Guy at the REI counter in Boise said my 10 year old stove was "wall art" and it got me thinking
So I'm standing in line at the REI in Boise last month to buy fuel canisters, and a guy behind me points at my old white gas stove strapped to my pack and says, "That thing is wall art now, buddy." I laughed it off, but then I got to my site and it fired up on the third try, same as it has for 10 years. The thing weighs almost 2 pounds and I've replaced the pump once for $14, but it has never once quit on me in the rain. I read reviews for a week after that and every new ultralight canister stove has the same comments about cold weather and finicky valves. It made me wonder if half of what we call "upgrading" is just buying lighter problems. The guy wasn't wrong that my setup is heavy, but heavy and working beats light and dead when it's 35 degrees at 9,000 feet. Do you all trust the shiny new gear reviews or do you stick with the old stuff that has already proven itself out there?