Hello everyone. Pleasure to make your acquaintances. Just hopping on here to lend a hearty thanks to the guys at HMG for so generously helping to outfit my recent thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Throughout the course of my 97 day endeavor they provided me with, for free, one hand-me-down prototype Windrunner pack, one crisp and clean white Windrunner pack (or "mosh-ee-mah-row" as I like to call it), and one Echo 1 shelter system, all without charge. And, just to be clear, did I mention that I didn't pay for any of these items?
I began my journey from the summit of Springer Mountain May 13th, unbeknownst to me at the time, the same day as Bama. And for the first 500 miles or so I carried with me a Go-Lite pinnacle pack before the prototype was handed down to me in Damascus, Va. Now, that pack performed splendidly for me, however, it was just a little too much pack for the fill of what I was carrying. The capacity was a little much and routinely had a good amount of excess pack fabric at the top of the bag that wasn't really getting put to use. Now this issue could have been easily handled had I decided to use a pack with a more appropriate capacity. But this just made the Hyperlite pack all the more preferred. From Damascus to Pennsylvania I toted the prototype HMG pack for its second 500 mile stretch. During this course the pack held up splendidly. I did have some requests, such as hip-belt-pockets (for snickers bars) and angled side mesh pockets (for easier water bottle retrieval), and when these requests were relayed to the guys at HMG these updates were quickly fitted into the next model of the pack. Mike, of Hyperlite, shows a sincere concern for the proper development and integrity of his products.
So from PA onward I had a brand-new Windrunner pack to call my own and boy I am glad I did. I somehow got in to the habit of walking long distances (12-15 miles) each day without breaking. I really didn't like to stop and only did so, begrudgingly, if I was desperate for water. My momentum and continual pace was very important to me on those habitually long days. And on rainy days these long stretches were only possible b/c I didn't have to stop to slap on a pack cover. What a worthwhile intuition, the cuben fiber. It was hard enough to get moving some gray, wet and cold mornings and having to stop moving only to put on or take off a pack cover can easily lead to an hour long break or more. Plus, I didn't even have to carry a cover at all, saving thankfully a few ounces. The capacity/size of the bag very well corresponds to ultra-light back-packing–at least it did for me and the concise amount of crap I carry. The pack's spectra fiber material held together well too. I dragged the thing across rocks. I slung it on my shoulders and/or dropped it countless times a day and no blemishes. I have certainly witnessed cordura canvases breakdown over less strain.
There were a few places where the outer mesh pockets tore when snagged on branches and such but nothing that compromised the pack's overall use. And one seam along the mesh pockets of the original prototype could have used a double stitch. But this predicament was cleared up on the next model that I carried. The second pack I had also was reverted to a different clasp system for the top pack closure which worked well but I preferred the compression straps from the prototype and it seems HMG decided on the compression version for the finalized Windrunner which is to me an educated decision.
The Echo tarp tent, which was also gifted to me, was a wonderful piece of equipment. It took a few trials, I will admit, but once I learned the proper pitches and angles for the corners of the tarp in different weather situations, I was very pleased with the product. I also was too arrogant to carry 12 stakes as the system calls for and instead carried only 10 to save weight. So sometimes the tarp wasn't pitched as taut as necessary. But eventually the Echo and I became quite familiar with one another. It was a quaint, dry haven for me many rainy nights. And when the three of us, Bama, Left Field, and I each had our tarps pitched in a row…what a spectacular sight.
Thanks again Mike, Dave, and Bama and anyone else involved in the Hyperlite Mountain Gear production process. My thru-hike would have fallen nil if it weren't for your generosity, innovation, and support. Thank you all who assisted me along the way. And kudos to all long-distance hikers out there this year–gotta give it to ya.
strongly behind HMG,
lower case b
