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The Complete Walker IV
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.
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.
845 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
104 people are currently reading
1049 people want to read
About the author
Colin Fletcher
72 books49 followersColin Fletcher was a pioneering backpacker and writer.
In 1963, Fletcher became the first to walk the length of Grand Canyon entirely within the rim of the canyon "in one go" — only second to complete the entire journey — as chronicled in his bestselling 1967 memoir The Man Who Walked Through Time. Through his influential hiker's guide, The Complete Walker, published the same year, he became a kind of "spiritual godfather" of the wilderness backpacking movement. Through successive editions, this book became the definitive work on the topic, and was christened "the Hiker's Bible" by Field and Stream magazine.
In 1963, Fletcher became the first to walk the length of Grand Canyon entirely within the rim of the canyon "in one go" — only second to complete the entire journey — as chronicled in his bestselling 1967 memoir The Man Who Walked Through Time. Through his influential hiker's guide, The Complete Walker, published the same year, he became a kind of "spiritual godfather" of the wilderness backpacking movement. Through successive editions, this book became the definitive work on the topic, and was christened "the Hiker's Bible" by Field and Stream magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 16, 2019
This book is a paper and ink version of sitting around a campfire with a couple weathered older gentlemen, and listening as they talk about their trials on the trails and their mishaps along the way. Then they pause to rummage through a battered pack that is part antique and part ahead of its time (in its time). Both informative and entertaining, this book is several decades of hiking experience condensed into a single anecdote-filled, self-deprecating, and humorous archive.
Some reviewers have commented on the fact that the gear sections are so outdated as to be useless. INCORRECT! While the specific makes and models of the gear reviewed are outdated, the specific features discussed and the related pros and cons are good things to consider when buying new equipment today. And by skipping these sections, the reader might miss a humorous "Dad joke" or anecdote. And I quote, "One fall night, sans tent, I was kept awake by mice dashing across my sleeping bag. Whether I was blocking some vital intermeadow route or they just liked the texture of the nylon, I'll never know. It was warm enough that I'd unzipped the sleeping bag down below and finally, despite the repeated scritch-scritch, fell asleep -- only to wake up with a hairy little commuter on-ramping my leg. I shrieked and levitated. The mouse dove for safety in my crotch. The rest is a blur."
I may not follow the authors' advice in all things, but they wouldn't expect me to. They admit that sometimes, despite the best specifications for a new piece of equipment, they sometimes take their old trusty rain gear or whatnot, simply because they like it.
If you like hiking and dad jokes, and want to explore in-depth every minutiae of the hiking experience, this book is for you.
Some reviewers have commented on the fact that the gear sections are so outdated as to be useless. INCORRECT! While the specific makes and models of the gear reviewed are outdated, the specific features discussed and the related pros and cons are good things to consider when buying new equipment today. And by skipping these sections, the reader might miss a humorous "Dad joke" or anecdote. And I quote, "One fall night, sans tent, I was kept awake by mice dashing across my sleeping bag. Whether I was blocking some vital intermeadow route or they just liked the texture of the nylon, I'll never know. It was warm enough that I'd unzipped the sleeping bag down below and finally, despite the repeated scritch-scritch, fell asleep -- only to wake up with a hairy little commuter on-ramping my leg. I shrieked and levitated. The mouse dove for safety in my crotch. The rest is a blur."
I may not follow the authors' advice in all things, but they wouldn't expect me to. They admit that sometimes, despite the best specifications for a new piece of equipment, they sometimes take their old trusty rain gear or whatnot, simply because they like it.
If you like hiking and dad jokes, and want to explore in-depth every minutiae of the hiking experience, this book is for you.
July 6, 2017
In the first paragraph of his iconic volume “The Complete Walker”, Colin Fletcher described walking as “…a quite delectable madness, very good for sanity”. I am in complete agreement. Also in this first chapter I was introduced to the “long grassy ridge”, ten minutes drive from where Fletcher then lived, which shows up in various of Fletcher's writings, unidentified by him, but which I have always liked to believed to have been Mt. Tamalpais State Park in Marin County, north of San Francisco. Or Muir Woods. Or maybe it was Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Or maybe not.
It very well could have been one of the many state or regional parks of the East Bay. I suppose I will never know.
