Date: 2003-09-01
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Miles today: 0.0

¢03 AT HIKE GEAR REVIEWOne of the reasons I felt my hike went well was my gear.   I followed a number of hikers on Trailjournals last year and selected much of it based upon their comments. On the Trail, when I¢d stop to chat with another hiker, I was often questioned about my pack, tent, boots, bag, etc. So, with the understanding that the following are my own opinions based upon my experience, I would like to share it with other hikers, hoping that it might be useful.BOOTS/FOOTWEAR   I¢ll address the most difficult first. You may recall that I made a last minute decision to purchase an Asolo mid-weight hiking boot when my feet were bothering me after a day hike at home. The only break-in was a one day hike of 10 miles or so. I was able to treat the leather before I left. They required little if any further break-in. They seemed comfortable and I liked the way they felt on my feet. I replaced the first pair with an identical pair after 1200 miles in Port Clinton PA. (Actually, I tried to replace them in Harpers Ferry with LL Bean boots that my wife had brought which were too small and hurt my feet). The heels and soles were well worn and I had a hole the size of a half dollar in the outer sole layer of the left toe. The boots had held together well at the seams. I remember them keeping my feet fairly dry at first. In constant wet weather however, the water seemed to soak through the top of the tung.   The second pair didn¢t fare as well. After 670 miles, before Gorham NH, I noticed the front of both boots beginning to separate at he seams. These were never treated and seemed to soak easily in wet weather right from the start. The heels and soles were considerably worn, but in tact. BTW, I noticed a lot of hikers wearing this boot, especially the younger onesIn Gorham, I purchased a pair of low-cut Lowa ATC¢s. I really liked the feel and fit, right from the start. However, the day after I soaked them crossing a river in Maine, the right shoe separated along the right front seam. The separation was a couple of inches and had I not been close to the end, would have had to be replaced or at least repaired. I had treated these with a leather wax and liked the way they repelled water until the rip occurred on the side.If it were not for the separation in the 2nd pair of Asolo¢s and the Lowa¢s I would have rated both good. I have to say the first pair of Asolo¢s was satisfactory. I really liked the Lowa¢s until they came apart. I always regretted not being able to get a proper fit with the LL Bean¢s mid-weights. They stand behind their products and will replace anything, even after it has been worn for an extended period.Many hikers went to the low-cut lightweight tennis type shoe. This year with all the rain, they dried out quicker than boots and were more comfortable. It is my understanding that they need to be replaced more often, every 300 to 400 miles at least.BACKPACK - ULA Equipment P-1 Lite I love this pack! It was perfect for me. I bought it based upon Funky Avocado¢s ¢02 comments. While many hikers this year were going with the P-2 (after a positive review in Backpacker Magazine) I stayed with the P-1 after discussing my needs with the manufacturer. I used my Zrest pad to shape the inside against my back. The optional net back pocket was outstanding for carrying my tent, rain parka, Teva¢s, water treatment and a few other items. The side mesh pockets were used for my Platypus, water & fuel bottles and guides book. The optional front zip compartments stored handy items like the knife, camera, headlamp, hand sanitizer, etc.Nothing ripped or tore. There was some minimal wear on the front optional compartments. The only failure was an easily replaced 25 cent snap.I love the design. It was just right for my 25 -32 pound load. The expandable top allowed for the extra food items after re-supply. I lined the inside with a trash compacter bag which kept the water from soaking the contents. At first, I tightened the outside pack cover (Outdoor Research) too tight at the bottom causing it to collect water and soak the bottom of the pack. Once I loosened it, the water would drain out the bottom and the problem went away. It is such a nice compromise with the ¢ultra light¢ packs. I can¢t help but feel it contributed greatly to my hike.SLEEPING BAG ¢ Feathered Friends Swallow Down Bag   I purchased this after following ¢02 thru-hiker Two Scoops and discussing it via email with him. It is a great bag¢¦another item I couldn¢t have been happier with. I was never cold once in this bag. I did use a silk Jagbag liner and almost always wore long johns and long sleeved top to bed. Hence it never got dirty inside and I never had to wash it. To be honest, I did stay in motels and hostels with beds more than most. There I would often lay it out to ¢air out.¢ Many switch to a summer weight bag in June or July. I didn¢t. On the few warm humid nights we had, I slept in the tent on top of the bag, which was fine. It only weighs about 42 oz. I would stuff my stretch top and rain pants in the storage bag to make a pillow. A few of the down feathers came out from time to time but nothing failed. It did cost over $300.SLEEPING PAD ¢ Zrest 34   This is all about comfort vs. weight. The Zrest is the lightest thing I could find. I had no problem with the comfort level. Others I met, ¢traded it in¢ for a thermarest saying the Zrest was just too hard for them. I met one hiker who cut 2 panels out of his Zrest to save a couple of ounces. Remember, it was the inside front ¢base¢ of my pack.TENT - Wunderlust Nomad Lite Another Funky Avocado recommendation. You may have heard me talk about how much I liked this tent. It is a popular lightweight tent and I saw many of them on the Trail. It weighs less than 2 pounds and is perfect for one person. I could sleep in it from corner to corner and still have room for my pack and incidentals in the other corners.I had some condensation, depending upon conditions. It did seem minimal, especially compared with others¢ tents. Everything held up¢¦no rips or malfunctions.You may recall I received a anonymous guest book entry warning me that I would get wet in this tent. Well, I might have, if I had tented more during heavy rain storms. Call me a wuss, but when I knew it was going to rain (which was often) this hiker stayed in shelters, motels, and hostels whenever he could. I just wanted to avoid setting up or packing up a wet tent. I had one minor drip where I didn¢t seal one of the crossbar holders.   