I’ve been around hiking gear long enough to know that these new meetups and gear “experiences” often end up as echo chambers for trendy, expensive gear rather than honest, time-tested advice. While the idea of gathering to compare notes sounds appealing on the surface, I’m not sure if we’re really breaking new ground or simply rehashing the same marketing talk that’s been plaguing our industry for years.
Is anyone else worried that these meetups will cater more to the latest ultralight, high-tech novelties rather than focusing on gear with proven durability and reliability in real-world conditions? I recall a time when we trusted gear simply because it worked—when our recommendations were based on miles over rugged terrain, not glossy brochures and sponsored demos.
Also, how many of you believe that the current format of these meetups leaves little room for frank, critical debate? It seems like organizers are more interested in building buzz and attracting sponsorship dollars rather than fostering a forum for genuine, sometimes tough, conversation about what actually matters on the trail.
I’m interested in hearing from others:
• Do you think there’s a real opportunity to challenge the overly commercialized narrative of hiking gear at these events?
• How can we ensure that the discussions remain focused on objective performance rather than hype?
• Would a more structured critique—complete with rigorous, field-tested demonstrations—be feasible, or is that asking too much in today’s “Instagram gear” world?
Let’s see if we can steer the conversation toward a more grounded evaluation of our equipment, instead of merely following the status quo.