I never met Fletcher, although we lived on the same coast, if not within exactly the same generation, and so came to know him through his books. Having read most of them, I always wished I might have known him, if only a brief introduction at a signing. Fletcher was, nonetheless, the companion who came along on my limited and usually solitary offroad adventures along forest trails and ocean beaches. His words, his philosophy, his admiration of the earth he traversed came with me. From his writings, I knew him to be spare, rugged, entrepreneurial and adventurous, but at the same time possessing a dry Britannic wit and gentle soul. His dedication in “The Complete Walker” is to his mother, “…who understood that walking for fun is no crazier than most things in life, and who passed the information along.”
Or maybe not.
It very well could have been one of the many state or regional parks of the East Bay. I suppose I will never know.
I never met Fletcher, although we lived on the same coast, if not within exactly the same generation, and so came to know him through his books. Having read most of them, I always wished I might have known him, if only a brief introduction at a signing. Fletcher was, nonetheless, the companion who came along on my limited and usually solitary offroad adventures along forest trails and ocean beaches. His words, his philosophy, his admiration of the earth he traversed came with me. From his writings, I knew him to be spare, rugged, entrepreneurial and adventurous, but at the same time possessing a dry Britannic wit and gentle soul. His dedication in “The Complete Walker” is to his mother, “…who understood that walking for fun is no crazier than most things in life, and who passed the information along.”
October 16, 2012
This book for me was life changing. From car camping I graduated into longer distance back pack trips and picked up a real love of the beauty and unpredictability of nature.
The knowledge gained here is somewhat dated and focused. "Freedom of the Hills" now covers winter camping, rock climbing and mountaineering.
Sadly, the author died from health complications from a car accident while out for a walk in Carmel Valley, Ca.
The knowledge gained here is somewhat dated and focused. "Freedom of the Hills" now covers winter camping, rock climbing and mountaineering.
Sadly, the author died from health complications from a car accident while out for a walk in Carmel Valley, Ca.
August 2, 2010
I think the word that comes to mind on this book is almost like a hikers almanac at least as it relates to gear and preparedness. It's one of those book that you can read off and on espeically if a topic comes to mind because chances are somewhere it will have an anecdote or recommendation for many situations.
It is not simply a guide to equipment but rather also contains many reflections and tales of the books two authors. It's a bit hefty for the ultralight crowd to carry with them perhaps but all the same a decent read for at home.
Of course if it happens to be available for the knook or kindle the weight issue would be lessoned considerably (I have the paper trade version).
It is not simply a guide to equipment but rather also contains many reflections and tales of the books two authors. It's a bit hefty for the ultralight crowd to carry with them perhaps but all the same a decent read for at home.
Of course if it happens to be available for the knook or kindle the weight issue would be lessoned considerably (I have the paper trade version).
September 16, 2016
As an up to date guide of what to buy for hiking, this book is woefully out of date. As a practical guide of what's involved in hiking, it's great. Where it really shines is in the role of a philosophy of hiking text. Plus, Fletcher & Rawlins are talented writers and this book is worth reading even if you never plan on heading out into the wild.
August 14, 2016
Read it cover to cover like a book. I feel pretty competent in many outdoor settings and this book had a fair amount to do with my knowledge. Great and funny stories in between gear reviews. One of my top 3 books.
September 10, 2009
Good basic overview of hiking gear/etc. (as much as you can keep it current). Laughed at the recommendation for naked hiking. (Um... Probably not around here...)
October 27, 2009
Everything you'd need to know about hiking and camping. Entertaining too.
September 19, 2011
I read this many years ago and it was very helpful.
July 11, 2013
Ignoring the outdated technical info, a few enjoyable hours may be spent browsing this book for gems of practical advice such as 'Gravy masculates any stew'.
July 19, 2021
Approximately 20% of my personal library comes from the side of the road, including this book, but I have to imagine that Colin Fletcher would be the author most thrilled to know that his work had outlived its usefulness on someone else's shelf and found its way to mine in this manner.
I actually read the first edition of this book, from 1968, not the fourth (the first isn't available for review here). Some folks have commented on the datedness of even the most recent edition, but I think going all the way back really enhanced my reading experience. It was so much less about getting practical advice (although there was plenty of that - and lots of impractical advice too), and so much more about getting insight into how walking has evolved over the decades. Many of the innovations described - like the concept of a waist belt on a backpack, or plastic "canteens" - have so cemented themselves as the baseline option that I'd hardly considered that they might be innovative at all. And of course lots of things have evolved massively, like the external frame backpack.
