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 OUR MISSION & MORE After perusing some feedback on the pre-equipped packs we're offering here, Steve and I had a long coffee shop session and discussed our mission. Why are we--well, mostly I, because he's busy full-time in the machine shop--in this business to begin with? And what are we trying to accomplish?
By the same token, my thinking with the pre-equipped options I'm selling is that these packs: 1.) promote the concept of being prepared, which can both help avoid problems in the first place and be better able to deal with them if they arise; 2.) make use of my experience with gear-testing, to choose brands and models for some folks who may not know what to start out with (and then they can always adapt, test, add or subtract as they go); and 3.) take a little of the shopping out of the process, because I've heard that some folks don't find it all that fun. (Go figure.) Dollars and (Making) Sense: So, is this all just out of the goodness of my heart, or do I want to make some profit here? Yes, of course; this is not a non-profit venture. At the same time, I'm happy that what I'm doing with my business is intertwined with my love of hiking and Search & Rescue. And playing with gear. So I'm concentrating on things I know and enjoy. Am I an "expert" in these areas? Well, I say there's always more to learn and ways to improve, so I really don't like to use that expression. Do I know what I'm doing, though, when I fill my backpack for the day, the week, or months at a time and hit the trail? Yeah, I'd say so. I've learned a lot in my more than three decades of walking trails and during my hundreds of SAR mission hours and trainings so far. So I feel comfortable that the gear I'm selling is not only quality but that the combinations of gear in the PREpack and SARpack kits are more than adequate foundations for well-equipped 24-hour packs. As I've said elsewhere, though, the PREpack and SARpack are not all-inclusive. I don't sell food, and I don't sell clothing, both for numerous reasons (way too much inventory, for one). And, of course, many people prefer not to spend so much money all at one shot and/or prefer to pick and choose their gear, piece by piece, from dealers they're familiar with or their local outfitter. Totally understood. (But we are working on the "build your own pack" area for selecting items--or one item--by ten-essential category.) What I hope visitors to this site will see is that these pre-equipped "kits" are just options, particularly intended for those who don't already have closets full of gear. I hope others may find our contents lists--along with the "Other recommended gear" list--useful guides for equipping themselves wherever and however they'd like. Or perhaps some may even use these pre-equipped pack lists for making their own list to request a custom-built pack from our company. (Hey, just an idea!) Backcountry gear is available nearly everywhere you look these days, and as a sum total, especially if you bargain hunt or buy used, the gear-shopper may very well be able to purchase all the gear in my pre-equipped packs for less. But I've done my calculating--spread sheets and more spread sheets--and tried to come up with kit prices that not only give a break on current, total MSRP (the sum of the MSRP for all items, right down to the pencils) but also provide a little padding for me, so I can actually end up on the plus side when all is said and done. The spread between dealer cost and retail is very slim on a number of the pricier items. An "Interesting" Objection: One sentiment I'd like to address is the notion that a pre-equipped pack in the hands of an inexperienced hiker may put them at risk. All I can say to that is, common sense and skill are certainly not included in any piece or package of gear. It's on our homepage, but I'll repeat it again: it's up to the individual to know how to use their gear, how to navigate, to know their limits, to recognize when conditions warrant turning around, and so forth. It's up to the hiker to look out for his or her own well being, and no gear can ultimately ensure that. After all, as I've seen in SAR over and over again, unfortunate things happen to even the most skilled and best equipped. So as far as a box of new gear inviting problems for new hikers--to that I say, I respectfully disagree. Besides, most of it--with the exception of a GPS and compass (and the map I hope people bring)--I must say is darn near idiot-proof. Well, this was a bit more than a mission statement, wasn't it? Yes, I'm a babbler, for sure. But I do hope I've conveyed at least some of what's behind this endeavor. And even if it's not financially all that successful, I'll be happy if it encourages at least a few more people to "Hike Smart, Be Prepared, Be Safe." Thanks for reading! 
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Promoting backcountry preparedness--that's really the key. I'm a proponent of carrying the ten essentials (which doesn't mean just ten items) on day-hikes and, of course, on overnight or multi-day treks. That includes gear for:
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