General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]Glassunion
(10,201 posts)I don't buy a hiking boot, until I figure out what the latest is from the military.
I don't buy a backpacking pack, until I figure out what was tested and selected for the military.
I then buy the same. I've had the same pair of boots for about 4 years. I have over 600 miles in them and they are just getting broken in. I have a backpack that was built on the Marine Corpse's latest (at the time) and I swear it's the best back country equipment I own.
I've almost completed the AT, and the best equipment I own is built on military spec. The devil is in the details. Double-stitched seams, an extra pad, reinforced rivets for my laces, etc... I can't destroy the stuff if I tried.
The shame is, the military spends all the money of R&D, but the equipment comes from the lowest bidder. Sort of like the care they are stuck with after a deployment.
Nothing is too good for our military, and that's about what we give them.