Old timey Mt man or Mr high-tec ?

If all things are equal, I'll go with traditional. If modern means a greatly improved design, I'll go for modern.

For example, I'll usually take silnylon over canvas for a pack because silnylon is so much lighter. But I'll just as easily take a good 'ol 1095 carbon blade over 3V because 1095 more than gets the job done.
 
cmdionne said:
I would rather be neither. I like to be a mix between the two, I have a deep respect and appreciation for the traditional gear, but I understand that some of the newer gear works much better. Why not use what you like, which can be because it's traditional or because it works well. Sometimes these traits go together and sometimes they dont. Alot of the traditional gear is elegant in its simplicity, and that's what I truly love about an opinel or a douk douk or a wool shirt.
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Elen said:
In between. I might say "of course." ;) I use what works best with a reasonable price tag and doesn't look out of place out there. Some "traditional" gear and some modern gear. I really have no interest being any kind of mountain man any more than I'm interested in being a tech junkie somebody accidentally dropped in the woods. I just use what I like. :) For some things, that's older stuff. For other things, it's newer stuff.
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Yeah, what they said. :thumbup:
 
I like high tech gear and probably have my fair share of it, but I really like the idea of a mountain man gear. It has been one of my dreams to build a log cabin as a summer home and live a simple life while there, no need for electronics.
 
I recall doing a lot of reading on Mountain Men when I was in college in the early '70's. IIRC, most of them did not make it to the 1st rendezvous. Disease, dehydration, starvation, exposure, attacks by Native Americans, feral animals and other trappers took a large toll. They survived (or not) almost entirely on large quantities of meat. After a year of deprivation, they would sell their pelts at a devalued market rate (the market would be flooded with pelts as everyone who made it was selling at the same time) only to drink and debauch away their profits in a single week.

Having spoiled everyone's fun....I'd style prefer to go as trad as possible:

Wool, eat with hands (a whittled wood spoon - gimme a break! and what the heck is a spork - looks like something you'd see in an old Batman comic) rough duty knife and hatchet.

I use a steel cup when I have to cook something I can't roast over and open flame.
 
I think most of the people here lean towards modern gear. I know I do.

To me Mountain man gear is flint and steel and char cloth for a fire kit maybe some tinder fungus or birch bark tinder. Not a LMF firesteel and PCJB.

A copper hammered cup, not a Ti snowpeak mug.

Again this is only my defintion or perception of what Mountain Man gear is. I think that there are only a few on these boards that would call themselves mountain men as it pertains to their gear choices.

The only reason I say this is because I have an older brother that is into historical reenactments and that my friends is mountain man gear.

I do see quite a few traditional folk on here. Again not trying to start an arguement just giving you my thoughts on what the term Mountain Man brings to mind for me.

Paul
 
I am alot more old school than new. I carry slipsoints, or thin carbon steel boning knives in the woods. Most of my axes are old ones that I cleaned and rehandled, using spoke shaves and draw knives. My clothing is wool durring the winter and my snow shoes are Wilcox and Williams. If I am camping with a canoe or car I allways have a dutch oven. I prefer using flint and steel, and I forge my own steel's and make my own char cloth. My primary woods guns are singleshot shotguns, and single action revolvers. I love army shelter halfs and my pack still has an external steel frame. I hope to update in some ways like learning how to use a digital camera, and maybe even GPS. Joe
 
Wool person or fleece: Both
Titanium spork or freshly whittled wooden spoon: Titanium, but I can make a wooden one if needed.
Micarta handled CPM3V knife or Maple handled 1095 blade: Both! My favorite piece happens to be micarta and 1095.
Aluminum/titanium pans or Cast Iron: Cast iron for extended use, aluminum/titanium to get me by. I usually go halfway between with stainless.

I carry whatever gives me maximum utility with minimum bulk, which tends to lean towards the more modern type of gear. However, I refuse to reduce it so far that it becomes unusable.
 
OLD TIMEY! NO dang nabbit rap music here!
 
Most of my sporting activities require modern equipment, for weight savings and other reasons, but it's fun to experiment with more traditional gear too.

Jeff
 
flnder said:
Couldn't a guy be a high tech mountain man?
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You mean sort of like this??:):confused:

mountainman.jpg
 
I fall in the middle somewhere. For example. I love wool, but you won't find it next to my skin, outer layer wool, I like. I'd rather use a spork than whittle a wooden one. Carbon steel is what I prefer, natural handle material, I'm cool with that. I'd rather cook with cast iron and always start my fires using a fire steel, never a Bic, Zippo or flare gun.
 
I would love to learn the traditional side of being a mountain man, but probably like others. I fall in the middle.
 
If you want to talk about a mountain man, a guy I knew was trying to quit smoking so he would only light up a cigarrette if he lit it from a fire created with a bow drill.
 
Hell I spend too much money on knives to afford any expensive hitech gear.
 
pitdog said:
What kinda person are you or what kind would you like to be Which most suits your personality ?

Are you a Wool person or fleece.
Titanium spork or freshly whittled wooden spoon.
Micarta handled CPM3V knife or Maple handled 1095 blade.
Aluminum/titanium pans or Cast Iron.

Obviously we all have a mix of gear and equipment but which kinda person wold you rather be ?
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Certain things I feel certain ways about. Pocket knives, unless it is a sak, I want a frame lock like a Sebenza or Strider. Fixed blade, I want tool steel with a wood handle, preferably an older design like the Kephart, or my PSK Sr.

I prefer cooking in cast iron pans, whether its on the range at home, or on a campfire (usually at home :(). While I'd still like to get a G3, I have come to appreciate the old guys, like the M1. Nice wood stocks over the plastic crap any day.
 
Wool clothes-wool blanket-flint & steel & char cloth-1095 with wood handle-tin pot-tin cup-no forks or spoons-smooth bore flint lock-leather & canvas for pouch & bags.
I like the mt man way but on the other hand lite weight is good also.
 
tp03pb7.jpg


I definitely lean toward the mountain man side of the equation.



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
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