Bill's Question:
Please forgive my asking but I'm going nuts trying to find a definition for "technical." I see reference to technical packs, technical clothing, technical this and technical that. Search as I may, I can't find a definition for "technical" as it's being used here. Can you help?

— Bill

Karen's Answer:
Bill,

Sure: Technical means brighter colors and a higher price tag. Okay, okay: I admit: I'm being facetious.

	Karen Berger Karen is a hiker's hiker. She has finished the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails — making her one of the few who've completed hiking's"triple crown." Meet Karen Previous Answers Hiking Forums

But seriously folks, just look in any outdoor oriented magazine: You're bound to see every other ad promising"high-tech," "technical," "performance," and "extreme" gear. Advertisers and marketers know that when most of us buy high-priced outerwear, we're more likely to wear it to the mall than to Mt. Everest. They know that we consumers gravitate to stuff that promises it's survived the world's toughest tests on the world's highest mountains — even if the only ice climbing we do is over the pile the snowplow shoved up against our cars.

But the other side of the coin is this: Lots of that stuff REALLY WAS tested on Mt. Everest. While I'm not aware of any rulebook that says when the adjective technical should and shouldn't be used, generally, it refers to gear that is to be used in extreme conditions or in situations that demand technical or advanced skills. And I'd define technical skills as being skills you can't learn from a book or a TV show (or a GORP column) — they are skills someone has to teach you, skills you have to practice to master.

I'd also say that gear that really earns the "technical" label is more carefully engineered. For example, something calling itself a technical pack should have a better suspension system and high quality components — along with doo-dads that let you strap on and carry other "technical" gear — like ice tools or an ax. Technical outerwear should be engineered to be both breathable and waterproof, with features that let you make adjustments if you are too hot or too cold.

Finally, real technical gear is truly designed for users who are going to put it through its paces. Some outdoor gear, like Gore-Tex jackets, are currently "cool" with city dwellers who never venture near the woods, and some manufacturers are courting this market by paying attention to fashion elements rather than function. The manufacturers of true technical gear assume that some or most of the people who buy it will use it in the manner in which it's advertised. To tell the difference takes a careful eye and some experience — I'd head to a quality outdoor retailer for expert advice.

The bottom line, of course, is that you need the right gear for the conditions you'll be facing — and that means not wasting your money on gear that outperforms your recreation. My three-season tent, for example, is anything but technical — I'd be laughed off of the Appalachian Trail if I showed up in the summertime carrying a $600 mountaineering tent.

But you can bet that my winter climbing jacket and pants are "technical." And I have a "technical" hat for the desert, which I'll admit I was a little leery of buying (I mean, really: A technical HAT?!!) But it really looked like it was intelligently designed to solve real desert problems, so I bought it — and it's one of the best pieces of gear I own.

So rely on your own needs and judgment and remember: In the end, the manufacturers decide what they call technical. Caveat Emptor.