Trail Memories

These days in the off season we are doing six to ten miles a day of just walking with an occasional zero day. So backpacking is mostly memories.

Copper Spur with tarp in the rain on platform in 2019

Franconia Ridge Video—there were some heroic photobombers who held position for over half an hour. That amazed me.

Back to the present it rained heavily this morning so we decided to walk later in the day. Gave me time to blog.

Jones Cabin / Bear Chapel Trail—video from three years ago in the Potomac ATC section. It was fun to return to the AT.

Second day north of Harper’s Ferry—short video from seven years ago. That was part of another short section hike we did pre-retirement.

Climbing down in Maine

Lazy morning.

Animals on the trail(s)

Badger

Today I saw a badger. So did Happy6.

So far I’ve seen deer, a black bear and a grizzly/brown bear, a moose, elk, pronghorns, wild horses, skunks 🦨, raccoons, so many birds including eagles, elk, rabbits, pica, marmots rattlesnakes, rat snakes. I’ve also seen bob cats, pine martens and prairie dogs.

Saw a bald eagle at Mirror Lake this week.

We’ve seen beavers and finches and jays and robins and muskrats and sheep (both kinds) and cattle too.

Rat Snake

I’ve also seen a porcupine from our car.

Other animals as well. But today was the day I saw a badger.

😄😀😄

Video for Sept 28 through the years. Link since it isn’t that relevant except for the crow at the end.

Crow

CDT: Planning for next year

Thinking about heading north on the CDT from Grand Lake next year.

Much depends on the snow, as always.

Colorado Snowtel

There are, however, two particularly helpful SNOTEL sites at Fremont and Red Mountain passes, which are more representative of the higher elevation areas on the CT. Fremont Pass is centrally located on the CT north of U.S. Highway 50 and Red Mountain Pass is centrally located on the CT south of Highway 50.

The rules of thumb:

  • About one week after the Fremont Pass SNOTEL registers zero inches of snowpack, the high points along the north half of the CT (including in Segments 6, 7 and 8) become passable. Around three weeks after the zero snowpack reading, the high points along the Collegiate West (including CW02-CW05) become passable.
  • About two weeks after the Red Mountain Pass SNOTEL registers zero inches of snowpack, the high points along the south half of the CT (including Segments 21-27) become passable.

https://coloradotrail.org/traveling-the-ct/snowpack/

Bob Marshal Snotel. July 1 looks likely end of snow.

The route I am thinking about would start with Grand Lake to Rawlins. Then a flip.

Camped south of Rawlins

More specifically the route would be from highway 34 north of Grand Lake where we turned back from the following ascent.

Happy6 on the trail past Highway 34
Grand Lake and North

The route would go north to where the water of desperation is to be found south of Rawlins. That is where we got off trail when my water bladder burst at that location.

South of Rawlins

That adjustment shaves about sixty miles off the distance from Grand Lake to Rawlins.

It means we would be hiking from mile 1399.6 to circa mile 1621. 221 miles. That also includes hiking some of the trail in that stretch twice as there isn’t much access so we have to just hike it again to get back to where we were.

South of Rawlins

Then we would hike roughly from the Cirque to The Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Cirque. From Wikipedia.

The core of that second leg would be the Big Sky alternative. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619114819/http://www.wildernesstravels.co.uk/cdt/bigsky.htm

Specifically we would start at Sweetwater Guard Station Campground at Mile 1778 NOBO

Sweetwater Guard Station
Photo by BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner, Lauren Hazzard

We would hike north to south of East Glacier at Highway 2 at mile 2923 NOBO with Big Sky in the middle. 1,145 miles.

Happy6 in The Bob

Again, some parts of that we have already hiked four times.

Superbutte or Big Sky Cut Off

In addition we can take The Big Sky which saves 200 to 300 miles. That leaves us about a thousand miles to do to finish up next year.

Need to train some

My legs on trail

More on Tents (Pivot Trio)

Trio review (for the Pivot)

Basics on the Trio

Our Off-set Trio kept letting water in when it rained. I kept thinking that “this time” we would get it right and solve the problem. It was a problem, sometimes serious. We never solved the problem.

Btw, it turns out we were not alone.

Off-set Trio

Happy6 contacted Zpacks and we got an exchange with full credit. Of the available tents on the exchange we went with a Pivot Trio which appears to solve the issues. It was worth paying a little more since we had to pay the difference. I was glad to do it.

Pivot Trio

As someone else said on Reddit:

Well, I don’t have 2000 miles on my offset trio, so I defer to your experience/opinion, but I think it was a flawed design. The first thing I noticed was how little mesh overhang there is on the interior perimeter.

Zpacks did this to maximize interior footprint, but they pushed it too far. Did you ever experience sliding around in the tent during a storm and having the bathtub extend past the tarp and let rain in?

Second…I always had a hard time getting a good pitch. Basically, the ridgeline was hard to get tight for me and then the vestibules flaps/zippers seemed too tight.

As soon as the pivot trio came out I ordered it to compare them side by side:

I think it’s an upgrade in just about every way. You do need 52″ poles….or….like if you have durston icelines you might need to find 2″ rocks every time you pitch it. Regardless with the higher poles it has incredible interior vertical room.

And…with moving the foot pole to under the fly, you now have 32″ vertical foot end height vs the external pole. With the taller apex poles they were also able to get rid of the head 32″ external pole.

I’m not sure what you mean by “double layered” foot end, but it is a vertical wall that is supported by a pole so you can have your pad be pushed right up against it and not worry about touching the fly.

Plus since the foot end is supported by a pole you don’t have to worry about sliding as much if you are on a slope. There is more mesh and there is a good fly overhang so….I would assume ventilation is going to be better.

