On May 12, 2012, Adventure 16 held its 50th Anniversary Swapmeet & Sale in the San Diego Store Parking lot. As part of the celebration, we displayed vintage outdoor clothing and gear, and held a Vintage Gear Contest. 

Sia McGown(center) shows off her winning c.1973 Homemade Frostline Kit Parka. Also shown (L to R,) A16 President, John Mead, and Gear Judges Keith Liker, Steve Williams, Ricky Schlesinger and Jim Ward.

Here are the winners:

A16 GEAR

1st Place Winner: Bob Wade 
Product: c. 1970 A16 Sleeping Bag

This vintage A16 bag sports a "Top Zipper" (so that if you rolled over you wouldn't end up with the zipper under you) and was the first sleeping bag on the market to have super high quality down fill.  A16 used ONLY H.G.A (Highest Grade Available) down from the Hutterite farms on the U.S. and Canadian northern plains, with lofts upward to 750 cubic inches. (Most other mfrs at the time were using commercial grade 450 - 500 cubic inches).

 

   

2nd Place Winner: Mark Lindemann 
Product: c. 1971 A16 Hip Hugger Pack

In 1962 a Boy Scout Explorer Post working with their Aircraft Engineer fathers came up with a way to improve on the Kelty pack which was the state-of-the-art at the time. By attaching a pair of “Side Arms” and an overly padded waist belt, they were able to transfer much of the packs weight to the wearer’s hips. This modification launched a company and set the new standard of design for our modern day backpacks. Gradually internal frame packs became the standard as technology and improved designs helped stabilize the load of the internals. The last A16 Hiphugger was built in 1993.

 

   

3rd Place Winner: Carlos Ruiz
Product: c.1980s A16 Wing Pack

This pack featured an adjustable frame which could telescope to fit anyone from 5'2" to 6'4" --perfect for growing scouts! 

This feature was patented in 1974.  The pack also featured winged side arms, an A16 exclusive hip belt design that wrapped the hips, centering the weight of the pack directly and evenly over the hip platform for an incredibly comfortable and flexible carry.

 

 

Non-A16 GEAR

1st Place Winner: Sia McGown 
Product: 1973 Frostline Down Jacket (Homemade from a kit)

 

"Frostline Kits started an American revolution. Suddenly it became possible for YOU to sew your own high quality down jackets, sleeping bags, tents, dog packs and tons of other stuff. And you'd do it all for much lower cost than ready-made gear. Frostline was so successful it became an American icon, still fondly remembered from its heyday in the late 1960s and 70s." --Bruce B Johnson, THE HISTORY OF GEAR- FROSTLINE

 

2nd Place Winner: Keith Liker Product: 1973 Frostline Expedition Mitts (Homemade from a kit)

During the DIY craze of the 1960’s and 70’s, Frostline offered sew your own kits for everything from booties and mittens to packs, parkas and 3- man tents.

"Frostline Kits started an American revolution. Suddenly it became possible for YOU to sew your own high quality down jackets, sleeping bags, tents, dog packs and tons of other stuff. And you'd do it all for much lower cost than ready-made gear. Frostline was so successful it became an American icon, still fondly remembered from its heyday in the late 1960s and 70s." --Bruce B Johnson, THE HISTORY OF GEAR- FROSTLINE

 

3rd Place Winner: Ramiro Zapata 
Product: 1969 Handmade Alpine Boots from Mexico

These one-of-a-kind leather mountaineering boots were made by the owner, Ramiro Zapata, who worked for a cobbler at the time.  The boots, which weigh about 6 pounds a piece, took over two months to make!

 

 

 

 

ANTIQUE/MILITARY GEAR

1st Place Winner: “Doc” Mark Rutledge 
Product: 1872 V.J. Hauck & Son Methylated Spirits Stove 

"This little gem was used by US Cavalry Officers, and others of station, to warm up soup, or brew a nice cup of tea in their tents, after a hard day in the saddle. After doing its cooking/brewing duties, a quick swap of parts allowed it to become a tent candle, so its owner could pen letters, or do a little reading, before turning in for the night.

Later, in the early 20th century, these stoves were also sold as military surplus, and were often used by medical nurses, and others in that profession, for warming milk, tea, and soup for bed-ridden, home-bound patients, and fulfilled that duty safely, and reliably, with only the lead-soldered tin pot causing actual medical problems, of which they were unaware at that time. Easy to use, and very safe, if care if taken (as it should be with ANY stove), this little stove could easily fulfill those same duties today, minus using it's lead-soldered tin cook pot."  --Doc Rutledge

  

2nd Place Winner: Jim Hawkins 
Product: c. 1940s/50s Military Pitons, Ice Axe, Glacier Glasses and Gators

Jim Hawkins acquired these antique mountaineering items from an army surplus store in the late '60s. Back then, the military were the only ones making outdoor gear. The gators, which are made from very heavy canvas, were worn with knickers and took the place of long-pants for protection.

 

 

ABOUT THE JUDGES

Steve Williams was the first Manager of A16's first real store on Front Street in El Cajon,
c. 1972 - 1976. Steve ran the first A16 Backpacker's Swapmeet and has come back and attended many Swapmeets over the years. He currently lives in Rancho San Diego with his wife Teddy and is a School Teacher.

Jim Ward worked in many capacities for A16 throughout much of the 70s, left the company and then came back to head up A16's Art Department. He put together our first real catalog
and was a Store Manager at our San Diego State store. In the 80's & early 90's, as Editor of Footprints, he reinvented the publication that received industry wide recognition. Prior to his retirement, for 15 +- years helped head up the 6th Grade Camp program in San Diego County and was ultimately the principal at the Fox Outdoor School where he helped found the Foundation that supports it. Jim lives with his wife Alice in Anza Borrego.

Keith Liker is an avid backpacker and 2010 Pacific Crest Trail through-hiker.  He is a long time Customer of A16 and has only missed one Backpacker's Swapmeet since it started in 1974! Keith is an attorney in San Diego. 

Ricky Schlesinger is one of the early founders of Eagle Creek. He served as Eagle Creek's Exec VP for 30+++ some years and has served on A16's Board and Advisory Board for the past 10 years. Most importantly, he was a model for many of the early Eagle Creek ads. Sales increased dramatically after he stopped doing that. If fact so much so that he and his partners sold the company a few years ago. He is now retired, kinda. 

Among a ton of other things, he's currently a VP of a Chinese outdoor retailer and distributor, UTC, and on the Board of Outdoor Outreach, a non-profit organization dedicated to getting at-risk youth into the outdoors. Ricky and his wife Judy live in Leucadia.