10 backpacking gear changes I made for finishing the Arizona Trail

This spring I did the first 456 miles of the Arizona Trail but then had to stop at Pine due to crazy snow and water up on the Mogollon Rim. In addition, the Grand Canyon was unpassable due to trail closures. I learned a lot on this hike and ended up making ten changes to my gear for heading back to finish the trail. In this video I share each of these changes and my rationale for making them.
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[@nancytrekker]

Hi Jon, new sub here. ✅️ Appreciate your honest insight on gear, including leaving the rain pants behind. I hike in warmer months all over North America and don't even own a pair.

[@jonallenoutside]

I did take them on my PCT section hike this spring and they were invaluable. 30 degrees below normal, windy and rainy several times. I do think I need to upgrade to a thinner, lighter weight pair though.

[@oldladyhiking]

I have hiked 3/4’s of the AT. My rain/wind pants are Zpacks Vertice rain pants. Wouldn’t be without them! Keep the rain out of my boots, block the wind and super light weight. My opinion from experience!

[@dianesoini]

The windpants are my favorite clothing on trail. I sleep in them. They're like PJs. I can wear them while I do laundry and just rinse them in the sink instead after all my clothes are ready to wear. They'll dry in 5 minutes on the way back to the trail. I used my polycryo as a rain skirt on the CDT and it tore. I'm not sure if it tore on its own or after I went through a fence but it didn't last one day worn as a rain skirt. It tore lengthwise up the center. I could still use it though. I make similar oatmeal but I also put chia seeds and collagen powder and dates or other dried fruit. I eat it cold. Just add water, hike for a while until I find a nice place to sit, then eat.

[@jonallenoutside]

Thanks for the info. I absolutely LOVED the wind pants on trail. I'm going to do a review video on them soon because I want to get the word out on how awesome they are.

[@heartattackhiker3527]

Take the magnesium at night before bed. It'll help you get a good night's sleep. I've been using the Copperfield wind pants for years, great choice

[@jonallenoutside]

Those wind pants were amazing. I really like being able to take them off and store them without removing my pack or shoes.

[@Mikehikes61]

Nice video Jon, I am really interested in the diet changes you made and why. You’re putting your trail experience to good use for us subs, Thanks

[@jonallenoutside]

I really haven’t been able to maintain my weight on trail. I lose body fat but also quite a bit of muscle mass. I lose about a half pound of body weight per day, which really gets to be a problem after a while. I’m going to start researching calorie dense foods so I can take more calories but not increase my food weight too much.

[@tunn-gavik]

Thanks for the breakfast recipe Jon. I was looking for something more to add to my oatmeal concoction which leaves me hungry 2 hours later. Hopefully your recipe solves things.

[@jonallenoutside]

It was delicious, but I got sick of cooking and then cleaning up a messy cookpot. I’ll probably use the recipe some of the time though because I need the calories.

[@paganed]

On the Poly Cryo Kilt ... you'll need to rotate it periodically .. make sure the SPLIT is between the legs , I prefer it to my knees not behind my knees .. since they aren't fabric, if they get wet on the inside they will stick to your skin .. long strides going Uphill \ Downhill was an issue for my zpacks kilt my knees blew out the zipper as the kilt didn't allow for that much spread and then i ended up with a problem .. Wrap Kilt allowed for more space and spread, but there was the occasional wind gust issue where I had to make sure the Split was to the opposite side of the wind around my body

[@jonallenoutside]

I ended up not using it even when it was raining. I may trade out my long pants for a nice pair of rain pants. I only wear the long pants when I’m doing laundry.

[@paganed]

Before I went to a kilt, I also had a Frog Toggs Paints .. I ended up cutting them to be above my knee. It took alot of weight away , and made it more comfortable to wear as shorts. I didn't overheat with my legs being wet, but my hiking shorts and underwear were dry. I have thought of going back to them. I cut above the knee and had my girl sew them. I could then use them in town as shorts when i was washing my clothes.

[@kimmurdock6308]

I've had the same issue with how to manage contact lenses on extended trips. I've been changing them everyday but you're right it's more trash and on really long trips I'll have to be diligent about having them in resupply boxes. Will have to think about a monthly. I agree about the nutrition. I brought my multivitamins on our Wonderland trail trip and I think it helped. We're looking at doing the PCT Southern CA next year and I think nutrition will be even more important. I've considered doing an oatmeal recipe similar to yours but soaking it in water overnight so it's ready by morning with no cooking. The only issue would be mixing in the peanut butter but I will probably squeeze it on my spoon then dip the spoon into my bag of cold soaked oatmeal. Another thing I've been researching is a greens powder like AG1 but those would have to go in resupply boxes. It's a process, right? Good luck and looking forward to watching you finish the trail!

[@jonallenoutside]

I still lost too much weight on my return to the AZT. The vitamins did help me to feel healthy, but I will be looking to add more calorie dense foods.

[@DidierMonot]

During my 1000km through hike (end-to-end, as we say here) here in Western Australia, I lost 15 kg (22 lbs) in the first 3 weeks; even though I had it to lose, I had dizzy spells, and it was obviously too much too fast. After going to the next town's doctor and researching, I discovered that I was burning up to 6000 calories per day. I was eating around 3500 calories. I bought a large tub of peanut butter and dark chocolate in town, increased my daily food, and it never happened again. I lost a total of 20 kg. When in town, I always had a huge salad for lunch.

[@jonallenoutside]

Just got back from the AZT and once again I lost too much weight. I don't want to carry more food, but I think it's the only option. I ate like a wild animal in town but it still wasn't enough.

[@andymytys]

Any not just leave the contacts at home and wear prescription glasses? Re the rain kilt, good idea but one brush up against some Manzanita and that polycro is going to get shredded. A DCF footprint would be a better, albeit heavier, choice, IMO. Still getting dual use and leaving the rain pants at home.

[@jonallenoutside]

I can’t stand wearing glasses so that’s why I stick to contacts. Correct on the shredding. In the first half of the trail there were only a few parts where brush was unavoidable, but certainly care will need to be taken.

[@jakeva9802]

Try powered peanut butter?

[@jonallenoutside]

Is that a brand? I've not heard of that.