Some of Fletcher's suggestions seem downright ridiculous, like the whole notion of swimming across a river with an inflatable mattress as a raft and your pack on, or, alternatively, rearranging your entire pack to turn it into a flotation device with a protective sanctum at the top for items that cannot get wet. But, more than any other, that section (pp. 273-282) really illustrated for me just how perfect a man Fletcher was for the job of hippie walking guru.
Stray observations:
- The back of the book features praise from The Whole Earth Catalog, a similarly biblical text for a certain subset of baby boomers. A copy of the last issue sits on my coffee table handed down from my dad
- I really loved the formatting quirk with the line breaks mid-sentence introducing new subheadings
- I can only imagine that the shoutout to asbestos as an insulating boot insole material (p. 30) has been edited out of the most recent edition
- The sheet and visklamp shelter techniques described pp. 155-159 seem very clever indeed
- Fletcher, on his technique for nighttime flashlight storage: "This rule is so strict that I rarely break it more than three or four times a night" (p. 194)
I actually read the first edition of this book, from 1968, not the fourth (the first isn't available for review here). Some folks have commented on the datedness of even the most recent edition, but I think going all the way back really enhanced my reading experience. It was so much less about getting practical advice (although there was plenty of that - and lots of impractical advice too), and so much more about getting insight into how walking has evolved over the decades. Many of the innovations described - like the concept of a waist belt on a backpack, or plastic "canteens" - have so cemented themselves as the baseline option that I'd hardly considered that they might be innovative at all. And of course lots of things have evolved massively, like the external frame backpack.
Some of Fletcher's suggestions seem downright ridiculous, like the whole notion of swimming across a river with an inflatable mattress as a raft and your pack on, or, alternatively, rearranging your entire pack to turn it into a flotation device with a protective sanctum at the top for items that cannot get wet. But, more than any other, that section (pp. 273-282) really illustrated for me just how perfect a man Fletcher was for the job of hippie walking guru.
Stray observations:
- The back of the book features praise from The Whole Earth Catalog, a similarly biblical text for a certain subset of baby boomers. A copy of the last issue sits on my coffee table handed down from my dad
- I really loved the formatting quirk with the line breaks mid-sentence introducing new subheadings
- I can only imagine that the shoutout to asbestos as an insulating boot insole material (p. 30) has been edited out of the most recent edition
- The sheet and visklamp shelter techniques described pp. 155-159 seem very clever indeed
- Fletcher, on his technique for nighttime flashlight storage: "This rule is so strict that I rarely break it more than three or four times a night" (p. 194)
March 16, 2024
I read the hardcover first edition of The Complete Walker written in 1968, but don't see that listed in GoodReads. We gave this book to my dad for his birthday in 1973, and it's signed by my mother, brothers, and me. I remember my dad getting a mummy sleeping bag the next Christmas after reading about it in this book, and he used it to launch his decades-long love of backpacking and hiking. Some of the tips are interesting with the way technology has changed, such as the author's recommendation to always carry a dime with you in case you need to get off the trail and make an emergency call. The book also makes you appreciate the advances in clothing that have happened since the late 1960's. He mentions several times what a joy it is to hike in the nude when away from civilization - my guess is that his cotton and wool clothing wasn't very comfortable.
His description of using a blowup pool raft to ferry his backpack across the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon while he pushed it in front of him sounds terrifying and is something I'd never consider doing. He cautions his readers to avoid whirlpools (danger of drowning), large boulders (for obvious reasons), and making sure you have a decent beach downstream on the other side to land on.
It's an entertaining book to read, even if all you ever do is day hikes because it makes you appreciate the amount of effort & planning that goes into a multi-day backpacking trip.
His description of using a blowup pool raft to ferry his backpack across the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon while he pushed it in front of him sounds terrifying and is something I'd never consider doing. He cautions his readers to avoid whirlpools (danger of drowning), large boulders (for obvious reasons), and making sure you have a decent beach downstream on the other side to land on.
It's an entertaining book to read, even if all you ever do is day hikes because it makes you appreciate the amount of effort & planning that goes into a multi-day backpacking trip.
February 14, 2025
The Complete Walker III is the third edition of a book called the hiker's bible. Colin Fletcher wrote the first edition in 1968, and the field changed so much that he was forced to write another edition as soon as the first came out. My copy is the twelfth printing of the third edition, released in 1999.
