oz. 1 compass 4 oz. Knife 8 oz. Flashlight 8 oz. Nylon cord (40’) 6 oz. Maps 6 oz. First-aid kit 6 oz. Cooking grill 1 lb. 8 oz. Mess kit 1 lb. 3 oz. Fork-and-spoon kit 6 oz. Can opener 1 oz. Dishcloth 2 oz. Plastic bags 2 oz. Nylon poncho 1 lb. Extra set of underwear 12 oz. 2 extra pairs of lightweight socks 4 oz. 2 extra pairs of heavy socks 8 oz. Toilet kit (including towel, soap shaving equipment, insect repellent, mirror, toilet tissue, etc) 1 lb. 12 oz.

Total weight 28 lb. 2 oz.

If you were to add a one-pound trail ax, a stove weighing about 1¼ pounds, a nylon tent fly, a set of thermal underwear, a jacket and even a pair of walking shorts, the burden would still only come to 35 pounds, and eight pounds of food would bring it to 43. That’s going reasonably light without roughing it.”

— Robert Elman - The Hiker's Bible, 1974

Nice list, although I'm not sure 43 pounds would still be classed as "reasonably light."

Harvey Manning's 1972 Gear List

Harvey Manning - Backpacking One Step at a Time, 1972

It doesn't get better than this. From "Backpacking One Step at a Time" one of the all-time great hiking book, written by one one of the all-time great hikers.

“The following list is limited to basics and does not include the myriad nice little items like binoculars, candles, pliers, reading material, playing cards, booze, and the hundred other things individuals may come to consider indispensable for safety or pleasure.

Day Trip

Boots Socks Underwear Shirts and sweaters Parka Trousers or knickers (Shorts) Headwear Rucksack (Child Carrier) (Canteen) Food (Sunglasses) Knife Matches, firestarter First aid kit Flashlight Map and compass (Sunburn lotion) (Insect repellent)

Add for Overnight

Packframe and bag Sleeping bag Sleeping pad Ground sheet (Air mattress) Tarp or tent and accessories (Grate) Stove and accessories Cooking pots and accessories Eating utensils Food container Repair kit Toilet articles

Add for Special Situation

(Gaitors) (Poncho) (Down vest or sweater) (Rain pants) (Mittens) (Ice ax) (Hiking rope) (Snowshoes) (Cross-country skis)”

— Harvey Manning - Backpacking One Step at a Time, 1972

The Petzl Zoom

Petzl Zoom

The first time I saw a Petzl ZOOM I was at Boy Scouts, doing a night hike with the scary looking Venture Scouts, the "Big kids." The ZOOM seemed to be the cool piece of gear at that time. People looked on with jealousy as they clutched their Dad's torches bought from  local hardware store, or their Mum's "power-out flashlight" from under the stairs. From then on I needed one. My brother, as ever, being older got his first but mine followed soon after.

Fernand Petzl

The Petzl ZOOM was first introduced in 1981 and it changed things massively. It was designed by Fernand Petzl; a French caver, innovator and all around legend.

“[Petzl] was designing and distributing solutions that aid in commitment and progression on vertical and/or dark terrain with optimal efficiency, freedom and safety.”

Until the introduction of the ZOOM, head torches had been limited by their heavy battery packs and robust design. Because of this they were more suited to cavers and workers. What made the Petzl truly unique was its all-in-one construction. The battery pack sat on the back of the head and the torch component sat at the front. The original model used an incandescent bulb powered by a 4.5v flat battery.

What always struck me with Petzl gear was not only the innovative nature but also the quality. Their catalogues read more like mountaineering and caving manuals, each meticulously illustrated with details of the correct uses for each piece of kit. These are the kind of books that I would pore over as a child.

Each year Petzl would change the pattern on their headband, I always saw this as a nice touch - all your friends had the same model torch but they we're all different. It meant that something was being considered each year; this was an evolving product. I also liked that there was a small recess behind the flashlight section that housed a spare bulb. This became really useful when Halogen bulbs became more readily available; it meant that with a little fiddling you could have a high powered but short lasting focussed beam or a more conventional longer lasting softer beam. Their ongoing commitment to research, development and innovation has also lead Petzl to the forefront of LED head torches. They are now the standard for most hikers.

Even though my ZOOM is no more, it was one of the first legit serious pieces of hiking kit I ever bought and more than worthy of a place in hiking annals.

PATC 1960 Gear List

 PATC - Hiking, Camping and Mountaineering Equipment, 1960

I came across this great guide in a dusty Portland bookstore. It is a truly exhaustive list of all the gear available to the hiker, climber and mountaineer in the early 60's. This is a real gem, it has details about the brands, the weight of the items as well as the details of which companies make them. Excuse the long post, but I love an gear list.

