"Do you suppose they will choose to make war against lean, solid dogs rather than against fat and tender sheep?"
Backpacking brings to life a lot of dead metaphors. When someone drives past you on a dry dirt road, you literally eat their dust, and on day two of a long hike, you really do have to tighten your belt. But “jackboots?” To me, “jackboot” is just a metonymy for fascists, as in “jackbooted thugs”... Continue Reading →
What is archaic, rustic, cheap ... and Russian? It's a trick question! The answer is, "Whatever it may be, you know damn well that now Jason will insist on trying it!" Today it's portyanki, the traditional Russian foot wrap that some hunters still prefer with heavy boots instead of socks. In fact, the Russian army only phased... Continue Reading →
I'm outgrowing my love of cheap Communist Bloc stuff as I prepare for the looooooooong all-night ruck in Carson City. I don't want to get halfway through the event only to drop out just because the last of my skin has been rubbed off by smelly Czechoslovak canvas. So today I surrendered, embraced the capitalist... Continue Reading →
Old Soviet gear is often ugly, heavy, and uncomfortable. What can make it a winner is that it streamlines your life. You may get bored or sore, but you will get a lot done. As an example, my friend and I both love exercise, but we have totally different setups. He has a membership to... Continue Reading →
http://www.varusteleka.comva Strong, cheap, unattractive, and indestructible. That's how you know it's Russian. It’s the “veshmeshok,” a primitive canvas knapsack. I used to think of it as a crappy, “last-ditch” item, but now it’s my first choice. When traveling with one Huge Freaking Backpack, I still need a small daypack, unless I want to empty out... Continue Reading →