Date: 2015-11-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Cripes, people. I feel like I always have to defend myself on this thing.I would just like to say, FOR THE RECORD, I'm not a spoiled brat child of a thru-hiker.I definitely did not EXPECT for my things to be replaced. I shared my happy news that my SteriPen had been fixed and that my socks replaced so that people could know how wonderful these companies are.FIRST, let us discuss the matter of the SteriPen. One morning on the trail, I took out my SteriPen and penned as usual, only to find that the red indicator light was blinking. It's done this before (usually when I lift it out of the water when I'm dreaming of pizza), so I tried again. More red flashing. NOT GOOD.Upon further inspection, I found that water had gotten up into the lamp of the SteriPen somehow. Actually, water had gotten into the whole thing somehow. I took out the batteries, put it away, and sadly dug out my backup of AquaMira.That afternoon, I left it out to dry. It looked like the lamp had been cracked. I attributed this to the fact that I had slipped and fallen while returning to the shelter after collecting water the night before. At the time, my SteriPen had been in my bag with my water bottles, but it had the cap on and was in the protective case.Sadly, I mentally gave it up for the gear graveyard and mailed it home. After going backpacking for a one-night trip, during which I had to pack in all of my water, I really missed that sucker. So I changed my mind. I emailed Hydro-Photon, telling them that I was pretty sure my SteriPen had broken during a fall and asking for an estimate of how much it would cost to get the lamp replaced.They told me that it wouldn't cost more than $20 to fix. I would have to pay for shipping, and then add $7 for return shipping, but it was much better than I expected. SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN BUYING A NEW ONE.So I decided to send it in, expecting them to send me an email requesting payment after they determined if it could be repaired, what needed to be repaired, and how much it would cost to fix it.Nope. They emailed me to let me know that it had been "diagnosed and/or repaired" and that they were sending it back. When I received it, I found a letter in the package that said the damage to the lamp wasn't determined to be from mishandling, and was covered by the warranty.My life, amazing once again.In a few months, it will be out of warranty. If it breaks again after that, I won't hesitate to purchase a new one.AND THEN FOR THE FREAKING SOCKS. They have a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. You're supposed to send them in when they get trashed. I know, it's kind of taking advantage of the system. But, once again, I emailed Darn Tough BEFORE I sent them in, asking if the warranty would cover them, due to the abuse they went through. One pair was worn so thin you could see the balls of my feet through the fabric. One pair was so stiff, after multiple tumbles in the washing machine, that it was like pulling an envelope onto my feet.They 100% encouraged me to send them in. I 100% expected them to tell me that at least one of the pairs wasn't going to be replaced.They replaced all of them.I have two more pairs of Darn Tough socks that I had on the AT that I did not send in. They are in good condition. I will keep them forever as relics of my thru-hike.And you know what? Darn Tough has earned my loyalty for life. Before, I probably would have swung more towards asking for SmartWool socks for a Christmas gift (the idea of paying $20 for a pair of socks makes me want to cry... ONLY FOR THE TRAIL WOULD I DO SUCH THINGS). Before the trail, I was familiar with SmartWool socks. I'd heard of Darn Tough but never owned a pair. I had, however, in my pre-trail obsessive research, come across several recommendations for them. And last Christmas, when my dad went to EMS to find AT-prep gifts for me (my family's greatness never ends) they recommended, hands-down, Darn Tough socks. AND NOW, DARN TOUGH SOCKS ARE THE ONES THAT SING TO MY SOUL AND CLING TO MY SOLES (like that rhyme?!).And, of course, I will tell every potential thru-hiker, or day hiker, or outdoorsperson that I might broach the topic with, that Darn Tough socks are excellent and unparalleled for durability and comfort. AND I AM NOT JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE THEY REPLACED MY CARDBOARD TRAIL FOOT FLEECES. I seriously, honestly believe that.Anyway, I might have been pushing it with the socks, but jeez, it's not like I ran around to every company I bought gear from with my hands cupped.And, once again, let me say how thankful I am to amazing people who make the amazing gear that made it possible for me to hike an amazing hike. Every piece of gear is a huge part of your minimalist life on the trail. You pick and choose carefully what to carry with you, what you'll need, what is most vital to your comfort and/or survival. I am thankful to Darn Tough for my socks, and to SteriPen for allowing me to have more backcountry adventures (without having to pack in all my dang water or wait 30949 hours for chemical reactions).