Complete Walker III (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

According to Colin Fletcher, walking can become an addiction. But it can also be therapy; he sometimes walks "along (a) ridge in order to think uncluttered thoughts or to feel with accuracy, or to sweat away a hangover, or to achieve some other worthy end." His guide touches on the spiritual but also gets down to brass tacks with a grandfather's authority. Heavy with specifics, Fletcher suggests which socks to wear and how to choose a boot based on one of the four available lacing options. He'll tell you how to pack the "house on your back," and he'll even tell you how to walk (yes, there is a proper technique to efficient walking). But Fletcher isn't an academic; his style is soothing and funny. And he'll tell you that above all, you shouldn't take your technique too seriously--walking is supposed to be fun. --Benjamin Tiffany

Product Description

Filled with first-hand knowledge and sage advice on prices, quality and availability of equipment, changes in the backcountry, and the state of mind that Fletcher captures as no one else has. Another classic.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 668 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 3 Rev Enl edition (May 12, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394722647
• ISBN-13: 978-0394722641
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #801,360 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exhaustive, but aging, how-to guide to backpacking, March 17, 2000

By	Shawn Moses (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Colin Fletcher's book on hiking has been a classic for decades. Not only does he cover just about every aspect of life on the trail, he does it with an entertaining, anecdotal style that is a step above most other books of its type. The book is about due for an update, though. There have been so many changes in backpacking equipment over the years that Fletcher's discussions on stoves, tents, and water purification systems(to name a few) are just plain outdated. Too bad. Still, it's the most readable guide to backpacking out there, and his hints and tricks on wilderness travel remain as fresh and useful as ever.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best., July 15, 1999

By A Customer

About twenty years ago I read an earlier edition of this book, bought a backpack, and started walking. Mr. Fletcher makes it possible for anyone to feel confident on a solo backpacking trip. His book is unique among the many forgettable how to books. Some of the specifics about equipment are dated but core of the book is timeless. I have to use a cliche: this book changed my life. Buy it and go for a walk!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old, but not outdated, July 29, 2000

By A Customer

I was looking at this book in the bookstore, but I ended up buying "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Camping and Hiking." Although I knew that Fletcher's was probably the better book, I figured that the technological advances in backpacking equipment would make the 16-year old third edition less than completely useful. Well, to make a long story short, I ended up back in the bookstore to buy "Complete Walker."

Most of the information is still essentially accurate, but even for areas where time has passed this book by, the book is still useful. Fletcher doesn't just give you his conclusions about what to take; he takes you through the process of gathering information and thinking that led to the conclusions. Essentially, he teaches you how to think and make your own choices, rather than presenting you with the received gospel.

Fletcher has read all the catalogs and books and magazines, talked to a lot of backpackers, visited a lot of shops, contacted manufacturers, and heard from his readers, in addition to testing a lot of equipment himself. He passes all this information along to us, acknowledging that some of it might not be reliable, and he gives us his take on it, mixing in his real-life experiences and philosophy, making it much more than just a gear book.