Comments on: Recession and the Outdoor World

By: andy

andy — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:30:05 +0000

Durability is an issue with lightweight packs. One of the reasons I like the ULA packs is that Dyneema is tough enough to deal with European baggage handlers!

By: Philip Werner

Philip Werner — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:56:02 +0000

I’m being a bit more careful about what I spend money on and selling off some of my extra kit to finance new purchases. I’ve found that the one item that I burn through pretty quickly are ultralight backpacks, but I’ve found that the US cottage manufacturers like Gossamer Gear and Six Moon Designs are more than happy to fix these for free, and they have my eternal loyalty for that.

By: andy

andy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:06:21 +0000

Reminds me Steve, I owe you an email!

By: Windy

Windy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:00:04 +0000

I need to replace my aging Golite Gust but I will have to make it do for next year. I must try making some side pockets for it………..

By: andy

andy — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:21:08 +0000

I need to replace my Paramo Alta II, which I use every day in winter. I also wanted a Third Element. For walking this winter I shall probably fall back on my old Velez.

By: Baz

Baz — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:08:36 +0000

…I’m just glad I made the mad purchase of the lightweight Valez when I did. Luckily my Paramo vouchers came through the other day and so I can consider the Cascada trousers afterall…. but after that, it will be no more kit for quite some time.
On the flip side, walking in itself is a very cheap pastime (I was going to say ‘hobby’, but…), so now I have the kit, I’m generally ok. That Bavarian walking break may have to wait yet again, though.

By: andy

andy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:39:26 +0000

BG: I know how you feel, My problem is that quite a bit of my gear does now need replacing!

I’ve been happy over the last few years as my work life is pretty flexible, but I can see commisions are getting harder and harder to come by.

Much more of this and I’ll be living in a bothy like a hermit …

.. come to think of it!

By: andy

andy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:37:21 +0000

Don’t know about that Neil but you can tell that things are getting tighter there.

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:11:39 +0000

I wonder if TGO Magazine staff are affected by the situation at The Herald/Evening Times:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7763356.stm

In case you don’t know all the staff have been made redundant and have to reapply for their jobs. Its caused much consternation here in Scotland.

By: BG!

BG! — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:16:05 +0000

Have you changed your plans for 2009?

Yes, I reckon that I’ll have to rethink the number of trips that I was considering, based on travel costs. Gearwise, I’m OK until stuff wears out or breaks, so that’s not so much of a problem right now, but who knows what the market will be like when the gear does eventually expire?.

Above all this, however, is the need for me to reassess the future as a whole, not just in convenient chunks such as the outdoors aspect. With the value of my pension funds having been reduced by over 35% during the last three months, the long-term future doesn’t look rosy, bright or Orange!

I really feel for those who have lost more (and there are many, many more who are in a much worse financial position than I am, and many have lost all), consider those who are just about to claim their pensions after a working lifetime of making what are now fruitless pension contributions.