Date: 2015-03-08
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Here is an overview of my major gear choices for my hike. I am not going to provide a comprehensive list nor provide a break down of every item in my pack down to the tenths of ounces.Shelter. I dislike setting up and taking down a tent on wet muddy ground. Consequently, I was very attracted to hammock camping. I have tried out a number of different hammocks and while I really wanted to like sleeping in a hammock, after 20-30 nights spent on the trail, in campgrounds, or in the backyard, I just could never sleep well in a hammock. I am a stomach and side sleeper and also toss and turn a lot during the night.I tried a couple of different tent solutions and ultimately decided on the Zpacks Duplex Cuben tent. I do really like the Cuben Fiber and the lightness and room within the tent. I chose the Duplex over one of the smaller sizes so give me adequate room at night but also have enough room for kATchup when she will visit me on the trail without her having to carry a separate shelter option. 20 ounces plus stakes.I will have my hammock equipment ready for a maildrop in case I later find that dealing with a wet tent is worse than not sleeping well.Pack. After trying several other packs, I ultimately chose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 3400. I like the fact that the exterior is a Cuben Fiber hybrid fabric and does not require a separate rain cover. The suspension of the pack is well designed and I have comfortably carried 25 lbs with it on shakedown hikes ... a weight that was extremely uncomfortable with the other lightweight packs I tried. At 20 lbs and below I don't even really notice the pack on me at all. 32 ounces.Sleeping Bag. I will be starting off with a Western Mountaineering Summerlite 30* bag. 18 ounces.For warmer weather, I will switch to an Enlightened Equipment Enigma Elite 900-fill 40* quilt. 12 ounces.Shoes. Salomon XA PRO 3D. I find the Salomon's fit my narrow foot very well and I appreciate the toe cap that comes on most Salomon models. I tried several different Salomon models and this one seemed to have the best combination of comfort and tread pattern. I found the Salta's were the most comfortable Salomons that I tried but have a tread pattern that are unacceptable for trail hiking in wet conditions.Stove. Ultralight alcohol stove. I have weened myself off my morning coffee and plan on only cooking one meal per day. I like the availability of finding fuel on the trail and having the freedom to only carry the exact amount of fuel that I need until my next resupply.All that said, I have been reading recently about those folks that have gone stoveless and I am considering this. I may start out my hike with my stove but chose appropriate foods that don't need to be cooked and if I like going stoveless I will send my stove and pot back home.Rain Gear. I tend to hike hot and was looking at a solution that provides coverage for most rain situations and is still breathable. I have decided to try the euroSCHIRM Swing Liteflex Trekking Umbrella. 8 ounces. If I don't like it then I will mail it home and use my rain shell (described below).For windy and more extreme conditions I have decided on the Luke's Ultralite eVent Shell. 9 ounces. I wanted a 3 layer shell as opposed to one of the 2.5 layer options.For lower body protection I am not going to use rain pants but instead have chosen the Zpacks Cuben Fiber Rain Kilt ... btw, it's a kilt and not a skirt ;-) 2 ounces.Overall, my current base weight (excluding food and water) is currently at about 15-16lbs depending upon whether I am bringing a Kindle and/or a separate camera in addition to my phone. As I hit warmer weather, I am able to trim this down to approximately 13 lbs by sending home extra clothing and switching to my summer quilt either after the White Mountains or when I flip back to Harper's Ferry.The remaining decision is glasses vs contacts and that decision is still on-going ...