Personal gear experiments

Thats the way to do it no way to know if something works for you till you try it. I'm glad you like the trail runners do you feel the freedom lol. As for the tent scenario have you thought of a tarp/bivy combo I like it for a couple reasons. One it gives me the space of a tarp lots more then a tent. Two I feel more connected to everything around me not confined in a tent. The bivy serves to block spray, wind and bugs. My echo tarp and bristlecone bivy wears 17 ounces with plenty room for me all my gear and to cook under

>> I'm glad you like the trail runners do you feel the freedom lol

These weren't even trail runners. These were just my normal street runners. And yes, they did give me noticeably more freedom by virtue of being 18 ounces lighter – EACH. It'll take some getting use to. I found myself watching the trail more for careful foot placement, but I think that'll be less of an issue as more confidence builds.

>> As for the tent scenario have you thought of a tarp/bivy combo I like it for a couple reasons.

Quickly dismissed. Some time in the last five years I developed a severe allergy to bug bites/stings. Most mosquito bites well up to a half-dollar welt. I like being able to sleep in the near-buff, and still be able to move around, get changed, sit up, kick the covers off, etc. I'll keep trying new things, but this weekend (and the incredible welts I got from one midnight potty run) reinforced my love for a big mesh canopy on a hot, buggy night.

Feeling rocks through the shoes is a significant drawback of trail runners, but not the main one. I find myself veering away from trail runners after years of using them these days because they wear out so quickly compared to a boot. I'm not made of money for shoes…

> I found myself watching the trail more for careful foot placement, but I think
> that'll be less of an issue as more confidence builds.
Yep.

Cheers

Sounds like you had some fun experimenting.

Trail Runners — Gotta love 'em. The hot spots could also be due to hiking in a new style of shoe, because I remember it took 3 or 4 dayhikes for my feet and ankles to get used to the change. Among the other many bonuses of switching to trail runners, I ended up developing a love for a new sport! I decided to try running a bit when I was out on a hike one day, and although I ran out of breath after a couple hundred feet, I loved it. I've been running trails ever since. I run in Inov-8 Roclite 295's, if you're looking into different models.

Hip belt — My baseweight is down to 6.5 lbs for fastpacking, and I still use a hip belt. I like the stability that comes with it. Makes it much easier to maneuver down a technical piece of trail.

Sleeping clothes — I hear you. Sometimes sleeping in the buff can be super enjoyable. On cold nights, though, I never find myself uncomfortable when wearing all of my clothes. I'd continue to try out different combinations. Warmer sleeping bags are HEAVY. At least switch to a quilt, which is much lighter and way more versatile. On warm nights you can easily just drape it over half of your body so you don't get too hot.

Tentless Trekking — Try out a Tarptent. Watch the Gear Swap forum because great deals come up there all the time. You get a floor, bug netting, a roof, good views, and top notch ventilation, all in one package. I'm a recent tarp convert for solo trips, but my wife still likes the floor and the sewn-in bug netting. The Tarptent offers enough of the same benefits as tarp camping that I'm still more than happy to carry it. Plus, our Cloudburst 2 is only 38 oz!