Fletcher wrote the book out of deep respect for nature. He starts with the basics of any trip. Where are you going? When are you going there and for how long? Much of the addresses and other resources he lists can now be found on a relevant internet site.
Fletcher discusses the equipment you need when you walk anywhere. It is extensible to any walking or hiking trip. He starts with your feet and moves on from there. He acknowledges that prices tend to increase due to inflation, but that isn't a terrible problem. Technologies changed, too. When Fletcher started, I imagine he only had a choice of leather boots for his feet.
Fletcher has a relaxed style of writing along with a dry wit. It makes for a fun read. I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Fletcher wrote the book out of deep respect for nature. He starts with the basics of any trip. Where are you going? When are you going there and for how long? Much of the addresses and other resources he lists can now be found on a relevant internet site.
Fletcher discusses the equipment you need when you walk anywhere. It is extensible to any walking or hiking trip. He starts with your feet and moves on from there. He acknowledges that prices tend to increase due to inflation, but that isn't a terrible problem. Technologies changed, too. When Fletcher started, I imagine he only had a choice of leather boots for his feet.
Fletcher has a relaxed style of writing along with a dry wit. It makes for a fun read. I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
February 8, 2018
I've had a copy of this book since I was about 10. Love it! It's both a great read and a reference. I just read a comment that it's out of date. Well, tell that to a guy with a wooden oar who likes it better than a composite soulless piece of throwaway garbage. Timeliness is usefulness. And that may equate to a well shaped rock. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Meanwhile, Colin Fletcher coaches us on what to bring and reminds us that the trail and the great outdoors is where it's at. He also wrote a book called The Thousand Mile Summer that I love.
If you are considering hitting the trail or have been on it forever, do yourself a favor and read this book. It's the surest way to stoke your wander fire.
Meanwhile, Colin Fletcher coaches us on what to bring and reminds us that the trail and the great outdoors is where it's at. He also wrote a book called The Thousand Mile Summer that I love.
If you are considering hitting the trail or have been on it forever, do yourself a favor and read this book. It's the surest way to stoke your wander fire.
February 21, 2019
Just skip all the gear talk.
This books has tons of helpful information and knowledge so sparsely spread between so much outdated gear talk that, even a technical gear head as my self, could barely convince myself to keep reading. As I continued to read (and skip) the information and general outdoor discourse was worth the work.
My number one recommendation to finish this book is just skim/skip anything that has to do with a brand item as things have changed so much since this edition was published.
This books has tons of helpful information and knowledge so sparsely spread between so much outdated gear talk that, even a technical gear head as my self, could barely convince myself to keep reading. As I continued to read (and skip) the information and general outdoor discourse was worth the work.
My number one recommendation to finish this book is just skim/skip anything that has to do with a brand item as things have changed so much since this edition was published.
April 1, 2019
Incredible book to read with detailed on trail hacks. A must read for all who enjoy staying active even when cold
August 9, 2019
vicariosity, batman! a great stroll through the how-to
October 4, 2019
Fun tangents and footnotes. Full of insights and dry humor.
September 20, 2020
I read The Complete Walker III, published in 1983. Very out of date and way too detailed. Still, many good ideas and discussions. Worthwhile for any backpacker.
May 16, 2022
Good reading. Quite outdated but really give you great idea about hiking
March 12, 2017
I've loved this book ever since reading the original back in 19whenever. It makes you feel like you CAN DO IT!
June 16, 2011
"Complete" is the right adjective.
I have to confess that I got this book for Elise as a birthday present and then proceeded to read it myself. (In my defense, it was a side present anyway.) CW has some sections on the philosophy and aesthetics of hiking, but mostly, it is all about gear--what you need for backpacking. I read it in advance of our Nova Scotia trip this summer, though I don't think we'll be doing anything quite serious enough to be called backpacking.
Fletcher is a pleasant guide, and it definitely takes a good voice to get a reader through nearly 800 pages on equipment. Interestingly, for a book that is all about gear, CW seems completely non-commercial.
I wouldn't really recommend this book as a straight-through read (for others), though I would definitely recommend it as a reference/dip-in book. For me, it was a perfect way to be able to keep feeling excited about an upcoming hiking trip while waiting for it to actually come.
I will probably have to go back through when deciding on gear, but there were a couple of things that really stood out to me--I cannot imagine buying any camp stove except the alcohol-burning Trangia ("the haiku of stoves"!), and I was utterly charmed by the description of a visit to the headquarters of pack-maker Osprey.
