backpacking gear
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Packing for a 2,650-mile long backpacking trip
The countdown is on: in less than 3 weeks I’ll be thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a ~2,650-mile footpath across California, Oregon, and Washington. I can’t wait to set foot on the trail and share this journey with you… Continue reading
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Trip Report: Pre-PCT Practice Hike
At 5:45 am Friday morning, I hit snooze on my alarm, cursing my past self for my excessive ambition. Twenty minutes later, I actually got up and started getting ready. Today, was the day I planned to do my first… Continue reading
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Summary of my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike (Resupply strategy, gear, and reflections)
As you know, I’m gearing up to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail starting this May. Soon, I’ll be sharing posts about my preparations and planning process. But first, I’m taking time to reflect on my past thru-hikes and look over… Continue reading
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Summary of my Colorado Trail Thru Hike (Resupply strategy, gear, and reflections)
As I gear up to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail this upcoming May, I’ll post a lot about my planning process. As I prepare for my next adventure, I’m also taking time to reflect on my past thru-hikes and look… Continue reading
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Affordable Backpacking: 7 Gear Alternatives That Work
After years of backpacking, I’ve learned the value of owning durable, high-quality gear. However, if you’re getting started and trying to save money on your backpacking setup, it can be hard to discern essential items from the frivolous and unnecessary… Continue reading
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Lessons Learned: 7 things I did differently on my second thru-hike
When it comes to thru-hiking, sometimes you must learn by doing. This was certainly the case for me. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail solo during my gap year before college. Though I was already a fairly experienced backpacker for my… Continue reading
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Durable Backpacking Gear: 3 items in my pack that stood the test of time (and miles), and 3 that did not
I’ll start by saying I’m not sponsored by anyone and I’m not selling anything. These are just my opinions of my backpacking gear, based on 12+ years of backpacking including two thru-hikes. I hope this information helps other hikers make… Continue reading
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5 ultralight backpacking hacks I stand by! Plus 2 that go too far for me
Finding the balance between comfort while hiking and comfort at camp can be challenging for any backpacker. I’ve learned that striking this balance isn’t the same for every person – and it even looks different on different trips. Over my… Continue reading
Adventures with Val 