I’m frequently asked if the baskets I make should be referred to as “packbaskets” or “pack baskets”… one word or two? Personally, I’ve always thought of it as one word. In my mind, “pack” isn’t a type of basket, a packbasket is a packbasket is a packbasket…. I think that comes from the fact that my Dad had one from the time I was born and I always thought of it as the carrier he used when he went to the woods to hunt. It wasn’t a type of basket, as opposed to an egg basket, for example. It was just his packbasket, one word, one name, one thought…..
In that vein, I did some research. On the web, it is more often referred to using 2 words. It appears that I am in the small minority that use the one word version.
I even found a newspaper article from 1914 that refers to them as “pack-baskets”. Yet another country heard from…… although that’s the only place I’ve ever run into the hypenated version. I’ll publish that entire 1914 article here soon.
In any event, throughout my site, the single word version is predominant.
So, whether you call it a “packbasket”, “pack basket” or even “pack-basket”, it is still traditionally styled outdoor gear that is comfortable to carry, light, durable and, in my opinion, esthetically appealing. Strap one on and head for the woods, stream or hiking trail!
