Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Classics

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No doubt there are others, but these are the Classics that spring to my mind. By ‘classics’, I mean products that have remained largely unchanged for 30

years after they were first launched and they were in continuous production for those three decades too.

I plan to add images of the earlier and later versions as time permits. And obviously include other classics.

Stove

Model 25

Trangia

1951

Compass

15T Ranger

Silva

1964

Tent

3R

Stephenson Warmlite 

1964

Jacket

Greenland

Fjallraven

1968

Sleeping mat

Therm-a-rest

Cascade Designs

1971 (self inflating)

Sleeping pad

Karrimat

Karrimor

1966 (closed cell foam)

Climbing

Hexentrics

Black Diamond

1971

Daypack

Kanken

Fjallraven

1978

Geodesic Tent

VE25

The North Face

1978 as VE24

Tunnel Tent

Keron

Hilleberg

1981

Pants

Bags

Rohan

1981

Shorts

Baggies

Patagonia

1982

Ultralight Tent

Flashlight

Sierra Designs

1983

Harness

Bod

Black Diamond

1986 (assumes BD still have it in their line in 2016!)