Jen and I go hiking and backpacking.
A new company: "Eastern Active Technologies" is bringing an interesting technology to backpacking. From their website:
Eastern Active Technologies
Where Your Last Mile Is Your Lightest Mile
Welcome to Eastern Active Technologies where your last mile is your lightest mile. EAT has been North America's leading manufacturer of consumable outdoor gear and equipment since 1999.
Our consumable backpacks, sleeping bags and tarps have been carried over thousands of miles and over countless mountains by our happy (and well fed) customers.
Our products are made possible by our proprietary sugar, starch, rice and meat based materials and your appetite.
Imagine watching your camping buddies unpacking their huge backpacks and setting up their intricate (and heavy) shelters while you recline in luxury, secure in the knowledge that you'll be carrying about sixteen ounces less tomorrow. And another pound per day after that.
Our high end products are definitely not for everyone. Whiners need not apply. Those willing to put in the effort and discipline needed to take advantage of the super-ultra-ultra-lightweight approach we pioneered will see the benefits immediately. Those not willing to "suck it up" might want to leave right now, and spend your hard earned money at The North Face or Feathered Friends. If you consider yourself "hard-core" though, check out our product line via the links at the left (note we recommend use all of our products in conjunction to get proper and balanced nutrition).
Here is an example of one of their products:
TREKKING POLES ProteinStixTM. Tasty treats that are easy on the knees. Our high-protein trekking poles are sturdy enough to support one's weight on the trail and still satisfy the meanest hunger in camp.
ProteinStix
We have to admit that when we first saw backpackers using trekking poles, we thought they were just another gearhead affectation. But as our knees and ankles hit the far side of forty, their appeal became more palpable. Sadly even the lightest (and priciest) trekking poles added two pounds to our trail weight.
Fortunately when we began crafting our nutritionally balanced line of edible gear we quickly realized trekking poles could be the foundation of a healthy meal, and simultaneously help us avoid injury on the trail.
By compressing beef, chicken, shrimp and textured vegetable protein under high heat and temperature (using a proprietary process and large enough amounts of msg to cause binding and hardening of the pliable proteins) we are able to offer our customers a sturdy and truly nutritious pair of sticks.
And don't think we've forgotten you vegans: we now offer a fully organic, vegetarian product formed from Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP).
Looks cool to me -- gonna check REI next time I'm in town.
