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Yes! That's exactly how I feel about my Aura! I obviously don't want my pack to be 30+ pounds with everything loaded up, BUT even when it's close to that weight, it feels so light on my back. Thanks for commenting!

I really appreciate your comment, thank you! I very much agree, and I can't keep up with the "hiking Joneses" - if I tried to I would never be happy with my gear and I would also be broke. Thanks again ☺

Thank you! ☺

Absolutely agree and I love this, thank you! Patience has started to be a big one for me. When I first got the ultralight itch, I basically blew a bunch of my savings on gear. Which was really a bad idea because if I had been patient, I would have realized there are other things that are much cheaper that I would have probably preferred. But you live and learn, and that's part of the whole point. Thanks for watching, and I appreciate your comment ☺

Yes! Ok thanks for sharing actually because, yes even though it's a not fun topic, that is exactly what has happened before - rash. I was actually wondering if something like that would work! I'm glad I took the year to really give it a good try because now I am even more happy with my non-ultralight gear. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the suggestion! I have never tried out any ULA packs, but I think my dad has suggested this brand as well. I really don't know much about them, but I do know I definitely need a frame. I think I've been under the impression that they are a frameless pack brand. But I will say, part of the reason I'm going back to my Aura is because of the air flow on the back. I love the Durston Kakwa 55 but I can't stand the back sweat when it's warm (and forgot about when it's actually hot!). And thanks for following along, I appreciate it! We are heading out to the CDT in early April and planning to start mid-April. The exact date will depend on when we get our CDTC shuttle scheduled. Can't wait!!

@ the frame is minimal on the ULA Circuit and even more minimal on the Ohm 2.0 but they are very stable. Next time you’re at MountainCrossings check them out!

@@jeffs6229 I'll do that! Thanks for the recommendation!

It sounds like many people didn’t like the taste and flavors. Did yall have any bad feelings afterward or was it more the flavor? Thanks for the input!

​@@hikingwithraenot just flavor, two abdominal pain, two feeling off, one felt very sick, one almost called his doctor. We will NOT be trying again. We tried different days so it wasn't like we were eating the same thing. We were not on a keto diet while trying.

@kendramales6446 thank you, I really appreciate your input. I was wondering if I was the only one who got sick because most people were commenting about the taste. I’m sorry yall had a bad experience, but I appreciate you commenting and sharing.

I appreciate your comment! And yes some of this trail kicked major booty LOL glad you enjoyed the videos! I hope you enjoy your hike, I’ll be curious how you feel about it, it was a great but hard trail.

@@hikingwithrae Have you guys backpacked the AT - like a thru hike? I would be interested in seeing those. I am a section hiker and am up to Northern Virginia. CDT is an entirely different beast. Thanks for sharing!

@jeffs6229 my mom thru hiked the AT in 2021, but we only have a section hike on the channel. Couple weeks ago or so we did Amicalola to Unicoi Gap. And in a couple weeks from now I’ll be doing Unicoi Gap to Winding Stair Gap, so I’m excited for that!

@ awesome! Some great backpacking up there! Now is the time to be out there!

@jeffs6229 yes the weather is cooling off and it’s perfect!

Honestly I wish I had liked it, but every time I had it I ended up feeling sick to some degree. But it could be exactly what you mentioned. I definitely wasn’t in ketosis so maybe it was just too much for me - specifically the salt I guess? That’s what I’ve always thought it was, maybe too much salt. But I don’t have a problem with salt, so not sure. A lot of people do seem to like the product, so I don’t think it’s garbage or anything, I just had a very different experience with it. I’ve mostly had people comment sharing that they thought it was bland or didn’t like the taste. Taste didn’t bother me, just feeling nauseous wasn’t fun.

We can’t wait!!

@@jeffs6229 thank you, I appreciate your comment! 😁 Pilot Mtn was TOUGH so if I can make it up that then I’m feeling pretty good lol. Actually we did an AT section hike after the Art Loeb and honestly it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting bc of the Art Loeb and the Bartram Trail being so difficult.

@@hikingwithrae the Bartram Trail is high on my list this coming winter. I have only done the GA section but will do all of it in early 2025. I need to find your BT videos and watch them next!

@jeffs6229 we loved it! We did it southbound and stopped in Franklin for a town visit and resupply. I would do that trail again but next time northbound.

There definitely seems to be a consensus here about liquid IV being the better choice! I’ll have to try this out!

@hikingwithrae I like the passion fruit the most. That's really good

Now that is a combo I have never heard of!

Thanks for the comment and input! If you only go by what people online say, you’d think you were the only one who felt this way lol (or at least I was thinking that). Thank you 😊

That’s what my mom always said lol. When I used this on trail and felt sick she said all those people are lying 😂

Based on that, I would much rather use Liquid IV, as well then. So far I’ve been using Nuun quite a bit, and I don’t have any bad or weird reactions to it.

