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*** Official Backpacking Thread ***
- Thread starter afoaf
- Start date
I've had the same boots for 6+ years. Never given me blisters and kept my feet pretty damn dry even when trekking through some snow. I like the higher boots just for the sake of protecting my ankles and not getting as much debris inside. These boots are relatively light anyway so they don't feel like overkill. I've had heavier ones in the past that are way too stiff and heavy - darn tough but a pain to walk in and not as comfy.
Let's go to the desert!
When I was 13 we drove up to Berkeley and went to Ski Hut for backpacking gear and climbing gear (Chouinard carabiners were the best). Got the ankle-high Pivetta suede outer boots, best boots I ever had. I have Asolos now and they're pretty good too. They're sorta mid-high tops but they're light and I like a little protection for my ankles.
Backpacking Sleeping Bags, Quilts, Mattresses & Pillows | Zenbivy
Zenbivy Beds combine the warmth of a mummy bag, the versatility of a backpacking quilt, and the comfort of your bed at home.
zenbivy.com
I wouldn't zenbivy for backpacking; too heavy
they are part of a rash of companies that have middling products that are almost
ultralight and well-marketed, but that you'll also wind up replacing in pretty short
order if you're serious about dialing in your kit
for car camping, I'd look at the fancy exped self-inflating mattresses
I've considered a cot, too, but with a cot, you loose a lot of heat from below
the exped DeepSleep or MegaMat are straight luxury
they are part of a rash of companies that have middling products that are almost
ultralight and well-marketed, but that you'll also wind up replacing in pretty short
order if you're serious about dialing in your kit
for car camping, I'd look at the fancy exped self-inflating mattresses
I've considered a cot, too, but with a cot, you loose a lot of heat from below
the exped DeepSleep or MegaMat are straight luxury
I picked a shape & got a 3 season bag, and a not so cold rated one for summer warm nights so I don't wake up dripping in sweat (both "long" versions), and wear full body Smartwool 250s if it's cold and 150s if it isn't. I think picking the shape (like afoaf noted about mummy bags) is most important.There's a million of them and a million articles telling you to buy this one and that one, pros/cons, down vs synth so beware o' paralysis of analysis. Ask yourself how you like to sleep (or if you really GAF about it that much) and then pick one.
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I laugh at UL guys when they’re freezing their asses off, eating sh!t food and being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
I have definitely been cold before.
kids are gone for over a week in April. I'm thinking of Grand Canyon or maybe AZT....or portions of Hayduke
I *think* you could do a Zion traverse at that time of year, but it would be cold and it's only 50 miles total
distance which is kind of short.
view from end of Everett Hwy (as far as its plowed right now) at Bunny Flats last Sunday afternoon. Lenticular dancing show was on 
I wouldn't mind trying this. Doing Mt. Wilson (14 miles, 4200 foot climb) a couple times would be a good prep. Some day...if my body doesn't fall apart first.
I recommend the AZT Grand Canyon trip. I did Sunflower (NE of Phoenix) to Flagstaff over two weeks in April then southbound Utah to Flagstaff through the GC over a couple of weeks in Oct. Lots of elk, bison on the Northside of the canyon, not really a lot of desert but ponderosa pine forest and being a AZT "thru hiker" is about the only way to do the GC without getting permits a year ahead of time. THAT Brewery in Pine is only a 1/4 mile from the trail and a great stop along with plenty of beer in Flagstaff. "I'm only hiking to my next beer. Sometimes it takes 4 hours, sometimes 4 days."
