TIL my old sleeping bag has been on 47 trips

I was cleaning out my gear closet and found the log I kept in my old Kelty Cosmic 20. I added up all the little check marks and it came out to 47 separate camping trips over 8 years. It's been everywhere from the White Mountains to Joshua Tree and is still holding up, which really surprised me. Has anyone else had a piece of gear last way longer than they expected?

4 comments

4 Comments

nathankim6mo ago

That "still holding up" part is so real. My buddy had this cheap Walmart tent from high school that we all made fun of. Thing survived a crazy hail storm in the Rockies that shredded a way nicer tent next to it. He finally retired it after like 15 years because the zipper gave out, not the fabric.

phoenix_singh254mo ago

I have to push back a little on that "still holding up" idea. To me, 47 trips over 8 years isn't that impressive for a good sleeping bag. A quality piece of gear should last twice that long with basic care. I think your old Kelty did its job, but we've sort of lowered the bar for what we expect. A lot of the old stuff like that Coleman stove or the Walmart tent people mention were built with simpler materials that didn't break down. The newer stuff might have more features but it's often lighter and less durable. Maybe it's not that the gear lasts longer, but that we just accept things falling apart after a few seasons as normal.

seanc736mo ago

My dad still uses the same Coleman camp stove he bought in 1987. The thing looks like it survived a war, but it lights first try every single time. He refuses to even talk about getting a new one.

mason_reed476mo ago

Totally get that. Makes you wonder if the stuff they build now is even meant to last that long. Feels like a different world.