Perry Rush Wow! 🤦🏼♀️ Yes! Thank you. I will add those to my gear list tonight. Ugh. I wanted to talk about those, too. I used the firefly cheapo headlamp on amazon until I got to grizzly country. I went back to my black diamond after that. I’ll include links below...
Here is the one I used for most of the trip. Looks like it’s unavailable now. It wasn’t super bright for night hiking but was VERY light. I made do while night hiking, but I felt it was certainly enough for around camp chores. www.amazon.com/Bright-Medic-FireFly-Ultralight-Headlamp/dp/B00C2CGUWG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
When I was night hiking in grizzly country I wanted the bright headlamp I used on the PCT, so I had it sent from home. It’s brighter, but also heavier. (Not sure why it’s listed for this much on amazon-I paid like $40-50 not over $100. Haha.) amzn.to/2ESfmEq
@@HomemadeWanderlust I'm sure you've already checked them out bu t some have verable brightness. you want good ones. I've had ones I even paid a bunch of money for and were'nt worth what some I paid less for.
Feels good to see gear reviews without someone trying to sell you something or bragging about how many ounces they save! Just an honest review! Thanks so much!
Congratulations on completion of the Triple Crown. Fantastic accomplishment. I look forward to whatever off-trail videos you produce going forward and can't wait for your next adventure. Thanks so much for putting yourself out there for all of us. You're amazing!
Hi Dixie, don't know if you thought about it . But those pin holes in you'r tent could have come from embers from camp fires. Just a thought to look out for. Happen to me. Enjoy your video's
Thanks for the excellent gear reviews and giving us a link to your gearlist. I lived with some pinholes in my MLD cuben fiber tarp for 4+ years after the PCT and water never came through them as they were too small. So I kept it until the fabric finally broke down and was getting really damp on the underneath side with no sign of holes anywhere near. I think I was able to keep it as long as I did because I set it up a lot less than most people as I normally cowboy camp. After seeing the Zpack's pack at the end, I think I'll stick with ULA brand packs which do last much longer than a single thru-hike from my experience. I've found that Railrider's clothing such as their eco-mesh shirts/pants are much more ventilated than almost all other clothing and better suited for desert hiking which I do a lot of. I recently picked up that BRS stove so I'm glad to see it can last a thru-hike. I'll definitely check out AndrewSkurka's gloves and compare them to my MLD Rain mitts which I've used since the PCT happily but don't allow you to use your fingers.
I discovered neoprene socks this year too. I've used them the way you show here for all-day downpours, but I've also used them as my only socks after a water crossing or short shower. I'll stop and take my socks off before the crossing, cross in just my shoes with no socks. On the other side, I'll dry my feet as best I can, then put the Darn Tough socks on my pack to air out and put the neoprene socks on my feet and the wet shoes on over them. My feet stay dry while my shoes dry out. Then when the shoes are dry, I'll put my Darn Tough socks back on and stow the neoprene. As long as I keep the socks where I can reach them it only adds about 30 seconds to each crossing. I hadn't thought about using them as an extra layer for warmth, because I'm not usually out in the snow. I'll definitely keep that in mind.
Hike Idaho's centennial trail, true wilderness at it's best, more importantly without the crowds, just you pristine wilderness and it's wildlife! Gem of a state, period, try it don't take my humble word!
Hey, I'm with you. Idaho is awesome, but are you saying the CDT is crowded, lol.. Plus, I would guess Dixie is more of a wanna be around people person, as she has said herself that the AT is her favorite. Definitely, the typical east coaster type.
I've been watching your videos from South Australia. I can't wait to come to the USA and do some hikes there! You guys look like you have such a good hiking community and that the trails are well thought out. Plusss you have water stops! Here it's hot and dry so I have to carry 4L per day in summer, so a 5 day hiking trip is 44lb in water alone. I love your videos and great editing too!
For gloves with rubber tips I use something I brought over from scuba diving. Wet suit repair liquid is great for painting areas of your gloves that wear or need more grip.
Titanium Spoon.....Best invention ever of all Mankind.....I have two, cause people steal 'em from me. (well borrow, but "forget" to return) Also decided to become a member of the CDT after your video series....
lo$t count of the titanium $poon$ I have lo$t. and I travel solo, so there is no blame game option for me to turtle up under. the p[rurple ones are the most elusive ; ), so I just use a stolen soup spoon. never seems to stray from my cook kit, doubles as a screw driver.
22:27 From research I’ve done, the amount of aluminum you would take in though food from your cooking pot is small enough that your liver, kidneys and intestines can effectively filter out the metal and it would just leave through your waste. Also in regard to the aluminum in deodorant, The American Cancer Society has not found any conclusive evidence that the application of aluminum deodorant (shaved or not shaved) causes cancer. Wearing natural deodorant is purely personal preference and it may help improve skin health, but otherwise is not noticeably less harmful than wearing aluminum deodorant.
At 28:00 you show a Bic lighter and, yes, they are the cheap, light, dependable easy way to light a stove or start a fire (although a mini-Bic is lighter yet). If you grind / file / pry off the child-proofing arc of metal, it is much easier to use with cold or gloved hands. I just touch it to a belt sander for a bit but a hand file will go through it in a couple of strokes, or a mini hack saw. Or you can pry it off with a screwdriver or needle-nosed pliers.
thank you for all of the info. I am going to look for some possum down gloves and the blue gloves and would love to get your knife too. One suggestion - instead of the spoon, i took a small silicon kitchen spatula - which has a slight scoop to it, and a wooden handle. It was great for stirring hot food while cooking, I could use it to eat, and I could scrape my pot clean, then add some water to heat up, scrape it down (then I drank the hot water). It helped to keep the food odors to a minimum on the pot. I ended up giving away my spoon, since I started to rehydrate and cook my food in the pot instead of those bags. I didn't like to carry gooey bags around with me. Then 2nd year on trail, I repackaged all of my food into light weight baggies, so I did not have to carry all of those aluminum bags. Linda, Energizer Tortoise
I agree that fleece is a nice addition. The only time I found fleece problematic was on a strenuous hike in sub freezing temperatures with the fleece being my outer layer. The sweat vapor steaming off of me condensed and froze on to the outermost fleece fiber tips. The ice progressively built up and solidly clung to the fibers. This restricted its breathability and the fleece became clammy.
FACT! --> "If you are anything but a back sleeper, I think that an inflatable pad is almost a necessity if you want to get any sleep." I will never go back to a foam either.
I just did a hike/camp through the Delaware water gap last weekend and as a photographer, carrying 80lbs, SUCKED! Defiantly going to look into some of the items on your lighterpack list.
It may not. BRS are Chinese manufacture. Cheap, but with almost no quality control. Some will come off the shelf perfect, and others will have machining defects. To me it sounds like she's got one with a minor defect in the valve.
It's called mass production: 10% are perfect and will never wear out/ 10% are trash and should not have made it out of the factory/ 80% are average, and may have some problems, but nothing to worry about. Doesn't matter what country produces them, if they are mass produced this will occur. The US made a lemon law to cover Brand new cars that are trash. It happens ;-)
@@zettle2345 Except BRS is a Chinese company known to have quality control issues. So that's probably closer to 10% perfect, 25 or 30% trash, and the rest somewhere in between.
I can paddle around in water and mud all day in my sealskins. They are a game changer because you can carry a spare pair and it is like having spare dry shoes. Their gloves are good as well.
@@johnfields7469 no worries :) it is one way breath-ability. It has to do with how the material is put together. It literally wicks sweat from you, so that your feet don't get clammy but also has an inner membrane (about the middle of the sock) which keeps water out and away from your feet. I first tested them while Kayaking and was happily surprised, I too was somewhat skeptical but they truly do work. The only weak point on the sock of course is the top where you put your feet in. If the water gets past the sock end the water will get in. When we talk about feet (I'm ex-military and expert on keeping my feet healthy) there are two camps. Camp one says "they will get wet but hopefully dry quickly". The other camp says don't let them get wet at all. My experience is two fold, either change socks very often or some form of neoprene or in this case sealskinz. If the water crossing is deep (past my sock line), then I will take off my socks and with my shoes on do the crossing. I then dry my feet put on my sealskinz and then go on walking. This way while my shoes are drying my feet stay nice and cozey :) I feel this is the best technique to use.
