Dedicated to Mara's travel and hiking adventure journals as well as her words of wisdom and suggested resources for hikers and travelers.

General Hiking info Home Lightweight Backpacking (links) Tips and Tricks Gear Reviews and Discussions Book reviews AT FAQ and Stats PCT Self-Resupply Workshops Links Mara's info Trip Reports Gear Lists Mail Drops About Me Acknowledgements Photos Updates Fun stuff Email Mara

Gear Reviews and Discussions Having completed a thruhike, I am now asked a lot of the same types of questions I was asking before I started my hike. I've started collecting what I write in response to those questions and am making that information available here. Check out the Tips and Tricks page, too. Philosophy Lightweight Hiking (links) Kitchen Dromedary bags Water Treatment Stoves - It's not just white gas anymore Rope - how much and what type Etcetera Tents (shelters) Hiking Poles Altimeter watches Ground sheets Lights on the trail Snowshoes Footwear Socks Hiking boots vs Trail shoes Gaiters Foot size changes Footwear fitting - or how to avoid blackened toenails and other foot problems Boot care Clothing Cotton kills! Huh? Gloves or mittens? Raingear Sleep gear Sleeping Bag Ratings Quilts and Top Bags versus Sleeping Bags Sleeping pads Gear Reviews I started writing informal gear reviews for members of hiking related email lists. The following is one such review: The North Face Packcover Then, I became very involved with a backpack gear testing and reviewing group. Everyone is welcome to join us at BackpackGearTest to read reviews (no registration required) or to test gear. The following shows all of my reviews on the geartesting site: Last updated, January 8, 2007.

Home   Lightweight Backpacking   Tips and Tricks   Gear Reviews and Discussions   Book reviews   AT FAQ and Stats   PCT Self-Resupply   Workshops   Links

Trip Reports   Gear Lists   Mail Drops   About Me   Acknowledgements   Photos   Updates   Googlewhacks   Email Mara