Gear Reviews from the 2013 PCT FKT: Part 1

A thru-hike always puts gear and clothing to the ultimate test. Daily use for months on end is more than most items are manufactured for. During my speed hike I added the quantity of hours per day used to that equation. Since I never took a day off and seldom stopped for breaks most of my gear was under constant bombardment except the 5 hours a night I was sleeping. Therefore the pieces of gear that stood out as all stars I can highly recommend. Other pieces I wasn't as happy with. However, keep in mind that these reviews are only about how these things worked for me. Every person is different, has different needs, a different hiking style, and may have different results. Analyze my kudos and complaints in light of how they would apply to your hike/hiking style. This is not an exhaustive list of my gear, just the items I feel deserve a review and/or people frequently ask about.

ZPacks Hexamid Solo+Vestibule

Grade: A+

Website: http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/hexamid.shtml

What can I say? I LOVE MY TENT! I slept in it every night except one. I am not a cowboy camper. I don’t like bugs and spiders and ants. Blech. I was always envious of people with uber light tarps until I found this: A fully enclosed, single person tent that doesn’t feel like a coffin and weighs only 1 pound! (inclusive of stakes, guylines, and the manufacturer pole–I don’t use trekking poles). Having a home that is a constant on a long journey like this was very comforting to me. Crawling into my tent every night gave me a sense of calm and happiness.

Pros:   Lightweight

            Fully enclosed

            Easy set up

            Roomy…I have even squeezed another person in there on a different trip

            Well ventilated/minimal condensation issues

Cons:   I wouldn’t want to use this without the vestibule. My experience has been that in heavy rain

there is some splash/drip that comes in around the edges. The vestibule eliminates that issue on

one side so you can snuggle up to that edge if it’s really coming down.

            I haven’t had this out in pouring rain yet. Therefore I can’t say what it would be like in those

conditions. However, if you have in mind a hike like the PCT where foul weather is rare then I

highly recommend it.

Glacier Peak Wilderness

PatagoniaHoudini Jacket

Grade: A+

This jacket was the workhorse of my layering system. I wore it probably 50+ days out of the 60 I was on the trail. It offered excellent protection from everything: sun, cold, wind, bugs, etc. It weighs less than 2oz and packs to the size of a Clif Bar!! Despite constant use it shows no real signs of wear except some discoloration where it was under the pack straps.

Pros:    Extremely light

             Cute color (yes, this matters!)

             Versatile

             Dries in an instant

             Hood

             Stash pocket

Cons:    None

Northern Terminus

Altra LonePeak (Note: I used the Original, but subsequent models are equally good.)

Grade: A-

I have been running ultras in these shoes for about a year. I love the roomy toe box and the neutral “Zero Drop” sole. These are a more minimal shoe however, and I noticed that on this hike my feet took a serious beating. A shoe with more cushion would have made them much happier, especially in the first 1,000 miles.

Pros:     Roomy allowing plenty of space for swollen feet to expand

              Neutral sole allowing a more natural, nimble foot movement

Cons:    Not much cushioning

Old and New

ULA CDT

Grade: C

Website: http://www.ula-equipment.com/product_p/cdt.htm
Let me say the grade for this pack is based on some serious issues *I* had with it. Hundreds of PCT hikers use ULA packs every year and love them. I’m not sure if the problems I had were due to the pack construction, the nature of my hike, or my own biomechanics. ULA is a great company and makes great products and I wholeheartedly recommend them. I think I might have bought the wrong size of pack and that it contributed to some of my problems.

Pros:   Hipbelt pockets–This was a major selling point for me. It gave me an accessible place for my

phone/camera, chapstick, sunscreen, snacks, etc.

Accessible slash pockets on the sides–Again, indispensable for me. This is where I put my food

for the day since I ate while I walked.

Lightweight

Bombproof construction–I’m not nice to my pack…and it has held up beautifully. The main mesh

pocket is shredded from brush and wear, but otherwise the pack is in great condition.

Cons:  Painful shoulder. Despite a balance and light packweight my right shoulder strap dug in and

chafed me something terrible. I have scars, not to mention the days of pain. I don’t know

whether the strap was not properly padded or whether it had to do with my biomechanics, but it was miserable.

Back sores/chafing. I had incredibly painful chafing and sores on my back nearly the entire hike. I believe part of this was due to my back never getting to air out or a recovery day to heal. I think the pack size was too large for me and therefore hung down too low as well.

Southern Terminus