>>2026622"Mindless" consumerism seems like kind of a baseless charge here. The OP is being skeptical that these things are of any use at all, and most of the on-topic posts seem less than enthusiastic: yes use them if you're carrying a lot of weight and going uphill, they're helpful then. Otherwise, meh. That was my takeaway.
/out/ing is a gear-dependent hobby anyway, gear discussions are perfectly fine. Sure you can quibble about how expensive of a tent is really necessary, but you do need a tent, or a bivvy, or a hammock, or sheepskin groundcloth if you're a historical larper, or something. You can't just have no gear. Even a Sentinelese tribesman has some gear.
