Over the previous yr, I hiked many a mile by means of antagonistic circumstances to place my gear to the take a look at. Listed below are the 4 largest modifications that I’ve made:
Tradeouts
1. Hoka Speedgoat/Altra Lone Peaks
11 miles right into a 16 mile day hike within the Adirondacks, I ended to take off my left shoe and confirm that the wetness in my socks was from mud and never my pinky toe falling off. I had seen over 100 miles of rocky, Pennsylvania path in my new-ish Hoka Speedgoats with out a lot of a difficulty, however the mixture of slender toe containers and steep downhills had my ft feeling like hamburger. I limped the previous couple of miles again to my automotive, dreaming of sandals.
The final trip of the Hokas!
I went to REI two days later and tried nearly each possibility earlier than I lastly placed on a pair of Altra Lone Peaks. I had been skeptical of the cult following of the zero drop path runners, however after I put them on I may see what the fuss was about. The foot formed Altra has been a recreation changer. I’ve been utilizing the Lone Peaks for ~8 months and my toes have been blister free, even on grueling hikes within the White Mountains! I do know I’m sacrificing some sturdiness with the Lone Peaks, however the match and luxury make them a better option for me.
2. Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Z-Lite Sol/Nemo Tensor
I attempted my hardest to love the Thermarest Z-lite Sol- I had been utilizing the notorious blue egg carton sleeping pad for fairly a while after I determined to make the change. The Z-lite Sol is a closed-cell foam pad, that’s splendidly low-cost and lightweight. I sincerely want I used to be a again sleeper, when sleeping on my again the Thermarest works nice! Sleeping on it on my aspect, nevertheless, leaves me waking up with sore hips and numb ft. I didn’t relish the concept of forcing myself to be a again sleeper for ~6 months, so I began wanting into the most effective sleeping pad for aspect sleepers. The inflatable Nemo Tensor has been a fantastic resolution. It’s three inches thick, which offers sufficient padding for me to sleep in any place with out my knees complaining about it.
3. Tent: Nemo Hornet 2p/Gossamer Gear The Two
Whereas it hasn’t essentially been a commerce out, I’ve been struggling to determine between the Nemo Hornet 2p and the Gossamer Gear The Two. I personal each tents, and have been alternating use on backpacking journeys for the previous few months. The Two is lighter and feels extra spacious, additionally it is faster to arrange and take down. The Hornet has some great benefits of being semi-freestanding, and as a double-wall tent, leading to decreased condensation and higher efficiency in lengthy bouts of rain. Whereas I’ve observed condensation in The Two, it’s straightforward sufficient to fight with good air flow. I’ve used the Nemo and The Two in a number of seasons underneath a wide range of circumstances, and have been very proud of each tents.
Similar campsite, completely different digs.
On the finish of the day, I simply LIKE The Two higher. If I have been selecting the tent I might hand around in for a day, I’d decide The Two each time. Since my tent will probably be my house for 5-7 months, I’m beginning my hike with The Two. If I determine I wish to make a change, I’ll have my Hornet packed up at house and prepared for a commerce off!
4. Sleeping Bag/Quilt: Nemo Disco/JacksRBetter Massive Meadows
It took me two tries to load my 50L pack with the entire necessities and 4 days of meals. The cumbersome perpetrator lurking within the backside of my bag was my luxurious Nemo Disco 15 sleeping bag. I made a decision to guage completely different sleep techniques to see if I may discover a extra compact resolution that will nonetheless permit me my nightly tossing and turning. Gear record after gear record confirmed the recognition of quilt on path, however I admit that I used to be skeptical. I used to be uncertain if I might keep heat with out an enclosed bag. Nevertheless, I figured the entire nice opinions meant there needed to be one thing to the entire quilt factor.
After some intensive looking, I made a decision on the JacksRBetter Massive Meadows quilt, and haven’t regarded again. I’ve introduced this quilt on 8+ backpacking journeys to place the temperature ranking and sturdiness to the take a look at. It has carried out nicely at each flip. The Massive Meadows quilt together with a heat sleeping bag liner, has stored me heat even at beneath freezing temperatures. I sleep so nicely with this quilt that I’m wanting ahead to utilizing it each night time.
The Keepers
Shaken down, tried and true. Right here’s 95% of what I will probably be bringing with me on path.
Take a look at the remainder of my gear record right here! Solely time will inform what gear will stick to me for the lengthy haul!
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