#whatsinyourpack — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #whatsinyourpack, aggregated by home.social.
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Many times I hear or see the question about what are the best shoes to buy for hiking. For me this is a question incorrectly asked, because many people think buying the "right" shoes will solve their foot discomforts. In reality the answer lies in a bigger ecosystem which includes:
- Good socks.
- Custom insoles.
- The technology in the sole of the shoot.
- The amount of ankle support required.
- The amount of breathability/waterproofing required.
- The shape of the feet of the person asking.
- The amount of hiking a person will do.I cannot stress the positive impact of custom insoles. It reduces rolling of the feet and inappropriate angles in legs. Overall that also reduces fatigue.
Good socks are important. A good mix of merino and some silver threads are some of the best features. Silverlight and Darn Tough are the top brands in this space.
Then it comes to the shoes themselves. Personally, I only look for shoes nowadays that have some Vibram sole on them. I have found most other soles not to be durable enough. Therefore I eliminate any models from my search that doesn't fit criteria. Then only do I actually look for fit.
What does your criteria look like, or how would answer the question when someone asks you?
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The Dragon's Head by Jerkeo Gear is a useful little gas canister stabilizer at only 9g.
No only does it keep the canister off the ground, it also allows for adjustment on uneven ground.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #wanderlust #cooking #jerekogear #garagegrowngear
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My first Durston tent arrived in 2023, but how did I get here?
None of my other tents I had, were really usable any more. They were either too big or the material has gone bad or in the case of my Nemo Hornet, just disillusioned. I was looking for a new tent and I was reading up a lot about tent materials and designs.
One day somehow I stumbled on this YT video and it was an interview with q certain Dan Durston 🙂 talking about materials and I was fascinated.
When I looked at the tents themselves - only X-mid at the time - I was struck by the design and how optimal the floorspace was. That combined with the use of either dyneema or sil-polyester, and the weight; for me it was a done deal. I did compare to a lot of other competitors in the field and nothing had that wow factor.Today we own two Durston tents - an X-Mid and an X-Dome. IN both cases we have the solid inner and the fly is sil-polyester. Really glad to have chosen sil-polyester over dyneema, although heavier, just seems to be better in many other aspects than dyneema.
The short of this story is not that we bought Dan's tents because of hype, but because they are innovative and well engineered.
I like the X-Mid for its simplicity in pitching and it is the goto for tougher mountain trails. I like the X-Dome for its space.
#whatsinyourpack #tents #hiking #durston #durstongear #wanderlust
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Digital packing lists make it a lot easier to build gear lists, but all of them have functional issues. For me, some of the most important feature items are CSV import and export.
I sarted with lighterpack, but later switched to Packstack as it had more features. This includes having multiple packs for a single trip.
However, Packstack's CSV is limited to inventory lists only and not specific pack lists. It also has some annoying bugs
I then tried LevityList, but it does not have a CSV export. It has nice interface, but not all of the features of Packstack.
I also tried BetterPack, but it is just buggy in general.
Gearli has a monthly subscription which is not worth it, given that its CSV import does not work.
TrailGearList has been the most promising, but once again its CSV import is broken.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #gearlist #digitalapp #enshittification
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Interested in buying a Thermarest inflatable pad, but not sure which one? Well, the good folks at Ultralight Outdoor Gear has made a great blog post with a graphic.
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/blog/thermarest-neoair-sleeping-mat-ranges-explained/
#thermarest #ultralightoutdoorgear #whatsinyourpack #hiking #sleeping
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Lyo Food: Moroccan Stew
Pros: Tasty. Really like that they use polenta instead of cous-cous. Includes pumpkin seeds and chick peas. Subtly spices, definitely not bland.
Cons: None.
Verdict: Definitely a yes for the trail. Although instructions said to add water to line 1, I think adding up to line 2 works well enough.
(@b3rgdw3rg seconds this outcome).
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Adventure Food: Chocolate Mousse
Pros: Contains real pieces of chocolate!
Cons: Needs a lot of stirring to prevent clumps.
Verdict: After 4 days on trail, I am not sure this is exciting enough to cheer one up.
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Adventure Food: Vanilla Dessert
Pros: A simple dessert.
Cons: Finding the measuring line is hard - there are only two markers; not a solid line. Packet needs to be flattened out at the bottom before stirring. Difficult to avoid clumps even with a lot of stirring.
