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  • Arizona Trail Gear List 2025 | Lightweight Desert Setup

    This article was first published on The Trek on February 6, 2025 under the title Solo AZT Loadout – Kinda UL.

    My Arizona Trail Gear List for 2025

    Everyone loves gear lists, don’t they?  I am not sure why, because it seems to me what’s in your pack is very much in the same vein as “Hike Your Own Hike” – your reasons for hiking, for speed, for zeroes, and for carrying next to nothing or the kitchen sink are your own, and probably unique to you. 

    But maybe that is what makes gearlists so fascinating.  Because they are like a fingerprint.  They identify you, where you’ve been, how you think, and probably more. 

    So, with that preamble, I present to you another gearlist (clicky linky for Lighterpack) running 15.9lbs Baseweight.  This gearlist is by no means generic.  Let me give you a run down of the big flavours.

    What Makes My Arizona Trail Gear List Unique

    • It’s a Canadian’s Arizona Trail gear list.  Despite us being America’s next door neighbour, our dollar is weaker, and whatever kind of “free trade” deal is currently in place does not touch duties and costs of cross-border shopping. 
    • It’s a 50 year old‘s gearlist.  I got me some pills to take, and a set of reading glasses, and probably some other bits and bobs that a strapping 20 year old wouldn’t even think to take. 
    • It’s a gearlist that still has some throwback items I have had from before I ever heard of Ultralight. There’s probably a story for each of them… catch me in camp some evening and I’ll tell you a couple. 
    • It’s a gearlist to hike the AZT.  There’s a lot of stuff I am leaving at home, because it just isn’t needed. Two of them are bug spray and bear spray, just as examples. And there’s some stuff that I would only bring to the desert – the foam mattress, the stargazer kit and the groundsheet to name a few. 
    Arizona Trail gear for 2025.

    The Big Four and Core Setup

    Here’s a closer look at the core setup of my Arizona Trail gear list, including my shelter, sleep system, and pack. My shelter is the Durston Drop XMid 1P. That’s right, the OG. I picked it up back when I first began to hear of ultralight, and I cast my eyes around for a trekking pole tent that would not break the bank. Sadly, next to none of them were available in Canada. But at least this one was designed by a Canadian, so I ate the import duties and received my prize. Honestly, I haven’t had it out much – I picked up a 2P a year later when my wife wanted to do a section of the Great Divide Trail with me. Had to snag it second hand, they were rare as hen’s teeth at that time. 

    I have the stargazer kit and the new groundsheet, mainly because desert nights could be both prickly and stunning. Worth the weight penalty. 

    My sleep system is going to include my oldest foam mattress, an old Thermarest Z-Lite from I think about 2003.  That will go in the tent on the bottom, not necessarily for extra warmth, but to protect my air mattress. On top of that will be my Nemo Tensor insulated, which is plenty of R-Value for me. I’ve had it out in sub-freezing temps and been fine on it. I have a Thermarest mattress sheet as well – a small weight penalty, but I can wash it with my laundry and it will take my sweat and body oils. I just upgraded my pillow from a Sea-to-Summit Aeros to the Aeros UL Deluxe.  I found the smaller pillow to be awkward to manage, hoping the larger one works better.  Lastly, I have a hand-stitched 20 degree quilt from Little Shop of Hammocks, a cottage company in Saskatchewan.  I’ve actually met the owner (and craftsperson) who made it while on trail and it’s excellent work.

    My pack, you can probably guess is a DurstonGear Kakwa 55. I have a Drop 40 and a Kakwa 40 as well, but I find that when I use the Kakwa 40 for extended trips, I max it out.  I mean, it’s stuffed. So I decided to grab a 55 so I don’t have to spend as much time carefully organizing and compressing everything, and so that I can fit a bearcan if I have to. Not that I’m bringing one this time. 

    Hanging out with a statue at Colossal Caves in 2024.

