Forum Index » GEAR » 1957 REI catalog item with sub-3 pound solo tent for $18.95!


Display Avatars Sort By:
Dale Wambaugh
(dwambaugh) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
1957 REI catalog item with sub-3 pound solo tent for $18.95! on 07/11/2012 12:11:08 MDT Print View

I came across this web page today with an interesting excerpt from the 1957 REI catalog. http://www.oregonphotos.com/REI-history1.html

It shows a one person tent that is made of treated cotton and weighed 2-7/8 pounds and cost all of $18.95 (without poles or stakes). Looks like a Shangri-La 1 in cotton.

REI catalog excerpt
Ben Wortman
(bwortman) - M

Locale: Nebraska
Sad on 07/11/2012 14:14:18 MDT Print View

I makes me sad that I need a $300 1 man tent to survive in the mountains!

I am so weak!

Ben
Dale Wambaugh
(dwambaugh) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
Re: Sad on 07/11/2012 14:27:07 MDT Print View

The average family income in 1957 was $5,000. Many got by on $50 a week-- $2600/year.

Touch the side of that coated cotton and it would leak on you and of course you touch it right over your head while moving around inside. We had treated cotton pyramids in Scouts in the mid-1960's. They were tough and weatherly (and heavy) and the first thing you were told was "DON'T TOUCH THE INSIDE."

And you don't need a $300 tent either ;)
Charles P
(mediauras) - M

Locale: Terra
Re: 1957 REI catalog item with sub-3 pound solo tent for $18.95! on 07/11/2012 15:17:47 MDT Print View

"Zolan treated", the latest in lightweight backpacking technology. :)

Awesome find.
Dale Wambaugh
(dwambaugh) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
Re: Re: 1957 REI catalog item with sub-3 pound solo tent for $18.95! on 07/11/2012 16:00:34 MDT Print View

A member at nwhikers.net saw a 1957 REI catalog at an estate sale and was posting on the lederhosen listed there. That got me doing a search. I've seen old equipment catalogs come up on Google Books, etc.

http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=811492
Harris Goldstein
(hmgolds) - F

Locale: Minnesota
 		In today's dollars... on 07/11/2012 17:53:31 MDT Print View

about $155. Close to the price of the GoLite SL1.
David Olsen
(oware) - F

Locale: Columbia Highlands
cotton tent on 07/11/2012 18:11:58 MDT Print View

My dad had a roomy 2 person LL Bean a frame tent that weight 6 pounds, breathed well
and didn't leak if you touched the sides.

I wonder how a similar shaped tent in todays 20denier DWR nylon would work?
Dale Wambaugh
(dwambaugh) - M

Locale: Pacific Northwest
Re: 1957 REI catalog item with sub-3 pound solo tent for $18.95! on 07/13/2012 10:22:06 MDT Print View

Gossamer Gear had this photo of a SpinnTwinn in their newsletter: