This book is primarily a compendium of gear. Although it is pretty out of date in terms of specifics, it gives decent discussions of the general types of gear that are available. The advice given is much more in-depth and helpful than any reviews I have found online.

I found the explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of stoves, including their performance in inclement weather and which are safe for use inside tent vestibules, most useful. The discussion of GPS, on the other hand, being over 10 years old, really isn't worth the space on the page.

In between the gear discussion, Townsend does give some good general advice, but I would only recommends this book for people who are specifically looking for advice on the shopping aspect of backpacking.