Category Archives: Gear

Gear notes and reviews

Candle lit dinner at Refuge de La Croix du Bonhomme
Gear, Hut-to-hut walks

What’s in our packs: Hut-to-Hut Hikes

On hut-to-hut hikes, we strive for a balance in our packing. We want pack light enough that we have energy for side trips and explorations; I (Sean) made this mistake when we walked the Rota Vicentina. We also want to carry enough that we aren’t committed to washing clothes every day and so that we sleep well.

This packing list is for hut-to-hut walks where we are staying in a combination of staffed, half-board mountain refuges (i.e., breakfast and dinner are included) and hotels.

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MSR Hubba Hubba tent set up near Hawkeye Point, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Backpacking, Gear

What’s in our packs: Backpacking

There are many different approaches to packing for backpacking. Some people pack ultralight, others pack for maximal comfort in camp at the expense of carrying a lot on the trail. I think we’re somewhere in between: we like to be reasonably comfortable and not re-wear clothes too much, but we also like to pack light enough that we have energy for side trips.

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The Routeburn Track's Lake Harris in the rain and clouds, New Zealand
Gear, Hut-to-hut walks, New Zealand

Milford and Routeburn Track Packing List

On the Milford and Routeburn tracks, hikers can experience four seasons in a day. Though we hiked in New Zealand’s early fall and hoped for mild days, we also knew the passes could receive feet of snow at this time of year.

This made it difficult to strike the right balance. We wanted to pack light enough to be able to move quickly and have energy for side trips, but we also wanted to be comfortable regardless of weather. Fortunately, we’ve acquired a good set of layering gear over the years, which we could draw on to assemble our packs.

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Garmin inReach with Mount Rainier in the background
Gear

Reflections on a year with a Garmin inReach

Last year, as Kyle and I were planning our summer, we decided it was past time for us to get a personal locator beacon (PLB) of some sort. Our hikes and backpacking trips were taking us further and further from roads and, in some cases, even from trails. After research, I settled on the Garmin inReach Explorer+.  This post covers our decision to buy the inReach and what it’s been like to use it for a year.

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