We talk a lot about what's good, how about the worst of what's bad: How about some nominations for the worst of the worst. You know the stuff. The kind of gear that makes
people send boy scouts of 14 out with 60 pound packs for a weekend.

Some limits:

A) We're talking about general three season *lightweight backpacking*. not techincal mountaineering, and not winter in any kind of serious winter.

B) Has to be currently manufactured and sold. No horror stories about gear from the dark ages.

So, how about nominations for your two favorites in the following categories:

1) Most often oversold (they needed a volkswagen, but got sold a lambhorgini)
2) Best Newbie trap (market to the clueless! it works!)
3) Most Overbuilt/Overweight (How much heavy crap can they put on it)
4) High Maintenance Prince/Princess Magnet (Attracts those who have to make the woods just like the suburbs)
5) Machismo Magnet (being a lawyer/stockbroker/computer geek isn't that manly, but carrying *this* in the woods is)
6) Gets taken for a ride (it always goes, but never gets used)