Pitching has been perfect right from the get go. To me it pitches just as easy as a duplex. The ridgeline is much tighter, probably aided since they have actual linelocs at the apex instead

of pulling on the vent flap like the offset. There is a better slope from the ridgeline on the pivot than the offset too (which to me seemed too shallow).

The vestibules are 5″ wider so are more useful, but…the angle of the vestibule fabric is now much better so they are not nearly as tight as the offset vestibules/zippers.

The footprint corners are the same dimensions as offset but the pivot is 10″ wider at the vestibules so you do need a bit more space for pitching.

Anyway, sold the offset to keep the pivot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/s/EAFPyBtdYP

Both of our hiking pole sets, Foxelli and Cascade Mountain Tech will extend to 52”.

Thoughts

I really like having the extra room a three person tent offers. 28 square foot tents really aren’t enough and 26 square foot tents are really really too small.

With the Off-set we had constant issues with condensation at the foot ends getting on our sleeping bags. The design changes with the Pivot fix that. In addition, after having hiking poles eaten I’m really loath to expose my pole handles outside the tent.

Alternatives to the Pivot

The Triplex

I really liked our Triplex. We only started looking for another tent because it had started to wear out and the aforementioned handles that got eaten.

Statistics

A Triplex does cost less, now comes in several versions and it weighs 21.9 ounces.

XMid Pro 2 or 2+

The 2+ wasn’t available on trade in and the 2 was just a little too small. My side of the Pro 2 also could have used more headroom. We don’t use the vestibules so that part of the difference between the tents is significant to me.

XMid Pro 2+

If you use vestibule space it is a significant issue.

I have to admit that the miles hiked with our Pro 2 has me burned out on XMids for a while though I understand they’ve improved the headroom design some and the 2+ is larger than the 2.

Significantly, the XMid design is very weatherproof.

The 2+ is 19.2 ounces. 32 square feet. The Zpacks Trio is 38.4 square feet. 21.3 ounces. The pole is an extra ounce that can be avoided by using a trekking pole. They now ship the Trio with extra zipper sliders for on hike repairs (expect to repair at around 1200 to 1400 miles).

I’ve had to repair the Triplex, XMid Pro and Off-Set zippers. I expect the Pivot to be the same.

Tents I’ve used

Our tents go back about nine years for backpacking tents.

We started with an REI half dome. It is very free standing and has 32 square feet. Currently they weigh just under six pounds or three pounds each if split between two people.

Half Dome—tall with lots of interior space.

They are spacious inside and easy to set up.

I paid $25 for ours at an REI garage sale. The design was flawed in that the hubs were prone to be too short. That would create spalling on the poles. I got the hub fixed using a third party service.

Our Half Dome remains a great car camping/campground tent and handles weather well.

I then bought the My Trail Company 2p. They accepted the return. That was a light tent but just too small for two people and front entry. The company pretty much went out of business a second time.

My Trail Company UL 2

Overly optimistic review. It is 28 square feet with a front entrance and steep sides, low roof.

Happy6 bought a Ghost 3p. That was a 1.5 wall tent (double walled with a large single wall section). It vented like a house on fire. Mountain Hardware has had some great successes. This wasn’t one. Geartrade sold it for us.

Ghost on left, Copper Spur on the right

The ghost also was front entry.

Copper Spur at a distance

We then went with a Copper Spur 2p to begin the AT. At the time it was highly rated and used by many thru-hikers. It is a good tent. Just too small for continuous use. We still have it. It is still highly rated.

We often used it with a polycro rainfly to keep it dry. A wet tent adds more water weight than the polycro rainfly added.

Our Triplex

We picked up a Triplex and finished the AT with it. Then it went on the PCT with us with pole caps added which gave it more interior room.

Pole caps

For the Appalachian Trail the Triplex with pole caps is a great combination. I suspect it would be good on the Continental Divide Trail as well.

If those deer just had more fear of man on the PCT … though I could usually find sticks on the ground to use in place of hiking poles wherever deer were.

Triplex in camp.

To finish the PCT we bought an XMid Pro 2. It is a great tent and handled rough weather well. But it was too small

These were the leading contenders for lightweight tents for a thru-hiking couple back then (prices are up for all of them.

The square feet are claimed square feet several years ago.

  • Copper Spur….| 28 ^2 feet | 3lb 1 oz | $500*
  • Duplex…………..| 28 ^2 feet | 18.5 oz. | $669
  • X-Mid Pro 2 …| 30 ^2 feet | 19.6 oz. | $679*
  • Duo Off Set……| 31 ^2 feet | 19.7 oz | $769
  • Dipole li 2……..|32.25^2 feet|24.7 oz | $799
  • Triplex …………| 37.5 ^2 feet| 21.6 oz | $749*

For Triplex add weight of pole cups for .28 ounces for two.

* for tents we owned.

Then we went to an Off-set Trio.

It looked perfect. 41 square feet. Light. It really had a lot to recommend it. However the Off-set always failed us in heavy rain. If you don’t hike in that, you should be fine with a used one (it has been discontinued).

It was great out of the rain.

Our off-set is not being resold. We will cut it up and recycle the fabric as part of the exchange.

In the mail is a Pivot Trio.

Pivot Trio in blue

We have about 1,300 miles of backpacking left and then maybe some repeat sections. Unfortunately I’m getting older.

Almost tents

We almost got a Tarptent. But we never really got to look at one in person and the square footage was often just too small when the specs were calculated out.

If we had seen one in person and gotten to crawl in and out and compare we might have made different choices.

Hyperlite tents are are in the same boat. Too small. Too heavy. Too expensive. They also make some four season tents, but that isn’t our market.

Copper Spur 3p

The Big Agnes Dyneema tents were all too fragile and the reviews were not good as a result.

There are other specialty tent makers. But they generally cost more and tend to be too small for long term use by two people.