    Food, Water, and Clothing for the Desert

    When planning my Arizona Trail gear list, I paid close attention to food, water, and clothing to survive desert conditions. I am still extremely weirded out at how nonchalant hikers are on the AZT.  People eat in their tents, sleep with their food bags, and never worry about rodents or bears. It’s crazy. But, I am not going to overpack so I am just bringing a drysack with an Opsak inside for food (I think I’m going to eat outside my tent anyway, and hopefully there will be no food scents inside), and then a Sawyer Squeeze for water. I’ve used and been happy with the Katadyn BeFree on many trips, but I’ve been convinced that the rugged Squeeze will serve me better with the sketchy water sources on this trip. I also picked up a CNOC 2L bladder to complement my Smartwater bottles, which will give me a carrying capacity of 4L on the trail.  I hope that’s sufficient. 

    For a stove, I prefer the Jetboil Stash. I have used a BRS stove, and must concede it is lighter, but the Jetboil just outperforms it in so many ways, I won’t be going back unless I am desperate. The Stash boils faster, uses less fuel, won’t overheat and collapse (Which I have literally seen a BRS do in the wild), and all for maybe a 15 gram weight penalty. 

    My Lighterpack only includes the clothes that will be in my pack, not the stuff I will be wearing. So, add a set of Outdoor Research Ferrosi shorts, an OR sun hoodie, a nylon belt, my Saucony trail runners (got them for a steal on clearance last year, and they are decent performers though I would prefer Hoka Speedgoats, and will probably buy them if I need a new pair on trail), a set of Injinji sock liners, a pair of Darn Tough Micro Crews, my Dirty Girl gaiters, and my Garmin Instinct 2 Solar watch.  Oh, and a ball cap. 

    In my pack I’ll have a light half zip fleece which is my go-to midlayer 90%  of the time which gets worn first for light rain, chilly mornings, chilly evenings, and any other time I need more than thin technical fabric. I’ll also have a Decathlon Forclaz hooded puffy for REALLY cold mornings and evenings (anything within spitting distance of freezing), a pair of OR Ferrosi pants, some short shorts for when I am too hot to think or want to go for a swim in Hutch’s Pool, a merino t-shirt for a backup top and extra underwear and socks. I’ll have a pair of very light merino gloves if I am desperate, but my hands usually run pretty hot. 

    I’m bringing raingear – OR Helium top and bottom just in case. They are very lightweight and not very durable, but if something sustained hits – especially wind and rain at the same time, I think I’ll be glad to have them.  Better safe than sorry. 

    Breaking trail… an easy job on this segment! I believe this was heading into Saguaro National Park.

    Electronics and Other Essentials

    Finally, my Arizona Trail gear list includes electronics and a few other essentials to make desert hiking safer and more comfortable. I’ll be packing a GroPro 12, and hope to put together some trail videos. I will have a couple of attachments along with, including a headmount and a polemount. Packing a 20mAh Battery pack, and it should last as long as I need it to as I think the longest pull away from a potential recharge is 6 days. I have an extra battery for the GoPro too, so if I can avoid the need to top that up and just use the battery pack for my phone, that will be awesome. 

    Just a few other notables – I use a stick sunscreen – I find it less messy and chance of spilling. Got a Jereko Gear Stake/Spade driver from GearTrade in Calgary – it was handy on my last trip for driving stakes in the hard ground without resorting to smashing the stakes with rocks. Only caution – it is plastic, so if it is not used carefully it will break. I managed to get my hands on a teardrop thermometer – I like knowing how cold it really is in the microclimate. I have this handy cooling towel I got a couple of years ago at a fitness event on base – it is so light and quick drying I love bringing it. It can serve as a drying towel for a swim, a drying towel for condensation on the inside of the tent, and of course something to cool the neck on a hot day. Also packing a cork ball – I wanted something to massage feet and limbs with in case I inflame some tendons or something. You never know right? 

