I got an REI Flash 65 because I wanted to lighten my load, and I could save about 3 pounds over my previous pack by using the Flash 65. My friend Kevin Anderson had said he bought one, and really liked it. So I bought one for an 8 day backpack we did with the [...]
Outdoor Gear, Patents, and Outdoor Trips by Bob Shaver, Patent Attorney
Category Archives: Climbing Gear
Petzl Snow Scopic Ice Axe
Ice axes started out in the 19th century being long staffs with a point at one end, and were called alpenstocks. By the 1970s the typical mountaineering ice axe was much shorter, but was still long enough to be used as a walking aid, especially on sidehills. In the 1980s and 90, ice axes got [...]
The Invention of Crampons
Crampons in some form have been around for many centuries. A page on the history of crampons by Grivel shows one type of crampon carved on the Arch of Constantine of Rome, built in 315 AD. Crampon design took a major step forward in at the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time purists [...]
The Petzl Headlamp
In 1984 climber / inventor Paul Petzl came up with a headlamp with no on/off switch. To turn the light on or off, the housing around the lens of the lamp was rotated. Rotating this housing also served to focus the beam of light. This style of controlling lights is still seen in headlamps and [...]
Ice Axe, 1930
Here is a nifty ice axe of 1930. The shaft comes apart to reveal a big knife.
Ski Pole Flask
Here is a handy flask for small quantities of refreshments, such as liquor: a ski pole flask. After skiing for a while, you pop the top off a ski pole and have some warming rum, Gran Marnier, Schnaps, etc. It would have to be alcohol based, because anything water based would freeze.
Tent and a View
Here is an interesting tent from 1891. In fair weather the side can be opened up, and when it is raining the side rolls down for full protection. This idea is pretty similar to some modern ultralight tents, like the Tarptent tent shown below which has a side that opens, or that can be closed [...]
An Early Rope Descender
This early rope descender looks it works by a similar principle as modern rope descenders, by forcing the rope to make some turns around some obstacles.
Buck Short Revolution Knife
Buck Knives recently moved from Southern California to Post Falls, Idaho, and continues to make knives of incredible quality and craftsmanship. I really like some of the new smaller knives. A Swiss Army knife is great for a lot of outdoor uses, but if you clean a fish with it you inevitably get all the [...]
Ice Axe Length
“General” Mountaineering Not Well Served By Modern Ice Axes. Ergomomic Analysis by a New Zealand climber provides evidence of a wrong turning in technical change. Brian Wilkins, a mountaineer from New Zealand, has some thoughts about the history of climbing equipment, and especially ice axe length. Old timers may remember when ice axes were about [...]