|
Because this was a hiking trek and we
stayed at hotels or other shelters each
night, we didn't have to bring along a
lot of backpacking specific gear. This
meant that we didn't have to carry much
during the day, and we didn't have to
worry too much about weight, as most of
our gear was transported for us between
shelters each night.
Gregory
Advent Pro
For our daily hikes, the most
important gear was our backpack. Since I
didn't have to carry a lot, I choose a
smaller size backpack, the Gregory
Advent Pro. While this bag has been
designed for adventure racing, it is
still a great backpack for adventures
like this one.
Depending on the size, the Advent Pro
holds from 2,040 to 2,400 cubic inches,
which is more than enough for day
hiking.
I choose this backpack, over many
others, for this trip because of the
following:
- It is very light (about two and a
half pounds).
- Its support of a large hydration
pouch, and the inclusion of a port.
- It has many ways to hold and
access your gear, making the gear easy
to get to while on the trail.
- It's comfort.
You can't beat this backpack for this
type of outdoor adventure.
Gregory
Rain Cover
While I only needed a rain cover one
day on this trip, it really came in
handy. While most backpacks are water
resistant, very few are waterproof,
which means a rain cover is needed for
those days when it pours.
I carried the cover every day, just
in case I needed it. Fortunately, it
doesn't take up much space, nor does it
weigh very much.
The Gregory rain cover worked well,
and none of my gear got wet. It comes in
a variety of sizes to fit the size of
your backpack.
Outdoor Research Hydroseal Advanced
Stuff Sack
Even when I don't carry a lot of gear
in my backpack, I still like to keep it
organized. I do this with stuff sacks.
I especially like the Hydroseal
Advanced stuff sacks because they are
virtually waterproof, providing me
additional protection against my gear
getting wet. I generally carry my extra
clothing in it, just in case I fall into
a stream, or do something else unmanly
like that.
Camelback Unbottle 100 Ounce
For most outdoor adventures, I prefer
to bring along a hydration pouch,
usually a large one. Each day on this
trek, I completely emptied all 100
ounces. While I could have brought along
a smaller pouch, I would have had to
refill it, which may not have always
been convenient.
I choose to bring along the Camelback
Unbottle because of its size, the fact
that it is insulated (helps to keep the
water cool), because it is tough, and it
is ease of use.
The only downside to carrying 100
ounces of water is that this was the
heaviest item in my backpack.
Fortunately, as the day went on, the
pouch got lighter and lighter.
Aquamira Water Treatment Bottle
While we were told that potable water
was available everyday along the trail,
I still like to be extra careful about
what I drink. Some of the water sources
didn't look all that great, and I would
prefer to be save than sorry.
Each morning, before we set out, I
filled my hydration pouch with safe
water. Most days, the 100 ounces lasted
all day. But a couple of times it did
not, and that is where the Aquamira
water treatment bottle came it.
Essentially, it is a water bottle with a
filter that gets most of the bad germs
and bugs (not viruses). You just fill it
up, and then you can drink from it like
any water bottle.
In my case, I carried the bottle
empty, as I did not want to carry any
extra weight. So when my hydration pouch
was empty, I could then fill this bottle
and drink from it, knowing that I would
be drinking safe water.
Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo Anti-Shock
Trekking Poles
I am a big fan of trekking poles.
They help reduce the overall strain on
your body, help you balance, and when
going up or down hills, they help to
move some of the effort from your legs
and knees to your arms and shoulders.
I used the Ultralight Ti poles every
day of the hike, and they performed very
well. They are not only strong, but also
very light, which means that your arms
won't get tired swinging them.
I do want to mention that if you are
using any trekking pole when it rains,
be sure that the sections are properly
tightened, otherwise they might slip.
You don't want to slip when alpine
hiking. On occasion, a bad slip could
result in a very long fall.
Read Other Gear Reviews |