I understand the issue. Everyone is chasing less expensive manufacturing (less Dyneema—it is expensive) and better specifications (that is, lower weight). That leads to making smaller tents — 26 to 28 square feet.

But those are cramped after a while.

In the vein of almost suitable for thru-hiking:

  • All the floorless “tents” being sold.
  • Consider the 28.4 square foot $950 Crosspeak 2 34 ounce tent from Hyperlite.
  • The DCF whisper —bottomless 1p tent.
  • Peak Equipment $1,325.00

Other tents worth a look

If you are on a budget (and/or looking at one person tents):

You can find so many more alternatives. This is only a start.

A note about reviews

Too many reviews will basically find a niche to identify every tent reviewed as “best” at something.

That way, whatever your pre-existing preferences you will find support and an affiliate marketing kickback link to buy from the review.

I would advise a great deal of caution in reading reviews.

On the other hand, there are the three main surveys:

https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/top-tents-and-shelters-on-the-appalachian-trail-2024-thru-hiker-survey/

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-gear-guide-2024/

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/continental-divide-trail/cdt-gear-guide-2024/

Those surveys give you an idea of what other hikers used and how they felt about items of gear. All of them have run for multiple years so you can compare results from year to year.

Self reporting surveys have weaknesses but they at least give you an idea of what’s out there and being used.

Misc.

I’ve had great customer service experiences with ZPacks, Durston and Hilltop Bags. In the past I also had great experiences with Mountain Hardware.

Mountain Hardware makes great puffies and great sun hoodies.

Alternatives for two people

Most hikers are single. I’ve implicitly acknowledged that in the section on Other Tents Worth a Look. All of them are tents for a single hiker.

The alternatives for two people are:

  • Something too small. Any 2 person tent.
  • The XMid 2p (it is large enough, it really is a 2p, 31 ounces) or the Pro 2+ (19.2 ounces).
  • Copper Spur 3p. Free standing. Well rated. Cones in regular and XL. They also sell a 3p Tiger Wall. Starting at 42 ounces.
  • The MSR Hubba Hubba 3p, it is a solid tent. I’ve seen it on trail. 70 ounces.
  • The various Triplex versions. Including the freestanding one, there are lots of options. starting around 21 ounces.
  • The 3p Nemos . I’m not familiar with them and haven’t seen either on trail. 45 to 53 ounces.
Triple Rainbow Free Standing
  • Triple Rainbow. In silpoly, ultra or Dyneema. 47 ounces or less. Tarptent has many other tents as well. https://www.tarptent.com/shop/—their tent finder tool.

Caveats

There are thru-hiking couples that use one (yes one) one person tent which they share. How? I don’t know. I read a couple books by one such couple. They seemed crazy.

8.9% – One-person shelter

60.7% – Two-person shelter

30.4% – Three-person shelter

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-hiker-survey-couples-2024/

Some are able to use 2p tents. I’ve done it, I just find it cramped after a whole.

Interestingly, among the most frequently used shelters where both the two-person and three-person versions were represented on the trail, the three-person version consistently received a higher overall rating than the two-person version.

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-hiker-survey-couples-2024/

See also https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/best-thru-hiking-couples-shelters-2023/

You may be in that group. Rent or borrow gear and find out. Odds are that with rare exceptions (ie Durston regular tents) an individual hiker will be most comfortable after a while in a 2p and couples in a 3p.

Alternative choices on gear

There are some choices that aren’t bad, they are just choices. Some are excellent for section hikes. Some are worth it to some people and not others.

Some are situational. I refer to this sort of gear choice as an alternative instead of as a bad choice because it isn’t a bad choice but just a different choice than others might make.

Stio

I thought of Stio today when I pulled my Stio shirt out of the closet for a walk through the neighborhood loop.

I learned about Stio from a brand representative I met on the AT. He wore their shirts where most hikers would wear a wind shirt or a fleece.

Stio

I’ve discovered that in the years since I first encountered them that they have added a wind shirt since (4.4 ounces). They also now have $179 cotton western shirts. And they have lots of their signature tech (nylon/polyester) shirts that weigh 8 ounces and can fit the role of wind shirt or fleece.

They make lots of other gear.

They are loved by skiers as a mid-layer. But it really isn’t the choice I would make. I was impressed enough I bought one but it ended up in the regular closet eventually.

Jet boil / integrated systems

While the MSR Windburner is the best of the integrated systems, Jet Boil is the most well known integrated cook system purveyor.

Jetboil

Jetboil has many iterations — too many to name now. The essence is that they all have a pot screws on to the stove. Most also have a frying pan available that screws on the same stove.

I own a jetboil (we found it abandoned on the trail where it had been for some time).Happy6 and I also have the MSR system, including the standard size pot and the larger 1.7 liter pot and the frying pan.

I know people who own and are happy with one of these or one of the many alternative competitive integrated systems now sold in this space. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17YpDod4P6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Integrated systems are kind of neat but they have extra weight compared to a Stanco & BRS or Pocket Rocket or GasOne. Worse, the wider and flatter Stanco heats water faster. Wide trumps tall for speed.

So they look neat and are neat and easier to use but weigh more and are a little slower. Some thru hikers love them. To be honest, whenever we have carried both an integrated system and a pot/stove we ended up using the integrated system. However, it has stayed in the gear closet for years now.

And I want to be clear:

  • For windy conditions the MSR Windburner series can’t be beat.
  • For almost all uses the combination systems are easier to use.
  • For most (non-thru hiking) camping the systems are superior.

Pot legs or canister stands

Aluminum stand

In the Jetboil picture you will note that there is a set of legs attached at the bottom to the isobutane fuel canister. The orange legs are made of plastic. They stabilize the system some.

Metal legs are tougher.

