[pct-l] Of Cutting Ounces and Sacrificing Quality

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

How important is quality rain gear in So Cal while hiking the PCT in  
the spring? I would say, not very.

If you get a hole in your driducks you just patch it with a little  
duct tape and continue on. Rain gear with a couple holes in it isn't  
going to fail completely. Most rain gear gets you soaking wet anyway.  
If it's water-proof enough you sweat to death on the inside. Being  
wet from sweat is as much a hypothermia risk as being wet from water.  
So to have a breathable, inexpensive, light set of rain wear that can  
keep you warm even if it has a couple little holes in it is worth it  
for those few times it may rain on you in So Cal.

Friends of mine use the driducks in our Santa Barbara backcountry  
where most trails are quite overgrown. They sport a lot of duct tape,  
but the clothing works. When it gets too full of rips and tears, they  
make rain mittens out of them.

Now, really shitty rain gear is what I had: Subway sandwich bags, a  
plastic trash bag and an umbrella. I don't recommend this. The  
umbrella is good where the trail isn't overgrown (everywhere but  
Washington where it actually rains), but the bags get too sweaty inside.

If you really want to stay dry, the most effective solution is a hotel.

And for the person who asked how to keep feet dry. See hotel above.  
Wait until the weatherman says "Record high temperatures, no end in  
sight."

Diane

On Mar 22, 2010, at 7:38 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> I think it's safe to say that most of us on this forum are  
> ultralight packers/enthusiasts to varied degrees, but cut out of  
> the same fabric nonetheless.  I understand the limitations for  
> weight are heightened for solo-hikers as compared to those of us  
> who travel with a companion or two...but I think the conversation  
> of DriDucks illuminates a big red flag with those of us who  
> probably cut your tags off your shirts:  you're probably  
> sacrificing a good degree of already-lightweight quality of  
> slightly heavier gear in favor of cheap crap.  I've already seen  
> three posts of how their DriDucks tore "sitting" on them.   
> Um...what happens when you brush up against some thorny alders,  
> rocks...earth objects?  It's going to tear.  And if it doesn't...it  
> will soon.  Somebody talked about a "heavy" 11-oz rainjacket.   
> Again, kudos to all of our ilk who hikes their own hike, to each  
> their own...but I think the extreme end of the spectrum is really  
> being abused.  Obviously, people have made it
>   through (or thru) alive with ultra-minimalist approach, but I  
> don't think you have to be a statistician to figure out that there  
> is a high probability that shitty gear has a STRONG influence and  
> impact on the futility of many of the hikes that start off with  
> such good intentions.  Injury and illness being the two key  
> culprits.  Shitty rain gear = hypothermia.  Shitty shoes or trying  
> to make the hike on two pairs = plantar fascitis, ilio-tibial band  
> syndrome, etc.  Shitty sleeping pad = sleep deprivation/fatigue/ 
> immune system debilitation, etc.  An 11 ounce rainjacket will NOT  
> BREAK YOUR BACK.  It will not.  I encourage those of you to read up  
> on Justin Lichter who is sponsored by montbell and Granite Gear,  
> two of the best gear outfits in the business.  His 2.5 pound pack  
> (just the weight of backpack sans any gear/food) was light enough  
> for him to hike 10,000 miles in less than a year.
>
> Again, cheers to those who like hiking with crap, but I find it  
> ironic how those who preach about safety and preparation, are  
> equally prepared to risk their own safety with inferior gear.
>
> Deadbeat Dave

Books I've written:
~ Piper's Flight
~ Adventure and Magic
~ Santa Barbara Hikes