Alpine Designs “A” Frame Backpacking Tent

Posted on by Rob Drews

Take your backpacking trip back in time a few years with this early 70s A frame tent by Alpine Designs of Boulder Colorado. The always innovative George Lamb and his team did a great job on this simple, classic tent incorporating some great features.

This single wall tent features zippered screen and full door entries at either end making it ideal for two occupants. The tent also has zippered floor access at one end. Construction is achieved via four half inch diameter collapsible aluminum poles ran through the tent pole casing and lining into a machined aluminum member at the top. A draw cord running though the tent peak at the ends runs through this member and is staked into the ground. The rain fly sits over the top and ties to the tent cords or stakes into the ground on it’s own in some places.
Approx Measurements:
Packed Weight: 7lbs
Packed Size 18″ x 11″ x 6″
Erected Measurements
93″ head to toe
59″ across
45″ high

Alpine Designs External Frame Backpack

Posted on by Rob Drews

Early external frame pack boards were made from wood or solid metal, then came the aluminum. The innovators  at Alpine Designs saw  a new  progression in this pack made of a PVC plastic frame. It’s definitely one of the most unique external frame packs I’ve encountered, and probably for good reason. The use of plastics instead of aluminum seems to save no weight at all (if not adding some). It’s also hard to imagine this plastic could withstand the stresses, shock and temperatures of an aluminum frame. Still this pack has survived rather well with no cracks and all plastic hardware intact.

Regardless of materials, this pack is very well constructed with plenty of details that make it Alpine Designs. Leather zip assist tabs, integrated pack handle on the frame, and innovative lace loops to secure the top hatch to name a few.  This pack also features very thinly padded shoulder and waist straps. It has no lashing squares but does have two pair of D rings on the underside.

Pack make-up includes:
1 top entry main compartment
1 front entry second main compartment
2 top entry side canister pockets
2 front entry secondary side canister pockets
1 small front entry compartment on the outside of the secondary main compartment.

1980’s The North Face Gore-Tex Anorak Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This North Face Gore-Tex anorak style parka represents technical innovations for the company in the early/mid 80s. Traditional 60/40 cotton blend materials are bypassed in lieu of the emerging weatherproof fabric known as Gore-Tex. Advancements in materials have pushed design by allowing the parka to remain weather proofed with more seams backed with waterproofing (note the seams mid sleeve). The growth of the brand from the “Brown Label” garments is also evident in the use of branded hardware. The embossed buttons (used on later “Brown Label” pieces) label screened cord locks and emblemized zipper pulls attached to TALON loop zippers. This piece is also clearly designed for a woman as evident in the contoured waist.

1/2 zip with zip and snap closure. Innovative two-piece hood with peak and elastic draw closure ran through a nylon sock for optimal, form-fitting tightening. Nylon lined front zip kangaroo pocket with pass-through velcro closed hand pockets. Elastic cord cinch at bottom.

This piece is in very nice shape. Almost no signs of wear with no holes or stains. All stitching is in nice shape and the Gore-Tex fabric backing is in great shape. Color is pretty much dead-on Navy Blue. Refer to the picture of the back of the parka for truest representation of the color.

Measures:
neck seam to cuff: 27″
across at slimest: 17″
across at bottom: 19″
top of zip to hem:  25.5

This Parka is currently available on the BCV  eBay store

Sierra Designs single Man Backpacking Tent – Oakland CA

Posted on by Rob Drews

Classic Oakland California era Sierra Designs single person backpacking tent.  This tent looks as if it borrows structural engineering from Spanish architect Félix Candela using arches to make a simple yet durable structure.

Includes all original pieces:
Tent
Rain Fly
Plastic composite and aluminum poles (8 pieces)
5 stakes
1 Sierra Designs Oakland CA tent bag
Small Sierra Designs Berkeley CA stuff sack (added bonus)

Condition wise this tent is in great shape for its age. No holes or rips in the tent body or fly, all seams are complete and the zippers work great. Some blue has transferred to the white of the tent top after being stored rolled up for years. Floor of the tent is remarkably clean, indicating the tent was used very little.  Has a little of that old nylon tent smell but has been airing out for the last two weeks and will continue to until point of sale.

Approximate Measurements:
Packed weight: 4.5 lbs
Packed size: 28″ x 6″ x 3.5

Set up:
44″ tall at front
15″ at feet
95″ head to toe
44″ across

Altra kit Mountain Parka

Posted on by Rob Drews

This Altra Kits of Boulder Colorado mountain parka is your quintessential parka and very comparable to other parkas of this era by companies like Class 5, The North Face, Holubar, Gerry and others.  Good weight to the parka due to the double layer throughout. Red 60/40 poly cotton shell with a  slightly lighter cotton blend interior in Tan. Two-way TALON heavy gauge loop tooth zipper in black. Velcro closure on the storm flap, hip pockets and breast pockets and inner pocket. Nylon draw cord cinch at waist and hood and at the waist.