Verdict: No for me. OH says yes. Try at home first, before taking on trail.
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As far as hiking goes, I was for a long time an avid user of Osprey backpacks + Osprey hydration bladders.
I have however come to realise that I now have come prefer the UL-style packs with the two large side pockets in which I can place water bottles. It was using the LiteAF 46lt full suspension pack that has driven this transition.
So much so that I am now thinking of getting a smaller pack around 30lt for multi-day hikes where stoves, tents and sleeping bags are not required.
This is also leading to the point where I am considering selling off some of my Osprey packs. (I still a big fan of Osprey though and will continue to use some of their other products).
I do like looking into UL packs where I can order customised as much as possible. This is not a cheap option, but neither are Osprey packs. If I'm going to spend money like that, it surely is better to have something that is customised to me.
The one thing that niggles is that using a UL-style pack does not really work for the occasional snow hike. Bottles on the outside will freeze. UL packs are not really meant for carrying skis and snowshoes.
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Lyo Food: Chilli Sin Carne
Pro: Tasty. The best in the series of food tested in Feb & Mar '26. Using polenta makes a big difference.
Cons: None
Verdict: Currently the first choice to take on trail.
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Lyo Food: Crema Catalana
Pros: Tasty, even better than some of the real crema catalana that I have eaten in restaurants. Real bits of orange peel make the difference.
Cons: None. (It is not going to look like a real crema catalana tartlet, but you are on trail).
Verdict: If I want to take a dessert on trail, absolutely yes. I would even take two ginger biscuits to round it off.
https://lyofood.com/collections/desserts/products/crema-catalana
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Electronic I am taking on my next multi-day hikes:
- Mobile phone. I keep it in a pocket in my Forclaz trousers.
- Garman Fenix 6 smartwatch.
- Petzl Swift headlamp. I prefer the stronger beams that this offers as I use for walking in the dark and not just for camp cooking.
- Iniu powerbank. 20Ah. I am not taking my older Anker power bank as the Iniu has the capability of both usb-c and usb-a power out.
- usb-c to usb-c charge cable.
- usb-a to usb-c charge cable.
- usb-c to micro-usb adaptor (for charging headlamp).
- usb-c to garmin adaptor (for charging watch).
- 4lt Nanosil drybag from Sea to Summit for keeping everything together. This bag goes in the backpack as I don't normally need it in the day.
Not included in this list are camera equipment, spare batteries and chargers for cameras.
This time around I have cut some grams off the base weight by using shorter cables and then the adaptors instead of extra cables.
#FishRiverCanyon #drakensberg #southaftica #namibia #whatsinyourpack #hiking
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Adventure Food: Bobotie
Pros: Very tasty. Really like the bits of apple in it. High quality raisins. I don't normally like raisins in food, but these were tasty.
Cons: Could not find anything that tasted like meat in it. Still found some grit, but maybe leaving for 5min more would solve that. Does not taste like traditional bobotie.
Verdict: Will take on trail. Even with the negatives, I still like the taste.
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Sleep time in the Fish River Canyon will be simple again: two groundsheets and no tent. This time around I opted for a tyvek sheet and a polycro sheet. I found the ground sheets that I used the previous time were too narrow.
The plan is to sleep on the more sturdy tyvek sheet and unpack my gear on the polycro sheet. In the unlikely scenario of rain at night, I'll simply sleep underneath the polycro sheet as it is wider that the tyvek sheet.
I have modified the tyvek sheet with some metal grommets. I'll put some lightweight cord in there in case I want to peg it down. Not sure about doing the same to the polycro sheet - thst material is a bit flimsy.
#whatsinyourpack #tyvek #groundsheet #camping #hiking #fishrivercanyon #namibia
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For the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trip I have my cooking setup settled and there are some luxury items.
- I am taking a Fozzils Snapbowl for when I need a bowl. Doubles as a cutting board. (https://www.fozzils.com/product-page/snapfold-bowlz). It fits nicely into the back stretch pocket of the backpack.
- A long handle spork.
- A Victorinox Soldier's knife. It has all the necessary utilities for emergencies. The made blade is serrated and sharp. I have used it in the past to even cut open tins. (https://www.amazon.es/-/en/Victorinox-Schweizer-Soldatenmesser-Functions-Including/dp/B002RWXZ7E)
- A spreading knife, because it works better than the pocket knife's big blade. It is my one luxury item.
