Category: gear

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foot care for hiking

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Your foot is a mechanical marvel consisting of a structure of 52 separate bones, tendons, and muscles together forming a small, flexible but strong platform. It is capable of keeping us balanced and moving even under heavy loads and uneven terrains. In this section, we will look at ways to train your feet and how to deal with the common ailments that trouble them. We pay special attention to Foot Blisters which are the number one common foot ailment in Hiking.

>> Prepare & Train your Feet for Hiking

>> Common Walking Disorders

>> Blisters – Prevention & Treatment

>> Hiking Socks

>> Hiking Boot Buying Guide

Feet & Foot Care for Hiking – abc-of-hiking.com

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BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

… a site where backpackers evaluate new gear in the field over a six month testing period. We report to BackpackGearTest.org in a setting that encourages discussion.

For gear tests, manufacturers provide a set of gear to go to a broad range of testers. For other evaluations, we provide individual reports on our own gear with which we have had significant field experience. All of our reports are available to hikers seeking to make educated decisions about gear purchases and use, and to manufacturers and retailers seeking market exposure, recommendations from third party sources, as well as research and development feedback.

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BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

This site has great potential.

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hiking 10,000mi with your dog

I subscribe to the excellent Practical Backpacking blog and podcast.

I enjoyed their on-trail interview with Justin Lichter (aka Trauma) & his dog Yoni.

The team is hiking a 10,000mi, 1-year journey. (Eastern Continental Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, & Continental Divide Trail.) <gear list>

Good dog!

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Trauma’s home page sponsored by Granite Gear.

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light gear – Andrew Skurka

Interesting gear tips by one of the top distance hikers in the world.

I wear running shoes year-round. Compared to hiking boots, running shoes are:

* Lighter
* More comfortable
* More breathable
* Faster drying

He favours Montrail running shoes including the Highline.

Men\'s Montrail Highline - Grey/Yellow

Andrew has also posted full gear lists from past hikes.

I also wore running shoes on my last hike. Very comfortable!

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Cannondale’s LE Carbon clothing

Time Magazine’s annual “Most Amazing Inventions of the Year” issue rates the LE Carbon collection of cycling apparel one of 2005’s coolest inventions.

Cannondale utilizes TrapTekâ„¢ technology to imbed their proprietary QuadTex fabric with activated carbon made from coconut shells. This activated carbon provides Cannondale’s LE Carbon apparel with exceptional moisture management and odor adsorption characteristics.

When the body heats up, Quadtex Carbon’s MicroClimateâ„¢ activates, with 45% better moisture transfer than most fabrics. It keeps a body cool during hot days and heats up during colder ones. This revolutionary new fabric also traps odor during physical activity. The odor is “adsorbed” along with bacteria and is only released during a normal wash and dry cycle, during which the carbon re-activates itself again for another ride. Cannondale LE Apparel also boasts UV protection with an SPF rating of 50+.

details

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gear – Mutha Hubba tent

We already love the 1 and 2 person Hubba tents. The big Mama version is a winner as well.

The mother of all Hubbas. Our lightest, most livable 3-person tent, the Mutha Hubba provides maximum interior space along with two stay-dry entrances and two large vestibules. Use it as a double-wall tent for full protection or as a freestanding tarp shelter with optional footprint to save weight.

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details on the MSR website