Hi John, That guy 'Redbeard" at Zpacks put me on to them. Imagine stretchy goretex. Permeable to gases eg water vapour but not to water droplets. They actually feel like a cross between run of the mil socks and wet suit booties. They are much thinner than neoprene booties, but they are also not quite as stretchy as ordinary socks. They look like ordinary socks. There is three layers to them. The outer sock, a very thin inner sock and the membrane layer in between. They seem to be quite durable, I usually just throw them in the wash and spin dry them. They work very well. I first tried them out at Wilson prom one very wet rainy spring hike. The trial also got very wet (ankle deep mud) and small creeks and rivers crossed the beach's I walked along. I actually went paddling up to mid shin for about half an hour (to test them out) and feet were not exactly dry, but not wet either. Could not even say that they were damp. for example within seconds of taking them off my feet were absolutely dry. I think if the sock is immersed there is less gas exchange so the humidity inside goes up. As they dry, more exchange and it goes down. They were great up in the snow as my trail runners got wet very quickly, feet stayed warm and dry. I usually carry a spare pair, which is like having a spare pair of warm dry shoes. Gamechanger. www.sealskinz.com/socks?msclkid=d3a7801310ea18d24775dc1d09a8588e&Sealskinz%20-%20AU%20-%20EN%20-%20Brand%20-%20Socks%20-%20Exact&Brand%20-%20Pure
PFG shirts from Columbia are nearly a hiker uniform wear for guys and girls in my area. I call them my sun shirts. When I was in college, We used to laugh at our Welsh climbing instructors and their tall effete umbrellas until the first snow squalls whipped up. They laughed at us as they hunkered down behind them and would not share. I was a Sawyer skeptic but no more. Too many thru-hikers I have followed the last two years have thousands of miles and a galaxy of gut bugs bypassed to stay a skeptic. Especially on the CDT with all the streams and ponds you shared with the cows and wildlife. Thank you for this great gear review.
Yup, visibility colors are always good on trail. I love my black down jacket for the real world, but I have a red one for the trail, and a red backpack. I've also used hunter orange bandanas tied to my gear like flags, and a hunter orange Buff on my head, but I tend to save those for when I know I'm moving through an area with plenty of hunters.
I sewed a wallet from dyneema composite with material from Ripstop-By-The-Role company. This was a kind of test of the material. The wallet got worn out in a couple of months, maybe three. The point is, it couldn't hold up to the wear and tear of being carried around in my pocket while walking a lot all day every day. This means to me: a) Dyneema Comp needs to be in a stuff sack in a bag and b) that stuff sack probably should be silnylon, thicker Dyneema or some other tough(ish) material.
Bottom line - If you can easily afford to replace it, go ultralight on the big 4 (I include pad in this). If you can't, then go light. Suggestions for going high quality, light, and sturdy ... but not necessarily extreme ultralight: SWD customized backpack Long Haul Rugged 50L, Dan Durston's MidX 1P tent (use a Tyvek ground cloth), at least 30 degree Katabatic quilt, and ThermaRest ProLite Apex pad (my single luxury item ... consistent reliable sleep is crucial). These 4 items take such a beating (especially the pack), that I prefer not to sacrifice them to the trail gods. Go ultralight with everything else, but not the Big 4. Organize your resupply well and fine tune your consumables, pack limited but versatile clothing, have two healthy debates with yourself - packing what you want vs packing what you need and packing for your fears vs packing for reality , and for God's sake please pack the other big 3 inside your backpack. Bingo! Have a great through hike.
I grew up in Maine and re-located to Montana a couple years ago! My boyfriend is getting me into mountaineering and camping this year! (It took a while...) I love your videos so much! So informative and makes me feel more confident about adventures!! Congratulations on your triple crown!!
Yep, Dixie - you definitely have a great natural style in communicating to the audience what is happening in the moment, seemingly without any hesitation. My dad mentioned how it was great to see someone be able to portray the highs and lows, and for the vulnerabilities (and strengths!) to shine through, to make it feel so authentic. It makes for such a real watching experience! .. for e.g. when you were anxious and wary about the thunderstorms, or about the bad stream crossing on the CDT, or the highs of the wonderful peaks and sunsets etc. etc... If Bioengineering doesn't pull through, or if it can tie in with travelling vlogging in someway --> do it. Find a niche between the two?
26:11 Bought the exact same spoon & I carry it in my lunch box for work. The long handle doubles as a highly effective Ice Pic too. I'll never be without the spoon again.
When you keep losing a piece of gear it's time to figure out a way to keep that from happening. The sun gloves I think I'd attach a loop of string or floss, so they can be clipped to a carabiner when not being used. ( Proof of concept I just did that this morning with paddling gloves I was trying out for the first time. Made stowing them a no brainer.) Holes can also work. (instead of some kind of a grommet I've been using the button hole function on my sewing machine. It will 'serge' the right sized opening for a specific button size (so you can adjust the size of hole you want) the machine automatically sews a reinforced pattern around the slit. The button size can be anything, easy to adjust-- you don't even need to use a button.). A button hole on a bandana gives it a place to clip it on. I've got a $70 trekking umbrella. I've learned that when you spend more than about $10 for an umbrella, you don't own it, it owns you. It's in my car, but when I go someplace, I just get a cheap one there. Now that I have the expensive umbrella I know there's really no difference. The same wind will wreck both. But a trashed cheapie is still usable and it's no big deal replacing it. Carbonize (season) your aluminum pots and pans, then aluminum is not an issue and it's more non-stick. The outside of your pot already looks well carbonized. Please get a better stove. A burn in the back country because your stove was 'temperamental' is not worth the risk. There's absolutely no good reason these things have such a tiny support frame. Get a better one, or add some spring wire spreaders to it. You also don't want to start a forest fire. (next time you're with a group of people 50 and older ask about burns. Everyone gets burned sooner or later and some of the worse burns should never have happened. Asking in a group with a collective couple of hundred years you'll get a good (bad?) cross section of what can happen and how. An unreliable stove is probably just down the list from crack pipe, molotov cocktail and 'we were just playing with the lighter fluid') Thanks for sharing the gear list. (When I click on your link to get to Amazon, Chrome says 'privacy error' risk of having someone (not you) steal your data. Then it goes no where.)
Thanks for taking me on this adventure, Dixie. I’m too old to do a long distance trail, but you have fuelled my spirit of adventure and inspired me to hike on for as long as I can. I’m glad we don’t have any bears or mountain lions in Australia.
No such thing as too old mate... I've met 80+ doing them here in NZ. And the reason you've got no bears or mountain lions in aussie is that the local animals frightened them off.
@@kieranh2005 Thanks for the encouragement. Possums and snakes are our only concern. Possums will rip through an unattended tent if they can smell food. The the owner gets very scary. Ha Ha!
Useful reviews! Folks, please heed Dixie's advice on carrying an InReach or PLB rescue beacon. You're never more than one step away from being immobilised by a broken ankle or a twisted knee - it can happen to anyone. With a beacon, the SAR team can home in on you directly, often within hours, even if you are off-trail. Without a beacon, it may be days before they are alerted, and it may take hundreds of hours of search to find you. Harrowing for you, even if you survive, and very unfair on the SAR team. In bad conditions these people are risking their lives to help you - it's only fair and responsible to make their job as safe and easy as possible. I've seen some of the lightweight crowd sneer at the idea of carrying a beacon, and I personally feel that this is flat-out selfish. If you won't carry one for yourself, think of the SAR personnel and your loved ones, and carry it for them.
I ran across you on TH-cam when you were starting AT several years ago. Lost touch and picked up on the end of your CDT hike. Impressive effort for all 3 trails. Great video.
Thanks for the final great loud out and review. Super helpful. I picked up the showa 282 gloves as well and they were my mvp piece of gear in 40 degree rainy weather, can't imagine how warm they will be with my possum down gloves inside. Size up!
My carrying a Garmin InReach in 2018 meant I could contact a person who I knew was waiting for me and ask him to pick up a thru-hiker at the point I was bailing out & let her know about the Mountaineers' lodge at Stevens Pass & their gear drying room. She'd hiked all the way from Mexico, but Section J was so wet & so cold she was planning to quit & hitch a ride out to civilization. I later noted she'd left a positive comment about the lodge on Guthook, and I'm hopeful a few days of drying out gave her the break she needed to make it to Canada. Even if the InReach never saves my life, it was worth the price & the extra weight for a little bit of trail magic.
Just a thought Dixie and not a beat up but do the ultralight community consider the environmental impacts of using UL gear? I'm an old tramper and pack out twice the weight but I'm still using the same gear year after year. You mention at the start of the video how UL gear doesn't last that long so you're often replacing items. You do get used to a bit of extra weight pretty quickly and it's also a bit safer. Love your channel and other's like you and am always picking up clever tips from your thoughtful ideas. One small tip we do is to carry a couple of dry sacks for river crossings. We get ones that are strong and the exact width for your feet, pop your legs inside, have a velcro tie to strap in at your ankles and one for the top and off you go through the stream. Only takes a sec to put them on and off and keeps your shoes, socks and feet dry. We duct tape holes if they happen and they last ages, saves shoes and feet falling apart a bit too. Thanks and happy trails :)
You're my favorite youtuber! Thank you for putting this very helpful gear review together and for encouraging people to explore the outdoors, and congratulations on your Triple Crown
I'm going to miss the weekly videos, hope you do the videos when you have your Mom with you "filling in the gaps" on the PCT. Best of luck to you girl!
