I just completed the Colorado Trail a couple weeks ago and put together a brief cinematic-style montage for those interested:
This was my 3rd time hiking this trail (well, I didn’t fully completeit in 2017 and 2018), and I used most of the gear that I took with two years ago in 2018. For that gear video, go here:
I plan to do an updated 2020 gear video soon, but just a couple quick thoughts on some of the gear I took this year:
- I used the ZPacks Hexamid Solo tarp (now called pocket tarp) for the first 40 miles, but ended up switching quickly to my Plexamid. The Plexamid has WAY more space and is fully enclosed. The bugs actually don’t bother me much in Colorado, but it was nice having the bigger space and not having my quilt touch the side walls of my shelter. Overall I was happy with the Plexamid with one big caveat–towards the end of the trail (after Lake City) I ended up in sustained rain (mostly above 12K feet for about 100 miles) and I was getting lots of misting in the Plexamid. Not sure if it’s condesnation or pinholes–anyone else having this issue? In fairness to the Plexamid, I think any enclosed shelter would have been fully drenched–I pretty much had to pack it up wet every single morning, and the sun hardly came out for about 3 days (unusual for CO).
- My beloved GG LT4 trekking poles finally bit the dust. Well, one of them broke while vaulting a log. Still love them so much I want to pick up a used pair. They are discontinued. I’ve owned these for 11 years now.
- I did the first 120 miles or so with my new EE Enigma 30 (need to do a review on this asap). It’s a great quilt–I think mine is only 15 oz? But I switched to the ZPacks 20 classic from circa 2017 and I’m glad I did, it’s marginally warmer but in the damp conditions I experienced later, I was glad to have it!
- Another big change was my camera setup. I normally carry a Sony RX100Va to film my videos (now I have a ZV-1 , very similar), but I switched partway through the trail to my Sony A6400 with Sony Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens. This is an amazing camera/lens setup, check out the video yourself, but I was happy with the results for the most part. Did add about 18-20 oz to my setup and pushed my baseweight from around 8.5 to around 9.8 lb, but I was glad to have it to film some great cinematic shots.
- This year I switched from a short sleeve shirt (which I’ve hiked in every summer I’ve backpacked for like the last 12 years) to a long sleeve Patagonia Capilene Daily. I grabbed this on a whim the night before I hit Waterton Canyon, and I was glad to have it. Not as cool as my short sleeve synthetic T, but cool enough I guess and really protected my arms from sunburn. I also used some OR Sun gloves, and those helped too. I think I’m sold on long sleeves from now on for high elevation stuff in CO–I don’t like damaging my skin anymore!
- I use the Cascadia 14’s for the second year in a row and I’m really happy with these shoes! Favorite Cascadias ever! Need to do a review on this as well. I’ve been wearing Cascadias for about 6 years now. Altras don’t work for me.
Those are some initial reflections. I plan to do an updated gear video list video soon, stay tuned!
