Gear
Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2024 Thru-Hiker Survey
This installment of the 2024 Appalachian Trail survey covers shelters of all kinds. We’ll discuss the types of shelters used, the type and size chosen based on hiking companions, and...
The Best Shoes For Road Walking: Topo Specter 2 Review
Over the last few years of backpacking across the USA and Canada I’ve really managed to dial in my gear. I’ve tested out all sorts of different equipment, looking for...
Calendar Year Triple Crown Gear List
In the next few days I will be embarking on my biggest adventure yet! Attempting to complete the “border to border” calendar year triple crown. Walking from key west to...
12,000 Miles and Counting: Peg Leg’s Backpacking Gear That Survived the Triple Crown and Beyond
When I first got into thru-hiking back in 2017, I was under the impression that once you bought all your gear, you were set for life. Before 2017 I had...
How a rodent made me get serious about my base weight
Wet, everything is wet. My tent is wet, my quilt is wet, my rain jacket lies in a sodden wet pile in the corner of my tent, wetter than it...
The Backpacker’s Guide to Bear Bagging
What is the deal with bear bags? Which type should I use, or should I use a canister? Once I have one, what do I do with it?
Lessons Learned: Going into my 2nd Thru-Hike
New Year, New Trail After a year away from thru-hiking, it's time to get back onto the trail. Since immersing myself in thru-hiking culture in 2017, it's been a significant...
Top Stoves, Filters, Rain Gear, and More on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) about the stoves and water filters they used on their 2023 thru-hike. This year we...
Rockin’ in the Bedrocks: Long Distance Hiking in Sandals
Importance of Footwear Selecting the right footwear for the trail is undoubtedly one of the most crucial decisions a hiker can make. The wrong shoes can significantly hinder your hike,...
The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at the Trek, we ask hikers on the Appalachian Trail all about what sleeping systems they used on their hike. In this installment, we'll cover the type...