MSR titanium fuel canister stand

The titanium ones are pretty neat. We own one and I like ours (the plastic one was left behind when I retired but we still have the titanium one).

But. After a while you don’t need a stand. So it becomes just “extra” for most people. Neat though. They are also perfect for section hikes you go on until you get more experience.

Frying pans/skillets

Frying pans or skillets are neat. We own two backpacking ones. If I lived on the trail I’d carry one. They increase the range of foods you can cook. I’ve even carried one on a thru hike (as dual purpose frying pan and pot lid) for several hundred miles.

MSR Skillet

But when I am thru hiking I’m just no longer that interested in fine dining. We had lots of great use of ours on the Appalachian Trail but both frying pans now live in the gear closet for us.

Camp shoes

Camp shoes got their start when hikers wore boots. A backpacker would switch the boots for camp shoes at night to give their feet a rest from boots.

Crocs

The classic camp shoe was a croc sandal. In addition to camp they were also often used for water crossings. There is even a separate line of “swiftwater” crocs aimed at use for water crossings.

Trail runners for hiking changed the camp shoe dynamic up since if your trail runners fit well they are fine for wearing around camp.

Now camp shoes are used for leaving your tent at night. They are also important for showers.

Trail runners at night often still need to Finnish drying out which makes them unpleasant to try to slide on in the midnight hour. While trail runners are great for water crossings they really aren’t shower shoes.

Flip flops

Many similar, but lighter options to crocs are used as camp shoes. Those include offerings from zpacks, DIY alternatives and flip flops. Everyone finds their own best solution over time for use as camp shoes but most thru hikers carry something.

Wal-mart sit pads. Two for six dollars + $5 shipping.
Croc clones I’ve used

And yes, my gear closet contains just about everything on the list.

Swiftwater crocs

Note that some products have entire product lines using the product name now. Swiftwater is a good example of that, it seems there are almost twenty products sharing that name now.

ZPacks ultralight camp shoes—Happy 6 uses these now.

Knives

There are so many different knives on the trail or that someone will try to sell you.

Some are light and useful. For example the one sold by Gossamer Gear.

Gossamer Gear knife

In my opinion the good trail knives range from ultralight Swiss Army Knife style (above) to knives that are little more than folding razors (below).

Derma Safe Knife—ultra light

In addition to the two pictured true thru hiking knives there are Opinal knives — a favorite of many campers. There is a great Gerber mini-knife and many clones of it. The PETZL SPATHA gets used by many outdoors types and in many applications.


PETZL SPATHA — I own one and so does Happy6

The truth is that on trail I don’t carry a knife and Happy6 carries a Derma Safe, sometimes. There is always the handle of your spoon for many applications that you might use a knife for like cutting cheese.

All of that said, some people are happier with a “real” knife or carry a neck knife.

Fire starters

On the Appalachian Trail hikers will gather around a fire and it makes people happier to have a camp fire at night. A great fire starter makes a fire easy.

On the other trails there is usually a fire ban and with longer distances (and no fire ring just outside the shelter) people just don’t build fires.

There are lots of various homegrown options and then there is the Blackbeard Fire Starter.

The ultimate fire starter: Blackbeard

Most will never carry any of these. They are still neat.

Food Alternatives

Instant (freeze dried) refried beans

Refried beans are a good alternative to Ramen and Knorr Sides. Ramen is 380 calories a 3 ounce package with 9 grams of protein. The beans are 317 calories per 3 ounces with 15 grams of protein.

Bagels are another good alternative for other trail foods.

“Night bottles”

The classic night time bottle is a wide mouth Gatorade bottle. That way you don’t leave your tent at night or have to face rain.

Bottles

My only encounter with a tick was leaving my tent at night. Luckily it stopped at my socks and smashed flat on the rocks.

The essence of a night bottle is that it has a wide mouth. Gatorade bottles are the archetype for night bottles.

Sports bottle 1.7 ounces

A typical wide mouth vitamin bottle weighs 2.5 ounces. The typical promotional sports bottle weighs 1.7 ounces. Gatorade bottles used to weigh about 1.8 ounces.

Gatorade bottle 1.3 ounces.

The new ones weigh 1.3 ounces. Obviously I’m changing my gear up again.

Sit pads

Bottle and sit pad

There are lots of sit pads out there. You can shop them in hiker boxes, by cutting off a section from a thrift store yoga pad, paying full price or picking up a sheet of plastic foam from a craft store.

Sit pad .5 ounces

There is a wide range of what is available for “just in case” use when you sit to eat.

Gossamer Gear has one for 1.7 ounces. Temu claims one.

Zpacks sit pad~one ounce

I started with using half a ZSol that weighed about 5-6 ounces. Gave it away. Picked up one like Gossamer Gear’s from a hiker box. I’m not sure where it is now.

Some people swear by them. Some swear at them. Some never carry them.

Bushnell

Binoculars

When I was a kid binoculars were a key part of my dad’s camping equipment and of my grandfather’s gear.

Of course I bought some.

And. I’ve never taken them on trail.

Other

I’ll probably think of more gear that is not carried by everyone but that some people use. I discuss such items here because using one isn’t a mistake so much as it is a “your mileage may vary” alternative to what others use.

Gear mistakes

My essay on gear got me thinking of gear mistakes. They generally fit the following categories.

Too much gear

This usually starts with people carrying extra changes of clothing. Many beginning backpackers carry three changes of clothing so they start every day of a four day trip in clean clothes.

They carry a multitool. Any backpacking site that recommends a multitool probably just wants an affiliate marketing kickback.

Full mess kit

Boy Scout mess kits. Full silverware kits. Five items when one will do. They carry containers for ten liters of water when the most they will need is four. (I’ve done that).