Hi Dixie, I really enjoyed your video. Now I have some ideas of what girly things to get for my granddaughter that hikes with me sometimes. one was the mirror hair brush another some of the clothing. I have a request. At the risk of sounding stupid I would love to see a detailed video on using the Inreach explorer PLD. I know that there are videos on their web site and a few on youtube but they generally tell you what it does, can and can't do. As I'm older and not as technical as 4 year old I don't know if my messages go to where I want them to go or even if I set it up right. You showed the weather on yours and I was amazed and said to myself how did she do that (lol). I was thinking a video like the one that you did for sending resupply thru the mail in 2015 how to address the mailing labels. Something simple ! Happy hiking! Capt. America
John Barber Great idea, John! I'd like to see a little instruction on that amazing piece of electronic gear from someone who actually used it in the field.
As usual, really great comprehensive video. As a side note I love that you really don’t push the products on anyone like a lot of folks do. Looking forward to what you tackle next!
My most miss placed piece of gear is my sunglasses.......most of the time I’m digging around looking for the case in my pack but what’s worst is when I’m looking for them and they are already on my face/head....somehow I haven’t yet lost the actual pair of sunglasses. They get misplaced but I haven’t lost/broke the pair yet which amazes me. The same ones are going on about 2 1/2 years worth of hiking trips and the JMT so ya. A bit scratched up and the frames are worn but still work. It’s worth the weight of having a nice hard case for them since I literally break all my other glasses normally Edit: I totally agree about the BRS stove. For the money (about 15$) it is amazing and works very well for the price and it only weighs 0.88 ounces I believe. What I don’t like is how small the arms are. You have to be SUPER careful....after you spill boiling water on your ankle (thankfully only on a one nighter with about a 10 mile hike out) you will learn to be more careful about positioning your pot. On the plus side you do get a “cool new” scar from a water burn....(it’s fading now so ya, might need to pour more water on it, jk) ;) Edit edit: I loved my inreach, coming down a pass in the Sierra that was snow covered we could see right where we were and which way to go. Also in another snow covered area we were able to find our way back to the “trail.” (Footprints don’t = right way). Also I let several other people send messages through it. One person texted their dad that they hurt their foot so expect them a day later and another guy we hiked with messaged his wife and was much happier being able to talk to her some. Another guy messaged his ride that he would get there about the time he expected, so it was really nice having it with the unlimited plan and even letting some other people use it. Also wasn’t so nice because I was basically connected at all times and have worried parents messaging me “I think you are going the wrong way! You aren’t on the PCT anymore!! Yes mother, I’m resupplying today on a side trail.” Also was neat for my grandparents because they could check where I was on their computer since I had tracking and could look up photos and kind get an idea of what I was seeing. Which I hadn’t even thought about telling them when I shared the link...
Your gear is waaaay better than my backpacking gear. I'm going to look into the socks and that micro-stove. All my stuff is heavy, but then again, I do bits of these trails, not through hiking them. Thanks so much for an outstanding gear video.
My roommate has that little stove. He had an arm bend with a larger sized pot/pan on it. He just heated the arm back up and bent it back into shape. It has held up just fine with smaller sized containers full of water.
Hey Dixie - You are completely fine eating trace amounts of aluminum. It bonds with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach and that carries it harmlessly through your GI tract. It can only "get stuck" and accumulate to dangerous levels when it gets into the body from other means, like being absorbed through your skin (or cuts on your skin) from deodorant.
@Artemis on the Trail agreed. If you have confidence in a piece of kit you Will sing it's praises. I have kit that I will never change and when Dixie talks I listen about her choices in kit. It's based on time in use .
16:15 Actually the Zpacks arc haul is not dyneema it’s HDPE, but the arc blast is Dyneema. I know that because I’m debating which one to buy because of the different materials.
I'm surprised you haven't started sewing your own gear yet. It's far superior to buying expensive items that aren't designed to fit you. I invested in a sewing machine last February and won't go back. I made a very nice hammock with a integrated bug net using monofilament nylon, oversized zippers with the pulls chopped off and replaced with zing-it, and also down quilts and a tarp. I did have to make a prototype hammock first to learn how to do everything, but it's not all that difficult. Silpoly can be a pain to manage, it's slippery as ice.
Just one thing regarding water safety (if your concern is a destroyed filter), it will take more time but the CDC recommends boiling water as the safest way to deal with most "bugs" you will deal with on the trail. Iodine won't kill Cryptosporidium and the manufacturers of chlorine dioxide treatments make it clear they work "when mixed correctly". I know some people swear by water treatments but I am one who, if a filter fails, would rather plan on using a bit more fuel on the trail to boil water rather than take even a small chance on being miles from civilization and find myself dealing with big related gastro issues.
@@robertdrappo197 indeed I would never go anywhere on the trail without my Sawyer squeeze. The boiling method is just there to address if your filter fails. Basically when balancing for not simply efficiency but safety as well I rate it filtration> boiling> treatment.
Dixie, Have you thought about sending your pack back to ZPacks so they can evaluate improvements in future models? They seem to be a very good company and heavy use items might give them an opportunity to improve their manufacturing process.
Flame those frayed hip belt edges before you give it to mom. 3:53 does any pack not sit on your butt and actually have a hip belt that stays on your hips? I have a Deuter Futura Vario 50+, before that an Arcteryx Bora 50L and both sat on my butt, never above it unless it was pretty much empty or just base weight. What pack do you recommend to really carry food and water and sit on your lower lumbar spine correctly above the hips. The mesh is pointless when its 6 inchs away from my back, might as well not be there. I have multiple back injuries so this is super important for my endurance.
If you ever need to replace that spoon, Toaks also makes one with a polished bowl. Doesn't seem like a big difference, but if feels much nicer eating food of a smooth spoon than that rough powdery finish. The handle is still the rough finish though, so it's nice and "grippy". Unless you lose it though, you'll probably never need to replace it. They last forever.
Interesting that you are so into Zpacks. I tried one of their tents on long distance hikes including the Australian Alps Walking Track and it not only wore out quickly, it couldn’t handle the heavy downpours. The rain just came straight through the fabric. Excellent review!
Hmmm, my equipment is heavier than these, but much much more durable. In fact most of it will probably outlive me. It seems that there is a point at which eequipment will not break down, the penalty is that it is relatively heavier but not heavy. I suspect that the quest for the lightest will always trade dirability. The nice thing is that over time durability increases for any given weight. The stuff I use is much lighter than equipment of 30 years ago but equally as durable.
at the end, after your filter froze in montana, you could either melt snow for water or boil water from streams. and i know it takes more fuel, particularly melting snow.
Don't cheap out on stoves because they can easily maim or kill you. Don't cheap out on smoke alarms for your home, either. There are some things that are just worth the investment. Socks are another if you're distance hiking because no foot, no horse, as they say. The nice thing about the big retailers like REI are the sales, plus for REI specifically- the compare and sort features on their site which are far superior to other sites like them.
Glad you were candid about the 'ultra-light' gear caveats. I bought a MEC Spark1 tent with the foot print (1.2 kg - ~2lbs) and was told by a cycle tourist that the poles would not stand up to heavy exposure to wind. He's heard of them breaking.... (I find that odd as the poles are DAC.) I'm not a long distance hiker. Did you ever get the flu on the CDT and PCT? I've seen very many of your blogs, but not all so I may have missed.
As for packs, with all of the “UL” gear I’ve had throughout the years the pack that has held up over the years (though NOT ultra light) is my granite gear nimbus ozone. Got it in Waynesboro back in 2008 when I blew out my vapor trail. Pack weights in @ #2+ empty but easily modifiable. I find 60-65L is ideal for doing those 5-7 day stretches between resupply with most of that being food. And I highly regard “storm socks”!!!!!!! Thanks Dixie, you’re a boss Beavis AT ‘04, ‘08
foam pads are my pick, not necessarily for the comfort aspect since I've been known to hike completely pad less but moreso for the extra insulation they provide over nothing, and their no hassle usablity and reliability over inflatables. plus it doubles as a sit pad.
Zippers are my nemesis. I now always carry 20 inches of sticky back Velcro to make closures for anything that fails me on the trail. Yes, it is another 2 oz., but it is so useful.