I have to confess that I got this book for Elise as a birthday present and then proceeded to read it myself. (In my defense, it was a side present anyway.) CW has some sections on the philosophy and aesthetics of hiking, but mostly, it is all about gear--what you need for backpacking. I read it in advance of our Nova Scotia trip this summer, though I don't think we'll be doing anything quite serious enough to be called backpacking.
Fletcher is a pleasant guide, and it definitely takes a good voice to get a reader through nearly 800 pages on equipment. Interestingly, for a book that is all about gear, CW seems completely non-commercial.
I wouldn't really recommend this book as a straight-through read (for others), though I would definitely recommend it as a reference/dip-in book. For me, it was a perfect way to be able to keep feeling excited about an upcoming hiking trip while waiting for it to actually come.
I will probably have to go back through when deciding on gear, but there were a couple of things that really stood out to me--I cannot imagine buying any camp stove except the alcohol-burning Trangia ("the haiku of stoves"!), and I was utterly charmed by the description of a visit to the headquarters of pack-maker Osprey.
November 9, 2008
The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars is that no matter when a book on outdoor gear is written, it's almost immediately out-of-date. Sort of like buying a new computer. As soon as you buy it, it's obsolete.
However, there is a lot of knowledge stuffed into this book's many pages. I've been reading bits off and on for months now, as it's not really a novel or meant to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. It's a reference, in many respects, but still an enjoyable read.
I especially recommend the first chapter with Colin's philosophical notes about walking and backpacking. Some of my favorite quotes ever, are from that section. An example:
"Even in these mercifully emancipated decades, many people still seem quite seriously alarmed at the prospect of sleeping away from officially consecrated campsites, with no more equipment than they can carry on their backs. When pressed, they babble about snakes or bears or even, by God, bandits. But the real barrier, I'm sure, is the unknown."
However, there is a lot of knowledge stuffed into this book's many pages. I've been reading bits off and on for months now, as it's not really a novel or meant to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. It's a reference, in many respects, but still an enjoyable read.
I especially recommend the first chapter with Colin's philosophical notes about walking and backpacking. Some of my favorite quotes ever, are from that section. An example:
"Even in these mercifully emancipated decades, many people still seem quite seriously alarmed at the prospect of sleeping away from officially consecrated campsites, with no more equipment than they can carry on their backs. When pressed, they babble about snakes or bears or even, by God, bandits. But the real barrier, I'm sure, is the unknown."
May 28, 2022
The book covers the science and art of backpacking and does that well, but I especially like the nicely crafted prose and wit. You can find all the backpacking product reviews you could ever want online. However, Fletcher and Rawlins have a flair for telling stories that I think you will cherish.
It is obvious they both have experienced not only the process and have a fine eye for the details of backpacking, but also have a keen sense and appreciation of being out in the wilderness. Nowadays, you can find gear reviews galore on the internet. But his book isn't just about that. It is a collection of not only inciteful gear reviews, but ideas, feelings, and well-told stories. And I simply must add that the pen and ink illustrations are very nicely done. They help tell the story and you can tell the artists have a feeling for the subject.
Although written in 2002, the message in this book and the style of writing are such that it will always be a joy to read and the philosophy is timeless.
It is obvious they both have experienced not only the process and have a fine eye for the details of backpacking, but also have a keen sense and appreciation of being out in the wilderness. Nowadays, you can find gear reviews galore on the internet. But his book isn't just about that. It is a collection of not only inciteful gear reviews, but ideas, feelings, and well-told stories. And I simply must add that the pen and ink illustrations are very nicely done. They help tell the story and you can tell the artists have a feeling for the subject.
Although written in 2002, the message in this book and the style of writing are such that it will always be a joy to read and the philosophy is timeless.
March 9, 2014
This is supposed to be the ultimate guide to backpacking/hiking (it is an impressive collection of information), but I didn't really find it to be all that useful. Perhaps I know more than I think I do, but I didn't feel I picked up anything from this book that I didn't already know except a few small nuggets of information. The authors' condescending and know-it-all attitudes bugged me throughout much of the book. I didn't really feel this attitude applied to their knowledge of actual skills or equipment but instead focused on their particular opinions and beliefs of what hiking/backpacking should be about. It wasn't super obnoxious, but it was always there. It kind of was like that small pebble that gets in your shoe in the middle of a long hike that is too small to warrant a stop and removal of your shoe but irritates you the entire time.