Again, the weight savings compared with similar products was worth it to me. Cost $285.TREKKING POLES ¢ Leki Titanium These polls really took a beating. I even bent the end of one in the Mahoosuc Notch. This hike is the first time I¢ve used 2 poles. In the Adirondacks I used only one. Here, I had to have 2 as they were needed to hold up my Nomad tent. I would not like to hike without them in the future. They saved me from many falls. I was warned not take them up Baxter Peak, Katahdin, as they were not needed and would get in the way. I found the opposite to be true. I found them useful in not only climbing, but ¢letting yourself down¢ difficult drop offs and slopes. Many times along the Trail on a ¢straight away,¢ I would hold them behind my back, letting the pack rest lightly on them. I would then lean forward slightly and walk for an hour at a time.Leki seems to be the brand to get. Almost every outfitter carried them and they tell me they come to Trail Days every year and do free repairs.WATER TREATMENT ¢ Aquamira Bottle and Aquamira Liquid This is one a very individual decision. Some do no treatment at all¢¦just dip and drink. Starting with the Aquamira liquid drops, this is a very popular treatment with anyone trying to save the weight of a filter. There are 2 same size bottles involved. You combine the same number of drops from each. Then add this to the water to be treated. Only problem, one bottle runs out long before the other. I would treat all water, even spring water coming directly out of the side of a hill. Aquamira tastes better than the iodine to me.I also carried an Aquamira bottle for ¢instant¢ drinking. This saved me from having to treat water along the way. Besides, I carried only a 2 liter Platypus for drinking while hiking.   The bottle has a built in filter. You squeeze the bottle while sucking the water through the filter at the same time. I changed filters at Harpers Ferry as a precaution.When I arrived at the campsite, the first thing I would do was treat 2 liters of water in a collapsible plastic container. What I didn¢t use that evening would go in my Platypus for the hike the next day.BTW, I loved the Platypus Hydrator. Almost every hiker has some sort of hydration system that allows them to drink through a tube without taking off their pack.STOVE - Alcohol ¢Pepsi can¢ I went with this because it was the lightest. I never really liked it, as it seemed to take forever to boil water. Charlie and others used the ¢pocket rocket¢ gas canister type stove. It seemed just fine as he was through eating while I was waiting for my water to boil. In one town he had trouble finding the replacement fuel canister. I used the yellow bottle of Heet as fuel whenever possible. It was almost always available at Walmart or auto parts stores.CLOTHING A couple of items I can¢t say enough about. First the Pategonia R-1 Flash Pullover Absolutely, worth its weight in gold. Footslogger put me on to this the week before I left for Springer. I was about to go with a 200 fleece when he told me about it. It did its job of keeping me warm while stowing away compactly when not needed. It held up wash after wash. I carried it the entire hike. Sometimes I would wear it just when I was getting around in the morning. Also, used it as a cushion or pillow.Capilene Silkweight Men¢s T shirt I can¢t get over how well this held up¢¦one small hole in the right sleeve. This is the only T shirt I wore the entire hike. I wore it everyday and washed it over and over.The Schoeller Guide pants and LLBean parka were fine at first. However, both were too heavy and I replaced them with light rain gear along the way.Gators are another ¢personal preference¢ item. I liked them well enough to go from short to long ones at Waynesboro. Even though they were warm, I wore them throughout the summer. They kept insects off my legs and my socks ¢cleaner.¢ When walking along wet overgrown Trail, they also helped keep your feet dryer.I wore a ball cap during the hike but changed to a soft dome cap that pulled down around my ears at night. I would put catnip oil on the ball cap that seemed to keep insects away.I went with 2 pair of hiking socks (1 Smartwool and 1 Bridgedale) and liners. I had one additional pair of socks to sleep in. I tried hiking both with and without liners. Both seemed okay and I never got blisters. OTHER ITEMS The Pocketmail enabled me to keep up with this journal. Although it took some getting used to, I spent an hour or so each night entering the day¢s summary. Whenever I got to a phone, I would send it to Julia who would then cut and paste it on to Trailjournals. It also let me communicate with other hikers who carried them, like AWOL, Liteshoe and Footslogger. It is a neat little device.My Ursak food bag I almost abandoned. The tips of the cords fell off and it would let in water if hung out in the rain. However, mice could not penetrate it and I learned not to over pack it with food. I¢m not sure I would spend the money again, but am glad I didn¢t get rid of it.