The list of excess gear goes on. Binoculars. Tripods. For most people a separate camera from your phone is excess.

Anything “Extra.” Every time you think “I’ll take an extra …” ask yourself if you aren’t taking too much.

Just a few more ounces

Related to too much gear. It is easy to add a little here, a little there in heavier gear. I always think of the guy with the seven pound emplacing tool that he had instead of a trowel.

It is easy just to add a few more ounces here or there. Bringing a little extra or a little larger. Anything oversized probably fits into this category.

But you do that and the next thing you know your first aid kit weighs five pounds and you have a knife, a multitool and a machete.

Machete. You do not need this.

This often happens with justifying heavier gear. A hiker has a five pound two person tent. It is only a little bit heavier and split between two people “isn’t so bad.” So they decide it is fine for a thru hike.

Or they get an extra large umbrella. It is just a few more ounces more to get the bigger size. Do they need it? Will it do a better job?

If you use a sleeping bag liner, it can happen with using a fleece blanket folded over for the job. It is warmer, true, but weighs 20 ounces instead of six.

Another example is bringing extra tough base layers that are heavy duty and extra heavy. Your base layer should fit the task it has.

100 feet of rope. Great rope but not for the trail.

Another example is the guy carrying a rope instead of cord to hang their bear bag. That is two-three pounds instead of 2-3 ounces.

There are many areas where it is tempting to get the larger or heavier version. Sometimes that is the right thing to do.

But the old saying is “ounces add up to pounds.” Start upsizing and the next thing you know you are the 102 pound hiker covering 30 miles in three days with a 40 pound pack.

Too little gear

A good example is the hiker trying to make do with just a wind shirt with DWR and skipping a rain coat — an invitation to hyperthermia.

Not having a spare pair of socks is another example.

You will meet the hiker who has to do the trail mooch routines because he doesn’t carry his own lighter or water filter. Don’t be the guy who asks around the shelter for a pump sack to inflate his sleeping pad.

Bic mini lighter. Carry your own

Also don’t be the guy who depends on rocks and sticks instead of tent stakes.

The wrong gear for the purpose

Generally you should think of shorter hikes as training for longer ones if your goal is long trails. So you will use the same gear for a week or an overnight hike as you plan for the trail with this approach.

However, some people are happy with always doing short sections. They will gear differently. This is especially true in the winter. If you are always going to do short sections and winter camp then a tarp in addition to your tent is a great idea.

https://adrr.com/d20/2021/08/08/tarps-on-the-trail/ excellent for the purpose. Photo credit at link.

The same is true of base camp camping where you hike in, set up a base camp and hang out there for several days then hike back to your car. That calls for different gear.

Classic tarp. Too heavy.

Base camp camping is similar to car camping. For car camping I might use a Coleman stove, have a cooler and a heavy tent. But I wouldn’t take those on a hike.

But taking the gear for the wrong type of hiking/camping is a really easy gear mistake to make. Don’t be the guy with the ten pound one person tent out for a week on the trail.

The “Classic” mistake

That is the mistake of being penny wise and pound foolish. Which is easy enough to do. It leads to the hiker saying “cry once, buy once.” That is, pay more for gear that will do the job and that you won’t have to replace.

Some gear you can buy cheaply and be fine. But often people end up buying the same gear item several times until they get it right.

Sometimes that is more than justified. You aren’t going to know if backpacking is for you until you try it. After all, about 25% of all people attempting a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail quit by mile 30.

We had a guy quit in his driveway. That is potentially a lot of money to spend for very few miles. I do not advocate wasting money or overspending.

REI—the backpackers friend

It makes sense to rent equipment from a local REI and try it first. Do some sections of trails before you start buying gear.

But don’t buy the five pound cotton batting flannel sleeping bag, then the four pound synthetic and then the Amazon off-brand that’s only warm enough to use in the summer. Don’t buy all of those before you buy a backpacking down sleeping bag.

You do not need to buy the most expensive gear. I constantly recommend Stanco Greasepots and GasOne stoves. They are much less expensive than the alternatives.

Stanco and IMUSA. Stanco in cozy

I endorse this statement by PMags:

As any regular reader knows, I’ve often advocated inexpensive gear as an alternative to higher priced gear in some instances.

Sometimes the cheaper gear is actually better for  certain purposes. Other times it just fits a person’s budget. Often times there is simply no real difference ($2 fleece hat at Home Depot versus a $25 fleece hat for example).

https://pmags.com/gear-cheap-vs-affordable-vs-high-end — well worth reading.

See also https://pmags.com/more-gear-on-the-cheap. There are REI garage sales, Geartrade and other used gear sources that are often excellent places to shop.

But be measured and think about gear purchases first before you start buying.

Caveats and Conclusions

Some gear differences are just differences, not mistakes.

Some choices are choices not errors. We are all individuals. You may find a camp chair worth it even if I don’t. Integrated pot/stoves have a place. Just not for me.

I have this in lexan and titanium.

Finally, some choices are very situational. If I’m sharing a single pot or food pouch with my wife a long handled spoon trumps a shorter spoon or spork. By myself I might well use the pictured spoonfork.

Once you have “enough” gear to hike with then what you need to watch out for is the temptation to buy “just a little extra” and “just a little more.” But between shakedown hikes and some care most people will avoid too many gear mistakes.

And you will always have day camping grandchildren who can use any gear that will fit in the trunk of a car.

Raccoon. Happy6’s spirit animal

Town clothes, loaners, etc.

Loaner clothing

Many hostels offer laundry service. Most also offer loaner clothes you can wear while your laundry is being done.

Happy & d20 in loaners

There is a lot of variety in the clothes provided. In these the Walmart stopped me to make sure I wasn’t a criminal so I got a picture of the outfits.

This is why many hikers do not hike with an extra outfit for town clothes.

