Christmas evening, my mom and I sat on my childhood bedroom floor as I started to unpack and take inventory of my growing AT gear. Mom amuses me while I pick up each item, describe its utility, weight, and its comparison to other brands. I love talking about gear. It has become somewhat of an obsession. "Synthetic, down, wool, fill number, gortex, layers, too heavy, wicking, polyester..." you name it, I have probably talked entirely too much about it since my relationship with the trail began. I loved it when my mom looked at this pile of "stuff" and said, "It makes sense... this is going to be your home you carry on your back." She's right.
One of the most fascinating things about acquiring backpacking gear is that you realize how cluttered your "real life" is. Why do we need so many shoes, especially ones that hurt our feet? Why do we need a 3rd "little black dress"or why do we need so much damn hair product? What is this obsession with "new" when you already have an item that works perfectly? I have been doing a lot of "work" in this department. I have been cleaning up, donating clothes, giving things away to family and friends. It's difficult during the holidays because we are constantly giving and receiving things that no body actually needs...My mom calls these cleaning spells "purges." I do these most commonly during transitional phases in my life. I need to de-clutter my living spaces so I can focus on de-cluttering my mind.
I am absolutely intrigued with "tiny homes" (this housing movement where people live in abnormally small conditions--sometimes on wheels). It forces the homeowner to live minimalistic, to utilize space, to emphasize quality over quantity, meanwhile allowing you more liberty to live outside of your home--What?!? CRAZINESS *sarcasm*. We live in an era where we believe that bigger is better, we need the latest version of an electronic, we need 2 cars, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms... we are wasteful and our environmental footprints are getting larger and larger, while climate change is presenting us with record breaking occurrences of natural disasters that should be taken as reminders that we are in fact, so small...
One of the most fascinating things about acquiring backpacking gear is that you realize how cluttered your "real life" is. Why do we need so many shoes, especially ones that hurt our feet? Why do we need a 3rd "little black dress"or why do we need so much damn hair product? What is this obsession with "new" when you already have an item that works perfectly? I have been doing a lot of "work" in this department. I have been cleaning up, donating clothes, giving things away to family and friends. It's difficult during the holidays because we are constantly giving and receiving things that no body actually needs...My mom calls these cleaning spells "purges." I do these most commonly during transitional phases in my life. I need to de-clutter my living spaces so I can focus on de-cluttering my mind.
I am absolutely intrigued with "tiny homes" (this housing movement where people live in abnormally small conditions--sometimes on wheels). It forces the homeowner to live minimalistic, to utilize space, to emphasize quality over quantity, meanwhile allowing you more liberty to live outside of your home--What?!? CRAZINESS *sarcasm*. We live in an era where we believe that bigger is better, we need the latest version of an electronic, we need 2 cars, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms... we are wasteful and our environmental footprints are getting larger and larger, while climate change is presenting us with record breaking occurrences of natural disasters that should be taken as reminders that we are in fact, so small...
Pack:
Osprey Aura 50
Rain Cover:
Osprey XL rain cover
Hammock/ Rainfly:
GrandTrunk (double) Hammock (with strap extensions) + Grand Trunk Rainfly
Trekking Poles:
Leki
Sleeping bag + liner:
Marmot 20 degree, down + Sea to Summit: Thermolight Mummy liner (adds 10 degrees and can be used as summer bag)
Sleeping Pad:
Therm-a-rest: Z light Pad
Stove:
JetBoil: Mini Mo (Christmas gift from my brother)
Hiking Boots:
Asolo Boots
Socks:
Darn Tough X 2 for hiking
Reefs X 1 campsite
Insoles:
Superfeet (Berry)
Base layers:
Icebreaker Marino wool leggings
patagonia polyester "unders" X 2
Warm layers:
EMS Down coat
Patagonia half-zip fleece
EMS wool hat
Marmot gloves
Hiking clothes:
Patagonia Baggies (shorts)
EMS wicking polyester short sleeve and long sleeve athletic shirts (may bring only one and swap out)
Solomon (wind stopped) Leggins
Buff
Rain Gear:
EMS rain coat
REI rain pants (W Tall)
Water:
3L Platypus
1 nalgene
Aquamria
Stuff Bags:
Sea to Summit dry sack X 2. 6.5L and 8L (for loose/smaller items ad food)
Granite Gear 18L (for clothes)
Head Lamp:
Coleman (waiting to replace this item)
Miscellaneous:
12 ft of rope (thin)
First aide (band aids, mole skin, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen, needle and thread, tweezers)
Tenacious Tape
Trash bag liner for pack
Zip-lock bags
Luxury:
Kindle Voyage (Christmas gift from my brother)
iPhone 6s
May be missing some things above, but I will slowly be testing out and replacing what I can. Would love any feedback or recommendations!
Cheers! Happy New Year!
Osprey Aura 50
Rain Cover:
Osprey XL rain cover
Hammock/ Rainfly:
GrandTrunk (double) Hammock (with strap extensions) + Grand Trunk Rainfly
Trekking Poles:
Leki
Sleeping bag + liner:
Marmot 20 degree, down + Sea to Summit: Thermolight Mummy liner (adds 10 degrees and can be used as summer bag)
Sleeping Pad:
Therm-a-rest: Z light Pad
Stove:
JetBoil: Mini Mo (Christmas gift from my brother)
Hiking Boots:
Asolo Boots
Socks:
Darn Tough X 2 for hiking
Reefs X 1 campsite
Insoles:
Superfeet (Berry)
Base layers:
Icebreaker Marino wool leggings
patagonia polyester "unders" X 2
Warm layers:
EMS Down coat
Patagonia half-zip fleece
EMS wool hat
Marmot gloves
Hiking clothes:
Patagonia Baggies (shorts)
EMS wicking polyester short sleeve and long sleeve athletic shirts (may bring only one and swap out)
Solomon (wind stopped) Leggins
Buff
Rain Gear:
EMS rain coat
REI rain pants (W Tall)
Water:
3L Platypus
1 nalgene
Aquamria
Stuff Bags:
Sea to Summit dry sack X 2. 6.5L and 8L (for loose/smaller items ad food)
Granite Gear 18L (for clothes)
Head Lamp:
Coleman (waiting to replace this item)
Miscellaneous:
12 ft of rope (thin)
First aide (band aids, mole skin, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen, needle and thread, tweezers)
Tenacious Tape
Trash bag liner for pack
Zip-lock bags
Luxury:
Kindle Voyage (Christmas gift from my brother)
iPhone 6s
May be missing some things above, but I will slowly be testing out and replacing what I can. Would love any feedback or recommendations!
Cheers! Happy New Year!