gear Archives - Untaken Trails

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.

Store	Location / Address	What They Specialize In / Strengths	What to Expect / Caveats
Wilderness Supply Co. Ltd.	50 Isabel Street, Winnipeg	Big 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 Shop	Unit 1B – 675 Empress Street, Winnipeg	They 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 Shops	580 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 locations	More 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 Warehouse	At 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.

Store	Website	What They’re Known For
Durston Gear	durstongear.com	Canadian ultralight company (BC). Tents, backpacks & trekking poles designed specifically for backcountry conditions. We use their tents and backpacks on our hikes.
GearTrade (.ca)	geartrade.ca	This 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 Hammocks	littleshopofhammocks.com	Based 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 Research	outdoorresearch.com	A 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 Gear	garagegrowngear.com	US-based but ships to Canada. Specializes in small, cottage-industry ultralight brands (packs, shelters, accessories). Great for unique gear.
Decathlon	decathlon.ca	Large 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 Hunt	thelasthunt.com	A Canadain online outlet dedicated to discounted outdoor gear and apparel. It offers a selection of overstock and past-season items.
reSAIL	resail.sail.ca	A Canadian online resale platform, focused on second-hand outdoor gear. Everything from clothes and boots to packs and tents.
Altitude Sports	altitude-sports.com	Montreal-based, free shipping/returns in Canada. Excellent for clothing and technical outdoor gear. Look for Merino wool.
La Cordée	lacordee.com	Quebec 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

Documenting Your Adventures: Keeping a Trail Journal or Blog

Keeping a journal of your hike is a great way to capture different moments you experienced during the day. You will find that the longer you are on the trail, your memories will blur together. Over time, you will forget what you saw first, the names of people you met, or what campsite you were at where you got the worst sleep. Journaling will give you an opportunity to capture those details and relive them at a later time and share more accurately what you experienced.

What Type of Journal Should You Use?

I brought along a thin booklet that barely added any weight. It had enough pages for the trip and was not intended to capture every hike I have been on. I used a mechanical pencil since I didn’t want to pack a sharpener if I broke the lead. I needed to make sure I still had daylight to write otherwise I needed to bring out my headlamp.

While my preference is to hand write in a journal, others might use a notepad app on their phone and write out their thoughts. The only issue with this method would be if you wanted to conserve your phone battery.

I don’t use any templated journal designed for capturing hike details. I use a simple lined notebook and write my thoughts as they come to me.

When to Journal

At the end of the day, I would sit at our campsite (most often inside the tent) and write out a summary from the day. I found that writing at the end of the day kept the memories fresh in my mind and was a way to unwind after a long day of hiking. Even then, I was often asking my husband for the name of a pass we climbed or how many miles we had hiked before reaching a particular milestone.

My husband doesn’t keep a journal when he is hiking but my mother-in-law recently gifted him a notebook to capture his hikes. He has since gone back through his photos and printed pictures from his hikes and pasted them into the journal to keep. He will be updating the journal with his future adventures.

What to Write About in Your Journal

Sometimes it is difficult to think about what you might journal about. You might think there is nothing to write about besides counting trees. There is plenty to capture in a journal. You just need to reflect on your day and replay images or conversations in your mind.

Describe the Trail

Writing about what the trail was like that day is an easy topic. You can describe elevation gains and descents, if there were switchbacks, and even the condition of the trail. Note river crossings and how easy they were. Write about the meadows you walked through or challenging obstacles.

Make Note of Who You Meet

You don’t need to ask everyone for their names, but capturing if there were other people on the trail is an interesting fact to capture. On longer trails, days could pass before you encounter another person. Note down if they stayed at the same campground as you, any information they passed along, or anything that stood out to you. And if you happen to meet a Trail Angel, you will want to remember them.

Document What You See

When on the trail, there is much to journal about. You can write about the animals you saw, moss or mushrooms, or spectacular views. I found myself writing about outhouses and their condition. Some had toilet paper. Others were wrapped in chicken wire. Writing about what you saw is probably the easiest topic to write about in a journal. A challenge would be to write down the smaller details that you could easily forget about later.