It also has me in my hoodless puffy. I currently hike in a puffy with a hood but have also used one without.

At Rattle River

The couple above were doing work for stay and wearing loaner clothes.


Rattle River Hostel

Rattle River was a great stay. At the doors you enter into a shower room. No one wears their trail shoes in the hostel or enters without having showered.

In the south, where the trail is starting, hikers brindle at such a suggestion, nonetheless a requirement.

By the north they understand it as common sense.

Happy’s shoes

By Rattle River both of us had our shoes cut up by the trail.

Video with more shoe damage pictures.

Mile 1895 NOBO or about 300 miles SOBO. We were SOBO at the time. Our shoes had been new climbing Katahdin but the trail was rough.

The hostel was closed. Covid did them in for a time. Now recovered.

Link to lodge with pictures.

Moabs

The hostel had a pair of new Merrill Moabs in the hiker box. A prior hiker had them but they did not fit. The work for stay hostel worker suggested I should just take them because they had been there too long.

The original story.

I looked up the information and paid the owner (using PayPal) what Amazon currently sold them for. Happy (still Happy at this point, not Happy6 yet) bought a pair in town.

At this point I was happy with Moab. This would not change until the PCT when their quality control went to heck in a hand basket. I understand that has improved.

Moabs sit at the intersection of trail shoe, trail runner and boot. They handled rough trail well, did not get cut up and destroyed and had waterproof options that were perfect for the AT.

Reviews:

Anyway. It was a great stop on the trail and I got an introduction to Moabs, unique loaner clothes, a great hostel, and Walmart Security (it was pleasant so I have nothing to report about it other than amusement).

Town Clothes and alternatives.

The essence of town clothes is to have something to wear while your laundry is being done that won’t get you stopped by store security.

Others want something a little nicer for town.

Your options are:

  • Loaner clothes. Most are just normal clothes. Rattle River was unique and kind of fun.
  • Rain gear. A lot of people just use their rain gear. Better than going nude.
  • Baselayer + puffy or fleece or jacket. Most baselayers could do with being a little thicker.
  • Town clothes. A separate outfit. But it has weight.
  • “Alt” clothes. If you have shorts and pants. You probably only hiked in one since your last resupply and can use the other while laundry is running. Baselayer top or fleece or raincoat and you are covered.

Alt clothes work best if you hit town, shower, change into your alternate underwear and socks and then do laundry and shop. They don’t work if you only have one bottom or everything is dirty.

Most hikers find something that works for them. Sometimes hikers have changing or different somethings that work depending on how things have gone since the last resupply.

Gear: what I recommend and what I use

What I use and what I recommend are sometimes different.