Thru hikes are like 100-200 nights with so many miles. Close to two thru hikes? Normal camping or back backing trips this gear can last many years. Maybe try a spruce green material. I like to fold my stuff instead of stuffing it. There might be fold marks, when it's stuffed there are many more micro folds. I have some PFG shirts, I have been starting to try out compression heat gear. No buttons, thinner, lighter, UPF. They are like long underwear that is 1/4 the weight. It's like moisture wicking socks. I can actually feel cooler wearing them because it spreads out my sweat instead of just dripping off.
for protecting your sawyer squeeze from the cold while hiking try covering it with a wool sock, it smells bad (if your feet are anything like mine anyway) but it will keep it from freezing all the way down to at least the lower 20's
Yeah, those BRS stoves are getting popular because they're so cheap, but there's another way they are dangerous that you didn't mention. The flange at the bottom only has one side, so when you screw it on to the fuel canister, it only engages on one side, creating uneven force on the valve of the canister. Generally this won't be a problem, but if someone were to over tighten, or even just drop it so it hits the ground wrong, you could damage the valve. A damaged fuel valve two inches away from an ignition source whenever you're using it is probably something to avoid at all costs. The Pocket Rocket 2 is almost identical, but with a dual flange, only cost an extra $15 bucks or so and weighs in a few tenths of an ounce heavier. I'm not judging, but I won't ever use a BRS.
I have the Zpacks Nero as a ultra light pack. It does not have all the bells and whistles. The Nero is a simplistic bare bones pack that functions really well. Watching your gear review and other reviews yours is not the only damaged Zpacks Arc pack. Glad I decided on the Nero.
Hey Jessica, been following you since the AT beginnings. I don't ever comment, but since that time, I graduated to an ultra runner instead of thru hiker. You should look into ultra running gear and nutrition. Some of it is crazy durable and way lighter than some of the thru hiker UL gears, eg. UD's ultra jacket, the original one, it has waterproof mittens built in and should be one of the lightest out there. Crazy durable, logged hundreds of miles in storms with it. Congrats on your triple crown. Edit: hiking/backpacking is just walking on trail as to trail running is to running. If it excels in running, it'll more than do for walking. Also, there are thru runners, they're the ones doing FKTs.
I agree, there's a lot of the "Vimes Boots" thing going on with this clothing. You can buy something cheap, and maybe it'll work fine for a while, but you have to replace it 4 times in 6 months, but if you'd spent twice as much it'd last you the whole 6 months and you wouldn't spend half your time with nearly useless worn out stuff. In the end the cheap stuff often costs more, if you're actually using it.
CONGRATULATIONS on a great CDT hike. Loved your weekly videos and blogs. I also love the thorough gear review. Helps us to purchase durable gear. It is important that our gear lasts and performs for our safety. So again thank guy pu for your time and hard work to film and edit your thru hike.
Hi from MN... please respond back.... what again is the brand of Garmin electronic that has that security button on the side? Please provide specifics... I was thrilled to watch your AT vid. I cried with you about your pet. Sheryl Lynn
No intentions to watch this past 10 minutes for a quick update but you made every bit count in the 44 minutes with solid content. Nice job. Stay safe and enjoy the trails. J
Now that you are all through I was wondering if you would have started your cdt thru hike earlier in the year or is that possible, if you could have done it over?
Mary Leonard I think not taking a 2 week break would’ve been better! Haha. The issue is, you don’t wanna hit the San Juans too early. So, I could’ve started sooner but I took my sweet time in NM and was where I wanted to be when I went home for sister’s graduation. It was the extra week off I hadn’t planned because of the wisdom tooth that got me. Having to build trail legs back up and get acclimated to elevation again was rough.
Thanks for sharing, Dixie. I've been watching many of your vid's from AT to PCT thru CDT adventures. I love them all!!! Question: Was there ever a situation where you wished you had a freestanding tent, vs. the Zpacks Duplex?
Wow Dixie, I just cannot imagine how you stay healthy and never catch a cold on the trail! Seeing you hike in wet socks gives me a stuffed nose already, haha. And eating Ramen noodles for lunch and dinner (maybe Poptarts for breakfast xD ), waking up in a frozen tent... How do you stay healthy? Do you experience some kind of "immnunity" to hard conditions out there? Are we city people just babies or is it the fact that we are constantly surrounded by germs (public transport -.- )? I am really interested in this topic. Also, I just love all your Videos. Come to Europe to hike, we have such great scenery - Via alpina maybe?
I will continue to support you on Patreon, even with their bias . . . but thank you so much for sharing other options for support. Many have strong feelings about Patreon and it's great to have other options. Would be interesting to get your perspectives on early through hikers and the progression of gear. I started buying mountaineering gear 20 years ago and it's amazing how much better/lighter things are today. It's also interesting to see how wool continues to shine and was probably a big part of very early gear.
Hey Dixie, I wonder if next time you promote the Amazon link you could mention it works in other countries too? I tried the link assuming that it wouldn't work in the UK and was pleasantly surprised to see it does! One deuce of spades trowl and opsak odour proof bag purchased for my first upcoming AT section hike - thanks so much for the work you do.
Trying my first payer of Altra Trail runners. Can't wait. Biggest reason being they are supposed to dry faster I live by a lot of water so waterproof boots don't dry out very fast
Dixie, Just a thought. You said your arc haul finally gave out? Is it the 70? I wanted to buy the 70 but they stopped making them, so I ended up with the arc haul 64 with zippers. Love the design, except, the outer pocket with the zippers doesn't have any elasticity to it so you can't put wet items ect on outside pocket. Bottom line would you consider selling me the arc haul 70 at a nominal price? From the looks of it it needs a lot of work to make it usable, but I am willing to try , your. Friend bobby
Great update! Can you tell me how many fuel canisters did you end up having to replace through each of 3 trips? Any issues with finding replacements on any of your travels. Have you ever considered using fuel stoves that use bottles (white gas, kerosene, etc.)? With regards to hiking in the deep snow near the end of you hike how did you keep the snow out of the top of your shoes or the snow soaking your shoes and getting your feet wet/cold? I get cold feet and this is one of my biggest concerns. Thank you so very much. The meltdownman
Hi probably a little late to comment on this video, but I would love to see a video on your camera gear setup. I actually found your channel looking for tips on backpacking because I do landscape photography, want to do landscape photography on longer hikes, possibly a full thru-hike! Just curious to see what you guys did as far planning your video and shot list etc... Good CDT doc. I was curious what the whole trail was like. I work for the Forest Service and the CDT comes through my district. Lower San Juans on the Carson NF, where you entered the "more red" desert lol and my district ends when you cross into Colorado basically, if you went through Cumbres or La Manga Pass. Thanks for your videos keep them coming!
What is that black sun hat you wear? I really like it and want to try to find one! Or what are the several hats you wear, since I know you've misplaced them before.
Head lamps?
Perry Rush Wow! 🤦🏼♀️ Yes! Thank you. I will add those to my gear list tonight. Ugh. I wanted to talk about those, too. I used the firefly cheapo headlamp on amazon until I got to grizzly country. I went back to my black diamond after that. I’ll include links below...
Here is the one I used for most of the trip. Looks like it’s unavailable now. It wasn’t super bright for night hiking but was VERY light. I made do while night hiking, but I felt it was certainly enough for around camp chores.
www.amazon.com/Bright-Medic-FireFly-Ultralight-Headlamp/dp/B00C2CGUWG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
When I was night hiking in grizzly country I wanted the bright headlamp I used on the PCT, so I had it sent from home. It’s brighter, but also heavier. (Not sure why it’s listed for this much on amazon-I paid like $40-50 not over $100. Haha.)
amzn.to/2ESfmEq
@@HomemadeWanderlust I'm sure you've already checked them out bu t some have verable brightness. you want good ones. I've had ones I even paid a bunch of money for and were'nt worth what some I paid less for.
@@HomemadeWanderlust My best luk was with what pros and cerere people use.
Feels good to see gear reviews without someone trying to sell you something or bragging about how many ounces they save! Just an honest review! Thanks so much!
Congratulations on completion of the Triple Crown. Fantastic accomplishment. I look forward to whatever off-trail videos you produce going forward and can't wait for your next adventure. Thanks so much for putting yourself out there for all of us. You're amazing!
"The Cow Ponds of New Mexico"...sounds like a potential coffee table book (the kind with big glossy pictures) that needs to happen!
Dave Row New Mexico CDTC should put more water caches around especially from crazy cook to at least silver city
Hi Dixie, don't know if you thought about it . But those pin holes in you'r tent could have come from embers from camp fires. Just a thought to look out for. Happen to me. Enjoy your video's
Or thistle/raspberry bushes
Or the barbed wire :)
Just watching some of my favorite videos one more time again because I like so much listening to you.... ever considered a podcast?
Thanks for the excellent gear reviews and giving us a link to your gearlist. I lived with some pinholes in my MLD cuben fiber tarp for 4+ years after the PCT and water never came through them as they were too small. So I kept it until the fabric finally broke down and was getting really damp on the underneath side with no sign of holes anywhere near. I think I was able to keep it as long as I did because I set it up a lot less than most people as I normally cowboy camp. After seeing the Zpack's pack at the end, I think I'll stick with ULA brand packs which do last much longer than a single thru-hike from my experience. I've found that Railrider's clothing such as their eco-mesh shirts/pants are much more ventilated than almost all other clothing and better suited for desert hiking which I do a lot of. I recently picked up that BRS stove so I'm glad to see it can last a thru-hike. I'll definitely check out AndrewSkurka's gloves and compare them to my MLD Rain mitts which I've used since the PCT happily but don't allow you to use your fingers.
