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post thru-hike gear wrapup: Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite

Quick, what is the most important activity on a thru-hike? If you answered, “Hike,” give that reader a Kewpie doll. But, indulge me just for a sec, and let’s rephrase the question just a little. To hike, you need to be strong and focused, and to get there, you need to be well fed and […]

post thru-hike gear wrapup: Icebreaker T

Except for extra pairs of socks, undies and camp clothes that double as layers on cold days, there’s really no such thing as a “change of clothes” when thru-hiking. So when it comes to deciding what to wear, you better choose wisely. I purchased a Smartwool long sleeved shirt to take on the Te Araroa. […]

post thru-hike gear wrapup: La Sportiva Akyra mountain running shoe

You might recall that it was one year ago, while hiking the Coast-to-Coast and aliloop-of-the-lakes in England, that I became a true believer in using trail runners for backpacking. It turns out this is not just a fling. We’re talking full-on love affair made to last for the long haul and that’s because for the […]

post thru-hike gear wrapup: Kavu Fishermans Chillba

It’s not that I have anything against baseball caps. I often wear them hiking, biking, kayaking, running, skiing, climbing – you get the idea. But for a long-distance thru-hike, I really need to cover more territory. I am a pony-tailed hiker most of the time, and there’s a lot of exposed skin. A wide-brimmed sun […]

post thru-hike gear wrapup: Granite Gear Crown2 60

When I purchased the iPhone that would become my camera, typewriter, microphone, editing studio and means of communication with the outside world, I needed to ensure it was big enough to handle all those tasks, but small enough to fit easily in the hip-belt pocket of my backpack. “Olive Oyl” – my Granite Gear Crown2 […]

post thru-hike gear wrapup: Leki Micro Vario Ti Cor-Tec pole

Gusts were at “extreme gale” in exposed areas and squally showers blew sideways the day I crossed Nelson Lakes National Park’s Traverse Saddle in New Zealand’s South Island. I made it to the top with enough clear sky to shoot a selfie even if I was barely able to stand. Going down, per usual, was […]

Soto Amicus review

I had 25 ounces at a rolling boil in about four minutes.

I had 25 ounces at a rolling boil on my 3 ounce stove in about 4 minutes.