Journal About What Excited You

Was there a particular goal you had set for yourself on this day? Did you put in extra miles? Maybe there was a view that you found to be the most amazing out of all of the sights you had seen. Along the trail, there could be small touches, such as a bridge over a creek, that make your day. Write about those things.

Write About Your Feelings

Not everyone is comfortable writing about their feelings, but who said you need to share your journal entries? If you’re blogging, you can write it in a post and keep it private. If writing in a book, don’t give it to others to read. Writing out your emotions can help you work through the challenges you’re facing. It might be writing about something happening on or off the trail. Getting outdoors and away from other distractions can truly be helpful. Capturing your reflections in your journal is another opportunity to understand what you’re processing.

You don’t only need to write about your feelings. How you “feel” can also be about your senses. Are you in any physical discomfort? Do you have blisters or sore muscles? Temperatures fluctuate on the trail and you can go from feeling hot to cold in a matter of hours. You can always journal about the amount of sleep you got because the frogs were croaking all night long.

Capture Trail Facts

Not everyone is into capturing their feelings. You might be the sort of person who prefers to gather the facts. Journaling could consist of noting the exact location of water sources and how they are flowing. You might also capture the condition of campsites, including if there are bear lockers available, firepits, or the number of tent pads. This information would be valuable to pass on to other hikers and for you should you want to camp on the same trail in the future.

What Worked and Didn’t Work Well

It is always great to write down the lessons you observed along the way. You might want to write a quick review on a piece of gear you brought with you. It could be you started too late in the day for the number of miles you wanted to do. Maybe you used an alternate that brought you to an unexpected viewpoint. Take a moment to think about your day and what you would want to do again or what you would want to change.

Journaling Should Be Fun

I’ll leave you with this final thought on journaling, which is that you should find it enjoyable. There may be days when you are exhausted from hiking and not feel like picking up a pen to write. That’s okay. If you feel that you hate journaling and you’re only doing it because you packed a notebook, then don’t do it. We’ve all packed things with us that we never ended up using. If you start journaling and discover it is taking away from your experience, it isn’t the trail activity for you. Take out your camera and take pictures to capture those moments another way. Find a way to remember your hike in the way that works best for you.

Cheryl

February 14, 2024

Tips

gear, hiking, journal, tips
Pack List for Multi-Day Backpacking
When choosing what to pack for your backpacking trip, think about how many days you are hiking, the weight you’re carrying, and the season. You will need to make adjustments to any list depending on your own personal needs. Follow this link to view our current gear list.

Bring the Right Shelter

On the trail, you are going to want to pack the best sleeping system for you. Consider how you sleep when choosing a sleeping bag or a quilt. Temperatures for the season will dictate the temperature rating of both your bag/quilt and pad. When packing a tent, think about the weight and how much room you need for you, your partner, and your gear.
1. Tent
2. Sleeping pad
3. Sleeping bag / quilt (rated for the temperatures you’re hiking in)
4. Pillow or stuff sac
5. Optional: Ground sheet
6. Optional: Extra tent pegs
Consider Food & Water

Depending on where you are hiking, bear safety for food storage is an important consideration. You will need to identify the best solution to pack your food when in bear country. Even when not in bear country, you need to pack out your garbage and keep mice out of your food. Also think about how you want to filter your water as more water sources will require purification. Make sure you pack enough calories and don’t forget about managing your electrolytes.
1. Food storage (e.g. Ursack or BearVault)
2. Water filter / purification
3. Water bottles (e.g. Smart water bottles)
4. Stove (e.g. Jetboil Stash)
5. Spork
6. Titanium mug
7. Freeze dried meals
8. Snacks (e.g. nuts, jerky)
9. Electrolytes
10. Ziploc bag for trash
Pack the Right Clothing

Packing clothing is probably the toughest part of packing for a trail. You have to consider the weather, which is not always predictable. Don’t underestimate the importance of dry socks. Reserving one pair to only wear around camp is a recommended luxury item. Please don’t carry your entire wardrobe. Re-wear clothing and stop in a town to do laundry and take a shower.
1. Hat / Toque / Beanie
2. Shorts / Pants
3. Short sleeve / long sleeve shirt
4. Fleece and/or Puffy
5. Thermal layer
6. Socks for hiking
7. Socks for camp
8. Hiking boots or shoes
9. Shoes for camp / Water crossing (e.g. Crocs)
10. Underwear
11. Gloves
Helpful Gear to Include in Your Packing List