I discovered neoprene socks this year too. I've used them the way you show here for all-day downpours, but I've also used them as my only socks after a water crossing or short shower. I'll stop and take my socks off before the crossing, cross in just my shoes with no socks. On the other side, I'll dry my feet as best I can, then put the Darn Tough socks on my pack to air out and put the neoprene socks on my feet and the wet shoes on over them. My feet stay dry while my shoes dry out. Then when the shoes are dry, I'll put my Darn Tough socks back on and stow the neoprene. As long as I keep the socks where I can reach them it only adds about 30 seconds to each crossing. I hadn't thought about using them as an extra layer for warmth, because I'm not usually out in the snow. I'll definitely keep that in mind.
Hike Idaho's centennial trail, true wilderness at it's best, more importantly without the crowds, just you pristine wilderness and it's wildlife! Gem of a state, period, try it don't take my humble word!
Hey, I'm with you. Idaho is awesome, but are you saying the CDT is crowded, lol.. Plus, I would guess Dixie is more of a wanna be around people person, as she has said herself that the AT is her favorite. Definitely, the typical east coaster type.
Can't thank you enough for everything you have accomplished and your willingness to share.
I've been watching your videos from South Australia. I can't wait to come to the USA and do some hikes there! You guys look like you have such a good hiking community and that the trails are well thought out. Plusss you have water stops! Here it's hot and dry so I have to carry 4L per day in summer, so a 5 day hiking trip is 44lb in water alone. I love your videos and great editing too!
We have Trail Magic! It is a solid community. Just love.
For gloves with rubber tips I use something I brought over from scuba diving. Wet suit repair liquid is great for painting areas of your gloves that wear or need more grip.
Titanium Spoon.....Best invention ever of all Mankind.....I have two, cause people steal 'em from me. (well borrow, but "forget" to return) Also decided to become a member of the CDT after your video series....
Had mine engraved "stolen from ..." :)
What makes you say titanium utensils over something else? I’m looking to make some gear purchases soon.
lo$t count of the titanium $poon$ I have lo$t. and I travel solo, so there is no blame game option for me to turtle up under. the p[rurple ones are the most elusive ; ), so I just use a stolen soup spoon. never seems to stray from my cook kit, doubles as a screw driver.
22:27 From research I’ve done, the amount of aluminum you would take in though food from your cooking pot is small enough that your liver, kidneys and intestines can effectively filter out the metal and it would just leave through your waste. Also in regard to the aluminum in deodorant, The American Cancer Society has not found any conclusive evidence that the application of aluminum deodorant (shaved or not shaved) causes cancer. Wearing natural deodorant is purely personal preference and it may help improve skin health, but otherwise is not noticeably less harmful than wearing aluminum deodorant.
Yeah but they make the food taste funny. Isn't that reason enough?
Sarah Weiler theres aluminium in my deoarnt?
At 28:00 you show a Bic lighter and, yes, they are the cheap, light, dependable easy way to light a stove or start a fire (although a mini-Bic is lighter yet). If you grind / file / pry off the child-proofing arc of metal, it is much easier to use with cold or gloved hands. I just touch it to a belt sander for a bit but a hand file will go through it in a couple of strokes, or a mini hack saw. Or you can pry it off with a screwdriver or needle-nosed pliers.
thank you for all of the info. I am going to look for some possum down gloves and the blue gloves and would love to get your knife too.
One suggestion - instead of the spoon, i took a small silicon kitchen spatula - which has a slight scoop to it, and a wooden handle. It was great for stirring hot food while cooking, I could use it to eat, and I could scrape my pot clean, then add some water to heat up, scrape it down (then I drank the hot water). It helped to keep the food odors to a minimum on the pot. I ended up giving away my spoon, since I started to rehydrate and cook my food in the pot instead of those bags. I didn't like to carry gooey bags around with me. Then 2nd year on trail, I repackaged all of my food into light weight baggies, so I did not have to carry all of those aluminum bags. Linda, Energizer Tortoise
I agree that fleece is a nice addition. The only time I found fleece problematic was on a strenuous hike in sub freezing temperatures with the fleece being my outer layer. The sweat vapor steaming off of me condensed and froze on to the outermost fleece fiber tips. The ice progressively built up and solidly clung to the fibers. This restricted its breathability and the fleece became clammy.
FACT! --> "If you are anything but a back sleeper, I think that an inflatable pad is almost a necessity if you want to get any sleep." I will never go back to a foam either.
I just did a hike/camp through the Delaware water gap last weekend and as a photographer, carrying 80lbs, SUCKED! Defiantly going to look into some of the items on your lighterpack list.
Prettz Strife Wooooweeee! I bet!
Why are you not wearing your triple trail crown?
Jose Soto 🤣
🤣
@@HomemadeWanderlust Thank you for sharing your adventures! I will now have to watch your AT series and look forward to the next adventure!
Right? Should be a rule: Finish a TC, have to wear the actual ctown on the Tubes.
Dixie, turn your fuel canister over and screw the burner on. That will stop the fuel from spewing.
It may not. BRS are Chinese manufacture. Cheap, but with almost no quality control. Some will come off the shelf perfect, and others will have machining defects. To me it sounds like she's got one with a minor defect in the valve.
You would think, but mine does the same thing.
It's called mass production: 10% are perfect and will never wear out/ 10% are trash and should not have made it out of the factory/ 80% are average, and may have some problems, but nothing to worry about. Doesn't matter what country produces them, if they are mass produced this will occur. The US made a lemon law to cover Brand new cars that are trash. It happens ;-)
@@zettle2345 Except BRS is a Chinese company known to have quality control issues. So that's probably closer to 10% perfect, 25 or 30% trash, and the rest somewhere in between.
For socks you could have used Sealskinz socks. They are warm, thin, breathable and water proof. I swear by them.
YES and YES they are one of th best investments I've ever made
I can paddle around in water and mud all day in my sealskins. They are a game changer because you can carry a spare pair and it is like having spare dry shoes. Their gloves are good as well.
how can they be both waterproof and breathable? not trying to call you out, just curious
@@johnfields7469 no worries :) it is one way breath-ability. It has to do with how the material is put together. It literally wicks sweat from you, so that your feet don't get clammy but also has an inner membrane (about the middle of the sock) which keeps water out and away from your feet. I first tested them while Kayaking and was happily surprised, I too was somewhat skeptical but they truly do work. The only weak point on the sock of course is the top where you put your feet in. If the water gets past the sock end the water will get in. When we talk about feet (I'm ex-military and expert on keeping my feet healthy) there are two camps. Camp one says "they will get wet but hopefully dry quickly". The other camp says don't let them get wet at all. My experience is two fold, either change socks very often or some form of neoprene or in this case sealskinz. If the water crossing is deep (past my sock line), then I will take off my socks and with my shoes on do the crossing. I then dry my feet put on my sealskinz and then go on walking. This way while my shoes are drying my feet stay nice and cozey :) I feel this is the best technique to use.
Hi John, That guy 'Redbeard" at Zpacks put me on to them. Imagine stretchy goretex. Permeable to gases eg water vapour but not to water droplets. They actually feel like a cross between run of the mil socks and wet suit booties. They are much thinner than neoprene booties, but they are also not quite as stretchy as ordinary socks. They look like ordinary socks. There is three layers to them. The outer sock, a very thin inner sock and the membrane layer in between. They seem to be quite durable, I usually just throw them in the wash and spin dry them. They work very well. I first tried them out at Wilson prom one very wet rainy spring hike. The trial also got very wet (ankle deep mud) and small creeks and rivers crossed the beach's I walked along. I actually went paddling up to mid shin for about half an hour (to test them out) and feet were not exactly dry, but not wet either. Could not even say that they were damp. for example within seconds of taking them off my feet were absolutely dry. I think if the sock is immersed there is less gas exchange so the humidity inside goes up. As they dry, more exchange and it goes down. They were great up in the snow as my trail runners got wet very quickly, feet stayed warm and dry. I usually carry a spare pair, which is like having a spare pair of warm dry shoes. Gamechanger. www.sealskinz.com/socks?msclkid=d3a7801310ea18d24775dc1d09a8588e&Sealskinz%20-%20AU%20-%20EN%20-%20Brand%20-%20Socks%20-%20Exact&Brand%20-%20Pure
PFG shirts from Columbia are nearly a hiker uniform wear for guys and girls in my area. I call them my sun shirts. When I was in college, We used to laugh at our Welsh climbing instructors and their tall effete umbrellas until the first snow squalls whipped up. They laughed at us as they hunkered down behind them and would not share. I was a Sawyer skeptic but no more. Too many thru-hikers I have followed the last two years have thousands of miles and a galaxy of gut bugs bypassed to stay a skeptic. Especially on the CDT with all the streams and ponds you shared with the cows and wildlife. Thank you for this great gear review.