Their suggested gear list for hiking the Appalachian Trail is as follows:

“On Person Handkerchief (Bean’s 24” bandana); Polythylene plastic bag 9” x 18” (Gerry#P62) for toilet paper Valuables, permits, keys, small note book and pencil stub, pocket knife with 2 blades, can opener Small compass induction damped (Gerry #K42 or Silva “Explorer” Stern Waterproof match box with small size strike-anywhere matches sprayed with laquer like Krylon Alarm Watch (Corcoran) Maps and proper guide book sheets in map case (PATC) — Carry in front of shirt Camera Equipment

Pack and Contents A. For use while hiking Kelty “Mountaineer” Model Packboard of proper size used with waist strap and equiped with studs or loops at of vertical risers for easy lashing. Lashed to topbar — Ruck - or rucksask (Camp and Trail #300) with “Dee” ring hooked on stud secured to top of cross bar, shoulder straps of rucksack wrapped around cross-bar, then brought down and snapped into “dee” rings at base of rucksack. Kelty Packbag Model “B” if no side trips are planned (for side trips the first option permits leaving the pack frame in base camp and carrying out essentials in the rucksack). With the rucksack arrangement, items not required during the day are placed in a rubberized clothing bag which is lashed below the rucksack, heavy items at the top. Cup – miner’s cup with wire loop handle (Sierra Club or PATC — same manufacturer). Canteen – 1qt. aluminum fuel bottle (Camp & Trail #367) or 1 qt aluminum Army surplus in pocket of pack. Shoes – Pete Limmer Mountaineer Boot; for wet spring and fall, use Beans’s Maine Hunting shoe with Bean’s arched inner sole or felt insole, as preferred. Sock – Inner - light wool surplus. Outer - cushion sole 50-50 wool and cotton since no nylon cushion sole available. Also Wigwam #620 or Epsy all nylon. Trousers – Masland Mountain brier cloth in cold weather(surplus trouser, hell Field M-1951 is best but not too available). Sears 11 oz denim, not Levi — legs are too narrow — in warmer weather. Shirt – According to weather. Pandleton wool 10oz Woolrich 14oz. Two button-down flap pockets essential. Jacket – Full zip parka (Holubar) Underwear – In summer, Brynje top, regular shorts (not jockey shorts, which permit chaffing) In winter, wool and cotton, long drawers. In very cold weather, over Brynjes warm surplus pajama-style 50-50 wool and cotton, long drawers and long sleeved undershirt with 3-button front for ventilation. Hat or cap as desired; billed cap or felt hat. Rain garments – Superlight rubber coated nylon parka (Bean) with Horcolite rain chaps (Holubar). First Aid Kit. Insect repellent – OFF Anti sun-cream _ Glacier Red Label for lips and face; after tanning Sea and Ski.

B. For use in camp Sleeping bag. Summer: Ski Hut Meadow-S; Fall and Winter: Holubar’s Royalite; Ski Hut Meadow-C; Army Surplus. Use Summer and winter bags, nested, during coldest weather. Cook Set and Stove – Atenhofer with Primus 71 (Holubar), sizes to suit 1, 2, 3 men. Gasoline in aluminum gas bottles, 1 pt. or 1 qt. (Gerry to Camp & Trail). Axe – Not needed if cook on gasoline stove. Fire inspirator - 24” x ¼” inside diameter 1/16” wall pure gum tubing (any chemical supply house). Invaluable with cranky wood fires. Doubles as tourniquet. Salt and Pepper – plastic (Boy Scout cat. No. 1411). For larger amounts use polyethylene bottles. Spoon and Fork – nesting aluminum (Gerry #A45). Flashlight – 2-cell medium size. Extra bulk. Cellulose Impregnated Sea Salt Tablets (Morton’s) Sewing Kit - 2 needles, little thread, in first aid equipment. Reserve matches and reserve toilet paper in waterproof containers. Toilet articles – Toothbrush and small paste; powder in cold weather; hotel-sized soap in bobby pin plastic box; razor blades, brushless shave cream (if shave). Tent – Holubar Royalite, Gerry Yearound. Air Mattress – Nylon Rubber, full length (Camp & Trail #268); Stebco Backpacker 46” (Ski Hut).

C. Food - Use polyethylene bags except for canned meats which should be limited. Bag food on polyethylene and place in a cambric sack for protection from chaffing. Jam in wide-mouth polyethylene jar, screw top (Ski Hut). Oleo (higher melting point than butter) in aluminum screw-top jar with plastic liner. (Benjamin Edington).”

— PATC - Hiking, Camping and Mountaineering Equipment, 1960

Hike Maine

HikeMe Tshirt

A small plug for a friend and fellow Mainer, Live Maine has a great selection of t-shirts for the outdoor lover. Their latest offering is none other than Hike Me. A must for any Maine Hiker or Maine lover. Pick one up here.

Trangia Storm Cooker

Trangia Storm cooker, Model 25

My love affair with Trangia began at a very early age. My dad had owned one since before I was born, although he wasn't much of a hiker he is a "Swedophile" and a lover of robust, well made kit.

My early years camping with him and my brother we're more about car camping, we had a two burner stove which was somehow rigged up to the same gas bottle my dad used for his blowtorch. This often led to an ignited hose coming loose and flailing violently around the tent for a few exciting seconds before we could kill the gas and begin firefighting operations. Highly entertaining at the time but on reflection actually quite dangerous. At this time the Trangia was used more for its pots and pans. But as we got older and our holidays became more adventurous, we ditched the giant four person tent, the gas cooker got left at home and the Trangia became the workhorse.