    More From This Series

    • A Canadian Waiting 53 Days to Hike the Arizona Trail
    • Arizona Trail Gear List 2025 | Lightweight Desert Setup (You’re here)
    • Thru Hiking to Mental and Spiritual Health – My Arizona Trail Why

    Cheryl

    October 26, 2025
    2025, Arizona Trail, Arizona Trail 2025, Gear, Multi-Day Trails, Uncategorized
    arizona trail, gear, Multi-Day Trails, planning

  • Where to Buy Backcountry Camping Gear in Winnipeg

    In this post, we share some of the places we go to pick up outdoor gear for our backcountry trips. From storefronts in Winnipeg to online shops that ship across Canada, these are the resources we have found useful along the way. Our hope is that this list helps fellow hikers and campers track down the supplies they need for their own adventures. Note: At this time, none of these links are affiliate links. We are simply sharing resources we have personally found helpful.

    Storefront Locations in Winnipeg

    As we are now Winnipeg locals, we are on the lookout for places to stock up on gear and supplies for our hikes. The city has several solid options for outdoor enthusiasts. These are the storefronts we have found most useful so far. If you know of others, we would love to hear about them.

    StoreLocation / AddressWhat They Specialize In / StrengthsWhat to Expect / Caveats
    Wilderness Supply Co. Ltd.50 Isabel Street, WinnipegBig local outfitter. They carry camping, hiking, paddling, travel gear, boats (canoes, kayaks) and rentals/repairs. It’s a great stop for specialty items you can’t always find at big box. They have a great supply of pre-made meals.
    Prairie Summit ShopUnit 1B – 675 Empress Street, WinnipegThey stock brands like The North Face and are good for jackets, clothing, technical layering. We found the Smartwool clothing we were looking for here and on sale!Less stock of tents, stoves, etc., but good supplement to a bigger outfitter. We arrived within 15 minutes of closing. They were very helpful and even though they had packed their meals away for the season, they brought them out for us.
    MEC (Mountain Equipment Company)303 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg Classic outdoor/outfitter store. Good selection of backpacks, clothing, tents, footwear, accessories.Prices can be premium. Being downtown, you will need to pay for parking.
    Cabela’s / Bass Pro Shops580 Sterling Lyon Parkway, Winnipeg Big box outdoor / hunting / fishing store with a large footprint. Good for heavier gear, general outdoor supply, optics, tents, etc.Skew toward hunting/fishing/outdoor lifestyle but do carry camping/hiking gear. Will not have the ultra-light tech gear that specialty shops do.
    Atmosphere Various locationsMore of a sports / outdoor apparel / recreation gear store. Good for clothing, mid-range hiking gear, accessories.Atmosphere doesn’t carry the same amount of gear it used to. Look for backpacks, thermarest sleeping pads and what food they may still carry in stock.
    Mountain WarehouseAt Outlet Collection Winnipeg shopping centre More of mainstream outdoor / clothing / walking / general gear at accessible prices.Good for finding warm hiking layers. Watch clothing weight if planning distance hikes.

    Online Wilderness Gear Stores for Backcountry Camping

    If you are not able to find what you need in Winnipeg, there are many Canadian and North American online shops that carry a wide range of gear. Some focus on ultralight equipment, while others are great for clearance and discount deals.