Yup, visibility colors are always good on trail. I love my black down jacket for the real world, but I have a red one for the trail, and a red backpack. I've also used hunter orange bandanas tied to my gear like flags, and a hunter orange Buff on my head, but I tend to save those for when I know I'm moving through an area with plenty of hunters.
I sewed a wallet from dyneema composite with material from Ripstop-By-The-Role company. This was a kind of test of the material. The wallet got worn out in a couple of months, maybe three. The point is, it couldn't hold up to the wear and tear of being carried around in my pocket while walking a lot all day every day. This means to me: a) Dyneema Comp needs to be in a stuff sack in a bag and b) that stuff sack probably should be silnylon, thicker Dyneema or some other tough(ish) material.
Bottom line - If you can easily afford to replace it, go ultralight on the big 4 (I include pad in this). If you can't, then go light. Suggestions for going high quality, light, and sturdy ... but not necessarily extreme ultralight: SWD customized backpack Long Haul Rugged 50L, Dan Durston's MidX 1P tent (use a Tyvek ground cloth), at least 30 degree Katabatic quilt, and ThermaRest ProLite Apex pad (my single luxury item ... consistent reliable sleep is crucial). These 4 items take such a beating (especially the pack), that I prefer not to sacrifice them to the trail gods. Go ultralight with everything else, but not the Big 4. Organize your resupply well and fine tune your consumables, pack limited but versatile clothing, have two healthy debates with yourself - packing what you want vs packing what you need and packing for your fears vs packing for reality , and for God's sake please pack the other big 3 inside your backpack. Bingo! Have a great through hike.
I grew up in Maine and re-located to Montana a couple years ago! My boyfriend is getting me into mountaineering and camping this year! (It took a while...) I love your videos so much! So informative and makes me feel more confident about adventures!! Congratulations on your triple crown!!
Yep, Dixie - you definitely have a great natural style in communicating to the audience what is happening in the moment, seemingly without any hesitation. My dad mentioned how it was great to see someone be able to portray the highs and lows, and for the vulnerabilities (and strengths!) to shine through, to make it feel so authentic. It makes for such a real watching experience! .. for e.g. when you were anxious and wary about the thunderstorms, or about the bad stream crossing on the CDT, or the highs of the wonderful peaks and sunsets etc. etc...
If Bioengineering doesn't pull through, or if it can tie in with travelling vlogging in someway --> do it. Find a niche between the two?
26:11 Bought the exact same spoon & I carry it in my lunch box for work. The long handle doubles as a highly effective Ice Pic too. I'll never be without the spoon again.
I have one, but struggle with the texture... feels gritty in my mouth. Might give it another go and try and get over it.
Is the bottom polished?
@@dougrogillio2223 No, it's ruff:(
My recent spoon is polished like a mirror. www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium-Handle-Polished-SLV-11/dp/B00J1BV01C
When you keep losing a piece of gear it's time to figure out a way to keep that from happening. The sun gloves I think I'd attach a loop of string or floss, so they can be clipped to a carabiner when not being used. ( Proof of concept I just did that this morning with paddling gloves I was trying out for the first time. Made stowing them a no brainer.) Holes can also work. (instead of some kind of a grommet I've been using the button hole function on my sewing machine. It will 'serge' the right sized opening for a specific button size (so you can adjust the size of hole you want) the machine automatically sews a reinforced pattern around the slit. The button size can be anything, easy to adjust-- you don't even need to use a button.). A button hole on a bandana gives it a place to clip it on.
I've got a $70 trekking umbrella. I've learned that when you spend more than about $10 for an umbrella, you don't own it, it owns you. It's in my car, but when I go someplace, I just get a cheap one there. Now that I have the expensive umbrella I know there's really no difference. The same wind will wreck both. But a trashed cheapie is still usable and it's no big deal replacing it.
Carbonize (season) your aluminum pots and pans, then aluminum is not an issue and it's more non-stick. The outside of your pot already looks well carbonized.
Please get a better stove. A burn in the back country because your stove was 'temperamental' is not worth the risk. There's absolutely no good reason these things have such a tiny support frame. Get a better one, or add some spring wire spreaders to it. You also don't want to start a forest fire. (next time you're with a group of people 50 and older ask about burns. Everyone gets burned sooner or later and some of the worse burns should never have happened. Asking in a group with a collective couple of hundred years you'll get a good (bad?) cross section of what can happen and how. An unreliable stove is probably just down the list from crack pipe, molotov cocktail and 'we were just playing with the lighter fluid')
Thanks for sharing the gear list.
(When I click on your link to get to Amazon, Chrome says 'privacy error' risk of having someone (not you) steal your data. Then it goes no where.)
She is probably cooking over a camp fire from time to time
Thanks for taking me on this adventure, Dixie. I’m too old to do a long distance trail, but you have fuelled my spirit of adventure and inspired me to hike on for as long as I can. I’m glad we don’t have any bears or mountain lions in Australia.
No such thing as too old mate... I've met 80+ doing them here in NZ.
And the reason you've got no bears or mountain lions in aussie is that the local animals frightened them off.
@@kieranh2005 Thanks for the encouragement. Possums and snakes are our only concern. Possums will rip through an unattended tent if they can smell food. The the owner gets very scary. Ha Ha!
Useful reviews! Folks, please heed Dixie's advice on carrying an InReach or PLB rescue beacon. You're never more than one step away from being immobilised by a broken ankle or a twisted knee - it can happen to anyone. With a beacon, the SAR team can home in on you directly, often within hours, even if you are off-trail. Without a beacon, it may be days before they are alerted, and it may take hundreds of hours of search to find you. Harrowing for you, even if you survive, and very unfair on the SAR team. In bad conditions these people are risking their lives to help you - it's only fair and responsible to make their job as safe and easy as possible. I've seen some of the lightweight crowd sneer at the idea of carrying a beacon, and I personally feel that this is flat-out selfish. If you won't carry one for yourself, think of the SAR personnel and your loved ones, and carry it for them.
Ugh, we went through 4 of those sea-to-summit cups, never again - always rip at the seems.
I ran across you on TH-cam when you were starting AT several years ago. Lost touch and picked up on the end of your CDT hike. Impressive effort for all 3 trails. Great video.
Thanks for the final great loud out and review. Super helpful. I picked up the showa 282 gloves as well and they were my mvp piece of gear in 40 degree rainy weather, can't imagine how warm they will be with my possum down gloves inside. Size up!
My carrying a Garmin InReach in 2018 meant I could contact a person who I knew was waiting for me and ask him to pick up a thru-hiker at the point I was bailing out & let her know about the Mountaineers' lodge at Stevens Pass & their gear drying room. She'd hiked all the way from Mexico, but Section J was so wet & so cold she was planning to quit & hitch a ride out to civilization. I later noted she'd left a positive comment about the lodge on Guthook, and I'm hopeful a few days of drying out gave her the break she needed to make it to Canada.
Even if the InReach never saves my life, it was worth the price & the extra weight for a little bit of trail magic.
Thermarest uberlight is coming out soon 8oz for full size
terry 2 sticks now that sounds awesome. Any idea what the r value will be?
Spikeeus I think it’s r value is 2
Can you talk about post thru hike depression and getting back into the swing of things after them as well?
MidnightModder I touched on this after the AT, but maybe it’s time for another one on that topic! Thanks for the suggestion ❤️
bike tours have the same let down. but its easy to get back on the *empty bike* for "treatment".
Just a thought Dixie and not a beat up but do the ultralight community consider the environmental impacts of using UL gear? I'm an old tramper and pack out twice the weight but I'm still using the same gear year after year. You mention at the start of the video how UL gear doesn't last that long so you're often replacing items. You do get used to a bit of extra weight pretty quickly and it's also a bit safer. Love your channel and other's like you and am always picking up clever tips from your thoughtful ideas. One small tip we do is to carry a couple of dry sacks for river crossings. We get ones that are strong and the exact width for your feet, pop your legs inside, have a velcro tie to strap in at your ankles and one for the top and off you go through the stream. Only takes a sec to put them on and off and keeps your shoes, socks and feet dry. We duct tape holes if they happen and they last ages, saves shoes and feet falling apart a bit too. Thanks and happy trails :)
You're my favorite youtuber! Thank you for putting this very helpful gear review together and for encouraging people to explore the outdoors, and congratulations on your Triple Crown
Thanks for the great rundown and rationale for the gear you used. Learning from another's experience saves a lot of guess work and money.
I'm going to miss the weekly videos, hope you do the videos when you have your Mom with you "filling in the gaps" on the PCT. Best of luck to you girl!
Wife and I really enjoyed following and supporting through your triple crown journey. All the best!
