Must Be This Way laments the lack of lightweight backpacking gear sold in the UK. Back before there was Go Lite, people just made their own stuff. Heck, Ray Jardine built a business around it. I spent an hour or two hanging around Ray’s site yesterday and I’m getting sorely tempted to order on of his home-made tarp kits. We have a couple sewing machines and Melissa figures stitching one together would be no big deal. This would of course violate my “no new gear this year” New Year’s resolution but those things are made to be broken, right?
Go for it. I’ve been debating getting one ever since they came out. I even have his first two books, which have the “free” plans in them. The only reason I haven’t, yet, is because, well, I don’t really need it where I’m at. Still, it would be nice to have it, just in case…
Tom,
The UK lightweight industry is only just getting into its stride. One of our problems is our weather – but the movement is certainly gaining momentum. There is a lot of interest here in what you guys have been doing for a while.
Check out Bob Cartwrights excellent podcasts via. iTunes or:
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk