Finally Retiring a Wild X Quicksilver Backpack

After reading another thread (51251) about other Wilderness Experience gear and hearing from THE Jim Thomsen, founder of Wilderness Experience, I felt compelled to report on 25 years of punishing backpack use.

I purchased the the Quicksilver model in Sep 84 from Norpine in San Diego for $125. Since then, it's been my only backcountry overnight pack, not to mention several deployments as luggage for those international trips with the Eurail pass or 7 months in Argentina.

The pack served me well for a long, long time. Although a few rips and tears occured through the years (sewn up with leather patches), pretty much the main reason for retiring it was the lashing points deteriorating. Could sew 10 or 12 of those on and the pack could still keep on truckin'.

The best features of it were the conformable stays, multiple lash points, removable lid, expandable sleeves, and side compression straps, which doubled as catch-all lashing for shoes, tent poles, trash bags, etc. My hiking companions always would ask about that pack. Must have looked good. Nice dark green color and it always looked tidy. Hard to look like appendage-man in that pack.

Anyone else have a similar experience with Wild X stuff? Does that kind of quality still exist in some brand somewhere?

Steve

fisher54

Welcome to Trailspace

That defiantly does sound like a quality piece of gear

Thank you for your comments. I am glad that we were able to make equipment that worked well and lasted for many years. It's fun to hear these stories. Norpine was a great little shop. I do miss the small mountaineering stores that were so common in the 70s & 80s.

I have posted a few of our old catalogs on a website. When I find more I'll put them on too. We had so much fun at Wilderness Experience and so many great people worked with us I wanted there to be some history available.

http://www.tenayatravels.com/Wilderness%20Experience.html

Jim

Thank you for your comments. I am glad that we were able to make equipment that worked well and lasted for many years. It's fun to hear these stories. Norpine was a great little shop. I do miss the small mountaineering stores that were so common in the 70s & 80s.

I have posted a few of our old catalogs on a website. When I find more I'll put them on too. We had so much fun at Wilderness Experience and so many great people worked with us I wanted there to be some history available.

http://www.tenayatravels.com/Wilderness%20Experience.html

Jim

Thank you for your comments. I am glad that we were able to make equipment that worked well and lasted for many years. It's fun to hear these stories. Norpine was a great little shop. I do miss the small mountaineering stores that were so common in the 70s & 80s.

I have posted a few of our old catalogs on a website. When I find more I'll put them on too. We had so much fun at Wilderness Experience and so many great people worked with us I wanted there to be some history available.

http://www.tenayatravels.com/Wilderness%20Experience.html

Jim

Thanks for the story.

Obviously you take great care of your gear....I mean who has a receipt from 25 years ago!

That pack still looks in great shape