Hi Dixie, I really enjoyed your video. Now I have some ideas of what girly things to get for my granddaughter that hikes with me sometimes. one was the mirror hair brush another some of the clothing. I have a request. At the risk of sounding stupid I would love to see a detailed video on using the Inreach explorer PLD. I know that there are videos on their web site and a few on youtube but they generally tell you what it does, can and can't do. As I'm older and not as technical as 4 year old I don't know if my messages go to where I want them to go or even if I set it up right. You showed the weather on yours and I was amazed and said to myself how did she do that (lol). I was thinking a video like the one that you did for sending resupply thru the mail in 2015 how to address the mailing labels. Something simple ! Happy hiking! Capt. America
John Barber Great idea, John! I'd like to see a little instruction on that amazing piece of electronic gear from someone who actually used it in the field.
@@Mtnsunshine Yes Dixie, please do an instructional video on the InReach.
As usual, really great comprehensive video. As a side note I love that you really don’t push the products on anyone like a lot of folks do. Looking forward to what you tackle next!
You should post up the easy method of folding up a thermarest neatly. It's a morning changer once you know!
My most miss placed piece of gear is my sunglasses.......most of the time I’m digging around looking for the case in my pack but what’s worst is when I’m looking for them and they are already on my face/head....somehow I haven’t yet lost the actual pair of sunglasses. They get misplaced but I haven’t lost/broke the pair yet which amazes me. The same ones are going on about 2 1/2 years worth of hiking trips and the JMT so ya. A bit scratched up and the frames are worn but still work. It’s worth the weight of having a nice hard case for them since I literally break all my other glasses normally
Edit: I totally agree about the BRS stove. For the money (about 15$) it is amazing and works very well for the price and it only weighs 0.88 ounces I believe. What I don’t like is how small the arms are. You have to be SUPER careful....after you spill boiling water on your ankle (thankfully only on a one nighter with about a 10 mile hike out) you will learn to be more careful about positioning your pot. On the plus side you do get a “cool new” scar from a water burn....(it’s fading now so ya, might need to pour more water on it, jk) ;)
Edit edit: I loved my inreach, coming down a pass in the Sierra that was snow covered we could see right where we were and which way to go. Also in another snow covered area we were able to find our way back to the “trail.” (Footprints don’t = right way). Also I let several other people send messages through it. One person texted their dad that they hurt their foot so expect them a day later and another guy we hiked with messaged his wife and was much happier being able to talk to her some. Another guy messaged his ride that he would get there about the time he expected, so it was really nice having it with the unlimited plan and even letting some other people use it. Also wasn’t so nice because I was basically connected at all times and have worried parents messaging me “I think you are going the wrong way! You aren’t on the PCT anymore!! Yes mother, I’m resupplying today on a side trail.” Also was neat for my grandparents because they could check where I was on their computer since I had tracking and could look up photos and kind get an idea of what I was seeing. Which I hadn’t even thought about telling them when I shared the link...
Your gear is waaaay better than my backpacking gear. I'm going to look into the socks and that micro-stove. All my stuff is heavy, but then again, I do bits of these trails, not through hiking them. Thanks so much for an outstanding gear video.
Do a camera gear/ filming/ editing on the trail video with Aaron
My roommate has that little stove. He had an arm bend with a larger sized pot/pan on it. He just heated the arm back up and bent it back into shape. It has held up just fine with smaller sized containers full of water.
Hey Dixie - You are completely fine eating trace amounts of aluminum. It bonds with the hydrochloric acid in your stomach and that carries it harmlessly through your GI tract. It can only "get stuck" and accumulate to dangerous levels when it gets into the body from other means, like being absorbed through your skin (or cuts on your skin) from deodorant.
Dixie, that has got to be the best gear breakdown and explation video I have ever seen! BRAVO!
Vinniedayhiker Thank you!
@Artemis on the Trail agreed. If you have confidence in a piece of kit you Will sing it's praises. I have kit that I will never change and when Dixie talks I listen about her choices in kit. It's based on time in use .
16:15 Actually the Zpacks arc haul is not dyneema it’s HDPE, but the arc blast is Dyneema. I know that because I’m debating which one to buy because of the different materials.
Thank you! I always love post through hike gear run downs. This one was great! Congrats again on 3C!
I'm surprised you haven't started sewing your own gear yet. It's far superior to buying expensive items that aren't designed to fit you. I invested in a sewing machine last February and won't go back. I made a very nice hammock with a integrated bug net using monofilament nylon, oversized zippers with the pulls chopped off and replaced with zing-it, and also down quilts and a tarp. I did have to make a prototype hammock first to learn how to do everything, but it's not all that difficult. Silpoly can be a pain to manage, it's slippery as ice.
Just one thing regarding water safety (if your concern is a destroyed filter), it will take more time but the CDC recommends boiling water as the safest way to deal with most "bugs" you will deal with on the trail. Iodine won't kill Cryptosporidium and the manufacturers of chlorine dioxide treatments make it clear they work "when mixed correctly". I know some people swear by water treatments but I am one who, if a filter fails, would rather plan on using a bit more fuel on the trail to boil water rather than take even a small chance on being miles from civilization and find myself dealing with big related gastro issues.
@@robertdrappo197 indeed I would never go anywhere on the trail without my Sawyer squeeze. The boiling method is just there to address if your filter fails. Basically when balancing for not simply efficiency but safety as well I rate it filtration> boiling> treatment.
The titanium spoons with a polished bowl are easy on the mouth!
39:50 Did I hear you correctly? I wear a size men's eleven while hiking.
Probably has really thick socks underneath
11.5.
Dixie, Have you thought about sending your pack back to ZPacks so they can evaluate improvements in future models? They seem to be a very good company and heavy use items might give them an opportunity to improve their manufacturing process.
Flame those frayed hip belt edges before you give it to mom. 3:53 does any pack not sit on your butt and actually have a hip belt that stays on your hips? I have a Deuter Futura Vario 50+, before that an Arcteryx Bora 50L and both sat on my butt, never above it unless it was pretty much empty or just base weight. What pack do you recommend to really carry food and water and sit on your lower lumbar spine correctly above the hips. The mesh is pointless when its 6 inchs away from my back, might as well not be there. I have multiple back injuries so this is super important for my endurance.
If you ever need to replace that spoon, Toaks also makes one with a polished bowl. Doesn't seem like a big difference, but if feels much nicer eating food of a smooth spoon than that rough powdery finish. The handle is still the rough finish though, so it's nice and "grippy". Unless you lose it though, you'll probably never need to replace it. They last forever.
I second the Toaks spork.
I like that Garmin gps you showed. I went ahead and got the InReach 66i. Thanks Dixie. Hitting CDT this April '23.
Interesting that you are so into Zpacks. I tried one of their tents on long distance hikes including the Australian Alps Walking Track and it not only wore out quickly, it couldn’t handle the heavy downpours. The rain just came straight through the fabric. Excellent review!
Hmmm, my equipment is heavier than these, but much much more durable. In fact most of it will probably outlive me. It seems that there is a point at which eequipment will not break down, the penalty is that it is relatively heavier but not heavy. I suspect that the quest for the lightest will always trade dirability. The nice thing is that over time durability increases for any given weight. The stuff I use is much lighter than equipment of 30 years ago but equally as durable.
I can’t wait until I graduate so I can do the AT
Same! Except its the PCT for me!
you did it or not yet?!
same but with the cdt!
Same but just walking to walmart 😞
tamie341 😂😂😂😂😂😂
at the end, after your filter froze in montana, you could either melt snow for water or boil water from streams. and i know it takes more fuel, particularly melting snow.
Halffastcyclist And time! I boiled some one night just to have something warm to drink. Didn’t wanna take the time during the day, though.
Don't cheap out on stoves because they can easily maim or kill you. Don't cheap out on smoke alarms for your home, either. There are some things that are just worth the investment. Socks are another if you're distance hiking because no foot, no horse, as they say. The nice thing about the big retailers like REI are the sales, plus for REI specifically- the compare and sort features on their site which are far superior to other sites like them.
Glad you were candid about the 'ultra-light' gear caveats. I bought a MEC Spark1 tent with the foot print (1.2 kg - ~2lbs) and was told by a cycle tourist that the poles would not stand up to heavy exposure to wind. He's heard of them breaking.... (I find that odd as the poles are DAC.) I'm not a long distance hiker. Did you ever get the flu on the CDT and PCT? I've seen very many of your blogs, but not all so I may have missed.
As for packs, with all of the “UL” gear I’ve had throughout the years the pack that has held up over the years (though NOT ultra light) is my granite gear nimbus ozone. Got it in Waynesboro back in 2008 when I blew out my vapor trail. Pack weights in @ #2+ empty but easily modifiable. I find 60-65L is ideal for doing those 5-7 day stretches between resupply with most of that being food.
And I highly regard “storm socks”!!!!!!!
