For the first time since 1984, we have a new edition of the classic book
that Field & Stream called "the Hiker's Bible." For this version, the
celebrated writer and hiker Colin Fletcher has taken on a coauthor, Chip
Rawlins, himself an avid outdoorsman and a poet from Wyoming. Together,
they have made this fourth edition of The Complete Walker the most
informative, entertaining, and thorough version yet.
The eighteen years since the publication of The Complete Walker III
have seen revolutionary changes in hiking and camping equipment:
developments in waterproofing technology, smaller and more durable
stoves, lighter boots, more manageable tents, and a wider array of food
options. The equipment recommendations are therefore not merely revised
and tweaked, but completely revamped. During these two decades we have
also seen a deepening of environmental consciousness. Not only has
backpacking become more popular, but a whole ethic of responsible
outdoorsmanship has emerged. In this book the authors confidently lead
us through these technological, ethical, and spiritual changes.
Fletcher and Rawlins's thorough appraisal and recommendation of
equipment begins with a "Ground Plan," a discussion of general hiking
preparedness. How much to bring? What are the ideal clothes, food,
boots, and tents for your trip? They evaluate each of these variables in
detail--including open, honest critiques and endorsements of brand-name
equipment. Their equipment searches are exhaustive; they talk in detail
about everything from socks to freeze-dried trail curries.
They end as they began, with a philosophical and literary disquisition
on the reasons to walk, capped off with a delightful collection of
quotes about walking and the outdoor life. After a thoughtful and
painstaking analysis of hiking gear from hats to boots, from longjohns
to tent flaps, they remind us that ultimately hiking is about the
experience of being outdoors and seeing the green world anew.
Like its predecessors, The Complete Walker IV is an essential purchase
for anyone captivated by the outdoor life.
