One might think that the outdoor industry, the makers of tents and stoves and sleeping bags and whatnot, would embrace car campers with the joy reserved for the return of the prodigal son. It does not. In fact, it casts a somewhat jaundiced eye toward car campers, trailer towers, and the like, because — though no one will say it out loud — it thinks that car camping is soft. It's wimpy. It's not core.
It's not backpacking.
This is an industry that worships very, very expensive technology, that fancies itself supercore, tough as nails, grizzly as Mr. Adams, and it seems, at least to me, to have a hard time reconciling two styles of essentially the same experience, as if they can't be equally worthy because one is done with less suffering or effort than the other. Instead, people speak of car camping as something to be endured with a measure of guilt, because you didn't actually carry anything on your back.
And dear lord, let's not even talk about the industry's perspective on "glamping."
The funny thing about this, though, is that far more people car camp than backpack, including folks who work in the industry. Last year, I had a very fun conversation with Rich Hill, one of the industry vets behind Ticla, a new brand that's making car camping gear, about the contradictions between how outdoor folks see themselves and how they really are. (It's worth a read if you want to consider this idea at length.) The harder we work for something, the greater we value it, perhaps.
This isn't a pitch for car camping or attack on backpacking. Me, I love them both. I love rolling up in the van, throwing my bag on the ground, and watching the stars pinwheel. I also love the satisfaction of going someplace few are willing to go, enjoying solitude and distance from the trappings of civilization. But rarely are they considered equally. The strong sentiment is that backpacking is superior. Is it?
The question as polled today is deliberately vague. It's open to interpretation. Is it 'which is better?' Which is more important to you? Which do you do more? That's up to you to decide. Then cast your vote and let's see how things shake out.
[polldaddy poll=7947639]
WIN SMITH SUNGLASSES BY VOTING
This week, one poll participant will receive Smith Optics' $209 Dolen sunglasses with ChromaPop lenses. We'll pick the winner via random number generator (and announce it here) — all you have to do to enter is vote and leave a comment so we have your email to contact you. Must have a U.S. or Canadian address. Contest ends Sunday, April 13, at midnight PST.