Rachel S. Gross
Historian of consumption and author whose research on outdoor clothing, retail, and material culture informs the episode's discussion of gear, mass-production, and retail's role in outdoor expertise.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 53min
Gear: Chapter 2
Rachel S. Gross, a historian of consumption, explores the evolution of outdoor gear, highlighting how retailers transformed shopping into a source of expertise. She discusses the origins of brands like Eddie Bauer and the influence of military needs on scientific gear testing. Joshua Kerner offers a critical take on General Littlejohn's aesthetic decisions, which led to critical failures in soldier winter supplies. Together, they reveal the intricate relationship between outdoor gear, military innovation, and consumer culture.
