Date: 2012-10-05
To: Gear Review - Part 2
Miles today: 0.0

Whenever hikers get together there are two things that dominate the conversation: food and gear. We are taking our original list and will examine each item. If there is no critique on an item, then consider it satisfactory and used successfully. Backpack - 60L Granite Gear Escape A.C. Although we believed we had the perfect backpack in fit, carrying capacity (60 liters) and quality, the truth of the matter is: our Granite Gear packs didn¢t hold up! We each ended up with replacements during the hike and near the end of the thru-hike N¢s replacement pack broke in exactly the same place as his first: in the middle of the frame. [see picture] X¢s first pack (which was a Women¢s specific) had weak zippers and the teeth broke. Her second pack was a men¢s pack exactly like N¢s, but she went with a women¢s hip belt. It worked great! We loved the fact that these packs have a removable hip belt which allowed us to change it out for a smaller size as we lost weight during the hike. Due to our copious amounts of perspiration, we learned that anything stored in the very bottom of our packs needed to be in a water-proof bag. A light weight grocery bag fit the bill and could be replaced easily, as needed. While Granite Gear tries to stay competitive with other manufacturers when it comes to the overall base weight of the pack and price, the lightweight plastic used in the internal frame (for N) cracked in two - in 2 different packs of the same model. (We met a flip-flop hiker in Maine who had the second generation model of our packs and complained of the same problem and the internal frame was cracked exactly liked N¢s.) Granite Gear stands behind their products and the replacements were sent quickly and at no cost to us BUT a snafu like this in a major gear item caused a lot of stress when we were out on the trail! At this point we cannot recommend another manufacturer, since the fit of the pack is so critical and the Granite Gear packs fit us perfectly. Other manufacturers to consider (based on what we saw out there and in no particular order) might be: Kelty, Osprey, GoLite and Deuter. Granite Gear backpack rain coverWe found the rain cover we purchased was too small. Our purchase was made considering an empty pack. The bottom sides where the water bottles are carried were exposed. We should have bought the next size up which we think would have covered a full pack. Our bad! We made do by lining the inside of the pack with a large, black trash bag and putting all our gear in dry bags inside it. Granite Gear hip belt pocketX carried this until Waynesboro, VA, when she changed out her hip belt for a smaller size and the smaller belt did not have the straps needed to attach the belt pocket. She carried her cell phone in it and once it was gone, she stored the phone in the ¢brain¢ of the pack. In hindsight this was a safer option since falling on her side could have damaged the phone. (And she DID fall on her side twice against rocks in the 100 Mile Wilderness!) She didn¢t miss the belt pocket once it was gone. The Troverts' Three Season Gear List:N Xoz.oz.* * BACKPACK/ SHELTER * *Backpack - 60L Granite Gear Escape A.C. 50.0050.00Granite Gear backpack rain cover 4.304.30Battery powered sensor thermometer2.35Granite Gear hip belt pocket1.40Tent - Big Agnus Copper Spur 2: tent, fly, ground cloth (10L Granit Gear E-vent sil stuff sack - blue)46.90Tent poles / stakes / sponge / 2-expandable 12"x12" cloths in stuff sack22.30* * BEDROOM * *Dry bag for down sleeping bag - 18L Granite Gear E-vent sil compression stuff sack3.503.50Down sleeping bag - Montbell Stretch Downhugger, 0 degree42.6042.60Air mattress - Thermarest Neo Treker w/rubber band18.4018.40Pillow - Exped air 2.702.70"Pillow case" - REI flannel-lined, water-repellent stuff sack2.502.50* * CLOSET * *Dry sack for clothes: N - 18L GraniteGear dry bag stuff sack, X - 13L1.901.45Socks, merino (Darn Tough, smartwool NPS)3.354.15Socks, merino (Darn Tough, smartwool NPS)3.354.15Moving Comfort sports bra4.05Brief (ExEfficio)2.201.30Sleep Top - Long-sleeve Patagonia, Cap 25.305.05Sleep Bottom - Long-underwear Patagonia, Cap 25.305.50Baselayer Top - Long-sleeve, silkweight: N - REI crew neck; X - Patagonia crew neck6.655.15Baselayer Bottom - Long-underwear Patagonia, silkweight6.603.75Shirt - short sleeve4.504.10Shirt - short sleeve5.25Convertible pants legs (ExOfficio)3.55Rain Pants - Mountain Hardwear8.107.50Rain Jacket - Montbell Dynamo w/stuff sack (.55oz)11.75Rain Jacket - Mountain Hardwear Berylium19.15Wind Jacket - Patagonia Houdini4.254.15Gloves, REI3.05Glove Liners, REI1.20Gloves, Playtex rubber2.05Gloves, 180s2.70Hat - Tilly3.503.55Toboggan - Mountain Hardwear2.301.95Winter Buff1.701.70Wash cloth - MSR0.750.75Towel - MSR Packtowel, cut to 24"x19"2.55Towel - MSR Packtowel, cut to 24"x35"4.00Nature Call Device w/ ziplock bag 1.10Crocs 12.208.55Carabiner1.301.30Insulation Layer- Montbell Down Jacket w/hood in 4L Granite Gear dry bag stuff sack 7.005.00Tent - Big Agnus Copper Spur 2We LOVED our tent. It was the perfect size for two people and held up really well. We had to re-apply the seam sealer after a heavy rain in Maine caused some leaking, but there were no other problems with the tent. Having two people to split carrying the weight of the tent & poles/stakes was a good idea. Down sleeping bag - Montbell Stretch Downhugger, 0 degreeAfter much pre-hike discussion and considering the mild weather conditions at the beginning of our hike, we DID NOT take our 0 degree bags, opting for our 40 degree bags instead. We knew the volume in our packs was limited, and X especially wanted room for other stuff. It was a gamble, but it worked! We had some chilly nights when the 0 degree bag would have been lovely, but only a handful. On those handful of really cold nights, we wore our down jackets and down pants along with extra layers of Capilene in the 40 degree bags and were toasty. Had we not had those garments, we would have been cold. The most important thing to remember about down is: you must keep it dry! X was especially pleased to carry all her down items in one bag: an 8L Sea to Summit evac dry bag. Air mattress - Thermarest Neo Treker/ Neo AirAnother item we loved, but it didn¢t hold up well for either of us, and we both ended up with replacements. (REI happily replaced.) We were not surprised by the breakdowns since we knew going in this mattress has two flaws people complain about: 1) it is noisy (the early model sounds like you are in a crinkly potato chip bag whenever you roll over) and 2) [we surmise] the constant blowing in of saliva eventually broke down the baffles that give it its shape. BUT it slept really well and was very, very light weight! We wrapped these up in the combination pillow case/ stuff sack we carried, inside of a plastic bag as we wanted them well protected from any external snag, tear. Again, it was a total inconvenience when they broke down at different times along the way, but we managed to get replacements quickly.We think for two old folks with lots of old age aches, this is a have to, not an optional item. Pillow - Exped airAnother item we loved, even if leaning toward the luxury item category. N¢s pillow developed a very slow leak, and for the last month he had to re-inflate his pillow during the night. This was no problem as long at the re-inflates were less numerous than his nature calls. SocksBy Franklin, NC, X developed blisters on the bottom of her fourth toes, but she found a perfect combination that worked for her that cured the blisters and she had nary a problem from then on: Smartwool TOE socks worn as liners under Darn Tough socks. N switched to Darn Toughs, too. N never had a blister, the whole hike. Nuff¢ said! Rain GearWe adjusted to lighter rain gear as the hike went on. We were very satisfied with our Mountain Hardwear rain pants from the beginning, but we each purchased Marmot Precip jackets (with pit zips): X when we were in Hot Springs, NC, and N from REI, when we were near Shippensburg, PA. That combination got us through the nasty weather in the Whites, while we noticed other people not fairing as well. Wind Jacket - Patagonia HoudiniX claims there are two pieces of gear she will never go anywhere without and this is one of them! The pictures may not show it, but she wore this garment A LOT! Even to bed some nights. It was a compact, quick drying layer that kept her warm/dry whenever she needed it. GlovesSeveral cold mornings near the end of the hike, we needed something on our hands. X¢s combo of liners & gloves was too much, so she gave the gloves to N after he sent his home, and relied on his third pair of socks as backup gloves. We learned the hard way (in a hail storm on top of Clingman¢s Dome when N was nearly hypothermic) that when your hands are wet, gloves are nearly impossible to get on. Mittens may be a better option, but you need to wear something that enables you to grip the trekking pole handles. Hat (Tilley) We loved them! X especially liked the additional wide brim under the hood of her Marmot rain jacket. On the warm/hot days, any kind of head gear was¢¦ hot, so we wore nothing. From Day 1 X wore her signature bandana around her head to catch the sweat. But she¢s always done that long before hiking the trail. If she¢s exercising she can¢t get dressed without a rolled bandana around her head. BuffWe didn¢t use them after Mt. Rogers, VA, and we sent them home. However, it was a great piece of gear to keep our necks warm on top of Roan Mountain in another hail storm and a very cold night. However, we could have done without it.