Backpacking Lifestyle

Hey everybody, it’s nice to read all your comments, see you posts, and chew on the thing's you've all been talkin' about.

This is what’s been on my mind, and it will certainly go under the “outdoor” section:

As most of you know, I have been working on a website since mid-Summer. The original idea I had was to create a gear blog where we could all dump our pictures, stories, and reviews of our gear. With the intent going into it, that if done well enough we could become gear testers for companies such as Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, GoLite, etc... As I have found out, building a website is very difficult, but not as hard as making one that people will actually want to look at, and read. There have been many things I’ve learned along the way, that go far beyond the graphic element of a web page. How do we build credibility? How do we put ourselves out there, and more-so how do we get well known? Well, that’s why I’m writing this to you all.

It is time that I tap into the great resource I have at my hands, which is all of you. I’m here to light the review-writing fire under your outdoorsy asses. So here’s what I need:

-Thorough reviews on different pieces of quality gear that you have. We will be more successful in the long run if we target certain companies. Since between us we have four Nemo tents, that would be a fantastic place to start, but to our advantage, between us we have a wide range of gear from almost all the big companies.

There will be categories on the website, i.e. Backpacks, jackets, base layers, stoves, sleeping bags, tents, etc - So we need reviews for all of them. I have gotten a good start on reviews, and have almost 15 written, but we need many more to even be noticed, because we got competition. Hopefully one day a forum can be opened up where other viewers can write their own reviews. I’m writing this on my laptop, but when I get home I’ll post an example of a review that I’ve written. You are all good writers, and I have no doubt that you can write a compelling few sentences on why you like the product, where you’ve used it, and how it saved you from getting water-logged on the John Muir. Everyone who writes a review will get credit for it, which addresses the biography section.

-Also, if one or two people are super enthused with this idea and want to pick up more responsibility, I have an XXX@backpacking-lifestyle.com account for you.

-I want stories as well, bring in the practical aspect of spending time on an extended backpacking trip, along with the spiritual and mystical components of being in the woods. Write about the personal importance of spending time in the woods. Talk about the philosophy of backcountry nutrition, leave no trace, or ultralight. Find environmental initiatives - write a quick blurb about why we should care, and that can go up too. Those are just a few things.

-There is much more that I have to say, and other aspects I have not revealed here, but you get the idea. I implore you to share your ideas about how we could make it all the more awesome as well, for we have many possibilities.

So guys, if you are interested, write some reviews with your free time, or just get the brain-storming going here. Since gear (and in the bigger picture the wilderness) is a way of life for us, it should come without to much strain.

Thank you,

Mikail