August 24, 2016
To say I have a few camping books would be an understatement. The Complete Walker, however is more than that to me. Fletchers clear writing style, organized presentation and comfortable prose come together as a book that can inspire and inform anyone writing how-to and self-help books. I first got this book in high school as I was gradually working on my goal of summiting the mountain that loomed north of my hometown.
Over the years, as I spent more and more time travelling and backpacking around the world, I would pick up a used copy for a couple of dollars at a used bookstore. It wasn't so much that I was learning anything new, as much as I was getting deeper knowledge about subjects I relied on in my travels, and picking up this book was always like coming home.
Colin Fletcher died in 2007, and is one of few authors who I really regret never having been able to meet.
Over the years, as I spent more and more time travelling and backpacking around the world, I would pick up a used copy for a couple of dollars at a used bookstore. It wasn't so much that I was learning anything new, as much as I was getting deeper knowledge about subjects I relied on in my travels, and picking up this book was always like coming home.
Colin Fletcher died in 2007, and is one of few authors who I really regret never having been able to meet.
March 11, 2019
Out of everything I have read in my life, this book had the greatest impact - more than “The Origin of Species” or the Bible. I read it in 1975 when I was in high school and working at a backpacking shop. 44 years later, it sits in a prominent space on my bookshelf. Faded and well worn.
Fletchers approach to backpacking was unique and ahead of its time. Light, comfortable and unencumbered with rules or too much gear. He was a solo traveler who saw the world differently. He paid attention to micro details.
What I learned from Colin Fletcher was how to see look at the world and translate it into words. Reading his book forever impacted how I see, think, speak and write.
I regret that I never was able to communicate to him my appreciation for the insights he shared.
Its outdated -but still worth reading. I just bought my second copy today.
Fletchers approach to backpacking was unique and ahead of its time. Light, comfortable and unencumbered with rules or too much gear. He was a solo traveler who saw the world differently. He paid attention to micro details.
What I learned from Colin Fletcher was how to see look at the world and translate it into words. Reading his book forever impacted how I see, think, speak and write.
I regret that I never was able to communicate to him my appreciation for the insights he shared.
Its outdated -but still worth reading. I just bought my second copy today.
April 14, 2012
There is an astonishing amount of information in this book, and as with any book of this type, a lot of detail regarding specific gear is outdated. Still, the primary purpose of the book is to make you think about what you have and what you need to enjoy your backpacking trip safely and comfortably. In that, it excells. You'll find yourself considering your gear - and future purchases - in a new way, asking questions that you probably haven't considered before.
Written in an easy-flowing and conversational style, there are deft touches of humor throughout. Whether you're a car camper, day hiker or backpacker, there's good information in this book that you can use.
Written in an easy-flowing and conversational style, there are deft touches of humor throughout. Whether you're a car camper, day hiker or backpacker, there's good information in this book that you can use.
January 14, 2017
I read this book in preparation of my first backpacking trip ever, to Isle Royale National Park in 1995. I remember so clearly the rapt late-night reading sessions...
Me: Toby, do I really need to buy tincture of benzoin? An alcohol spray bottle? A pocket office, a ground thermometer?
Toby, wearily: You buy whatever you want to carry, Jen.
The trip did turn out fantastic, and I probably felt more prepared having read this... but I did carry a lot of stuff I definitely didn't need or use because of it. Tincture of benzoin, by the way, smells awful. Just awful.
Me: Toby, do I really need to buy tincture of benzoin? An alcohol spray bottle? A pocket office, a ground thermometer?
Toby, wearily: You buy whatever you want to carry, Jen.
The trip did turn out fantastic, and I probably felt more prepared having read this... but I did carry a lot of stuff I definitely didn't need or use because of it. Tincture of benzoin, by the way, smells awful. Just awful.
November 25, 2014
I first read The Complete Walker in 1971 and some years later when I wanted to give it as a gift there was a new edition, later followed by a third and a fourth edition. The number of editions speaks to the popularity of this specialty book. Fletcher is a relaxing writer to read even while he metes out sage advice for walkers and campers and in each chapter I pictured a trip that could have gone better had I read it beforehand or remembered its lesson afterward. If you're a hiker, even an experienced hiker, there's lots to gain from The Complete Walker, if it's only enjoyment.
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