My neighbor in Bend said his old wool blanket is better than any sleeping bag

We were packing for a trip and he pulled out this heavy, worn Hudson's Bay blanket from his truck. He said he's used it for 15 years in the Oregon Cascades, even in the rain, and it just needs to air out. It made me wonder if I've been overthinking gear and buying too many fancy, lightweight things that might not last. Has anyone else had a piece of simple, old gear that just won't quit?

3 comments

3 Comments

wyattbaker1mo ago

Man, my grandpa's canvas tarp is like that, still going strong after 30 years of camping trips.

christopherr951mo ago

Remember how they used to make stuff with real cotton canvas back then? Now most tarps are that cheap plastic stuff that cracks after a few seasons. Makes you wonder if the old materials were actually better or if we just got used to things falling apart faster. Your grandpa probably bought that tarp once and never had to think about it again. Kind of a lost idea now.

the_jennifer21d ago

Plastic tarps are way cheaper though, so maybe it evens out.