[pct-l] First timer

Thu Apr 21 16:29:12 CDT 2016

Ditto to what Shroomer says about the ULA circuit.  I saw a LOT of them out on the PCT in 2014 - and never heard anyone who was dissatisfied.  That's not to say you shouldn't consider other packs - just that I think you ought to include it in the list of packs you may want to consider.  It is light-weight, rugged, and comfortable.  Those are my main priorities.  And when I had a hip belt buckle that was not fastening as securely as I liked, they shipped a replacement hip belt to me on the trail at absolutely no charge.  Good people making good products...  

Timberline

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott Williams
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2016 5:10 PM
To: Brick Robbins
Cc: pct-l @backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] First timer

Hey Sabrina,

I agree, the first thing is not to buy gear, but try as much different stuff as you can over the next year.  See what fits and what doesn't and keep listening in on gear and pack discussions on line.  And for a shot at really ultra light backpacking, Bryce is right, most of "the big three"
items we all use are not found at REI.  Lots of other stuff is, and they're still my favorite toy store.  "The big three" are 1. shelter, 2. sleeping bag and 3 backpack.  For these, a multitude of wonderful companies have sprung up in the US, specifically catering to thru hikers, i.e.. ultra light backpackers.  Nowhere else in the world do you have such a plethora of great little companies producing something so specific, as we have here.  These companies are all oriented toward our National Scenic Trails.
And that's because nowhere else on earth do you have so many thousands and thousands of miles of safe, long distance, wilderness hiking available to ordinary folks.  If you like wilderness and not having to deal with wars and insurrections in the wild, this is the place.  We are truly blessed!
 Many foreigners know more about our National Scenic Trails than the
average American.   Enough pontificating, but I do love what we have.

Back to the big three.  For a recent talk I did at the Northern California Camino Pilgrim Gathering and Blessing, I put together a list of the Ultra Light Companies I could think of off the top of my head and I'll include it at the end.  All that I have ever had dealings with have been very good about taking anything back that you find doesn't fit right or doesn't live up to your expectations.  So when you get ready to buy stuff, realize, that it needs to feel right after you try it in the field, and if you've kept it
in good shape, they'll probably be good about a return.   I'll plug in the
list at the end.

As for me, I started the PCT with an Osprey Exos, a 2 lb pack that was really comfortable.  The only problem was that it couldn't stand up to the harshness of the deserts and the need to carry water.  By mile 500 or so, it was falling apart.  I returned it to REI during a break in trail and they were great about the exchange, and I put on a heftier Osprey, the Atmos.  I liked it, but it was never as comfortable as the Exos had been.
It took me over the High Sierra in a big snow year and all the way to Oregon.  Plain Slice, one of the folks I was walking with at the time, had just bought a new ULA Circuit pack at Ashland and as we're the same size, I asked to try it on.  It was love at first mile. I've still never found another pack that fits me so well.  Where I had had to lean forward to balance the Atmos, with the Circuit, I stood right up straight (that's because the Ospreys have a very comfortable mesh suspension that gives nice airflow across your back, but pushes the center of gravity a bit further back, causing me at least to lean forward to counterbalance it.  The ULAs are just a simple bag that lay up against your back, which is a bit sweatier, but so much better for my posture overall.  And over the thousands of miles, that's much more important)  We happened to have cel service and I called Chris at ULA and had one shipped to Crater Lake a couple of days later.

That pack has gone over 10,000 miles now and is still usable.  It was starting to come apart on my hike of the AT 2 years ago and at Trail Days in Damascus VA, I found a new one Circuit, which I bought, only to find that the Osprey company had set up tents and brought their gear repair people.  They were working on any piece of gear that needed repairs, from any company.  What a great company!  They took that old Circuit and had it overnight, and when I got it back the next day, it was like new again.
It's still a pack I use.  I kept the new Circuit for trips with my wife or daughter, where I don't want my smelly old pack to offend anyone.  They do get funky.

Well, this is way too much, so I'll just add the companies I know of.
There are probably many more, and Yogi's guide may list some of the others.

Good luck with all the planning and training!

Shroomer

*Companies Specializing in Ultralight Gear for *

*Long Distance Walking*

Enlightened Equipment - Down quilts and sleeping bags:
http://www.enlightenedequipment.com

ZPacks - Cuben Fiber Shelters, Cuben Fiber Backpacks, Quilts, Cuben Fiber Rain Gear and much more:  http://www.zpacks.com

Dirty Girl Gaiters - Lightweight gaiters for running and hiking:
https://dirtygirlgaiters.com

Gossamer Gear - Cuben Fiber Shelters, Backpacks, Sleeping Pads, Trekking Poles, Trekking Umbrellas and lots more gear:  http://gossamergear.com

Ultra Light Adventure Equipment (ULA) - Backpacks:
http://www.ula-equipment.com

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts - Hiking Skirts and Kilts:
http://www.purplerainskirts.com/about/

Tarptent, Henry Shires - Shelters:  http://www.tarptent.com/index.html

Six Moon Designs, Ron Moak - Backpacks, Shelters, Rain Gear and more:
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com

Mountain Laurel Designs - Cuben Fiber Backpacks, Cuben Fiber Shelters, Quilts, Bivys:  http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/index.php

LightHeart Gear - Shelters, Clothing:  http://lightheartgear.com

Granite Gear - Backpacks:  http://www.granitegear.com

Western Mountaineering - Sleeping Bags, Down Clothing:
http://www.westernmountaineering.com

Mont Bell - Clothing, Down Clothing, Sleeping Bags, Backpacks, Shelters and
more:  http://www.montbell.us

Feathered Friends - Sleeping Bags, Down Clothes:
http://featheredfriends.com

For any questions, my contact information is: Scott “Shroomer” Williams,
email at:   Baidarker at gmail.com

On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 12:27 PM, Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com>
wrote:

> I would suggest buying a pack last, after several shake down hikes, 
> and getting your other gear in order. You won't know how big a pack to 
> get till you figure out what you are going to be carrying.
>
> Also to remember to make some allowances for your bear can for the 
> short section where you need to carry it.
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