- All the cutlery items go into a small Hilltop tent stake bag. I purposely bought the one with the meat print. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/tent-stake-stuff-sacks-funny-prints?variant=38878721867961)
- MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Slightly heavier than some other compact stoves, but it burns more efficiently, has a regulator and a piezo igniter. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/pocketrocket-deluxe-stove).
- Lightload Towel as a dish cloth. It is super lightweight, recycable and lasts for many days. (https://www.litesmith.com/lightload-towels/).
- MSR Titan 900ml kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-kettle-900ml)
- MSR Titan Double Wall mug 375 ml. It fits inside the kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-double-wall-mug).
- All the cookware goes inside a Hilltop stuff sack, including one gas canister. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/stuff-sacks-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric?variant=45960307114241)
- I have one large food bag from Hilltop (https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/food-bags-bear-bags/products/food-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-bear-bag-5) as well as 2nd snack bag. At this point I might take another Hilltop bag instead of the Sea to Summit drybag for the latter purpose.
- As these hikes are in Southern Africa, a common practice is to eat rusks with morning coffee / tea. I keep these in a plastic container to prevent them from becoming crumbs.
- My second luxury item is a Platypus 800ml wine bag, because we like to sip some red wine in the evening. When it is empty it rolls up really small (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/platy-preserve).
This whole setup is < 900g.
I did not include a emergency matches or a lighter in this list as that will go into the emergency and first aid bag.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #cooking #traillfood #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #namibia #southafrica #msrgear #hilltoppacks #platypus #victorinox #fozzils
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For the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trip I have my cooking setup settled and there are some luxury items.
- I am taking a Fozzils Snapbowl for when I need a bowl. Doubles as a cutting board. (https://www.fozzils.com/product-page/snapfold-bowlz). It fits nicely into the back stretch pocket of the backpack.
- A long handle spork.
- A Victorinox Soldier's knife. It has all the necessary utilities for emergencies. The made blade is serrated and sharp. I have used it in the past to even cut open tins. (https://www.amazon.es/-/en/Victorinox-Schweizer-Soldatenmesser-Functions-Including/dp/B002RWXZ7E)
- A spreading knife, because it works better than the pocket knife's big blade. It is my one luxury item.
- All the cutlery items go into a small Hilltop tent stake bag. I purposely bought the one with the meat print. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/tent-stake-stuff-sacks-funny-prints?variant=38878721867961)
- MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Slightly heavier than some other compact stoves, but it burns more efficiently, has a regulator and a piezo igniter. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/pocketrocket-deluxe-stove).
- Lightload Towel as a dish cloth. It is super lightweight, recycable and lasts for many days. (https://www.litesmith.com/lightload-towels/).
- MSR Titan 900ml kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-kettle-900ml)
- MSR Titan Double Wall mug 375 ml. It fits inside the kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-double-wall-mug).
- All the cookware goes inside a Hilltop stuff sack, including one gas canister. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/stuff-sacks-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric?variant=45960307114241)
- I have one large food bag from Hilltop (https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/food-bags-bear-bags/products/food-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-bear-bag-5) as well as 2nd snack bag. At this point I might take another Hilltop bag instead of the Sea to Summit drybag for the latter purpose.
- As these hikes are in Southern Africa, a common practice is to eat rusks with morning coffee / tea. I keep these in a plastic container to prevent them from becoming crumbs.
- My second luxury item is a Platypus 800ml wine bag, because we like to sip some red wine in the evening. When it is empty it rolls up really small (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/platy-preserve).
This whole setup is < 900g.
I did not include a emergency matches or a lighter in this list as that will go into the emergency and first aid bag.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #cooking #traillfood #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #namibia #southafrica #msrgear #hilltoppacks #platypus #victorinox #fozzils
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For the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trip I have my cooking setup settled and there are some luxury items.
- I am taking a Fozzils Snapbowl for when I need a bowl. Doubles as a cutting board. (https://www.fozzils.com/product-page/snapfold-bowlz). It fits nicely into the back stretch pocket of the backpack.
- A long handle spork.
