Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
Tom Mangan started quite the lively discussion in the comments on his Two-Heel Drive blog.
Don’t use the term “fanny pack” in the UK, or “Down Under”. The word “fanny” is rude. (As is the word “root”.)
Don’t use the unfortunate term “waist pack” either, or I’ll laugh at you.
Bum bag? (That may be worse.)
Hip belt? Hip pack? Waist pack?
I wear one every day. And often two while hiking.
Today I’m wearing the $15 MEC Travel Pocket Waist Pack. (Don’t laugh at me.)
I’ve always been suspicious of “waterproof socks” for hiking:
Seirus Stormsock Waterproof Sock
Crow confirms “they stink”: Waterproof socks: A bad idea
She likes neoprene socks. As do I.
It was an accident that started me wearing neoprene, actually. I took normal hiking footwear and water walking shoes on the West Coast Trail. And ended up wearing my speciality water shoes with neoprene booties for the entire hike. They were so bloody comfortable.
Sure my feet got “wrinkled”. But a quick rinse was enough to remove the sweat. And they dry in seconds.
Consider this option. One example:
Body Glove Flipper Slipper Neoprene Sock
I don’t wear neoprene on every hike. But my booties were perfect in Paria Canyon.
Do I deserve a new hiking pack? Lighter than my Granite Gear Virga (photo).
Yes. Because I’m worth it.
But which?
The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack was designed in response to Ryan Jordan’s desire for a freakishly light, subcompact, overnight pack. The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack is a cornerstone of Ryan’s Super-UltraLight Backpacking (overnight backpacking with less than five pounds of gear) strategy. …
The G6 Whisper, at only 3.7 ounces (99 g), is the lightest commercially-available rucksack with enough volume for overnight backpacking by the accomplished ultralight backpacker. With more than 1800 cubic inches (30L) of main packbag capacity, an expandable rear pocket, and a short extension collar, the G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack provides enough volume for virtually any serious ultralighter out for two or three days, and enough volume for the extraordinarily disciplined ultralight hiker with a very low equipment kit volume to spend several days to a week in the backcountry. …
NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER IS PROVIDED FOR THIS PRODUCT
Gossamer Gear G6 Whisper “Uberlite” Backpack @ Backpacking Light
What about the GoLite Ion?
The epitome of ultra-lite simplicity, the Ion was designed for ultra-lite fast-packing, summit bids, and adventure travel. Constructed of super durable Dyneema® gridstop fabric and a single watertight zipper at the opening, this top-loader features spacer mesh shoulder straps for comfort, an adjustable sternum strap and webbing hip belt, a hydration tube opening and a haul loop. Extremely compact and a true minimalist piece, the Ion is a featherweight 9 ounces!
As the Crow Flies linked to home made gear by Samurai Joe Valesko. He uses cuben fiber.
Joe Says:
“I carried a single Blast 26 backpack my entire PCT thru-hike (2,663 miles). I carried a base weight of around 5 lbs (gear list), and generally 12-20 lbs with full food and water.
At one point I carried 35 lbs for an 11 day stretch without re-supply through the High Sierras of California. My shoulders weren’t happy about that much weight, but the pack took it like a champ! (Under 20 lbs is a more comfortable weight with frameless packs)
By the end of the five month trip the pack was quite a bit frayed, but still in very usable condition. Not bad for a 3.5 ounce backpack!”
That water bottle side pocket is excessive, don’t you think? Could shave some grams there, Joe.
(Incidentally, Kraig, I recall pooh poohing your suggestion to use an air mattress as the frame of a backpack. But now I do it all the time with my Virga.)
Leave a comment if you have other recommendations. Thanks!
Does Rocky Thompson make this stuff up?
(This can’t be for real.)
On his blog:
… Try to remember there’s an electrified fence right outside your tent when you get up in the middle of the night to take a piss. If a can of Bear Spray doesn’t offer the protection you’re looking for, then you might try lugging some fencing and batteries into the backcountry. The Bear Shock outfit weighs 3.7 pounds with batteries, and stretches around a 30 x 30ft area.
The website claims the batteries will last five weeks and blast someone with 6000 volts of electricity if touched. I say “someone†and not “some bear†since it’s much more likely you’ll walk into it than anything else.
Backcountry.com: The Goat » Blog Archive » Portable Electric Bear Fence to Encircle Your Campsite
more photos – Bear Shock
Another (older) “best hike” list posted by nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist Stephen Regenold, The Gear Junkie:
BK: What are your five favorite camping or hiking places in the U.S. or Canada? And why?
SR:
1. Minnesota’s North Shore—Lake Superior views, quiet old mossy forests. My homeland!2. Big Sur, Calif.—Giant redwoods, rushing rivers, waterfalls, fog, ferns, ocean. . .
3. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada—Otherworldly sandstone valleys and mountains 25 minutes from the Vegas Strip
4. Black Hills, South Dakota—Granite spires, deep piney forests
5. Central Colorado—This country’s version of the Swiss Alps, especially in springtime
And a bonus question:
BK: Let’s take water. What is your opinion on all the different ways to treat waterborne parasites and bacteria. What’s your ultimate recommendation?
SR: I use iodine and other chemical tablets. Have never had a parasite or an incident, though most of the places I go are pretty pristine. On the Primal Quest, however, we had to filter the silt out of river water with one of my teammates’ (Roy Wallack’s) underwear!
Q-and-A with The Gear Junkie :: The Daily Dose :: The Gear Junkie
(via The Adventure Blog)
In the cold Canadian winter, the only hiking I can do is on-line. I’m dreaming of warmer weather.
On one of my favourite hiking sites (out of Australia), Frank posted this advice:
What do you need to prepare for a multiday hike so you have a great time and enjoy the outdoors? We have put together a “Top 7” list of ideas we always use whenever we head out into the bush.
Now the list, in no particular order……..
1) Good food …
2) Good companion(s) …
3) Know your route and expected hiking times …
4) Light weight …
5) Comfortable boots …
6) Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back …
7) Take shared gear
Another good, original checklist was posted by Tom Mangan. Essentials for dayhiking:
1. NAVIGATION.
2. SUN PROTECTION.
3. INSULATION.
4. ILLUMINATION.
5. FIRST-AID SUPPLIES.
6. FIRE.
7. REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS.
8. NUTRITION.
9. HYDRATION.
10. EMERGENCY SHELTER.The real 10 Essentials – Two-Heel Drive
Tom neglected to include a product I got as a Christmas from Garth: TowTabs.
Simply add water to a “tablet” … and it turns into quite a good towlet!
details – TowTabs
Another gear site to check out. Sadly I have far too much gear in my basement already.
… hand-picked and tediously browsed for by real people who enjoy being active and outdoors. …
Hugo
Outdoor Gear, Equipment, & Apparel Deals | TheCheapOutdoors.com
Good luck, Larry!
Only just subscribed, here I am already linking to a post by Allie Comeau on the Sierra Trading Post blog. This one from last summer.
Want to see something really cool? Nemo Hypno and Nemo Morpho are tents—but not like the ones you’re used to. In keeping with their “Matrixâ€-esque names, they’re super lightweight, super high-tech tents that go with the flow. The air flow, that is. Instead of relying on old-school metal poles, these suckers are held up with air-filled tubes. …
Nemo Hypno and Nemo Morpho: Awesome Air-Supported Tents: Video
Click PLAY or watch a demo on YouTube.
Now … If I can use that air pump to also inflate my 5lb hiking raft, I might be interested.
The man who popularized Lightweight Hiking is carrying a heavy pack.
After two days in Mendoza, we were driven 1.5 hours to a wintertime ski resort in the nearby mountains called the Cordon del Plata. There we shouldered our outrageously heavy backpacks and hiked for 1 hour up a quite steep trail to a lovely alpine meadow called Las Vegas (The Springs), and there made our first camp.
JennyWe were now at an elevation of 10,300 feet and, as we live at 1,500 feet, and Mendoza is at 2,700 feet, that was quite a sudden jump in altitude. …
read the trip report – NFT
I won’t feel so bad next time I do the same thing.
Ray and Jenny Jardine are hiking in Argentina right now. I’ve been eyeing that region, the towns of Mendoza and Bariloche, myself for some time now. Jumping off points for Aconcagua and Nahuel Huapi.
You know the Sierra Trading Post (love that retro name) as a good supplier of overstock and closeout outdoor gear. They also post information for hikers. For example: Down vs. Synthetic Guide
Quick Guide to Down
Pros
* Is warmer than synthetic insulation ounce for ounce. …
* Retains its shape and loft and, with proper care, can last a lifetime. …
* Wicks body moisture and allows it to evaporate. …
* Is highly compressible and lightweight. …Cons
* Loses its insulating properties when wet and is slow to dry. …
* Requires special cleaning. …
* May contain allergens. …
* Costs a pretty penny. …
If you, like me, are already decided on the Down vs Synthetic issue (buy the highest fill down you can afford) it’s still well worth checking out something new:
I saw that article linked from the very attractive Sierra Trading Post blog. We’ve linked to their blog under BLOGS in the right hand navigation as it includes much more than the usual buy-my-latest-greatest-gear promos. (e.g. Writer Raises Wild-Born Coyote in Wyoming)
besthike.com 