Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Good point there. But still, even a couple small hikes in new boots really helps. If you're going to get a hot spot in new boots, I'd sure like to find out before I have to go 210 miles.

 

Not a big surprise. Full leather hikers need break in, but less than they used to. I can honestly count on one hand the number of hikers I've seen in full leather, lugged sole boots. Most here in my area, even those of a proper generation aren't wearing anything but lightweight, super breathable hikers.

Anyway, I think the bigger point is nobody markets leather anymore so unless buyers have been exposed to leather boots and how to wear them, I'd bet it's largely not even a thought in their head that they need break in.

 

No question!

 

Merrell Moab Ventilator lows for me, especially in our dry climate or during the summer. Light, NO break-in needed, and the Vibram sole saves my arches from the sharp rocks I usually hike on. I get a solid 300 miles per pair on granite before I need to replace them for wear on the tread. For more of a waterproof boot in nastier or colder weather, I wear a mid height Keen waterproof. Those had zero break-in, too. Last thing I want is a full leather mid or high hiking boot, even if it's broken in. My feet get too hot when I'm moving.

 

All this talk reminds me that my wife's friend is somewhere on the AT as we speak/type. She's never backpacked before and decided to thru-hike the AT! She married and divorced by the time she was 20, really nice girl and I think she just needed one of those "self discovery" experiences. I really really admire her for just going for it! My wife has been getting postcards every so often and she seems to be doing well.

I would assume the book/movie "Wild" inspired her.

 

So what do you backpackers carry for a solar panel when you're out on long trips? I have a 14w 4 panel Anker that I love, but it's heavy for backpacking and takes up as much space and weight as a large tablet. Now it's my truck camping solar panel.

I recently picked up a 7w single panel flexible with single USB from SunLabz. I'm pretty impressed with it so far. It's thin enough to slide into a wide outer pack pocket (perfect fit in my Eberlestock HalfTrack. Comes with 4 small caribiners, and has 4 big grommets on each corner so you can hang it on your pack for charging on the move. Quick field test yielded 12% additional charge on my Samsung S5 with 7000mAh extended battery in only 54 minutes. Not bad for 7w on a device that requires 2.1A. This panel is feather light compared to my Anker, and has a web zipper pouch on the backside to hold your battery pack or phone while charging. Only 1 USB output though, where my Anker has 2 outputs.

SunLabz® Portable Solar Charger (7w) Ultra-Efficient Solar Panels

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Solar-Charger-Ultra-Efficient-SunLabz/dp/B00MU8T7MM

Only $31, gets stellar reviews, and mine is one of them. They have a 2 panel folding version with 13w output if you want to carry the extra weight/bulk. I wasn't wanting to pay Goal Zero prices, so this panel was a real win. I've flexed it to almost 90 degrees a couple times, and it showed no signs of stress whatsoever. Nice thin profile so it takes up almost no pack space and will contort to slight bending and impact.

 

Agreed.

Asolo's hardly need to be broken in.

 

I don't have much experience with the new space-age stuff; I typically use my day-to-day boots as my hiking shoes. They're a little bit heavier, but that way I know that they're broken in, that the waterproofing is still good, and that they don't bother my feet.
These are my current summer boots, but I had them resoled last summer to a meatier tread.
http://www.chippewaboots.com/footwear/footwear/outdoor/shop-all-outdoor-boots/25220

 

Got back from backpacking in the eastern sierras Sunday and I have to say...that JetBoil was a life saver. I'm so glad I invested in getting one of these things

 

They really do perform well. I love mine. Wife bought one for me a couple birthdays ago and it hasn't let me down since. Works really well at altitude.

 

I've been considering one for a while. I don't backpack camp nearly as often anymore these last few years, but a jetboil is definitely lighter than the single burner Coleman that I use (pictured). How are they on fuel?

 

What about one of these?

 

One in the same, IMO. A Pocket Rocket is purely a water boiler stove but has the disadvantage (comparably) to not being an all in one unit, still needs a pot, windscreen, etc, to equal a JetBoil - and then you'd have pretty much what the JB offers but far less refined.

The CO emissions from the Pocket Rocket are notoriously large, BTW. Not really a point to that sentence outside of awareness. It's exceedingly higher than other canister stoves.

 

This is the exact burner i have. Its served me well for years and weighs almost nothing. Got 2 cups of water boiling pretty fast last weekend even in high wind with little cover

 

I like that it is near nothing to pack.
I have used denat. alcoh. stoves too. Those are bad ass. My buddy and I did a three day trip into the ADKs with just one of those as the primary stove. Worked great.

 

I prefer my Snow Peak Giga Power for canister stove setup, it actually lets you cook and simmer, or roar to a boil.

Snow Peak sells a wind screen for it that actually works good and doesn't put you at risk for overheating the canister and causing an explosion. One thing I don't like about canister stoves is the lack of windscreen options, which is one area the JetBoil is great, with the finned pots and built in windscreen to maintain heat.

 

210 miles. That's not backpacking, that's being homeless.

 

I have this one. I like it. Balancing on the pad is tough. That's where I think the JetBoil may be better.

 

I have the generic version of this in my other stove kit. It includes a Toaks 1100 pot/lid, the Toaks gasifier titanium stove, one of these little burners, and a small canister of fuel. That way, if I run out of fuel or have a valve malfunction, I can bust out the gasifier stove and burn sticks/pinecones and still get by.

 

Here is the Jetboil I have and it proved itself time & time again on my last trip.
I'm extremely pleased with my purchase.