  • The Lightheart Gear rain jacket. I’m using a Visp but the LG is more bulletproof. I used LG in the past, my wife just bought one and I’ll probably switch back when the Visp wears out.
  • Consider rain pants or a rain kilt and gaiters. I recommend rain pants as lighter. I’m currently using https://lightheartgear.com/products/rain-pants. Don’t wash your rain pants, it will remove their DWR.
Pillow. These last about two years and then fail.
  • One long sleeve t-shirt and one short sleeve t-shirt (merino wool, at least 10% nylon/spandex for improved wear). I shop mine by current price. Icebreaker. Merino Tech. So many other brands have all made me happy.  That mix is for the Appalachian Trail.
  • For other trails either a sun hoodie from https://jollygear.com/ or Mountain Hardware. I used them both. When I have a hoodie I don’t carry a t-shirt of any type.
Jolly Gear Sun Hoodie
  • One pair of zip-off pants. Maybe a pair of shorts too. I currently use hiking pants that don’t zip off. For longer hikes I choose which pants by then having deep pockets (so stuff doesn’t fall out) and being what currently fits me. My favorite brand went out of business.
  • For shorts once I switched to a larger phone I just use the pair that weighs the least. I wear shorts for doing laundry (I sunburn easily so am often in pants) or for warmer days in the trees but when there aren’t ticks or mosquitoes.
  • One base layer (for sleeping in) and a pair of sleep socks. https://www.32degrees.com/collections/mens-baselayers for example of inexpensive base layers. 
  • I currently recommend Silkweight base layers. I use Capilene bottoms (same tech as Silkweight, and I already had them) and a Merino top that I like.
  • Paradox is an alternative for baselayers.
Pack and bear canister
  • One backpack at two pounds or less (get one that fits your body). I like Hyperlite and Durston backpacks myself. The Crown 60 can often be found on sale for around $100. I currently use a Durston Kakwa. Happy6 uses a Hyperlite. Pick a pack that fits your body.
  • Misc gear: hiking poles, headlamp, 10,000 mhA battery, wall charger, cell phone (practice using it as a camera). FarOut. Bic mini lighter. Your stove won’t light itself. If it does the built in stove lighter will eventually fail. 
  • I currently use Nitecore batteries and headlamps. They are lighter, Anker and other battery brands cost less and are fine.
  • I’ve used other headlamps. Nitecore is really my favorite by a large margin on trail.
  • I prefer a polished long handled spoon. I think I got mine from REI. Aluminum ones weigh less. Titanium ones are smoother.
Toaks long handled spoon with polished bowl
  • Cascade Mountain Tech and Foxelli make great poles at a reasonable price. Especially at the end of the season at Costco. Cork handles are just better.
  • Cat hole kit (bag, trowel, zip lock with toilet paper, hand sanitizer). 
  • For a trowel, I use a Vargo. I got it for free. Happy6 uses a Deuce of Spades.
Deuce, Vargo and classic garden trowel.
  • Water treatment kit. Sawyer filter with connector for gravity filtering, one smart water bottle and two Evernew or Platypus water bags. One Core water bottle. Aqua Tabs. I’m using the tabs and a Happy6 uses Katadyn filer. It is faster than Sawyer though you have to replace them sooner.
Core water bottle cap—perfect for scooping water. 
  • Buff, fleece (alpha direct), wind shirt and puffy (which is what people call a down jacket. Used as warmth when stopped not while hiking).
  • Any brand of buff, or a free one will do for a buff. Buff brand is usually competitively priced and merino.
  • Try a beanie for sleeping in and hiking. Some people love a beanie. Others are meh on beanies. I’m in the “meh” camp these days. I’ll note that my favorite beanie got lost somewhere.
  • I use an Eos puffy and have used an REI puffy. Happy6 has a Montbell and a Ghost Whisperer (REI garage sale find) that she uses. All puffies also make great pillows. Your choice of a puffy with or without a hood.
  • Montbell, Black Diamond, and Zpacks all make great wind shirts. You can just use your rain jacket but it will wear out early if you do. Spend the money and carry the 1.7 ounces. Don’t spend the extra money for a heavier wind shirt.
  • For pillows I recommend the Trekology pillow with removable cover. I used pillows for years until I left it in a hiker box on the PCT and just use my clothing bag with my puffy in it instead. Many prefer having a pillow.
Trekology pillow with washable cover
  • I currently use a Senchi alpha direct fleece. A fleece is optional and can be used in place of a puffy. Or for doing laundry in.
  • I recommend foam ear plugs, especially for shelters and hostels. I just take my hearing aids out instead but have carried them.
Moldable foam ear plugs.
  • Go to REI and try out their quiver of sleeping pads. See if closed cell foam is for you (works for 10% to 15% will be happy with that choice), otherwise you want a Nemo or Thermarest inflatable pad. But REI lets you try them out on the floor and you can decide. I’m using a Thermarest.
  • Learn to use a pump sack with your pad. Thermarest pads come with one.
  • Pick a sleeping bag or quilt. REI Magma on sale is a price/performance leader. Otherwise it is a rabbit hole of options.  I use a feathered friends bag. One it was custom fitted. Two, it cost a lot less when Happy6 bought it for me. Three, it zips to hers.
  • Pick a tent. For the Appalachian Trail and one person a Durston XMid Pro or a ZPacks Pivot Solo look like great choices now. Taller hikers should look at an Altaplex. I used an Off-set Trio though I could never get it to handle bad weather. The Pivot Trio solves all the issues. But there are two of us. It has been discontinued and had lots of issues the replacement solves.
Off-set Trio. Pivot is an improvement.
  • Get a cook kit. For one person I recommend an IMUSA mug or a Stanco Greasepot with cozy, a BATCHSTOVEZ pot lid, a long handled titanium spoon (see above) and an isobutane stove by BRS or GasOne
  • We use the GasOne stove and the Stanco Greasepot with a homemade cozy. We have tried so many things.
  • Get trail runners or trail shoes that fit your feet and are comfortable for you. Shoes suitability really depends on your feet. With Vibram soles they all perform.
  • You want two pairs of hiking socks to go with your shoes. Darn Toughs (lifetime replacement policy) and Kirkland hiking socks (more padding) are great choices and what I use for socks.
  • Seriously consider gaiters. Most people are better off with them keeping debris out of their shoes.
Nylofume bag

https://www.litesmith.com/nylofume-pack-liner-bags/ and https://sectionhiker.com/5-backpack-liners-compared/

  • Pack liner. Practice with a garbage sack or consider Nylofume. You can get clear Nylofume bags from multiple sources. They run about $5 for two and make great pack liners. I use Nylofume. Happy6 uses a trash sack.
  • Tyvek for a ground cloth or polycro. Tyvek is great any hike where you may siesta and need something between you and the ground. Polycro is great for mud.
  • Underwear. Ex Officio give and go, or nylon mesh. Two pair. 
  • Medical kit. Vitamins. Ibuprofen and some lukotape. Toothpaste and toothbrush. Mosquito repellant (DEET, 30% or more).
  • I have one stuff sack for my electronics+meds, one for my clothing, and one for water treatment gear. I use inexpensive nylon dry sacks for this or excess bags. You can just use zip lock bags or have all of these loose in your pack.
From https://hilltoppacks.com/products/food-bags-fun-prints-vol-1-d50t-fabric-copy —what Happy6 carries for a bear bag.
  • A bear hang kit (food bag, cable and rock bag). I like Hilltop Packs bags for being able to get them individualized and LightAF for a great bag. There are so many choices. Dyneema is longer lasting and reliably waterproof.
  • Personal items (like reading glasses if you need them). Maybe chapstick. Microfiber washcloth. Dollar General is a great source.
  • FarOut. https://faroutguides.com/appalachian-trail-map/. One time there were other apps. Ones I even used. Now there is only one relevant app for the AT. On other trails the Garmin maps, OnX, CalTopo, Avenza, and CoTrex (free) can be very useful.

Usually if there is a difference between recommended and used it has to do with gear for couples or what I currently have that works and I can’t justify replacing until it wears out.

Often what I have is no longer sold.

Various bags and microfiber washcloths.

Some notes.

More and more I’m pretty sure you can make do with either a fleece or a puffy. I’ve hiked that way once or twice. But both are nice to have.

For tent stakes I use MSR groundhogs. They are made from DAC aluminum and handle all sorts of terrain. On the AT (only) titanium shepherds hooks from Amazon were great (different type of dirt from the other trails).

For some trails you need microspikes and ice axes. I like Black Diamond ice axes. I like the snow line microspikes.

Snowline Microspikes

I also own crampons but have been happy with these. https://www.trailspace.com/gear/snowline/chainsen-pro/ review.

Bear canisters — I recommend the BV 500. I’ve used it. I’ve owned several. I hike with something more expensive that was a gift. As for Ursacks, everyone I know who owned one was happy with them until it encountered a bear. Then they weren’t.