    StoreWebsiteWhat They’re Known For
    Durston Geardurstongear.comCanadian ultralight company (BC). Tents, backpacks & trekking poles designed specifically for backcountry conditions. We use their tents and backpacks on our hikes.
    GearTrade (.ca)geartrade.caThis online marketplace for used & discounted outdoor gear is based out of Okotoks, Alberta. Great way to save money or find discontinued items. We have bought many items through this company. They are fast!
    Little Shop of Hammockslittleshopofhammocks.comBased in Saskatchewan, this small Canadian company hand-makes ultralight hammocks, quilts, tarps, and accessories. We both have quilts made by Little Shop of Hammocks. You can customize your colours!
    Outdoor Researchoutdoorresearch.comA Seattle-based company known for high-quality technical clothing and accessories like jackets, gloves, and gaiters. While not Canada-based, they ship here and their gear is well-suited to the variable weather you’ll face on backcountry trails.
    Garage Grown Geargaragegrowngear.comUS-based but ships to Canada. Specializes in small, cottage-industry ultralight brands (packs, shelters, accessories). Great for unique gear.
    Decathlondecathlon.caLarge sporting goods retailer with affordable camping and hiking gear. Their in-house brands (like Quechua) are great value for beginners. Consider this site for accessories such as underwear and gloves.
    The Last Huntthelasthunt.comA Canadain online outlet dedicated to discounted outdoor gear and apparel. It offers a selection of overstock and past-season items.
    reSAILresail.sail.caA Canadian online resale platform, focused on second-hand outdoor gear. Everything from clothes and boots to packs and tents.
    Altitude Sportsaltitude-sports.comMontreal-based, free shipping/returns in Canada. Excellent for clothing and technical outdoor gear. Look for Merino wool.
    La Cordéelacordee.comQuebec outfitter with a great online shop. Known for mountaineering, hiking, and ultralight options.

    Do you know of other great spots to find outdoor gear? Share your recommendations in the comments. We’d love to add them to our list.

    Cheryl

    October 13, 2025
    Gear, Tips, Uncategorized
    gear, planning, tips

  • AZT Prep – Gear Changes – Cheryl

    I thought I would highlight a few pieces of gear I am reusing and what I am bringing in new this time around.

    New Gear
    In preparation for hiking the AZT in March, I have made a couple of purchases, or am going to be making a few purchases to have the right gear and some added flexibility.

    1. Go Pro Hero 12 – One thing I wanted to do is take video on our hikes. Previously, I had used my cell phone to capture some footage, but I was always concerned about dropping it. I also didn’t necessarily want to bring it out in the rain and missed capturing some of the more challenging moments on the trail. I enjoy seeing videos from other hikers and I know my friends appreciate seeing the places we have been. With the Go Pro Hero 12, I am looking forward to getting video and sharing our experiences through another medium.
    2. Cotopaxi Hip Pack – Having quick access to supplies such as toiletries and Go Pro accessories was a priority for me this trip. After stressing about what the tuckamore would steal from my pack while hiking in Gros Morne National Park this summer, I didn’t want to have as many items tucked in my backpack’s side pockets, such as my toiletries bag. I also don’t want to leave anything of value in my backpack should we decide to go on a day hike and leave the remainder of our gear at our campsite. My only concern will be comfort when wearing the hip pack along with the waist belt of my backpack. I see an update coming in the future.
    3. Montem Trekking Poles – If you read our Gros Morne National Park trip reports, you would have read how I bent a trekking pole after sinking and falling into a muddy bog. We hunted around for replacement trekking poles for the trip and came across the Montem brand. My brand new white poles have already arrived and the company has sent customer service messages to let us know they will be responsive to any concerns. I think I already like them as a company, so I will be even happier if I like their trekking poles. After the hike, I will need to do a gear review on them.
    4. Gossamer Bottle Rocket (or Similar) – I am currently trying to track down an accessory for my backpack that will attach a 750ml water bottle to my shoulder strap. I am tired of turning in circles when attempting to slip my water bottle back into the backpack side pocket. I keep running into shipping issues where a $15-30 item will have taxes and shipping costs totaling around $25, bringing the total expense to around $50. That’s more than I want to pay for a little pouch that hangs off of my pack. Stay tuned for whatever I eventually find.
    5. Pillow – I decided to give a new pillow a try on this trail. When I track down the name of the new pillow, I’ll update this post. While my Trekology pillow was easy to inflate and never leaked on me, there was something about it’s shape and how it always slid off of my mattress throughout the night that I didn’t like. Also, the fabric on my face was not the most comfortable. I’m hoping my new choice of pillow will work better for my sleeping style and maybe will stay in place better.
    6. Shorts – For the first time, I will be packing shorts. There is no way I would not bring a pair of pants as cold mornings will mean cold legs, but knowing I will be hiking in the desert in hot temperatures during mid-day, I am definitely wearing shorts. I have never done a multi-day hike in shorts as we have always gone to the mountains or to Newfoundland where temperatures really aren’t ideal for those with exposed legs. I’m looking forward to the warmth.

