Besides Weight, What Are Your Gear No-Nos?

Monte –

What do you use instead of Nalgene water bottles?

Maxwell, I use 1 liter Gatorade bottles (1.7 oz) or Platypus water bags. Nalgenes weigh  approx 3.8 oz per liter bottle. That’s a lot heavier. I also like the larger opening on the Gatorade bottles. Some Nalgenes have larger openings. but most are smaller.

The most convenient bottles are bike water bottles – wide mouth for filling, and don’t have to unscrew a lid to take a sip. They are a bit heavier than repurposed beverage bottles though.

Rain jacket and rain pants.  I find a poncho more ventilated/comfortable that I actually stay dry.  And it covers my pack.  An elastic strap around my waist contains the flappy-ness.

Boots and regular socks.  Brooks Cascadia trail runners and injinji instead.  No blisters since 2009.

Nalgene bottles.  I prefer a bottle I can squeeze with a filter screwed on the threads.

OK, I might add cheap Scotch. But 18 year old Aberlour is good and may be nectar of the gods.

The world is full of Objects and so of course we as backpackers only can carry a miniscule fraction of these objects—but here’s my big No Nos—

Booze of any kind—gave up alcohol in 1973.

Smartphone no way no how—detest getting online or staring at a screen during a backpacking trip.

Musical instruments—except for that year (1982) I carried my B-flat clarinet for street music to make money while out on the trails—and in Shenandoah NP up to Front Royal etc.  See pic—

Boom Boxes—and detest backpackers who bring them.

Any tent make by Ozark Trail.

Shouldn’t humping out a watermelon be on this list?  Oh hell no—

Your life has taken a toll on you :-)

Wow Dan Y where’d you find that old pic??

You must look older now or you color your hair 😜

Oh, yeah, my RUGER LC9s 9mm pistol. OK for town carry but waaay too heavy for trail carry. I’ll just use my bear spray and “ambient body odor”.