- A Victorinox Soldier's knife. It has all the necessary utilities for emergencies. The made blade is serrated and sharp. I have used it in the past to even cut open tins. (https://www.amazon.es/-/en/Victorinox-Schweizer-Soldatenmesser-Functions-Including/dp/B002RWXZ7E)
- A spreading knife, because it works better than the pocket knife's big blade. It is my one luxury item.
- All the cutlery items go into a small Hilltop tent stake bag. I purposely bought the one with the meat print. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/tent-stake-stuff-sacks-funny-prints?variant=38878721867961)
- MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Slightly heavier than some other compact stoves, but it burns more efficiently, has a regulator and a piezo igniter. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/pocketrocket-deluxe-stove).
- Lightload Towel as a dish cloth. It is super lightweight, recycable and lasts for many days. (https://www.litesmith.com/lightload-towels/).
- MSR Titan 900ml kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-kettle-900ml)
- MSR Titan Double Wall mug 375 ml. It fits inside the kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-double-wall-mug).
- All the cookware goes inside a Hilltop stuff sack, including one gas canister. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/stuff-sacks-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric?variant=45960307114241)
- I have one large food bag from Hilltop (https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/food-bags-bear-bags/products/food-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-bear-bag-5) as well as 2nd snack bag. At this point I might take another Hilltop bag instead of the Sea to Summit drybag for the latter purpose.
- As these hikes are in Southern Africa, a common practice is to eat rusks with morning coffee / tea. I keep these in a plastic container to prevent them from becoming crumbs.
- My second luxury item is a Platypus 800ml wine bag, because we like to sip some red wine in the evening. When it is empty it rolls up really small (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/platy-preserve).
This whole setup is < 900g.
I did not include a emergency matches or a lighter in this list as that will go into the emergency and first aid bag.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #cooking #traillfood #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #namibia #southafrica #msrgear #hilltoppacks #platypus #victorinox #fozzils
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For the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trip I have my cooking setup settled and there are some luxury items.
- I am taking a Fozzils Snapbowl for when I need a bowl. Doubles as a cutting board. (https://www.fozzils.com/product-page/snapfold-bowlz). It fits nicely into the back stretch pocket of the backpack.
- A long handle spork.
- A Victorinox Soldier's knife. It has all the necessary utilities for emergencies. The made blade is serrated and sharp. I have used it in the past to even cut open tins. (https://www.amazon.es/-/en/Victorinox-Schweizer-Soldatenmesser-Functions-Including/dp/B002RWXZ7E)
- A spreading knife, because it works better than the pocket knife's big blade. It is my one luxury item.
- All the cutlery items go into a small Hilltop tent stake bag. I purposely bought the one with the meat print. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/tent-stake-stuff-sacks-funny-prints?variant=38878721867961)
- MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Slightly heavier than some other compact stoves, but it burns more efficiently, has a regulator and a piezo igniter. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/pocketrocket-deluxe-stove).
- Lightload Towel as a dish cloth. It is super lightweight, recycable and lasts for many days. (https://www.litesmith.com/lightload-towels/).
- MSR Titan 900ml kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-kettle-900ml)
- MSR Titan Double Wall mug 375 ml. It fits inside the kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-double-wall-mug).
- All the cookware goes inside a Hilltop stuff sack, including one gas canister. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/stuff-sacks-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric?variant=45960307114241)
- I have one large food bag from Hilltop (https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/food-bags-bear-bags/products/food-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-bear-bag-5) as well as 2nd snack bag. At this point I might take another Hilltop bag instead of the Sea to Summit drybag for the latter purpose.
- As these hikes are in Southern Africa, a common practice is to eat rusks with morning coffee / tea. I keep these in a plastic container to prevent them from becoming crumbs.
- My second luxury item is a Platypus 800ml wine bag, because we like to sip some red wine in the evening. When it is empty it rolls up really small (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/platy-preserve).
This whole setup is < 900g.
I did not include a emergency matches or a lighter in this list as that will go into the emergency and first aid bag.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #cooking #traillfood #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #namibia #southafrica #msrgear #hilltoppacks #platypus #victorinox #fozzils
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For the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trip I have my cooking setup settled and there are some luxury items.
- I am taking a Fozzils Snapbowl for when I need a bowl. Doubles as a cutting board. (https://www.fozzils.com/product-page/snapfold-bowlz). It fits nicely into the back stretch pocket of the backpack.
- A long handle spork.
- A Victorinox Soldier's knife. It has all the necessary utilities for emergencies. The made blade is serrated and sharp. I have used it in the past to even cut open tins. (https://www.amazon.es/-/en/Victorinox-Schweizer-Soldatenmesser-Functions-Including/dp/B002RWXZ7E)
- A spreading knife, because it works better than the pocket knife's big blade. It is my one luxury item.
- All the cutlery items go into a small Hilltop tent stake bag. I purposely bought the one with the meat print. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/tent-stake-stuff-sacks-funny-prints?variant=38878721867961)
- MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Slightly heavier than some other compact stoves, but it burns more efficiently, has a regulator and a piezo igniter. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/pocketrocket-deluxe-stove).
- Lightload Towel as a dish cloth. It is super lightweight, recycable and lasts for many days. (https://www.litesmith.com/lightload-towels/).
- MSR Titan 900ml kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-kettle-900ml)
- MSR Titan Double Wall mug 375 ml. It fits inside the kettle. (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/titan-double-wall-mug).
- All the cookware goes inside a Hilltop stuff sack, including one gas canister. (https://hilltoppacks.com/products/stuff-sacks-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric?variant=45960307114241)
- I have one large food bag from Hilltop (https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/food-bags-bear-bags/products/food-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-bear-bag-5) as well as 2nd snack bag. At this point I might take another Hilltop bag instead of the Sea to Summit drybag for the latter purpose.
- As these hikes are in Southern Africa, a common practice is to eat rusks with morning coffee / tea. I keep these in a plastic container to prevent them from becoming crumbs.
- My second luxury item is a Platypus 800ml wine bag, because we like to sip some red wine in the evening. When it is empty it rolls up really small (https://cascadedesigns.com/en-eu/products/platy-preserve).
This whole setup is < 900g.
I did not include a emergency matches or a lighter in this list as that will go into the emergency and first aid bag.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #cooking #traillfood #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #namibia #southafrica #msrgear #hilltoppacks #platypus #victorinox #fozzils
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What people take for toiletries is a very personal choice. For me for overnight hikes my toiletries remain consistent.
- Small drybag where most of things go. After various options in the past, I have now settled for one from Hilltop Packs - https://hilltoppacks.com/products/ditty-bags-printed-dry-bags-challenge-d50t-fabric-11?variant=46398823629057.
- A very small Sea to Summit Airlite towel. https://seatosummit.eu/en-nl/products/airlite-towel (I only use this on trail, as I have left two behind in the shower after the trail. There are small after all and easy to miss).
- Sunscreen
- Nail clippers
- Tooth brush.
- Dental brush tablets. Much better than toot paste. They don't make a mess and I can take exactly the amount I need.
- Interdental brush. For me a better solution than floss, as I do not have perfect teeth. I normally carry this in a hip belt pocket as I might need it during the day,
- Mirror, it is just useful for many things. like putting sunscreen on your face.
- Lip balm. Not something I always use, bu it does come in handy on hot, sunny days. I also carry this in a hip belt pocket,
There is noticeable absence of deodorant, soap and shampoo. I am in the "embrace the smell" camp when on trail and I don't like to introduce day-hiker fragrances. If it is going to be a very long hike, then I'll bring something, but for <7 days I don't. (There is always water and a wet wipe from the hygiene bag).
But there are a couple of things I do leave in the car for cleaning up after the trail - soap, shampoo, deodorant and a bigger towel.
#toiletries #hiking #whatsinyourpack #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #pyrenees
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Clothes that I intend to take for the Fish River Canyon this year. The focus is to deal with the heat and sun in the day, but also stay warm at night as this is a desert environment. As we normally start to walk as soon as one can see ones feet, it might still be cool, so a layering system is appropriate.
I have found the Forclaz MT500 zippable trousers (https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/pantalon-desmontable-de-montana-y-trekking-hombre-forclaz-mt500/351289/c383c1m8853742) to be really dependent and good value for money. I can make a decision to keep the bottoms on for protect against the sun, or zip them off for when it is really hot. I really like the four pockets and their positioning on these trousers. Both bottom pockets are large to hold a mobile phone.
I wear my sun hoodie (https://blackdiamondequipment.com/products/mens-alpenglow-pro-hoody) the whole day. When it is cooler, it functions as a baselayer below the T-shirt (https://crazy.it/an/en/prodotto/s25095114u-00/), otherwise It is the only thing I wear as a top.
I have two UPF50+ buffs. One goes on the left wrist over the watch. It serves as way to wipe sweat off. The other buff I normally wear as a hat. I have found normal hats to be too sweaty, but the high UPF buff to be highly effective. In the FRC the sun hardly comes from the front - normally from the back and on the sides.
I only wear Under Armour underpants (https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/ua_performance_tech_mens_6_3-pack_boxerjock/1383878.html?dwvar_1383878_color=200). I also use them as swimming trunks. I have found that one can wear them for days without a smell. They also dry very quickly.
For the evening I can decide to optionally take two baselayers to sleep in, although in the past I have sometimes slept in my hiking clothes. Maybe not the best practice, but that is what the sleeping bag liner is for.
I also take a beanie (https://crazy.it/an/en/prodotto/w25125050x-00/) and a puffy for the nights. Since I can only take one puffy for my travels, I have to go for a higher spec one and I have selected one the Simond Duvet (https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/plumifero-de-montana-y-alpinismo-con-capucha-hombre-simond-duvet/347966/c364c81m8809333).
I pack some light golves from Forclaz (https://www.decathlon.es/es/p/guantes-termicos-de-montana-y-trekking-tactiles-adulto-forclaz-mt500/335330/c364c382m8655827). The puffy has its own built-in stuff bag, but after stuffing it, it still needs to be in the drybag for protect it against moisture.
Finally all the clothes go into a drybag. I have custom printed version.(https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/dry-bags/products/dry-bags-w-custom-printing-challenge-d50t-fabric-1)
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Sleep system for both the Fish River Canyon and Drakensberg trips in 2026.
- Bandit quilt from UGW
- Nemo Fillo Elite pillow
- Sleeping bag liner from Naturhike
- Nemo Tensor Extreme sleeping pad
- E-Vent Sil compression dry bag from Sea to SummitFor the desert I could have gone with a normal Nemo Tensor and a lighter quilt, bur since I only want to fly with one combination I opted for taking the warmer set.
I have also now worked out a way to keep the pillow strapped to the pad at the expense of about 10g.
Although the sleeping bag liner is depicted with its own stuff sack, Ieave that behind. Instead the pillow, quilt and pillow are all compressed into the dry bag. The sleeping pad still travels in its own stuff bag. For bag end up at the bottom of the backpack when hiking.
#whatsinyourpack #sleeping #hiking #FishRiverCanyon #Drakensberg #quilt #nemoequipment #ugqoutdoors #seatosummit #naturhike
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Water system for the Fish River Canyon in 2026.
- Clean water goes in Mazama MGO 1lt bottles. Probably taking two.
- Electrolytes are mixed in Thirsti 500ml bottle (This is a disposable bottle purchasable in South Africa and much like a Smart Water bottle).
- Water filter is a Platypus Quickdraw and a CNOC 2lt bag only for for dirty water.
- A drinking pipe is connected to one of th MGO bottles.Water situation is different this year than for the very dry 2024 we experienced, so final decisions will only be made closer to the time. However one always wants to have at least 2lt of clean water, but having the capacity for 3lt is better.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #fishrivercanyon #namibia #mazama #cnoc #platypus
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Footwear for the Fish River Canyon & the Mnweni Traverse in 2026.
- Nnormal Tomir Boots. Waterproof versions. Durable soles. Good for water crossing. Mid-ankle keeps the dust out and reduces risk of ankle rolling on boulders.
- Custom insoles from Sidas moulded by specialist boot fitter. This means no unnecessary foot rolling, leg movements and less fatigue.
- Dust gaiters. Will either be a pair from Dirty Girls (picture) or a hiking pair form AR Gaiters. (https://argaiters.co.za/collections/ar-gaiters-hiking). Keeps dust, sand, sticks and pebbles from getting inside.
- Sliverlight crew socks. Onsilverlie pair worn for 5.5 days. Backup pair in pack. (https://silverlight.store/socks)#hiking #whatsinyourpack #hiking #fishrivercanyon #drakensberg #southafrica #namibia
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Two generations of MSR Titan kettles side by side. Definitely some improvements in the 2nd generation like the insulated handles and a no fuss handle on the lid.
On the older generation, the handle fell over at inopportune times, getting very hot and then difficult to lift up when hot and on top of a small gas cooker.
