Over the years I have gone through many different pieces of gear.. Can you believe that?? Anyway, I am at the point where everything is basically dialed in for my needs.. 4 seasons, NY, NJ and PA. Of course I still love trying new things here and there and I will not hesitate to try something different if I think it will benefit me some where some how on the trail or in camp. Here I am, I just returned from my short thru hike (59.2 miles) of the Loyalsock trail in PA and I am going over everything in my head.. Over and over , aaaannnd over and yup, over and over. So I figured I would write it down so I can actually see some of my thoughts and maybe clear my head of this chaos.. My thoughts on the gear that I used/carried on this trip.. and since I spend a vast majority of my days lurking on backpacking light, I figured I would write it (post) it on here and maybe someone, anyone will read it and get something out of it. Maybe, Maybe not. Or it could just be entertaining hogwash for some to read and thrown into Chafe, I dunno. I say gear that I used/carried because I usually, 95% of the time, use EVERYTHING I pack and carry. Heck, if I am carrying it I better use it. This particular trip I did pack 1 item that I did not use at all and I was a little ticked off that I kept seeing it and had no use for it.. my 1L hydrapak Flux soft water bladder. No biggie I guess.. But after hiking a 14 mile day, then a 20 mile day then a 17 mile day.. Ugh..I was beat and tired and that was getting me ticked, lol. On that note.. Here goes my list and thoughts..
Gossamer Gear G4-20 pack. – I removed the hip belt because I have no use for it, I also use GG Bumster, so no need for hip belts on pack and I swapped out the back pad with a GG 1/8 thin light pad. Duh.. Yes I used the pack! I actually will say I loved the pack. I use Mariposa in winter and I also have/use hyperlight, Kumo 36 and minimalist day pack. This is my 2nd trip using the G4-20 and the longest consecutive mileage with it. I will definitely keep using this for my 3 seasons trips when a little extra is needed. It now weighs just about the same as my Kumo and holds a little more (Food for extended trips) and is more comfortable on my shoulders. I like it a lot!
Gossamer Gear Bumster. – great fanny pack! Works for me since I removed hip belt from my packs. Plenty of room in there.. Small emergency fire starter kit, pocket bellows (just because), small knife, nite core headlamp, cell phone (galaxy 20+ note) small snack, whistle.
Sleep system. – I will group this all together and keep it simple and short. 30° Hammock Gear 900 premium short under quilt ( LOVE IT), Enlightened Equipment 20° regular length Enigma ( LOVE IT), Dutchware Chameleon Hammock with bugnet and mesh side car (LOVE IT), Spider poly 8ft tree straps with sewn dutch clips and beetle buckle straps (PERFECTION), Hammock Gear DCF Winter Palace tarp with Dutch Stingerz (ITS HUGE).. So I carried this monster because my son carried/used the DCF standard with doors and I was going to use my other standard size without doors but there was wind and rain forecast for 2 nights and rain forecast for 1 day throughout the day heavy at times. Hey man, I packed my fears!! Last minute I ditched the smaller/lighter tarp for the bigger/heavier one figuring it will protect me more at night with wind and rain ( which did not happen) it rained the 2nd night all night but not windy and my standard tarp without doors would have been just fine!! The main reason I packed it was for the rainy day.. figuring we could stop and eat lunch under it to keep some sanity from the rain (which also did not happen). No rain at all during any day. Oh well.. My bad.. I still used it on the rainy night.. I do not pitch it when no rain or snow forecast, just leave it hung in its snakeskin.
Helinox Ground Zero chair. – This is great. Sometimes I debate bringing it. I usually do carry it and 95% of the time I use it. Its a love/hate relationship. Its so low to ground, i hate when i have to get in it, except that i know whats coming, and once I am in it and kicked back.. I am soooo happy and I LOVE it, BUT, when I have to get up??? I hate that little chair. I love that little chair when I am eating my dinner (or Lunch) and I also love that little chair when I am near a cozy camp fire and I love it when everything is soaking wet or snow, BUT, I hate that it weighs 1 pound!! it packs perfectly in large side pocket of Mariposa and G4-20 even in my Kumo.. Or I have stuffed it in outside mesh pocket, so I love that it packs fairly compact. I use a sil poly stuff sack custom made from Simply Light Designs but I am considering not using a stuff sack for it, really not needed and its just another piece of gear to keep track of its location when not being used!
Katadyn Be-Free water filter 1L. – I like this. Having many fights with my Sawyer and Sawyer mini, the Be-Free has stepped up big time for me. I did have an issue, in the past, like many others, where the flow decided to torture me and act like a Sawyer. I read somewhere (probably here) to soak the filter overnight before A trip and it will work fine. So I have been doing this and it has been working. Except this time!!! Good thing my son had his.. Because mine was back to Sawyer mode slow flow! I was still using it while he used his, just to speed up our water stops..and finally on last day the flow picked up, lol. I did everything.. Shake it to unclog.. Clean it.. Dance with it, plead and speak softly to it, yell and curse at it.. I have 3 of them and I believe this is the one that originally failed me and spurred me to purchase the 3rd one.. So now I marked it and will not be carrying this specific one anymore.. And lets see how the other 2 hold up. Been using the Be-Frees for a long time now, backpacking and kayaking so I do have faith!
