Trail Tips
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ULA CDT: No Frills, Just Right (4,500 Mile Review)
The ULA CDT is perhaps one of my most revered packs, equally as much as their Ohm 2.0. After using this backpack for thousands of miles, I’ve had plenty of time to feel out it’s abilities (and it’s limits). From long desert stretches in New Mexico, to torrents of rain in Appalachia, this pack has…
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Hiking in the Rain: Seasoned Tips to Master Wet Weather Treks
Over thousands of miles and millions of rain drops, I’ve had many ups and downs while hiking in the rain. Some of my most dire moments while backpacking were in the rain. There can be nothing more frustrating than enduring day after day of cloudy skies, threatening thunder, or worse. But fear not – I…
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Appalachian Trail Gear List: Expert Guide (7 Essentials)
When I was first interested in thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, I thought I had it all figured out. I wasn’t exactly brand new to backpacking at that point. I’d done hikes in New Mexico, the Great Smoky Mountains, various locations in the Great Lakes region, and abroad in New Zealand. But preparing for a journey…
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Ultralight Backpack Comparison Guide: Modern Frame vs Frameless
The most crucial and consequential piece of gear you have, in my opinion, is your backpack. It’s why it’s called “backpacking”, and not “carry everything in your arms through the woods”. For this article, I will do a deep-dive into an ultralight backpack comparison of frames. Whether or not you choose to have a frame,…
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ULA Ohm 2.0 Review: Trail Proven and Versatile
The ULA Ohm 2.0 is a fantastically durable minimalist backpack with a jack-of-all-trades capability. After roughly 3,500+ miles, it remains my go-to pack for lightweight trips requiring extra food, snow and ice equipment, or adequate support for lengthy desert water carries. It’s not the lightest pack on the market, or the most flashy, but the…
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Choosing the Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear (Big 3)
Discovering the best ultralight backpacking gear can be daunting to newcomers. In this article, I’d like to give a birds-eye-view of what I look for when choosing a new item for my “big-three” (backpack, shelter, sleeping quilt). These are my main side-kicks for any overnight foray, so they need to pass muster. Hunting for the…
