[pct-l] Gear shops San Fran

[Tortoise]

I remember Sierra Equipment. I bought my first backpack, an A16 and then 
a replacement bag from Camp Trails for it. Also bought my original Svea 
123 and the Sigg Tourister cook set there. Also bought his modified 
little flashlight -- he drilled holes and put a short lanyard on it. As 
I recall Bob had been injured in an accident in LA area involving a bus; 
when he finally got his settlement he sold our and moved away. Sierra 
Equipment went down hill as well as new competition from REI in 
Berkeley. Original store was on Polk Street.

I remember Smile Equipment too. Used to go there on my lunch hour to buy 
stuff. Bay Chapt Sierra Singles had several sets of Smile pots too. I 
heard that Watters or some of them bought the dies to make the pots so 
they could get more made.

There was another store in SF on the second floor of a building near 
Union Square. Bought a pair of boots there; store is long gone. Can't 
think of the name.

Do you remember / still have the Sigg pots and/or the Sigg aluminum fuel 
bottles? I got my original from Sierra Equipment as well as another 
stopper drilled with a spout for easy fueling the Svea.

A lot of this stuff was "light weight" in those days.


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Tortoise

<> He who finishes last, wins! <>

I switched to Mac OSX rather than fight Windows
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David Hough reading PCT-L wrote:
> Catching up on old mail:
>
> . Do any of you remember Sierra Equipment
>
> I got my first backpack there.
>
> . Smile Company and its famous nesting pots 
>
> I still have a set of Smilie pots.   After the company closed, Jim Watters
> and some other Sierra Club Knapsack Section leaders made a supply of pots
> and sold them to new knapsack leaders.
>
>