Hydrapak Flux 1L. – WTH.. I love it.. Compact and works with my Be-Free. Stands on its own even when empty. Easy to fill and has a little handle to hold when filling. I did not use or need it though on this trip! My 1L Smartwater bottle and the 1L Be-Free bladder were plenty. And I kept seeing it in the back of my pack.. Taunting me.. Laughing at me.. Laying around empty. That’s all I have to say about it.
Ursack Major. – I LOVE IT!! Say what you want.. Let the debate begin!!! For me, where I hike, it is wonderful and a pleasure to carry and use all seasons. You will not change my mind.. I am so over bear bag and hang PCT style, it so MC Hammer for me. No stress, no time.. and it works here. I will say, it rained overnight and the dang bag did get wet and that was a little annoying but we dealt with it and figured the added weight made up for the missing weight of 2 days worth of food that we ate. I have been using Ursack for a few years now (again) and I am ok with that issue. I say again because I used to use it, then while cutting weight I switched to bear bag/hang.. But after a few years of fighting, arguing, cursing, dodging punches to the face and frustration, ( yes I am married but that’s not what I’m referring too), I went back to Ursack Major and have been a happy cheerful camper again and won’t look back!
First Aid kit. – Its small and minimal and I did not use it, but I always carry it. Not going into details about what’s in it..
Duece of Spades. – my 2nd time carrying it and I use it. Decided its easier then using a stick it doesn’t weigh much and packs with my TP. Its a little pleasure and fun to use. Who doesn’t like digging holes??
Trail Designs 600 ml Ti-Tri Sidewinder. – I will rant and rave about this everytime anytime. This may be my all time favorite piece of gear. I can take A hundred pictures of this set up and even more videos of it. I boil water and I LOVE IT and I have so much fun doing it every time!!! Inferno, Alcohol, Esbit? You name it, this does it. I prefer Esbit and Inferno every time. I have used this stove in all 4 seasons.. Down to wind and O° F and it HAS NEVER failed me or let me down. I will say if I think I will need to melt snow then the MSR Wind burner or Reactor will be in my pack. I have also been known to use my Pocket Rocket 2 on occasions, But my FAVORITE all round stove is the Trail Designs Ti-Tri Sidewinder. When solo I use the 400ml, when duo I use the 600ml. Man, it just works. Its lightweight and compact. I can use twigs and have a small contained fire to boil water and enjoy mini campfire with LNT when using the titanium floor. The Esbit are awesome. I’m not going to brag too much about this because I don’t want everyone running out and buying all the esbit (Good luck finding cannsiters as of this write-up 10/23/2020, lol). I am fully stocked and loaded with all sizes and grams of Esbit, and if you all decide to buy up the stock.. Well so be it, my Sidewinder is a fun pleasure to use with twigs!!! BEST all purpose all round stove EVER!!!!!!
Garmin In reach Explorer +. – Not much to say. I use it to keep in touch with the Warden when I am out on Parole. It does work, except when I’m in thick forest under canopy of trees. Thought on first night it wasn’t going to send message. It actually failed!! I was so mad because we were under canopy of trees, but I could see some sky! First-time ever that it happened!! I just left it hanging on ridge line of my hammock and while I was having so much fun with my Sidewinder sitting in my little chair I heard it zap!! I was so happy but then so ANGRY because I had to get up and out of that little chair to check it. But yes, message sent.. Relief. I would not be punished when we got home, lol. Then it got me thinking.. What if the message could not send?? What if something happened there and I or my son needed to SOS? It would not have worked? What if I was solo and could not move from that spot to get to a clearing??? Never mind.. Message sent, I hope to not find out what if.. I have it and I carry it. If it didn’t work.. Well guess what? If I didn’t have it, then it wouldn’t matter anyway. Good piece of gear for me bring solo and definitely with my son, God forbid something goes wrong and he is on his own.
Thermarest Neoair Uber light. – LOL. Its in bottom of my pack.. Am I packing my fears with this? If I can not hang my hammock and I need to go to ground.. This pad is a game changer! Or… If I cross A stunning vista and I am tired and chose to crash right there for a night with a view.. I can. I love my hammock and it is most comfortable sleep I have ever had.. Swaddled like a baby all night, so chances are I will NOT be voluntarily using the Uber Light..but hey, it is Uber Light and rolls away so small and gets buried at the bottom of my pack and I do not see it at all at any time on my trips, I don’t even think about it, though it is there hiding in the shadows of my G4-20 waiting for me if I need it.
If you made it this far.. Wow. Go You!! Feel free to comment or leave some advice. If you have not seen my short video of this trip I posted it in the Post Trip forum, I swear I don’t talk much at all in it, mostly music and you will not see much of my mug at all.. Its mostly the trail and surrounding views.
Thanks for reading this far.. Dirtbag
