Vintage Waist Packs

Posted on by Rob Drews
Vintage Famous Trails Pack

Hine Snowbridge – One of the great old labels from Colorado. This is a large pack measures about 17″ around the waist 6″ high top to bottom. 5″ deep. YKK zips, large metal clasp waist.

Exit Expeditions International – Not familiar with this label and have not seen it anywhere else. This late 70s or 80s pack features Ideal zips, large Fastex clamp waist. Clean and in good shape

Maran – Popular maker of packs of all sizes in the early to mid 1970s. Smaller pack than the hine or exit. 12″ across waist 5″ high 3 1/2″ deep. Unique design with the YKK zipper across the top. Seatbelt nylon waist strap with interlocking metal buckle. Clean, nice shape

Mark Pack Works – Albany CA.Little known about this maker and a seldom seen label. Medium size pack 13″ across waist, 6″ high 4.5″ deep. Has one main compartment with two internal compartments and removable foam which helps the pack keep its shape. Two side pockets, one on each strap arm. Skinny seatbelt nylon strap with small Fastex clip. C&C zippers

Famous Trails – A prolific maker out of San Diego California and contemporary to Kelty. This medium waist pack measures about 11.5″ across the waist, 6.5″ high top to bottom. 5″ deep. Awesome color combo of brown and cream. Features one main compartment with two smaller side pockets. Ideal zippers, large Fastex clasp waist. Full color Famous Trails label pops.

 

 

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Danner 30520 Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews
Danner 30520 Leather Mountain Light Vintage Boots

These older Danner 30520 hiking boots are the bases for what is now known as the Mountain Light 30876. Though not called the mountain light, this version was made significantly lighter than the previous 6490 version primarily from the move to a Gore-tex lining and lighter sole material. Danner was an early adopter of the revolutionary Gore-TEX fabric which made its entrance into outdoor market in the mid 70s. A similar boots marked 3052 was also made, I’ve not yet determined what the extra 0 found here denotes

Much the same as the current Mountain Light these boots feature:

GORE-TEX lining
Vibram Soles
5 D-rings, 2 hook lace-up
Danner tri-fold tongue
5″ shaft
Are Made in the USA and Recraftable

Tongue Markings:
10 D 30520 23A233
Danner

Danner 31570 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews

Great boots from the great northwest. These Danner Boots are like none other that I have come across before and you’ll be hard pressed to find another pair in this style. Marked as 31570  040035, these boots share have similarities with the famous Danner Light in the form of mixed  material uppers, but are lower cut with a more casual feel. Still fully lined with Gore-text they ready to take on just about anything, from the city streets to the mountain trails.

In the early 80s, the use of synthetic fabrics in hiking boots began to take hold. Cordura along with Gore-Tex had the ability to greatly reduce the weight of a pair of boots while still allowing for dependability and weather proofing serious hikers had come to expect from their earlier leather tanks. Boots like the Vasque Sundowner and Danner Light exploded in popularity and pretty soon every boot maker had a similar option.

Danner 6490 Hiking Boots

Posted on by Rob Drews

This is a pair of Danner 6490 Hiking Boots. This boot is the predecessor to the Mountain Light boot and dates back to the 1970s.

This Boot features:

  • premium handcrafted leather uppers
  • soft leather lining
  • Danner’s tri-fold tongue design similar to that of the Mountain Light with a less final height on the tongue
  • Leather sole with nailed Vibram sole
  • 4 swivel D ring, 2 hook lace

Stamped inside:
Size 9 1/2 D Style 6490 Lot 2559 Danner

Lowa Climbing Boots Mens 5 1/2 N – Womens 7

Posted on by Rob Drews

This pair of German made Lowa heavy duty climbing boots is currently for sale on the Basecamp Vintage Etsy Store.

These boots have some superfluous scratching and markings on the uppers but that’s about the extent of the wear. Exterior leather on the uppers shows no stress points, cracks, gouges or other serious weathering. A gusseted single tongue keeps the weather out when laced via the swivel rings and hooks with candy cane laces.

Inside the boots are fully lined with soft full-grain leather. The shaft has a layer of padding sandwiched between inner and outer for comfort. Soft padded cuff at the top of the shaft is in great shape with no cracking. Previous owner’s name has been blacked out with marker but other wise insides are very clean and odor free. There is a lightly padded insole also in nice shape.

The double stitched welt is in great condition with no broken stitches or separation between the boot and sole. Attached is a fine Vibram Montagna Italian made lugged sole. The sole shows very little signs of wear save for the few pebbles living within its grasp since the boots were last used.

There are a few great attributes about these boots one can really appreciate. My personal favorite is that the entire upper (minus the tongue) is made from a single piece of leather. This pieces is fused by two double stitched seems on the inner side of the boot. One of the greatest seems on a boot I’ve ever seen.

Very nice patina on these boots as is but they could really use a rub of Lederbalsm before being put back into service.

Inside these boots are stamped N 5 1/2 0542
Please note these boots may differ from a typical US size 5 1/2, check measurements below.

Insole measures:
9 5/8 inches heel to toe
3 1/4 inches wide at ball of foot

Outside of the boot measures:
approx 10 3/8 inches heel to toe

Shaft Height:
6 1/4 inches from welt