Andrew Skurka’s The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Book Review

Thanks for the review Luke.

I too would agree with you to size up with frameless packs, at least this has been my experience.

However, Andrew has stated before that with UL loads, he likes to wear his frameless packs with the belt not as a hip belt but as a waist belt, which would necessitate using a shorter torso sized pack. For heavier weights between longer re-supplies, he would choose a longer torso size to place more weight on the hips.

I hope I haven't misquoted what Andrew has said in the past but this is how I remember it.

I really love the way Andrew delineates the world of overnight outdoors-people into ultimate campers and ultimate hikers. Even though this book might not add a lot of information to those who live and breath the latest gear and skill trends, I think this book will be a phenomenal tool to excite and assist new entrants into serious lightweight hiking and backpacking. I look forward to gifting this book as appropriate. Andrew has a great voice and enticing way of pulling people into this (our) form of outdoor activity. Good for him.

First off, Luke, thanks for doing the review. I'm glad to hear that, as an experienced backpacker, you still learned some valuable things from it. But, as you pointed out, it is definitely geared towards a less knowledgeable audience.

Second, if you'd like to purchase a signed copy of the book, you can do so on my website: andrewskurka.com/product/ultimate-hikers-gear-guide/

To address some of the points in the article:

Pack sizing. I'm on the cusp of GoLite's pack sizing — I could go with a Medium or a Large. I'm not sure my technique will work if you're solidly in one category or the other. For packs designed for lighter loads, I get a smaller size because the pack inevitably rides up into my waist — there just isn't enough weight for it to stay sitting on my hips. (Notice how ultra running packs have done away with waist belts entirely, going with shoulder harnesses instead. Light packs are the same idea, less extreme.) And a shorter pack will fit me better when the melt is at my waist. For heavier loads, I go with the larger size because the pack will actually sit on my hips.

WP/B fabrics. I didn't pull any punches in this section. I think the fabric and clothing manufacturers are being very disingenuous in their marketing of this technology — it has serious flaws, and they want to ignore them. My advice is this: when it is wet outside, expect to get wet, even if you own the latest and greatest shell. A WP/B shell only delays the time it takes to get wet. It will not keep you dry in truly wet conditions. (Dry snowfall and 30-minute monsoons in Arizona don't count as truly wet conditions.) The extra weight of fleece layers and sleeping clothes can be well worth it — don't pack "stupid light" by forgetting them at home.

Minimalist footwear. I intentionally treated minimalist footwear lightly because the more important argument (for now) is against boots. I really like how minimalist footwear allows my foot to move how it wants to; I really dislike "corrective" (aka "support") features in my shoes. That said, most minimalist shoes don't offer enough protection for backpackers — my feet get bruised by a 60-minute run on dirt trails, never mind a 15-hour day on cobbled river bars with a 30-lb pack.

Thanks for the new info. Your choice in packs makes more sense to me now.

Edit – I just thought of another thing with WP/B raingear. Even if $200 raincoats did work as advertized a lot people are going to be going out with cheap raincoats that will leak even when new. Accepting that you'll get wet, and dealing with it is a cheaper, safer strategy.

Have you thought about offering some kind of discount for BSA troops that buy multiple copies. Getting a troop to buy multiple copies would boost your sales. It would also help a troop out more if multiple boys were reading a book and getting excited to try some new ideas.

Thanks Andrew, I really appreciate your honesty. Most writers seem to have an ulterior motive to push certain products but you tell it like it is, if it doesn't really work you don't shy away. Gore Tex has it's place but it's not the solution to the world as advertised. The big thing is that most of the general public doesn't understand different environments and the clothing associated with it. I can tell you I understand, I live in Arkansas and work in Casper, WY, two completely different worlds. Thanks again Andrew, excellent book.

Aha – I am not as forgetful as my wife suggests. I knew remembering how Andrew wears his packs would come in hand one day (I need a life).

Anyhoo,

Andrew, I loved the video trailer. Any thought in developing a DVD on UL techniques in the backcountry?

When I first saw this, I thought "Oh heavens, another UL backpacking book – sigh".
After reading the review I am now thinking that this is a book I should get,
so thanks for the review!!

