Way too much thinking about backpack morality
March 28, 2012 2:01 PM Subscribe
After almost a decade of hard work and loyalty, I have decided to retire my old hiking daypack. Today I went out and bought a new one, but can't decide whether or not to move the patches from the old one to the new one.
In the last twelve years or so I've done a lot of hiking and traveling. I've picked up some patches on the way and sewed them onto my old daypack. Well, the daypack is now retired and I have a new one. I expect the new one will last for many more years (I shelled out for a Duluth Pack...yay!). I'm really happy with the new backpack, but I am completely hung up on this one ridiculous issue: I can't decide whether to move the patches from the old one to the new one, or to just cut them off of the old one and tack them to a bulletin board or something.
On the one hand, I wouldn't cut visas out of old passports and put them in a new passport (even if it were legal). If I were a travel diary-keeping woman, I'd like a new diary for each trip. New backpack, new adventures...right?
On the other hand, I love the patches and am proud of all the neat places I've been. I'd be okay with putting them on the bulletin board...but there's a part of me that would like to put them on the new pack. But I didn't travel to those places with the new pack. It seems disingenuous.
I realize that I am probably WAY overthinking this. But when I get home tonight I'm going to transfer my water bottle and other hiking gear from Old to New, and I know that I'll get all thinky about the patches.
Anybody else out there been through something like this? I imagine that "old to new" nostalgia isn't restricted only to the world of backpacks.
In the last twelve years or so I've done a lot of hiking and traveling. I've picked up some patches on the way and sewed them onto my old daypack. Well, the daypack is now retired and I have a new one. I expect the new one will last for many more years (I shelled out for a Duluth Pack...yay!). I'm really happy with the new backpack, but I am completely hung up on this one ridiculous issue: I can't decide whether to move the patches from the old one to the new one, or to just cut them off of the old one and tack them to a bulletin board or something.
On the one hand, I wouldn't cut visas out of old passports and put them in a new passport (even if it were legal). If I were a travel diary-keeping woman, I'd like a new diary for each trip. New backpack, new adventures...right?
On the other hand, I love the patches and am proud of all the neat places I've been. I'd be okay with putting them on the bulletin board...but there's a part of me that would like to put them on the new pack. But I didn't travel to those places with the new pack. It seems disingenuous.
I realize that I am probably WAY overthinking this. But when I get home tonight I'm going to transfer my water bottle and other hiking gear from Old to New, and I know that I'll get all thinky about the patches.
Anybody else out there been through something like this? I imagine that "old to new" nostalgia isn't restricted only to the world of backpacks.
Start fresh.
posted by mochapickle at 2:08 PM on March 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 2:08 PM on March 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
YOU traveled to those places and "earned" those patches. You're going to transfer your other stuff, why wouldn't you transfer the patches?
If you were buying a used pack and wanted to keep THEIR old patches I might see a dilemma. Here, not so much. Just leave room for new adventures with the new pack.
posted by ldthomps at 2:09 PM on March 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you were buying a used pack and wanted to keep THEIR old patches I might see a dilemma. Here, not so much. Just leave room for new adventures with the new pack.
posted by ldthomps at 2:09 PM on March 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
New backpack, new adventures. For sure, keep the old patches, maybe cut the front/side off the old pack and stick that on the board instead of just the badges?
posted by snarkle at 2:11 PM on March 28, 2012
posted by snarkle at 2:11 PM on March 28, 2012
I would personally pick one or two patches that meant the most to me and moved them to the new backpack. It would be a good way of honoring your past but also looking toward the future.
posted by darksong at 2:14 PM on March 28, 2012
posted by darksong at 2:14 PM on March 28, 2012
Think of the patches as travel buddies. Part of the kit. If they're worn out and need retirement for their own preservation, then put them in a place of honor in your house. But if they can survive a few more trips, why deny yourself their company?
posted by lizbunny at 2:28 PM on March 28, 2012
posted by lizbunny at 2:28 PM on March 28, 2012
Put me down as another vote for new pack, new adventures, new patches. =)
posted by kavasa at 2:37 PM on March 28, 2012
posted by kavasa at 2:37 PM on March 28, 2012
How about you go ahead and cut the patches off the old pack, but frame them, perhaps in a shadowbox with other hiking souveniers? New pack them gets to go out and earn its own new patches.
posted by easily confused at 2:45 PM on March 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by easily confused at 2:45 PM on March 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
I would go with the new pack, new adventures theory. Use the old one for storing memorabilia from all your trips, past and present.