We use trekking poles not only for stability but also for our tent. Some items on this list can be optional based on your preference. We often pack most of these items on our trips.
1. Trekking poles
2. Dry sacs or pack liner
3. Rain jacket / Rain pants
4. Sun shirt
5. Gaiters (e.g. Dirty Girl)
6. Head lamp
7. Battery pack
8. Sunglasses
9. Lighter
10. Charging cables
11. Knife
12. Bug jacket
Bring a Hygiene Kit

Pack the amount of toilet paper you think you will need and bring extra. A rash cream of some sort will be helpful with chaffing from your pack or in other sensitive places. Don’t forget to put any smelling products, such as toothpaste, in your bear safe storage at night.
1. Ziploc bags (Protect your clean toilet paper and another for used paper)
2. Toilet paper
3. Chapstick
4. Diaper rash cream or body glide
5. Mini toothbrush (or saw off the handle)
6. Mini toothpaste
7. Trowel / Spade
8. Pee cloth (e.g. Kula)
9. Feminine products
Pack for Safety

Make sure you pack with safety in mind. In bear country (particularly grizzly bears), you are going to want to pack bear spray. Sunscreen is something you might easily forget and will remember once you start to burn. Always travel with an SOS device and tell someone your travel plans.
1. Bear spray
2. First aid kit
3. Sunscreen
4. Bug spray
5. Map and compass or GPS
6. SOS device (e.g. Garmin inReach)
Entertainment Bundle

Don’t forget the importance of giving yourself something to do when you are stuck in your tent during a rainstorm. When the temperatures drop and you hide out in your tent, having a little something tucked in your pack to help pass the time is helpful. Choose something small and light to enhance your trip.
1. Journal with pencil
2. Deck of cards
3. Kindle
4. Camera
Final Reminder

It is easy to make a list and stuff everything into your backpack. It is another thing to carry the weight for several days over several miles. Be wise about what you truly need. Don’t be afraid to cut something from your gear if you need to. Make sure you have the right gear for the right weather on the right trail.
Cheryl

February 13, 2024

Multi-Day Trails, Tips

gear, hiking, preparation, tips
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.

Out In
Long Pants Shorts
Bear Canister/Ursack ThermaRest Z-Lite Foam Pad
Bear Spray Extra 1L Water Capacity
Mid or Insulation Layer Tent Footprint
RainGear GoPro

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
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

Out	In
Long Pants	Shorts
Bear Canister/Ursack	ThermaRest Z-Lite Foam Pad
Bear Spray	Extra 1L Water Capacity
Mid or Insulation Layer	Tent Footprint
RainGear	GoPro

Arizona Trail Gear List 2025 | Lightweight Desert Setup

My Arizona Trail Gear List for 2025

What Makes My Arizona Trail Gear List Unique

The Big Four and Core Setup

Food, Water, and Clothing for the Desert

Electronics and Other Essentials

More From This Series

Where to Buy Backcountry Camping Gear in Winnipeg

Storefront Locations in Winnipeg

Online Wilderness Gear Stores for Backcountry Camping

Documenting Your Adventures: Keeping a Trail Journal or Blog

What Type of Journal Should You Use?

When to Journal

What to Write About in Your Journal

Describe the Trail

Make Note of Who You Meet

Document What You See

Journal About What Excited You

Write About Your Feelings

Capture Trail Facts

What Worked and Didn’t Work Well

Journaling Should Be Fun

Pack List for Multi-Day Backpacking

Bring the Right Shelter

Consider Food & Water

Pack the Right Clothing

Helpful Gear to Include in Your Packing List

Bring a Hygiene Kit

Pack for Safety

Entertainment Bundle

Final Reminder

AZT Prep: Gear Changeover – Oliver

Shopping for Hiking Gear in Canada: 2019