First we have the author, and I am reminded of one math professors advice,
"Study the masters, not the students", and clearly Andrew is a proven master
if there is such a thing in the UL backpacking world. And the review assures me
that his approach in the book would hit right on target for me.

I don't know why the reviewer beefs about minimalist shoes. I own and run in
five fingers, but have ruled them out for UL backpacking for the same exact reasons
Andrew does.

Also as for pack sizing, I think there are different styles and schools of thought,
my view being if you are really ultralight (maybe sub 25 pounds), you can get rid
of the waist belt entirely. Up around 30 pounds and above the game changes
somewhat for me and I appreciate the waist belt at the end of a long day as shoulder
muscles fatigue. All in all I think the reviewers complaints are more because he
has a different backpacking "style" than because of faults in the book itself.

I can sense from what I have read that Andrew is telling us how he does things,
which is exactly what I would want from a book like this – it is on my shopping list.

Just finished reading it a couple nights ago. Actually was a pretty quick read. Very enjoyable, and with any well written book I learned a few things.

One thing I want to point out, since Andrew mentioned Colin Fletcher in his book. Fletcher's books were a "state of the market" review. Even the last edition touched on UL and Ray Jardine's influence.

Andrew's book is about the Ultimate Hiker… his definition of those who do multi-month, multi-thousand mile trips. It reviews the gear and techniques used to be an Ultimate Hiker. What he does well is show how gear and techniques can be used by those who want to be less than an Ultimate Hiker, but be more than an Ultimate Camper.

Given this perspective, he cannot and does not touch on all the gear options, ala Fletcher. But he does look at a quite a large swatch of material given his perspective. The gear lists in Part 3 should be excellent references for beginning, seasoned, and Ultimate Hikers alike. Many if not most of the techniques should benefit any hiker who goes out for more than just a day hike.

Additionally, most of the gear he uses or reviews can be bought off the shelf. Not a lot of high priced cottage stuff here.

Good Job, young man!

Funny that Andrew should call attention to the word "practical".
I was ready to add a note that I sometimes label myself "Mr. Practical".

So, I am eager all the more to get the book, since I see he addresses high
level "philosophical" issues like this. Going light is a means to an end,
that end being to enjoy being outdoors (for me anyway). I have made some gear
adjustments that move me away from what might be the cutting edge in ultralight
because what I am seeking is a way to maximize my overall enjoyment of a trip.
Some people may maximize that by hiking a short distance and having a luxury camp.
That is absolutely fine, but what I am really enjoying is going really light and
covering a lot of ground – so I think I am in harmony with what Andrew is calling
the Ultimate Hiker – which is why I think I will enjoy the book.

I am reevaluating some of my anti-fleece thinking — but I think this goes hand
in hand with evaluating expected conditions in a given area in a given season.
I sleep cold and also find that I don't do well if I cut corners on amount and
quality of sleep. Others are different, and God bless them — but each person
has to work out what works best for them. I am always tuning and fiddling and
welcome a cross pollination of well tested ideas.

I have a copy of Colin Fletchers giant book and have been through it many times
with great enjoyment – clearly it is dated as far as gear, but it is written so
well by people (can't leave out Chip Rawlins) who love the outdoors.
My copy has given me many pleasant evenings, motivation, and enjoyment – and is falling
apart.

Boots? When was the last time I wore boots (think big snow), can I even find mine?
Boots were the "big lie" back in the old days ….

Looks like a great read based on the review and others comments. I will have to get a copy too. Should learn more than my $20 worth.

I find the writing very nice to read. It has some very good information for almost anyone.

Here are my suggestions for a second edition:

The narrow soft bound printing is not so good. Leave that for field guides. A book like this should have wider pages and be hard bound to lie open on a table or lap as you read, obscuring less of the page in the fold.

It could use more structured parts on how-to techniques with more illustrations and more detailed step-by-step instructions.

More info on the winter systems.

More, period! It is a very small and cheap book, I would gladly pay more for a more substantial version.

Thanks Andrew,

I really enjoyed it!

As for the section of the book addressing WP/B fabrics, is eVent included in any analyses or comparisons? (Sorry, haven't read the book, but seriously considering.)