INFOGRAPHIC: The Evolution of Trekking Gear

This is a guest post by Dustin Walker, who runs Slick & Twisted Trails — a blog for hikers & backpackers who shun the beaten path.

Some hiking purists might say that outdoor gear has evolved too much. .

And in a way, I can see their point.

After all, does anyone really need to haul an 81-part Swiss Army knife or a hand-crank blender with them on a backpacking trip? Of course not.

But while I admit there is certainly a good case for keeping things simple, it’s still important to recognize key innovations within the trekking gear industry. That’s why I created the infographic below.

Plus, outdoor gear has a fascinating history behind it.

Hiking and backpacking for recreation only really started to catch on after World War Two. Prior to that, people usually went on ‘treks’ to either hunt or do battle.

But those earlier pioneers of outdoor essentials — folks like LL Bean and Ole F. Bergan — helped pave the way for some impressive advances in hiking technology. Advances that are being spurred on by a lot of California-bred companies in particular, like Patagonia, Marmot and North Face.

There’s now a constant race to develop lighter, tougher and more inventive outdoor gear. And overall, that benefits us backpackers and hikers because we get better products.

But still it’s likely we’ll continue to see more and more outdoor supplies and gadgets that are, well, questionable ( Squat Strap , anyone?)

The key is staying focused on getting what you need to enjoy the outdoors, rather than being distracted by the latest shiny product.

The infographic below (which originally appeared on the hiking blog Slick & Twisted Trails ) sheds light on the vast changes made in trekking gear over the years—from tents to backpacks to footwear. From the late 1800’s to today, it is no surprise that gear has evolved and come a long way.

Slick & Twisted Trails

About the author: Based on Canada’s Vancouver Island, Dustin is always on the hunt for those rare, less-traveled routes through the wilderness. Check out his latest guide to backpacking gear & gadgets .