The Trangia company has been around since the mid 1920's;  founded in Sweden by John E. Jonsson and his father-in-law, they started out making household cookware and also developed a range of camping sets, kettles, mess tins, fry pans, mugs and plates.

The Trangia name is a shortening of the village name Trångsviken, a small town in Sweden where Trangia is still based, it is combined with the initials "IA" - "I aluminium," translation "out of aluminium" or "in aluminium."

In the late 1940's there we're few truly portable camping stoves. The ones that were available ran on solid fuel tablets in one form or another. There were spirit burning stoves on the market, but these we're intended for indoor use to supplement a wood fuelled stove.

When visiting a sporting goods shop in Östersund Mr. Jonsson was asked if the meta-stoves (a brand of all-in-one solid fuel stoves) were any good. He replied "Yes sure, but it would be better off with a stove that was run with methylated spirits" This became the mission of the Trangia company and lead to the birth of their Storm Cooker.

Their plan for the Trangia stove was simple

“It had to be a stove for the average person, easy to use, easy to clean and it would contain everything you need to cook one meal during the camping trip, and the coffee pot was important.”

— John E. Jonsson

In 1951 the first Trangia stove, the model 25, was finished, and looked almost identical to the current Trangia. The company had taken what had gone before and refined it. This constant evolution continues to this day encompassing cutting edge materials and the accommodation of new burner types.

Trangia Storm cooker, Model 25

Over the last 50 years hundreds of people have bought and loved Trangia stoves. This beloved piece of kit has written itself into the history books of hiking and will continue to do so. As well as this its burner construction has been used as a template for numerous ultralight stoves. The simple, reliable, safe, indestructible construction and constantly evolving design of the Storm Cooker has ensured that it will firmly stand the test of time.

I finally bought my own Trangia in 2005 after many years of borrowing others'- a smaller model 27, and it has been a companion on every multi-day hike I have done since. Even though there are newer, lighter, more efficient stoves none will hold such a place in my heart or my backpack.

Using My Trangia on the Overland Track

Much of this information and imagery was sourced from the Classic Camp Stoves forum with the help of Spiritburner and his many contributors. He put a lot of legwork in and was able to get in touch with Malin Svensson from Trangia who provided much of the historic details.

Trangia timeline courtesy of Malin Svensson.

1925 -The company Trangia starts to produce cooking ware for households
c1935 - produces the first camping set, no 24
1951 - the first prototype to the Trangia stove was finished, model 25
End of 1950's - the Trangia stove comes in a smaller model, 27
Early 1960's - the holder for the burner moves from upper to lower windshield.
1964 - 1976 - Produced the larger burner for the Military Mess kit for the Swedish Army (the kit is not a Trangia item)
1969 - fry pan in nonstick
Early 1970's - hooks and the ring on the windshield is changed to stainless steel
Early 1970's - the handle is now made with holes
1979 - winter attachment for the burner
1987 - saucepans in nonstick
1985 - Mini Trangia, originally made for multi sport competitors
1988 - Gas burner is available to the Trangia stove, manufactured by Scorpio & later Epi Gas
1988 - the windshield is manufactured with bayonet coupling
1993 - sauce pans and fry pan in Duossal (stainless steel/aluminum)
1995 - the Gas burner is made by Primus
1998 - sauce pans and fry pan in Titanium
2001 - multidisc 27+25 is available
2002 - Multifuel burner from Optimus
2006 - new thinner material in sauce pans and windshield,Ultralight aluminum & hard anodized
2010 - Multifuel burner is made by Primus
2010 - Trangia Triangle is available
2010 - Trangia is already a registered Trademark but now the Trangia Stove is also a registered 3D shape which protects the stove from unlawful copying.

Clyde Ormond's 1964 Gear List

Clyde Ormond's Gear List from The Complete Book of Outdoor Lore

A fascinating gear list from Clyde Ormond's 1964 publication, the "Complete Book of Outdoor Lore." This list is for a single hiker, travelling in mild weather.

“The basic items will be:

Packboard, 3 pounds or less. Ax, 2½ pounds. Sleeping Bag, 4 pounds. Cooking and eating utensils, 2 pounds. Down vest, ½ pound. Raincoat, ½ pound. Underwear, shirts, socks, 2 pounds. Camera and film, 2½ pounds. Tarp, 2 pounds. Emergency Kit , ½ pound. Whetstone, matches, toothbrush, first-aid kit, etc, ½ pound. Miscellaneous, 2 pounds.

In addition, the hiker may want to carry a fishing rod, rifle, handgun, or binoculars.

The ax should have a single-bit, 1½ pound head, and a leather sheath. It won’t exceed 2 ½ pounds.”

— Clyde Ormond - The Complete Book of Outdoor Lore, 1964

This is an exquisite book, and I will be sharing more of it's gems. If you come across a copy it is well worth picking up.

The Complete Walker

Colin Fletcher - The Complete Walker III, 1984

Is it wrong that an image like this gets me really excited?

The cover of "The Complete Walker III" by the late great Colin Fletcher, this is 1984 edition