What's your oldest piece of kit?

[Ben Nachie]

Inspired by comments on another thread, what's the oldest piece of kit that you still use on the hill?

Mine is probably my compass, purchased around 1985.

Other kit I still use, all dating from 1988/89 includes most of my maps, my summer sleeping bag, my Buffalo salopettes and hood, my MSR stove and my ice axe.

I also carry a whistle which dates from the '70s, but I never use it, so not sure if that counts. It's one of those ones made from an antler tip and it's ear-splittingly loud.

[mynthdd2]

apart from my knees my oldest bit of kit is probably my Garmin

[bootsandpaddles]

A Point Five down sleeping bag - 1976.

[Mal Grey]

Hmm, trying to think.

The oldest thing that probably still gets use at least once a year is my Karrimor Condor backpack, which gets used for bothies. Think I bought it in '96, might have been the year before.

My compass is nearly, but not quite as old.

Until 2 years ago or so, my crampons went back to '87. My ice axe bought the same year still gets used, as I gave it to my godson, but his dad, my mate Nige, uses it on our winter trips as its shorter than his own.

Clothing wise, the Karrimor Summit waterproof I refer to as my "new Gore-Tex", as it was my second one, was bought in 2003. Still going strong, but it only really gets used for the winter trip each year as its a fairly heavy mountaineering orientated thing.

I've had a bit of a splurge over the last few years, so most of my old clothing has been replaced, as, finally, has my winter sleeping bag and a tent.

Favourite base layer is a sample Patagonia one I got cheap, about 10 years ago I'd estimate.

[Arthurs Eat]

I have a Mk1 Goretex bicycle bag from circa 1983. I also have a purloined army water bottle stamped 1981.

[Sgurr]

Husband still has, and has used relatively recently, a down sleeping bag bought in 1963. It is beginning to look as revolting as the bag our neighbour gave us in the '70s. He had been in REME in the retreat from Burma, and was entitled to some leave. Instead of hitting the high spots, he had a down bag made up and went walking in Tibet, by himself. "Here," he said, "It's been good to me, I'll not use it again." I'm afraid we waited until he died and threw it away. I still have the panniers I cycled lejog with in 1981, but I don't use them much apart from went shopping with them up to around a couple of years ago. Have got lazy lately.

[Boris_the_Bold]

My plastic water bottle, (which was originally a Schwepps tonic bottle) which is over 30 years old

[CharlesT]

My Simond Special D ice axe bought second hand for £1.50 (30 bob in those days) in 1961. Still use occasionally as a walking axe. And before anyone asks, yes I do have some modern kit.

[gld73]

My Silva compass is the one I got when I was in the Girl Guides in the mid-1980s. Given the number of house moves I've done since then I have no idea how I haven't lost it. Asides from that, a 65litre Karrimor rucksack from 1993 (Karrimor pre-Sports Direct) still gets used despite being dragged across every continent multiple times over 2 decades and, clothing wise, a 20 year old Regatta waterproof jacket is still totally waterproof without me ever reproofing it .....

[rockhopper]

Salewa classic crampons from about 1986 - only pair of crampons I have and just sharpen them every so often.
Also, occasionally still use a Salewa ice axe (axe head repainted in hammerite) from the same year but less often now as it's a bit on the long side.
I do still have my Murray Hamilton Cuillin 3 rucksack from the same period - haven't used it for a while but can't bear to part with it. Same with a pair of scarpa asolo walking boots from the early 1980s - cheers

[Phil the Hill]

I still use an old and much-faded sleeping bag I had on camping holidays with my parents in the late 60s/early 70s. I like it because it has a rubbish artificial filling, so I don't overheat when summer camping from the car. I even keep it in the old bag my mother sewed for it, despite now being full of holes.

[Graeme D]

Depends whether we're talking second hand or not.

If second hand, then it's my ice axe. If we're talking only one careful owner then I guess it's my lucky Y-fronts!

[allanglens]

Oldest piece of kit is a pair of red gaiters dating back to the early 1970's when I helped form a Venture Scout unit. We raised a lot if funds and kitted ourselves out for the hills. That was what really got me into hill walking. As well as kayaking; messing about in inflatable and other boats; and trying other things like hang-gliding.

Then it all stopped . Got back into walking, and the gaiters are still in service.

[mrssanta]

Rudolph and I both thought of our feet, but that's not really the idea is it?

[CharlesT]

Rudolph and I both thought of our feet, but that's not really the idea is it?

After a day on the hills today, fabulous weather by the way, and two new Munros after an absence of eighteen months I can think of nothing else. Descending icy slopes in crampons was purgatory!