If you"re a hiker or camper, you need this book. Why? Because you love your gear, and you depend on it to make your trips comfortable and safe. In the field, stuff happens, and knowing how to cope can be the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Plus, your gear should last many years, but only if you know how to keep it working properly. This book covers all manner of outdoor gear?from boots and packs to tents, jackets and kitchenware. Learn how to fix any conceivable problem yourself (saving you serious money and time), learn how to keep your gear finely-tuned, properly stored, and operating at its best. Step by step instructions and real-world color photos walk you through all the repairs. And because, let"s face it, some things are beyond fixing, even for the most skilled DIY-ers, we"ll tell you when to seek professional intervention and even what to consider when it"s time to shop for new gear. In researching this book, the author solicited real broken gear from Backpacker readers. She received dozens of items in all manner of disrepair and fixed them herself, documenting the steps...real gear, real problems, real fixes. This book supports the notion of not only being practical, but being environmentally responsible, too--save space in the landfill by fixing your gear rather than replacing it!