    Returning Gear

    1. Saucony Peregrine 11 Trail Runners – The last time I used these was on the Pioneer Footpath, which I found was not the right shoe for Newfoundland and Labrador terrain since I needed the ankle support for the hidden uneven “trails”. I then used my Keen Hikers for our Gros Morne hike and found the ankle support gave me more confidence when stepping on the moss that deceptively made you believe the terrain was soft and even. The trail runners were great for our hike on the Great Divide Trail where the terrain was visible and rocky, so they are making a comeback for the AZT.
    2. Outdoor Research Puffy – I love my little green puffy. It keeps me warm when I need it most and is light to pack around. I also like to use it as an extension of my pillow when my Trekology pillow decides to go exploring in the middle of the night.
    3. Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xtherm and Synthetic/Down Hybrid TopQuilt – I run cold and I have found this combination of a sleep system works well for me. While we are going to add sleeping pads for more protection from pokey things on the ground, I am not going to change my sleep system. It kept me warm in Gros Morne and I am confident it will keep me warm on the AZT.
    4. Durston Drop 40L – While I do want to get a water bottle holder for my shoulder strap, this pack has been great for me now that I know how to adjust all the loaders and waist strap to suit my needs. I have beaten on this pack, dragging it along the rough surface of boulders as I slid down to tossing it into the back of vehicles. It remains in good shape and keeps everything dry. Even though we’ve never had a problem with moisture, we have still always put our clothes and other items in dry sacks. This time we are going with a pack liner and will just stuff everything in there so we don’t leave any spaces unfilled.
    5. The North Face Pants – I can’t tell you how much I love my North Face pants. These things are comfortable and durable. I have slid down so many surfaces while wearing these things and they are still in great shape. Sure the fabric is getting a little rough and pilly, but they are my favorite piece of clothing. They are definitely coming with us.

    While I’m making some gear changes, almost everything is going to remain the same. I think I have my gear pretty dialed in and I like the way it operates. Comfort for me on the trail means using what is familiar and my trusty gear has performed well on our backcountry trips thus far. It is even making me feel almost comfortable enough to consider doing a solo hike. Don’t tell Oliver I said that.

    Cheryl

    January 21, 2024
    2024, Arizona Trail, Gear

  • AZT Prep: Gear Changeover – Oliver

    After hiking sections of the Great Divide Trail (The Wildest Thru Hike, or so they say) and the even wilder Gros Morne Traverses, we have seen rough trail conditions and variable weather. We have adapted our kits to cope with wet, with bugs, with sketchy trails (or nonexistent ones), with fluctuations in temperatures from hot sunny days to snow and ice on our tent.

    But in choosing the Arizona Trail for our next hike, we are going to be challenged by a completely new set of variables. There will be some items in common, but enough differences to make it worthy to consider.

    This pack was from our Labrador Footpath hike, Day 1 with all food and water. I shove my daily food in a big ziplock on the outside of the pack for accessibility and to save space in the bear can. The Toaks cups are for morning hot drinks and to clink together as an ad-hoc bearbell.

    First, the temperatures will be higher. And drier. The elevation we will be dealing with will be higher also – even the Great Divide Trail does not reach the heights of the American Rockies in terms of elevation above sea level. The highest pass we hiked was Wonder Pass at just shy of 7800 feet. The height of Mica Mountain, our first big climb on the AZT is 8594 feet. Another thing to consider is when we did the GDT our home was at about 2000 feet, so the difference between the trail altitude and our home was not nearly as great as this time, where we live is just 50 feet above sea level. So, while it is possible we may see the remains of the winter on the AZT at certain moments, what we will have to plan for is management of water supplies and protection from the sun, and keeping cool (well, cooler anyway).

