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Trail Wisdom

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If a thru hike does nothing else, it gives you a lot of time to think. On any given day my thoughts would run the gamut from future life aspirations to the luxuries of a warm dry bed and a hot shower. But for whatever reason, I spent a lot of time thinking of the “Trail Wisdom” I’d learned through the benefit of my fellow hikers as well as the result of my own monkey-mind. This Trail Wisdom, whether a saying, proverb or mantra, did wonders to keep me both distracted and focused at the same time: distracted from discomfort yet focused on the end goal. If any of these can help my fellow hikers in some way it just might then justify the countless hours this nonsense was occupying my head…So in no particular order: Continue reading →

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Arcteryx Stradium Pants Review

Hiking in long pants has always been a struggle for me. While the morning might start out cool enough to warrant long pants as soon as I start going uphill I’m generating enough body heat I just want to strip down to my shorts.

The Holy Grail: Arcteryx Stradium Pants

But then I get to the top of the climb, which is often exposed and/or windy, and I immediately want to put my long pants back on. Other times the air temp might not justify long pants but I want to protect myself from vegetation and bugs (overgrown trail, poison ivy, mosquitos) or intense direct sun (the desert or reflecting off of snowfields)… but once again, there is still the overheating issue.

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Darn Tough Socks

What are the best socks for a thru hike?

Durability and Performance:
If there was ever a true test of a hiking sock’s durability, a 2200 mile thru hike surely qualifies.

I’ve tried many different hiking socks over the years with varying results. As most already know, anything made out of cotton is out…absorbs too much water and they take forever to dry. For many years I was big fan of Smartwool but they seem to wear out surprisingly quickly (especially for the price). So my sock of choice now is a brand called Darn Tough out of Vermont (but widely available). They are a wool blend which makes for a more durable sock…so much so that they have a lifetime guarantee…now that’s standing behind your product! Continue reading →

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Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus Tent Review

Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus Tent Review

In the summer of 2016 I completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and my primary home for those 117 days was the Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus. When I purchased the tent the goals were: ultralight weight (~18oz w/o stakes), use of a single trekking pole to set up, and I liked the idea of supporting a cottage industry that manufactures its products domestically.
Overall, I was very happy with the tent and it was well suited for the AT environment. Continue reading →