I thought I would take a moment to brag and complain about some of our gear through the years. As I look back at the last 8 years, I notice some items that have been constants in our lives and some that were a one time bust. Every time we have packed up for a trip or to move internationally, someone always asks, "How do you do it?" My answer is, "With the right gear."
Footwear
Never leave home with out Crocs. Especially when camping it's so easy to slip on around the campsite. The rubber bottoms feel great on tired hiking feet. Also great if it's raining or you want to wade in the river and unlike flip flops, they don't get caught on rocks and break.
6pm.com often has discounts.
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| We both had a pair living in India in the monsoon and traveling through Thailand. I'm wearing the north face backpack and Kyle's wearing the Kelty. |
My favorite running and walking shoe? New Balance Minimus 10x3 Trail Runner. They are also my favorite climbing and walking shoe. They are a super light, barefoot runner, breathable shoe. Be warned that the summer version with mesh is great for hot weather. The winter version (no mesh) is too hot for summer wearing. I've had great luck finding 2 pairs at Nordstrom Rack over the years for 50% off.
My favorite water hiking shoe are Keen's. They protect my toes, stay on tight, and have great traction! I've worn my way through two pairs of Keen Newport sandals. The first pair lasted me 6 years! I've also had the Whisper sandal. It's a sleeker, less bulky look, but they foot bed was too narrow for me. My dad has the male version of the Newports and also loves them. I've also found these at Nordstrom Rack.
Kyle has also had cozy feet in Keen boots.
Socks?? SmartWool for every occasion!!! Shop Sierratradingpost.com We prefer the PhD or Running socks. We don't get the ultra thin anymore because we would ware holes in them too fast. Thin for summer and medium for winter. I have had luck with Icebreaker, Bridgedale, and Lorpen as well.
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| Keens helping me to climb in the Panama rainforest. They also have been to India, Banff, and the John Muir trail. I'm actually wearing them right now :) |
Backpacks
Over the years I've used a large old school
Kelty and a small
Northface. Both were advertised for backpacking.
The Kelty had great features like side and front pockets, separate bottom compartment and heavily padded belt and shoulder straps. However, the top section was a giant pit. If you needed something at the bottom of the pit, you had to take everything out.
The Northface looked cool and was great for backpacking in Thailand. However, it was highly impractical for packing everything needed for a backpacking trip in the woods (your sleeping bag and extra shoes have to be attached on the outside). It also was like a giant pit.
I have been using the
Ariel 65 Osprey pack for the last few years. I love it! It's big enough to fit my camping gear but could be pulled small enough to use as a carryon when traveling through Central America. It also has a front access pocket so I can open it like a suitcase. An Osprey feature I love is a moldable hip strap. At the store, they heat it up and mold it to your hips which makes a huge difference around mile 50. I also like that the top flap is detachable and turns into a fanny pack for day hikes.
We bought Kyle's dad, Owen, a
Granite Gear Aji 50 Backpack last year that he has traveled in Europe with. Our friends Kim and Jon also have this pack and they all love it. It has many great features, but the best is the front suitcase style opening. If you need something at the bottom or middle of your pack, you can easily open to the exact location.
My Dad and Kyle both have had wonderful experiences with the
Deuter Aircontact Variflex Internal Frame 65 L + 10L pack. Comfy, front suitcase style opening, holds a crud ton of stuff and has loads of places to hook things on the outside!
Deuter Aircontact Variflex Internal Frame
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| My dad, Dave, preparing his Deuter Aircontact to hike the John Muir Trail. |
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| Kyle carrying a 70L Arcteryx Backpack |
Hydration
I also have been traveling with a 12oz insulated wide mouth
Klean Canteen. Be sure to check out the lid options (loop cap and cafe cap). Not filling up landfills is important to me. While on the road, I fill it with water at the gas station and it's cold for 12 hours. My Starbucks Chai is hot for 6 hours. I rarely use a disposable cup anymore. That makes me happy.
Tents
We had this trust Eureka for years! We slept for months in it in Central America and it held up great. You can see the stars when the fly is off but the walls aren't all mesh which allows for convenient changing inside. The down fall - no foot print so we always had to carry a tarp. VERY durable though. We recently passed this on to our nephews and bought a
Mountain Smith Celestial Tent (2 person, 3 season).
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| The Eureka set up at the Lazy Man's Farm in Panama. It rained many, many nights there and it still held up! |
We recently passed this on to our nephews and bought a
Mountain Smith Celestial Tent (2 person, 3 season). It had all the specification we wanted - extra length for Kyle's 6'4" build, a waterproof wrap up bathtub bottom which means so tarp or footprint needed, see through roof for star gazing, some privacy in the walls (not all mesh), and two doorways. At first sight, it seems like a cheapo tent, but we've used it in the rain and it's held up great! We are very happy with it. The only negative is the vestibule (the place under the fly that extends out from the tent so you can put your gear) is smaller than the Eureka. Having that extra outdoor but protected space spoiled us.
Sleeping Pads
We have used many things for sleeping pads over the years. We had different options at every farm and in every country we've been in. During the summer of 2012 while in Central America, we counted how many beds/sleeping arrangements we had just in that year. I think it was somewhere close to 25! We've slept on mattresses made from coconut hair, foam, air pads, and more. The ones we liked the most? We happily shared a
Coleman twin air mattress for weeks in the tent before Buddy decided to give it try. You know how dogs like to walk in circles to get comfy before lying down? The Coleman was no match for his nails.
Coleman's are also great for floating in rivers (you need to air them out well before putting them back in the tent...which is how Buddy got ahold of it.)
Cookware
Flashlights
I used to swear by
mini Magnates. But over the last 20 years (I've been backpacking for 20 years!) they have greatly developed head lamps. My favorite for price and function is Petal Tikkina II LED Headlamp. I have used this in India when the power went out, in the woods in the middle of the night, and in the back yard to put away the chickens.
Last notes: having the right gear is key but don't pay full price!!! Follow these steps instead:
- Try things on at the store - backpacks, headlamps, open up the tents, open up the sleeping bags.
- Read reviews
- Shop off season - buy tents, sleeping bags, packs in late fall and winter
- Shop at discount stores like Playto's Closet and Unique Thrift - I found 2 Columbia rain jackets!
- Shop discount websites like Sierratradingpost.com, Moosejaw.com, and 6pm.com
Hope that helps!! Feel free to share any gear you don't leave the house without!
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