PCT SoBo: Post-hike Gear Review: The Big Three

[@WilsonsEpicAdventures]

I have the same backpack! I tore the bottom of the stays out falling off of a snowy down tree at Mt San Jacinto. I ended up losing a stay and called zpacks. They sent me a loaner pack. I sent them mine and they rebuilt the frames like they have on the arc ultra with three horizontal stays...it keeps the arc now. You should contact zpacks and see if they could add them to your pack. It does make a difference. I never felt the load on my shoulders after the rebuild. Thanks for all the videos! Watched you from the start...which was about same time my nobo hike ended.

[@EWOKakaDOOM]

Good tips. Hope the transition to the "real world" is going well.

[@kristymoore7052]

You’re from Virginia and came out west,I ventured east. I suppose sobo would have been the best option in 2023 for the PCT. I live near Yosemite and snowmageddon stopped my John Muir Trail plans. Depressed, I researched and headed your way. In May, attended AT trail days and backpacked a loop, which included the AT for several days. Wow, fell in love with the area and now more AT excursions are on my list. Thanks for the video. I will be doing JMT this year.

[@feralhikes8898]

Good luck on the JMT (as long as there isn't a Snowmageddon II!)

[@danidaskam1027]

Great info. Thank you.

[@janingham1823]

Good to see you, again…. Enjoyed my morning coffee with the musings of Feral. Thank you for sharing! If memory serves me you layered, from the ground up, the gossamer gear thin pad, the air pad, the orange closed cell pad. Then the sleeping bag, right?

[@feralhikes8898]

Exactly, Jan!

[@Twobarpsi]

Feral! So good to see a video from you! Of all your gear I like the down booties, and sleeping pad system. Have you adjusted to "civilian life" 😃?

[@feralhikes8898]

It's always an adjustment.

[@Erin60147]

Congratulations on your hike! Would love to hear your life story someday!

[@gregortiz6921]

Thank you!

[@pauliedavis49]

Fascinating! Great to see you again and thanks…. Happy 2024! 😃👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@feralhikes8898]

Best wishes for the New Year to you, too!

[@harrymathis4743]

It looked like you counted your tent stakes twice(?) when you broke down your tent. Thought I was the only person who did that 🙂

[@feralhikes8898]

I didn't lose a single stake on the PCT. One other tip I didn't describe. I used two different kinds of stake, both from Zpacks, 4 of each. One type is the triangular Sonic (similar to the MSR Groundhog) & the other is just a plain titanium wire stake. Three reasons for this: 1. different stakes do better in different soil types (e.g. you can't really pound wire stakes in hard soil--they'll bend), so I always had four of the optimal variety. 2. Wire stakes are lighter, & are fine for at least the short side pull outs, so I had a weight savings. 3. At pack-up, it was easier to count the 4 orange-tipped wire & 4 blue triangular Sonic stakes, so if I had inadvertently dropped one, I would know.

[@denisestarr2314]

I love the idea of signing the pack . Like patches also .

[@garyowen9589]

I have the same Zpacks backpack and had the same bowing problem. I used some shock cord in the X pattern like you used on your pack, but I used it on the lower section of the pack and the problem was mitigated. Maybe this will help others.

[@clydevanwinkle7382]

Thank you and Happy New Year!

[@feralhikes8898]

And, to you, Clyde!

[@richardross7219]

Very good video. Happy Trails in 2024. Good Luck, Rick

[@feralhikes8898]

Thanks, Rick!

[@db.mc2]

Hi Feral 👋🏻 Always great to see you my friend, hope you're doing well 🙏🏻Thank you for the review 👍🏻 Stay safe and take care 🙏🏻 God Bless Appreciate you always 🫶 Looking forward to your book, it will be amazing 👏🏻👍🏻

[@feralhikes8898]

Thank you!

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Feral: Great to hear from you and happy new years. I am considering getting a duplex in the near future. Thanks for all the good info.

[@feralhikes8898]

I like the design and the weight! I tried a one-person Tarptent on the CDT, but had my old Duplex sent to me.

[@SeniorHiker77]

Great idea about autographing your backpack. I'm considering buying the hyperlite phone holder.

[@feralhikes8898]

I've tried a couple, but that's the one I like the best. It fits securely on any strap that has a daisy chain. Just make sure the dimensions are correct for your phone.

[@marthawade5297]

Happy New Year Feral. Thanks for the gear review. You're looking all refreshed and ready to go again!

[@feralhikes8898]

Well, I am putting some more weight on.... #christmascookies

[@hunterrex232]

I’ve watched all 4 hikes whats next CDT sobo?

[@pdr0603]

Outstanding - the part on the tent was very valuable to me - I am 6'6" tall, and I have been considering the DupleXL. I have been concerned about sleeping height - pad, air matt, sleeping bag, me versus the tent walls. Those are nuances that they industry does not understand - yet. On a single wall tent, it looks like I would be touching with my sleeping bag. Even laying diagonally in the tent, it looks like the ceiling would be right on my head based on the geometry - so helpful to see in your video. My tent journey continues. BTW, my current tent is an REI Half Dome Plus - they stopped making the 98" length version in 2018, but its long enough, just too heavy for long distance backpacking. Again, thanks for all of our efforts. Happy Trails.

[@feralhikes8898]

Being 6'6" must be challenging, to be sure!

[@cheri7828]

May not be UL but Lightheart Gear has the Solong 6 that may work. An email to Judy could confirm this.

[@wanttogo1958]

MLD Solomid XL is another to consider. Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker is another option. I’m 6’3” and they both work for me using the older version of the Thermarest Xlite and Xtherm.

[@doryliggett8407]

Loved the review, wondered if you had a mail list to let people know when your book comes out. If it’s a year from now or whenever I’d like to be given a heads up. Thank you!

[@pauliedavis49]

Us too!!

[@victoriamoore1294]

Question 03/30/24 Are you planning hikes for 2024? I have notifications set so I will see your response. Hope all is well with you and all your family. Vicki

[@feralhikes8898]

I will likely hike in Europe this summer & perhaps some short warm-ups before then.