    The AZT, we have been told, has bears but not like the Grizzlies of the Canadian Rockies. The consensus seems to be one doesn’t even require bear spray or food storage precautions they are so seldom seen. So that will lighten our load in one direction.

    OutIn
    Long PantsShorts
    Bear Canister/UrsackThermaRest Z-Lite Foam Pad
    Bear SprayExtra 1L Water Capacity
    Mid or Insulation LayerTent Footprint
    RainGearGoPro

    But we will add weight in another area: our shelter. Many “Cowboy Camp” the AZT but we are going to bring our DurstonGear XMid 2P just in case. However, we have heard that the rocky desert and its abundant poky things will require consideration as well so we are adding weight there. So here’s a nerdy chart for you:

    Going from pants to shorts will be interesting for me. I have always done the convertible pants thing, but for this trip I am just going to stick with shorts. Cheryl will probably have some leggings but she runs colder than I do.

    Dropping the bear stuff will be a significant weight savings, and I am still processing breaking the cardinal rule of food in the backcountry – no food in your tent! Not sure how I am going to feel about it on trail but it seems that’s what people do on this trail.

    The extra water capacity won’t add much weight if empty (Smartwater bottles don’t weigh much) but full that’s an extra 2 lbs. The GoPro is Cheryl’s weight – I take the tent so she carries the camera.

    The question of base/midlayers and raingear is interesting to me. I know myself, sporadic storms are better dealt with in a fleece than a rainjacket/pants because I just wind up soaked with sweat in them (I only use rain pants to protect from morning dew and water off foliage). I’d rather be wet and warm in a fleece and dry out quickly than locking in all my own moisture! But, bringing two insulation layers (fleece and puffy) seems redundant with this trail. I’ll never wear them both. A puffy provides insulation on cold mornings and evenings, and wind resistance on windy days. The fleece provides water tolerant warmth but no resistance to wind. I am thinking just the puffy may be the way to go. I’ll have a set of technical base layers with me if it’s REALLY cold but doubt I’ll use them. They could also be used in a pinch if it’s raining, as they will still provide some warmth if wet. But I really don’t see it likely we will experience hours and hours of soaking rain on this hike.

    She pitches well on moss and berry bushes but…

    The last thing to discuss is the tent/sleeping changes. I have seen horror stories of air mattresses being punctured in desert conditions. We watched a thru hike video of a couple who used larger egg crate mats as their sit pads, giving more area to recline and relax on during the day, and use under their air mattresses for extra insulation at night. We really like that idea, not so much for the insulation (Cheryl runs an X-Therm and I have a Tensor Alpine) but for protection from possible punctures. We will also bring a footprint for the tent – we have never needed one up to this point – it’s a durable tent! But it has never faced desert, so we will err on the side of caution.

    One other tiny thing we will bring along – we like the idea of a cowboy camp, but find it hard to believe creepy crawlies won’t amble over to us at night so we are bringing Dan Durston’s “Stargazer Kit” – it weighs next to nothing and allows us to pitch the inner part of our tent without the fly – best of both worlds!

    admin

    January 14, 2024
    2024, Arizona Trail, Gear, Outdoors
    adaptation, desert, footprint, gear, water

  • Battle of the UL Campstoves 2022

    Battle of the UL Campstoves 2022

    So last year I did a comparison of ultralight campstoves by raw numbers: weight and cost being the most salient factors, though I touched on ease of use and risk of failure as deciding factors for myself in selecting my own system. The winners from that “debate” were the super cheap BRS from Amazon (with accessories selected as needed – fuel choice and cookpot size may give more advantages) for both weight and price, but my personal selection was the then brand new Jetboil Stash, because I was willing to take a price penalty and slight weight penalty for reliability and efficiency on long trips.