@hikingwithrae I haven't tried Nuun yet. I did try Scratch and it was even blander than LMNT. I'm always on the lookout to try new things.

@robynroamsoutdoors I like nuun because it has a variety of flavors and it gets kind of fizzy at first. You can get a variety pack on Amazon for not too much.

@hikingwithrae I think my local running shop may carry it. I'll give it a shot. I'll probably like it and then they stop carrying it like they did with the Stinger waffles and Clif Blok gummies.

@ LOL I also like those Clif Bloks! But goodness gracious they are expensive!

That’s a great, dense, and simple meal plan! Bacon packets with ramen sounds great!

@hikingwithrae you have to break up Ramen into small pieces B4 you cook it so bacon pieces will mix, this allow eating Ramen with a spoon. You could add 1/2 pack of Pioneer Country Gravy mix instead.of seasoning packet then becomes a substitute Biscuits & Gravy

I have to try this! Especially with the gravy, I’m really curious how that would turn out

I used to be more concerned about this (and still am to a certain degree), but I have everything in opsak bags which hold in smell really well. But I’ll have to check out those tablets because I like that idea a lot. The electrolytes can get pricey.

@@hikingwithrae They are actually capsules, "SaltStick Electrolyte Caps". I do use the "Smelly Proof" ziplock bags as much as possible, but big plastic bottles tainted with Gatorade smell takes up a lot of space.

Not that I have found. I've used Nuun with no issues (several different flavors too). I've also used off brand single electrolyte powders from the grocery store with no issue. Which is why I was so confused why this one always had this effect.

@@hikingwithrae Interesting, for sure!

I haven't tried Liquid IV, but I'll have to try that. I've been using Nuun, and I've really enjoyed it. Great flavor and no weird after effects. Thanks for the comment!

@ I got a huge pack of Liquid IV at Costco.

Thanks for the comment. I'll have to look into Redmond Relyte because I do use their salt and it's great!

I think I've been ok with the TVP because I've only ever eaten it mixed in with meals like these (rice, TVP, bell pepper). All being about the same size in individual pieces, and then after I add the hot sauces and lime powder, I don't even notice. And even though I'm not vegan, I agree - only so many nuts and nut butters for more protein! I tend to eat more vegan style on trail because it's generally cheaper and cleaner. The freeze dried meals are just way too expensive!

I like the idea of not having to cook or cold soak any of my food, but I can't think of enough variety for me to handle that for longer than a day hike or overnight lol. I can't get with the spam, I know a lot of people use that as an option, but I really hate spam. I do like those Complete Cookies, but I also used to call them chemical cookies because sometimes they have an odd chemical taste LOL. Do you take your stove now or stick with non cook food items?

@@hikingwithrae I try to be flexible and I'm always down with trying new things (when it comes to food). When bringing food that is ready to eat I could load my hip belt pockets full of a whole days ration and eat on the trail. It can save a bit of time (although I feel that I really should take more breaks), but also allows you to finish dinner well before getting to camp(for bear safety). On my hike of the Centennial trail (125 miles, 6 days) I ate granola with dried fruit and powdered milk for breakfast. Something grab and go for lunch like tortillas with PB and honey or summer sausage and cheese. Dinners were a mix of commercial freeze-dried meals you make with boiling water and freeze dried meals you can cold soak. I recommend the Southwest Corn and Black Bean Salad from Packit Gourmet. I found the flavor to be complex and a cool treat for the 90°+ temperatures.

I was wondering about the possibility of melting if it was super hot, but the gel is solid so I don't think it would leak or bust. However, I will definitely provide an update after I use them on my next trip for 5 days!

Well we both still like the Aura, so that’s pretty close to gear soul mates lol. I really wanted to like the new one, but I think it really came down to the sizing for me. It fit weird but I knew the M/L would be too big for me. But the torso on the XS/S wasn’t tall enough and I think that’s why it felt weird to me. Did your hip belt feel like it was angled in towards your belly when you first used it? That part felt odd to me too. I wish they had a S/M option too!