I have no idea what kinds of patches these are, but can you have them sewn into some kind of bandana that you can tie to the new bag if you want to "show off" your past experiences and hang on the wall when you don't?
posted by NoraCharles at 3:28 PM on March 28, 2012
I have no idea what kinds of patches these are, but can you have them sewn into some kind of bandana that you can tie to the new bag if you want to "show off" your past experiences and hang on the wall when you don't?
posted by NoraCharles at 3:28 PM on March 28, 2012
I don't know where you hike or who you hike with, but those patches, dusty and worn, may represent a fair amount of cred.
You may not care about that sort of thing, though.
Personally, I'd tack a couple of the best ones on the new pack.
posted by Netzapper at 5:00 PM on March 28, 2012
You may not care about that sort of thing, though.
Personally, I'd tack a couple of the best ones on the new pack.
posted by Netzapper at 5:00 PM on March 28, 2012
Use the old pack, as it is (maybe wash it, if needed) as decoration in your house.
The new pack gets new patches from new adventures.
posted by notsnot at 5:55 PM on March 28, 2012
The new pack gets new patches from new adventures.
posted by notsnot at 5:55 PM on March 28, 2012
I have done this before so I don't think you're overthinking this at all. I will note that I opted to transfer my favorite patches to my new backpack and they were never really the same, so given that my vote is 'new pack, new patches.'
posted by librarylis at 6:08 PM on March 28, 2012
posted by librarylis at 6:08 PM on March 28, 2012
I'd say...
Bit of old, bit of new, (something borrowed, something blue!).
Take some photos of your old pack, cut the patches off and throw it out. Pick your 1-5 favourite patches, and add them to your new pack, as a 'starter culture' for all the trips you've had. I think a little reminder of the old trips can be a good thing, in a, 'hey, I've coped with all this before!' kinda way, while still leaving room for new experiences.
posted by Elysum at 7:22 PM on March 28, 2012
Bit of old, bit of new, (something borrowed, something blue!).
Take some photos of your old pack, cut the patches off and throw it out. Pick your 1-5 favourite patches, and add them to your new pack, as a 'starter culture' for all the trips you've had. I think a little reminder of the old trips can be a good thing, in a, 'hey, I've coped with all this before!' kinda way, while still leaving room for new experiences.
posted by Elysum at 7:22 PM on March 28, 2012
Good answers here but my thought is all or nothing. No point in transferring some patches but not all because it's kind of misleading, doesn't tell the whole story. Either tell the story or start a new story, is my take. Tough decision, but I'd start fresh.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:22 AM on March 29, 2012
posted by fivesavagepalms at 7:22 AM on March 29, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks so much to everyone for your suggestions. It's really helpful to see that there are a lot of differing opinions on the topic - I was worried that it was a "duh" situation.
Just to let you all know what I did: The old pack is pretty grungy - I'm not too nostalgic about the pack itself (smells too much) so that is going out the door. I removed the patches and, for the time being, I put them all into a small interior pocket of the new pack. I'm not going to put them on the outside, but I'm going to carry them around with the new pack until I figure out what I am going to do with them. I love the shadow box idea, but it might take me a while to get around to a project like that. Until then, the patches will continue to travel.
Thanks everybody!
posted by Elly Vortex at 9:33 AM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just to let you all know what I did: The old pack is pretty grungy - I'm not too nostalgic about the pack itself (smells too much) so that is going out the door. I removed the patches and, for the time being, I put them all into a small interior pocket of the new pack. I'm not going to put them on the outside, but I'm going to carry them around with the new pack until I figure out what I am going to do with them. I love the shadow box idea, but it might take me a while to get around to a project like that. Until then, the patches will continue to travel.
Thanks everybody!
posted by Elly Vortex at 9:33 AM on March 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by acidic at 2:08 PM on March 28, 2012 [2 favorites]