This parka is in nice condition for its age. Clean fabric that shows little signs of heavy wear.  Some light staining on the back of the right sleeve and around the wrists.  No holes or snags. Washed and ready to wear.

Altra was one of the last to jump on the outdoor kit bus behind frostline and holubar.  This gear was sold as sew-at-home packages during the 70s and  80s and allowed people to construct high quality gear at a fraction of the price (if the purchaser was or knew a capable sewer of course). This piece in particular is extremely well sewn. Nice straight stitches, no breaks, they followed the pattern to the T.

Measures
23″ pit to pit
22.5″ pit to cuff
30 inches neck seam to cuff
29.5″ top of zipper to hem

The North Face VE 23 Geodesic Tent

Posted on by Rob Drews

This beautiful TNF vintage VE 23 Geodesic dome tent is classified as a two-man three season tent there’s nearly enough room for three. It Features quick and easy construction using three collapsible poles, two screen windows with door screen and solid flap. Rain fly with peak attaches under the poles and has a shock cord around the door to stabilize in adverse conditions.

This particular set up includes:
Tent
Rain Fly
3 poles marked North Face 19
1 aluminum peak pole
12 aluminum Stakes
1 extra rain fly cord
Tent pole tips sheet

Approximate Measurements:
Packed weight: 6.5 lbs
Packed size: 29″ x 9″ x5.5

Set up:
50″ tall
85″ head to toe
93″ across

Red Wing’s Irish Setter Hunting/Work Boots – Made in the USA

Posted on by Rob Drews

Nice older pair of Red Wing Irish Setter hunting/work boots. These boots have been cared for as evident in the leather, not dried and cracking around the toe creases as you so often see. Feel and look like a nice old ball glove, great patina with lots of character.

These boots are NOT steel toe. They have a storm welt still in good condition, all stitching is intact and the boots is not pulling up at all.  The Vibram Soles are in  good shape. Some wear around the heels with still plenty of life left in the lugs

Double and triple stitched uppers in places all intact through out booth boots. Normal scuffing and scrapes on the heels and toes. A scratch on the left boot’s toe and heel but nothing that permeates the leather. 5 lower lace holes followed by 4 loops and a grommet at the top. Single Red Wing’s Irish Setter Sport Boot Made in the USA  tag in the right boot tongue.  Faintly stamped 14 D in the right boot.

Measures:
8″ shaft height
1.5″ heel
14.5″ heel to toe (sole)
4 7/8″ across at widest (sole)

Coleman Peak 1 Day Pack Backpack

Posted on by Rob Drews

Peak 1 was Coleman’s foray into the light-weight backpacking world and though Peak 1 may never have got the respect in this area as some of the other smaller brands of the era they still made goods with the quality Coleman was founded on. This day pack is an excellent example in my opinion. It is small, simple and unique.

The pack is very small at only 13.5 inches tall and 12 inches wide at the bottom, but it has plenty of strap to fit over the shoulders of the most grown man. It’s a great size for putting in your over night pack for day trips on a multi-day trip. Wider at the top than it is at the bottom but it’s evened out when the front pocket is stuffed.

The padded straps might be the only unnecessary bulk, but they’d make for a comfortable hike. Slightly A frame in structure but not as much as other packs. The zippered top opening gives you the access of a ruck sack with a clean, secure closure. The zipper extends as far as it possibly can opening the top up like a tin can.

The pack is in good condition. There are no holes or major stains. The inside is clean and the protective coating is not deteriorating. The Label has been scribed with the owner’s last name as well as the inside of the top flap

This pack is currently available, contact for details

Wood N Stream by Weinbrenner

Posted on by Rob Drews

You are looking at a like new pair of Wood N Stream 7 inch moc toe, crepe sole hunting/work boots. These boots are very similar in construction and quality to those of the famed Red Wing boots. These boots were found unlaced and seemingly unused.

All stitching on the uppers and welt is completely intact and brilliant white. The BILTRITE NURON-CREPE soles show little to no use of actual wear. The boots were laced to give a better sense of of how they would look. Laced via the included leather lace through grommets at the bottom and around 9 hooks. The two flaps behind the loops overlap each other over the tongues to seal out weather.

The only flaws are minor scuffing on the left toe, a mild crack to the lower left toe sole, discoloration to the bottom of the right sole (perhaps the boot sat in or on something) and tarnish on the middle four inner left boot lace loops.

Weinbrenner Boots of Milwaukee Wisconsin have been making quality boots since 1892 and carries on today. Check out their Thorogood Work collection for a moc toe boot similar to these.

Marked inside:
J57
8 1/2 D 92091
477

Sole Measures:
11.75″ heel to toe
4.5″ across at widest