@@hikingwithrae I did go try these on in person at a Mast General store and had their outdoor person help me out - so I got to try both sizes in person. The XS/S hip belt was digging into the side of my waist right underneath my rib cage, even pushing into that area - so maybe the same experience as you feeling like it was angled in perhaps. I knew there was no way that would work. The M/L waist will work for me as I probably have more to work with in that area. The area that's probably still a little big for me is up in the upper area/shoulder area. I have to be careful about how I pack the brain and make sure it isn't too tall and hitting my head weird. The xs/s felt better for me in the shoulder/head part. I'm talking myself out of liking this pack right now lol :) Honestly, I think the perfect fit for me would have been a M/L hip belt with XS/S frame/torso length. And it's sounding like you are in the same situation but opposite - longer bag with smaller hip belt? Another factor is how stiff the hip belts are with this bag and how hard that makes it to get on initially. It would have thrown me, but the person who helped me at Mast had the men's version of the bag and said that they loosed up after a few uses, which I also have found true -so his advice did help reassure me there. The bigger size truly does work fine for what I do right now - i just have to take time to adjust it every trip and make sure it feels good before i take off.

@@natashalee6959 I think this description is exactly what it is with the sizing! And this is why I wish they either still had their previous sizing options OR they had a third size in the middle of these two. My torso should technically be ok for the XS/S but it was right on the line of not being comfy. Oh well. I definitely do think that pack is more comfy though in the hip belt and shoulder straps, but if it felt weird on me without all my gear, I don't see it being better with even more gear. BUT I got some gel cushions for the old Aura (to use under the help belt against my hip bones), and now I think it's going to be perfect! I did a short walk this morning with it, and it was great. Love the input and thoughts on this pack, thanks!

Actually I take back the torso comment I made - the XS/S torso is supposed to go to 17" and I am sure I am 17.5". I wouldnt think that would be a big deal, but perhaps it was!

Thanks for watching 😁 and there are so many NC mountain towns that are wonderful to visit!

Very understandable and yes I will keep in mind to provide updates! I will say, when me and my mom were using the foam ones I never attached them. But when my boyfriend got some, he figured out a way to attach them with some string so he didn’t have to worry about that. I don’t know if the gel ones could be attached but I have a hike coming up in a couple of weeks and I will see how it goes!

Dang too bad yall missed out on the pinball museum. It was one of the highlights because it was so different a neat little place.

That sounds similar to our trip! We really enjoyed being able to walk everywhere instead of driving. Didn’t have to worry about alcohol being a factor. It was a great little town trip. The Henderson was great!

😂 you are very close! Yes on the North Georgia, but we only lived there until I was 8. Then we moved to South Carolina. So a mix of both of those I suppose. But I get the north Georgia question many times.

Thank you! Yes I plan to make daily videos!

Great feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to share this! The hipbelt feels the same difficulty for me to get into. I think my older one is easier only because its a little worn in at this point, but the new one I had an even harder time getting into the hip belt. Even though it is more cushiony, it is still very stiff from the AG system being attached. And you're right about the rain cover zipper pocket. I like the extra pocket down below, but I also would not use that for the rain cover. Oh and the floating lid part - my older one does have a floating lid that is removable and already removed. Because I dont use it, I didnt include it in the video. I do think the bottom side of the new pack lid is intended to be the flapjack cover, but if you wanted to hike without the lid completely, you would have no extra fabric for a small cover. My mom tried the AG LT version and didnt like it, so I didnt bother trying it out. She said that one was weird, and now I imagine the weirdness I felt with this new Aura is probably similar to how she felt that LT version was weird. But a pack being "weird" is obviously very subjective. Thanks for your comment and feedback!

This is the second recommendation for this pillow - I need to try it out! Thank you!

That sounds great! Was it clear when you went? (although I think I remember that week being rainy)

She really is! She’s such a happy baby!

It was so good! And you should, it was amazing! We hiked after the hurricane. Not immediately after, but I was asking the shuttle driver we book with about the area and the hostel we stayed at and both said the area we wanted to do had not been affected and was fine to hike. Which really was the case, we didn’t see anything on trail that was fresh or not passable.

Exactly how I felt about it. I felt WAY more comfortable up the hill next to the trail.

Thanks, that would make sense then!

Thank you! 😊 I really appreciate your comment!

Oh yes I was told by our shuttle driver that all the way up through Smoky Mtns would be manageable. I’ve read comments about a good bit of blowdowns in area of NC though. But the section we did from Amicalola to Unicoi was definitely clear. I don’t think we saw anything from Helene. OH and YES - when I made that comment it was because my mom thru hiked the AT in 2021 so when she started my dad was with her for a bit.

And thankfully we exited the shelter before anything got on us. However, we did see some small black dots in the corners and after we laid down in the tent we looked up what bat poop looked like, and yep that was it. ☹️

LOL! I definitely prefer my tent, but I was hoping to have one night experiencing a shelter. However, those bats were absolutely insane!

😁

Thank you for the feedback! I'll slow it down going forward. I use the Darn Tough socks, which I think they say are performance compression... not sure if that's the same thing. But my feet were thankfully not swollen after this hike!

@@tommyh.8391 thanks!!