Trash panda at work

Pockets Peak

Video of today’s hike.

It is a steep trail.

From the beginning

In and out of the trees.

Happy6 in the trees
And out of the trees

The climb is steady.

View downhill
Second view downhill.

We had hiked up when there was snow. At that point it got to where it was too deep to continue.

This time we got over that hump

And continued onward.

The trail branches

But the wind was pretty harsh on and off. It would get worse.

View from the peak

Eventually we reached Pocket Peak. The wind on the Nevada side was stout.

So we headed back instead of around. We did a seven mile out and back.

Happy6 claimed credit for our turning around but I had a pulled calf muscle and should take the blame.

Happy’s post.

Batteries for the trail

Introduction

Battery packs, batteries and power banks (three names for the same thing) get used a lot.

A phone on airplane mode will last about four days on trail when used for navigation and taking pictures.

Anker’s newest at 8.6 ounces.

Headlamps and other tools (InReach gps, etc) will often last that long.

But sometimes you are more than four days between resupply and recharge and sometimes you need a recharge before four days.

In that case you need a battery bank. Which is why thru-hikers almost always carry one.

Which one is best

There are many brands out there but two have really made a name for themselves in backpacking: Anker and Nitecore. Not surprisingly they are also the two that perform the best.

Here are the recent benchmarks.

https://backpackinglight.com/anker-nitecore-portable-battery-charger-tests-batterybench/

In actual testing of batteries for the trail. Nitecore is lighter and has better energy yield. “Energy yield” is how much of a charge the battery actually delivers.

Anker is a bit more solid and the recall/warranty experience has been excellent.

Bottom line: Nitecore tends to perform better and weighs less. Anker is “more solid.”

What about solar options?

Lixada solar panel — it works

As for built in solar panels:

measured 1.8 Wh of energy added to the battery in two hours of winter noon direct sunlight. During June, it might charge twice as fast (but only with clear skies and no shade, and while always pointed in the optimal direction). Even under optimal summer conditions, it would take more than a week for an empty Anker PowerCore Solar 20000 to recharge fully.

Yep. They are not very useful.

On the other hand, for desert sections of trail, a separate panel paired with a battery works ok. I prefer two 10,000 mhA batteries (you can charge them faster, if one dies the other provides some redundancy) but a panel + battery works well.

Nitecore 10,000 mhA Carbon fiber for lighter weight.

Happy6 hiked that way for a while. I’ll note that trickle charge works on battery packs but most phones won’t recharge that way.

Hints for more effective use.

I tend to recharge my phone from 20% to 80% and not to leave it plugged in overnight. Plugging in overnight seems to waste power.

The benchmark tests agreed with my observations:

Overnight recharging an iPhone wasted a significant amount of energy on every PBC tested. It’s best to unplug your iPhone after a couple of hours.

Other notes

Ankers including my decommissioned one. I’m trying to find a place to dispose of it properly.

I’ve tried a number of batteries for various reasons.

I have, for example, a charger combined with battery. In use it weighed more than the two separately. I had it to reduce weight, not increase weight, so it is at the bottom of a gear drawer somewhere.

Another option is pass through charging (ie you can charge your battery at the same time you charge a device off the battery). That is useful. You can plug the battery into a recharger and your phone into the battery and not need to babysit them or switch what is plugged in.

Sunflowers on trail

Some have multiple types of USB styles ports. Etc. Others have built in cables.

Most options are weight without real benefit. That said, pass through is nice and doesn’t seem to add weight. Two tens are better than one twenty.

Be aware that power banks can fail. Even good ones. Be careful and treat them well. I always hike with mine in a zip lock and inside of my electronics/med kit dry bag.

A note on reviews

Too many reviews really just want you to click through and let them earn an affiliate marketing kickback. Often they don’t actually test or use all of the banks they review.

Instead of a “best” they will toss in lots of categories and often have statements like:

For options we did not test, we chose each power bank based on several key specs like battery capacity, connectivity, and power output. 

That kind of statement means they didn’t actually test everything aqbut instead picked “trusted brands such as Anker, Mophie, and BioLite” and read specifications and tried to find reasons for you to click on one of the best selling brands you were likely to buy anyway.

Happy6’s trucker hat for the trail

On the other hand at least one reviewer was honest:

  • Shortcut: Just buy the Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3. It is by far the best performer, and nothing else comes close

Cables

With the new USB cable standard (finally) most hikers can get by with one type of cable unless you have an old Apple or an old USB micro Android phone. (Don’t judge me).

For the Appalachian Trail I bought six inch cables to connect my charger to phones or batteries. That was perfect.

The mom in recharger I use. Comes in various colors. Can charge two items at once.

On the PCT I picked up a damaged cable out of a hiker box. There are many times a longer cable really is useful because of the way recharge power stations end up.

The CDT did not have the crowding and other issues but I’ve kept the longer cables (though I had to replace the one I got at the Shelter Cove hiker box).

Bottom Line

On the Appalachian Trail you will need one 10,000 mhA power bank. In the 100 mile wilderness you will need to be careful and stay in airplane mode almost all of it.

On the PCT you can get by with one as well. However, two will give you a level of safety and redundancy. I carried two most of the trail (I still have 250 miles left).

One of those FTC disclosures

On the CDT two banks can be a good idea as well, though you can probably get by with one. I carried two for the first two thirds of it. This year when filling in the New Mexico gaps I carried one. Planned on just one for the Cirque before we were smoked out.

Generally if you are at five or more days between resupply then consider more than 10,000 mhA. In addition, if you shoot a lot of video or get online a lot then a little more power can’t hurt.

Finally, if you hike with a partner, a second bank gives you some redundancy.