    This year I have been put onto two further ultralight options: the alcohol stove system and the Firebox Nano. It seems to me that the idea of a cook system which runs on biofuel (ie. sticks), while it may not be the most heat-efficient approach would save on fuel weight and make less waste. The Biolite simply wasn’t light enough to make sense last year even with the potential to charge electronics. But the Firebox Nano intrigued me so I thought I would consider it here.

    If you didn’t click on the link above, (fair warning: all prices in CAD and weights in grams) here’s what I found:

    • Jetboil Stash ($160): 399g (includes fuel weight and pot with integrated windscreen)
    • BRS UL Burner w/ Toaks pot and MSR fuel ($78.50): 362g

    And now… let’s consider three other options: another stick-fired stove, a stick-fired supplemented with alcohol, and an alcohol based setup.

    (more…)

    admin

    February 4, 2022
    Gear, Gear Reviews, Outdoors, Uncategorized
    alcohol stove, BRS, camp stoves, campstoves, firebox, jetboil, skurka, UL, ultralight

  • Gear Review: Dan Durston XMid 1P Vs. Nemo Hornet 1P

    Dan Durston’s XMid 1P Vs. Nemo Hornet 1P Tents

    So I was working on my gear as you might have seen on here, and I settled, after much debate on the Nemo Hornet 1P, after I found a screaming hot deal with Valhalla Pure, getting the tent for $359 instead of $449. I discovered its footprint size and price per ounce was more favourable than just about anything I could order in from across the border like Gossamer Gear or Zpacks.

    So I grabbed it on sale…

    Then I came across Dan Durston’s XMid 1P.

    I would always rather support Canadian-based design than USA – the market is so much smaller and the guy designed it for the Great Divide Trail, a trail I desperately want to do. I looked it over online and I loved the double vestibule and neat innovations like the parallelogram floor. No poles means lighter right?

    I signed up for the drop thinking it would be a while before it came available again. Then it did – sooner than I thought.

    Now I have two tents. What to do? Compare them of course!

    (more…)

    admin

    May 14, 2021
    Gear, Gear Reviews, Outdoors

  • Shopping for Hiking Gear in Canada: 2019

    Shopping for Hiking Gear in Canada: 2019

    Here’s the problem: Canada is not the USA.

    Hear me out. That’s important when it comes to hiking gear, especially in this brave new world of lightweight and ultralight backpacking and hiking.

    Like overseas hikers, the selection of gear available locally is not that light. It might be tough, it might be useful, but it is not light.

    I have pored over Atmosphere, I have visited multiple Valhalla Pures, I have scanned Canadian Tire and Camper’s Village, I have scrolled through Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop, and I have dug through the REI of Canada, MEC‘s catalog. The selection just isn’t there compared to the USA.

    And ordering online from American outfitters, while technically possible, is expensive especially with the Canadian Dollar in the toilet.

    I was in one shop, a specialty outdoors store, where I had previously had very good conversations with the owner about gear. But this time, looking to specifically cut my base weight, he had nothing to offer me except to point me towards insanely expensive gear that wasn’t even what I was looking for.

    In general, all of the above stores, if they carry quality hiking gear at all, only carry the big names: Osprey, Deuter, Gregory if you’re lucky. The odd Kelty, Mountain Hardware, or North Face sprinkled here and there, occasionally MSR makes an appearance. Basically, if it’s made in a factory somewhere in the 3rd world, you can buy it in Canada.

    But compared to what I already own, next to nothing would make serious cuts to my base weight.

    However, I have good news: there is some reasonable gear available for sale in Canada for a decent price. I’ll tell you what I found.

    (more…)

    admin

    January 29, 2019
    Gear, Gear Reviews, Outdoors
    backpacks, canada, gear, hiking, shelters, sleeping, ultralight, weight

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