As a trained ( if unemployed) archaeologist, I like to examine my own gear in terms of culture borrowing, evidence of trade routes, ethnic traditions and taboos. One never knows when a mishap may send us into a frozen tomb like Oetzi. So, now I have to acquire a Zeltbahn. Will it cause dissention with square poncho users or rigging communal emergency shelters? My flektar poncho allready gets wierd looks from the local Sierra club. I just ordered a Millbank bag from England. I have woolens from Wales,Canada and Dachstein Germany. My knife is a swedish fallkniven made in Japan. The synthetic Wiggy sleeping bag is jammed inside a vintage german rucksack with leather straps. One of the side pouches has a bottle of french Merlot. The other one has fruitcake,buffalo pemmican and chocolate from San Francisco. I'll prepare that dish with my SAK corkscrew and Inuit Ulu. Theres a few Kosher MREs and a fishing kit buried under everything. I just hope I look better than Oetzi and don't get claimed by the wrong descendants <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I could not agree more, with your diverse selections. Unity of purpose and function through diversity, makes, I believe for more rounded approach to problem solving. Whether it is equipment or techniques, we must try and avoid having tunnel vision or single mindedness. We must learn to adapt with a variety of techniques and equipment, combining the new and the old, the tried and untried to accomplish tasks. Pete

...several thousand years from now, your fruitcake will still be fresh! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />