My impression is that most of the U.S. 'thru hikers' (the ones I've watched on youtube, anyway) tend to do most of their hiking on well-marked and well-maintained trails, and that the extreme minimalism some of them achieve is partly dependent on sticking to that kind of straightforward waymarked route. Navigating with apps, rather than maps - wearing shorts and trailrunners - all of it makes perfect sense on a clearly marked trail. Here in the UK, most of the walking I've done doesn't involve any kind of 'trail', more going round and round and up and down on our little enclosed patches of hill. I enjoy learning from the Americans (have picked up a pair of trailrunners and love them, maybe not the best for a Dartmoor bog), - but this series is very helpful for balancing out ultralight orthodoxies that don't necessarily make sense for the conditions here - appreciate it!
I used to hate on people who used walking poles….I eventually bought a pair for making Tarp shelters on flat ground….I found out quickly that if you’re walking over wet, slippery, steep rocks then walking poles give you more points of contact (same principle as rock climbing), I wouldn’t set off without them now!!!Lundhag always made top quality footwear, not always pretty footwear, but waterproof & top quality😎👍. Serious soldiers bought Lundhags before Danner brought out Goretex lined boots.
I actually prefer Solomon speed cross shoes for offtrail hiking. They grab aggressive slopes and other things well. I like to be able to use my ankles like they were designed. Also I will usually cross like 10 creeks a day, snowfields, bogs, soaked alders, ect so keeping my feet dry is impossible. I just wear them in. The only times I have had wet feet problems are ironically when I wear waterproof boots. Really good video I agree with everything else. I would add that rain gear needs to be more durable for offtrail hiking.
Thanks you a lot, excellent recommendations like always. Me too love boots, cannot see the point in hiking with the lightest shoes. I'm not in a hurry when hiking and just want to feel stability when moving in all terrain conditions. With trekking pole... I don't feel to much confort in it... I see many hikers used it, maybe I'm getting wrong with it.
I'm now in my 70s and I hiked the Mts around Flagstaff hundreds of times without trekking poles. I can only see using them on parts of a trail that require a lot of stability like crossing streams or on snow packed slopes. Using them on easy to moderate trails is of no use whatsoever. In fact it makes your "balance" lazy and leads one to require them where it's absolutely not really necessary. I also wear boots as opposed to the trail running shoes that all the young people seem to be wearing on thru hikes I've yet to see any of the hikers on the PCT wearing boots.
Good recommendations. While not one specific thing, know the area-specific dangers and have whatever it takes to handle them on your own, because unlike a trail there will be nobody coming by soon to help you.
i wonder how boots could be as good as new over 1000 miles. My vibram soles give up at 500-600, i hike in area of gorgany nature reserve, so it's not like it put them to super hardcore stuff.
My impression is that most of the U.S. 'thru hikers' (the ones I've watched on youtube, anyway) tend to do most of their hiking on well-marked and well-maintained trails, and that the extreme minimalism some of them achieve is partly dependent on sticking to that kind of straightforward waymarked route. Navigating with apps, rather than maps - wearing shorts and trailrunners - all of it makes perfect sense on a clearly marked trail. Here in the UK, most of the walking I've done doesn't involve any kind of 'trail', more going round and round and up and down on our little enclosed patches of hill. I enjoy learning from the Americans (have picked up a pair of trailrunners and love them, maybe not the best for a Dartmoor bog), - but this series is very helpful for balancing out ultralight orthodoxies that don't necessarily make sense for the conditions here - appreciate it!
I used to hate on people who used walking poles….I eventually bought a pair for making Tarp shelters on flat ground….I found out quickly that if you’re walking over wet, slippery, steep rocks then walking poles give you more points of contact (same principle as rock climbing), I wouldn’t set off without them now!!!Lundhag always made top quality footwear, not always pretty footwear, but waterproof & top quality😎👍. Serious soldiers bought Lundhags before Danner brought out Goretex lined boots.
I always carry one. I don't normally walk with it, but when I want it, I really want it.
I had never heard of pants with integrated gaiter features. Interesting.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
I actually prefer Solomon speed cross shoes for offtrail hiking. They grab aggressive slopes and other things well. I like to be able to use my ankles like they were designed.
Also I will usually cross like 10 creeks a day, snowfields, bogs, soaked alders, ect so keeping my feet dry is impossible. I just wear them in. The only times I have had wet feet problems are ironically when I wear waterproof boots.
Really good video I agree with everything else. I would add that rain gear needs to be more durable for offtrail hiking.
Thanks you a lot, excellent recommendations like always. Me too love boots, cannot see the point in hiking with the lightest shoes. I'm not in a hurry when hiking and just want to feel stability when moving in all terrain conditions.
With trekking pole... I don't feel to much confort in it... I see many hikers used it, maybe I'm getting wrong with it.
I'm now in my 70s and I hiked the Mts around Flagstaff hundreds of times without trekking poles. I can only see using them on parts of a trail that require a lot of stability like crossing streams or on snow packed slopes. Using them on easy to moderate trails is of no use whatsoever. In fact it makes your "balance" lazy and leads one to require them where it's absolutely not really necessary. I also wear boots as opposed to the trail running shoes that all the young people seem to be wearing on thru hikes I've yet to see any of the hikers on the PCT wearing boots.
Good recommendations. While not one specific thing, know the area-specific dangers and have whatever it takes to handle them on your own, because unlike a trail there will be nobody coming by soon to help you.
i wonder how boots could be as good as new over 1000 miles. My vibram soles give up at 500-600, i hike in area of gorgany nature reserve, so it's not like it put them to super hardcore stuff.