Thanks Dixie, you’re a boss
Beavis AT ‘04, ‘08
foam pads are my pick, not necessarily for the comfort aspect since I've been known to hike completely pad less but moreso for the extra insulation they provide over nothing, and their no hassle usablity and reliability over inflatables. plus it doubles as a sit pad.
The most thorough gear review video I have watched.
Zippers are my nemesis. I now always carry 20 inches of sticky back Velcro to make closures for anything that fails me on the trail. Yes, it is another 2 oz., but it is so useful.
I used the Osprey Atmos on the Camino. Very form fitting-I highly recommend it for your next adventure. The come in 50 and 65 litres.
Thru hikes are like 100-200 nights with so many miles. Close to two thru hikes? Normal camping or back backing trips this gear can last many years. Maybe try a spruce green material. I like to fold my stuff instead of stuffing it. There might be fold marks, when it's stuffed there are many more micro folds. I have some PFG shirts, I have been starting to try out compression heat gear. No buttons, thinner, lighter, UPF. They are like long underwear that is 1/4 the weight. It's like moisture wicking socks. I can actually feel cooler wearing them because it spreads out my sweat instead of just dripping off.
for protecting your sawyer squeeze from the cold while hiking try covering it with a wool sock, it smells bad (if your feet are anything like mine anyway) but it will keep it from freezing all the way down to at least the lower 20's
Yeah, those BRS stoves are getting popular because they're so cheap, but there's another way they are dangerous that you didn't mention. The flange at the bottom only has one side, so when you screw it on to the fuel canister, it only engages on one side, creating uneven force on the valve of the canister. Generally this won't be a problem, but if someone were to over tighten, or even just drop it so it hits the ground wrong, you could damage the valve. A damaged fuel valve two inches away from an ignition source whenever you're using it is probably something to avoid at all costs. The Pocket Rocket 2 is almost identical, but with a dual flange, only cost an extra $15 bucks or so and weighs in a few tenths of an ounce heavier. I'm not judging, but I won't ever use a BRS.
I have the Zpacks Nero as a ultra light pack. It does not have all the bells and whistles. The Nero is a simplistic bare bones pack that functions really well. Watching your gear review and other reviews yours is not the only damaged Zpacks Arc pack. Glad I decided on the Nero.
Hey Jessica, been following you since the AT beginnings. I don't ever comment, but since that time, I graduated to an ultra runner instead of thru hiker. You should look into ultra running gear and nutrition. Some of it is crazy durable and way lighter than some of the thru hiker UL gears, eg. UD's ultra jacket, the original one, it has waterproof mittens built in and should be one of the lightest out there. Crazy durable, logged hundreds of miles in storms with it. Congrats on your triple crown.
Edit: hiking/backpacking is just walking on trail as to trail running is to running. If it excels in running, it'll more than do for walking. Also, there are thru runners, they're the ones doing FKTs.
I wish there was such an informative channel for hiking in the scandinavian mountains
I agree, there's a lot of the "Vimes Boots" thing going on with this clothing. You can buy something cheap, and maybe it'll work fine for a while, but you have to replace it 4 times in 6 months, but if you'd spent twice as much it'd last you the whole 6 months and you wouldn't spend half your time with nearly useless worn out stuff. In the end the cheap stuff often costs more, if you're actually using it.
Thanks Dixie. I bought the Ultra 3.0 because of your recommendation and I love them!
CONGRATULATIONS on a great CDT hike. Loved your weekly videos and blogs. I also love the thorough gear review. Helps us to purchase durable gear. It is important that our gear lasts and performs for our safety. So again thank guy pu for your time and hard work to film and edit your thru hike.
Really enjoyed your videos, hope you do another long hike next spring.
DIXIE this is so weird but i had a dream about seeing you hiking last night! hahahaha just goes to show how much I love your videos!
Hi from MN... please respond back.... what again is the brand of Garmin electronic that has that security button on the side? Please provide specifics... I was thrilled to watch your AT vid. I cried with you about your pet. Sheryl Lynn
No intentions to watch this past 10 minutes for a quick update but you made every bit count in the 44 minutes with solid content. Nice job. Stay safe and enjoy the trails. J
Now that you are all through I was wondering if you would have started your cdt thru hike earlier in the year or is that possible, if you could have done it over?
Mary Leonard I think not taking a 2 week break would’ve been better! Haha. The issue is, you don’t wanna hit the San Juans too early. So, I could’ve started sooner but I took my sweet time in NM and was where I wanted to be when I went home for sister’s graduation. It was the extra week off I hadn’t planned because of the wisdom tooth that got me. Having to build trail legs back up and get acclimated to elevation again was rough.
@@HomemadeWanderlust Darn those unexpected things any way. But that's life and that's what keeps it interesting.
Thanks for sharing, Dixie. I've been watching many of your vid's from AT to PCT thru CDT adventures. I love them all!!! Question: Was there ever a situation where you wished you had a freestanding tent, vs. the Zpacks Duplex?
Wow Dixie, I just cannot imagine how you stay healthy and never catch a cold on the trail! Seeing you hike in wet socks gives me a stuffed nose already, haha. And eating Ramen noodles for lunch and dinner (maybe Poptarts for breakfast xD ), waking up in a frozen tent... How do you stay healthy? Do you experience some kind of "immnunity" to hard conditions out there? Are we city people just babies or is it the fact that we are constantly surrounded by germs (public transport -.- )? I am really interested in this topic. Also, I just love all your Videos. Come to Europe to hike, we have such great scenery - Via alpina maybe?
In order to get flu/cold, you really need to be around other humans. Being out in the wilderness you aren't really exposed to viruses.
I know ;) But a) you have contact to people (esp. in towns) and b) other viruses/bacteria are transmitted without human contact
Even in the darkages with the plauge the best thing to do would be to go into the cold high places away from everbody.
That's a really good question Anne R. Dixie must be blessed with good genes, and/or, a good immune system.
old wives tales. Germs and viruses make you sick, not the cold or wet feet.
I will continue to support you on Patreon, even with their bias . . . but thank you so much for sharing other options for support. Many have strong feelings about Patreon and it's great to have other options. Would be interesting to get your perspectives on early through hikers and the progression of gear. I started buying mountaineering gear 20 years ago and it's amazing how much better/lighter things are today. It's also interesting to see how wool continues to shine and was probably a big part of very early gear.
Tent pinholes? Fukushima Wigner effect? I will hope my Hornet 1 lasts the summer. Their stakes are massive! I used titanium stakes for corners.
Hey Dixie, I wonder if next time you promote the Amazon link you could mention it works in other countries too? I tried the link assuming that it wouldn't work in the UK and was pleasantly surprised to see it does! One deuce of spades trowl and opsak odour proof bag purchased for my first upcoming AT section hike - thanks so much for the work you do.
Caroline Prince Awww, thank you! Yes, I added those extra links upon request last year :) Thank you for your support.
Tons of good practical advice. Thanks.
Please do a video on camera equipment! I want to go backpacking soooo bad but I would feel lost without my camera.
Trying my first payer of Altra Trail runners. Can't wait. Biggest reason being they are supposed to dry faster I live by a lot of water so waterproof boots don't dry out very fast
Dixie,
Just a thought. You said your arc haul finally gave out? Is it the 70? I wanted to buy the 70 but they stopped making them, so I ended up with the arc haul 64 with zippers. Love the design, except, the outer pocket with the zippers doesn't have any elasticity to it so you can't put wet items ect on outside pocket. Bottom line would you consider selling me the arc haul 70 at a nominal price? From the looks of it it needs a lot of work to make it usable, but I am willing to try , your. Friend bobby
Great update! Can you tell me how many fuel canisters did you end up having to replace through each of 3 trips? Any issues with finding replacements on any of your travels. Have you ever considered using fuel stoves that use bottles (white gas, kerosene, etc.)?
With regards to hiking in the deep snow near the end of you hike how did you keep the snow out of the top of your shoes or the snow soaking your shoes and getting your feet wet/cold? I get cold feet and this is one of my biggest concerns. Thank you so very much.
The meltdownman
Hi probably a little late to comment on this video, but I would love to see a video on your camera gear setup. I actually found your channel looking for tips on backpacking because I do landscape photography, want to do landscape photography on longer hikes, possibly a full thru-hike! Just curious to see what you guys did as far planning your video and shot list etc...
Good CDT doc. I was curious what the whole trail was like. I work for the Forest Service and the CDT comes through my district. Lower San Juans on the Carson NF, where you entered the "more red" desert lol and my district ends when you cross into Colorado basically, if you went through Cumbres or La Manga Pass.
Thanks for your videos keep them coming!
check out the Anker PD battery bank. it is quick charge. quick as in a few hours (3-5) rather than 10-15 hrs
What is that black sun hat you wear? I really like it and want to try to find one! Or what are the several hats you wear, since I know you've misplaced them before.