It wasn't all he was saying. He also commented on all modern gear and synthetics being wrong in some way. Or at least that is how I read his rant. These are two different aspects and have different responses from me.
I only carry what I will use and need. I don't carry spares for things (unless I'm deliberately on a trip out to compare alternatives, say to stoves). I carry as small and light a kit list that I feel its safe to carry for the conditions and terrain I'm in. In that I agree with that aspect of his rant and your view Drew.
The other aspect of not needing or wanting modern gear. Well I accept you can find old technology that works. Take many of the original pioneers such as Hillary and Irvine. Their wool, silk and even cotton clothing has been proven to work in that high altitude arena. Some work better than their modern counterparts others less but they do work. That has been proven by Leeds Uni high performance textiles department's highly respected research into the clothing obtained in that expedition to find the bodies (one was found and the clothing sent to Leeds together with other contemporary kit I believe). However it is heavier and in today's market is more expensive. I mean have anyone tried to get a harris tweed jacket of the quality they used in those days?? It was all handmade for them, tailored to fit.
IMHO to counter the second comment about modern synthetics I say it is up to you but IME good, modern and synthetic kit works in UK conditions as part of a system. I say system as Irvine and Mallory had a clothing system to. System allows you to adapt it to the prevailing conditions by layering up or down. Simply put synthetic kit works better overall than available non-synthetic clothing systems or at least that is my opinion for me anyway. Even merino wool fails for me as it gets overwhelmed and absorbs the sweat and moisture but doesn't actually wick it away sufficiently. I see nothing wrong with using good synthetic gear in the UK outdoors, especially where I go in the Lakes and Scottish hills (some call them mountains but they aren't tall enough for that category).
I agree with less is more but not with sticking with the past in kit choice. I say go with the best you can afford for you that is. You can get really good kit at reasonable prices these days. I have a full spec goretex pro jacket with full features such as venting and helmet compatible hood that can cinch in if not wearing a helmet. It cost me £260 or £220 if I'd gone for the smock version. That is expensive to some but when I looked around I couldn't find any goretex pro jacket that fitted me with these features I needed for much less than £300 or even £400!! The MHW ones didn't fit me but were available for about £180.
BTW I don't take a big knife out if I won't need it. I have a light opinel or even just a SAK or a tiny locking, folder from Whitby that is little over 1" long blade if I want to be truly light. I take light gas or meths stoves (not a trangia but can or other UL types). Sometimes a Honey stove with four sides. Tarp and bivvy, sleeping quilt weighing 600g and either a CCF, a TAR or a CCDF and TAR in winter. The CCF is cut down from a 130g rectangular full sized mat to a 3/4 length for me (I'm 6'5" tall) and that was scored at regular intervals to create a good fold (with tape to hold it) and also cut down to a coffin shape too my exact body shape. Anyway I'm trying to do the less is more thing as you can tell. I am afraid hygiene issues is stopping me from only taking one set of grundies on a 2 week trip!! I'd rather the extra weight of a second pair!!