The newer generation is slighlty taller and with an increase in volume. It does take a MSR Titan mug, but not together with a MSR Pocket Rocket DLX. Well at least not if one keeps the lid of the mug on.
A gas canister still fits on top of the lid in the new generation, but not as snug as with the older generation. Of course the small and medium canisters will fit inside the pot, but then not much else will fit (at least for the 900ml version).
Not sure if it is really worth the upgrade, but it depends on the context in how it will be used.
The new generation kettle will be my goto pot for this year's hiking.it can easily boil water for two people for a hot drink and still have some left over to rinse the mugs afterwards.
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I wasn't happy with the positioning of the shoulder pouch on my LiteAF pack. It was (1) too high, and (2) did not close well enough to keep 500ml bottle in place.
So I opted to customise by using this stretchy water bottle pouch from Hilltop Packs. It comes in two sizes and I ordered the smaller version as I only want a smaller bottle. I also took the opportunity to use a photo from where I was standing in the Orange river between South Africa and Namibia.
My suggestion to future buyers of bespoke LiteAF packs not to invoke the option of the shoulder pouch, but rather to buy an aftermarket version. Gossamer Gear also has a good product.
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For the outdoor person who apparently still needs more gear - customised titanium spork from Hilltop Packs.
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A question to anyone that own the 900ml (30.x fl.oz) MSR Titanium Kettle:
Does a fuel canister fit into the groove on the lid?
BTW It fits perfectly on previous generation kettle,
#whatsinyourpack #msrgear #cooking #trailfood #hiking #bikepacking #backpacking
P.S. No local shops have the new model, so I have to mail order, and I want to be sure what I buy.
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For the last year I used a pertex inner for my sleeping liner. Problem is that it is still from the 90s and are now developing holes, but at least it is lightweight at 176g and perfect for 3-season and shoulder-season hikes.
I have now replaced it with the lightest one (128g) I could find at a reasonable price (~€20). This is the Flame from Naturehike, although I have also see it called the Fireworks.
https://www.naturehike.com/products/flame-ultralight-sleeping-bag-liner.
It finds me (1.79m) well enough that I could sit in it outside of a tent and pull the hood over my head.
It folds up very small too. I won't use the stuff sack on hikes though. It will just get stuffed in with my quilt into a Sea to Summit compression bag.
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From my PoV, I just pulled off a nice hack to get my Nemo Fillo Elite pillow to stay on my Nemo Tensor pad.
When I ordered my UGQ quilt, I included an extra lightweight cord with it. Now this has come in handy. There is a name tag on the one side of the pillow and a small loop on the other side. These can be used to attach the elastic UGQ cord.
If one sets one end of the cord with the sown-in name tag and pull it under the sleeping pad, the other end of the cord can locked into the open loop on rhe orher side. Then pull it tight enough using the cord lock and balance the cords. Now all one has to unlock and lock the open loop during setup and tear down.
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Back to hiking the Fish River Canyon again in '26 and I'll be posting some updates between now and the southern winter when this trip will happen.
For a start, I'm changing some gear wrt what I took on the '24 trip.
💦 La Neña has been good in terms of water supply to the FRC in '25 and it look like this trend will continue in '26.
- Nemo Tensor Extreme instead of original Nemo Tensor. (Latter is good enough for trip, but I have multiple trips and only want to fly out with one pad).
- 1x Tyvek + 1x Polycro groundsheet instead of the X-Mid footprint and the Gossamer Gear groundsheet. (Lighter, bigger and more durable).
- Platypus Quickdraw filter + CNOC Vector 2lt instead of MSR Autoworks 10lt. (Less need to filter water and no need for a group filter).
- LiteAF 46lt backpack instead of Osprey 65lt. (It's lighter)
- 2x MGO 1lt bottles + 2x 500ml cheap water bottles instead of Osprey Hydraulics 3lt. (Still provides 3lt of cover in case it is needed, but easier to manage refilling and works for LiteAF pack).
- UCG Bandit Quilt instead of Culumus quilt. (It's warmer for the cold desert nights).
- Simond puffy instead of Norrøna. (Slightly heavier, but warmer for cold desert nights and also a better fit).
- Nnormal 02 Boot instead of Merrell Moab3 GTX. (Moabs suffered damage).
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4/4 P.S.
1) Curious how I kept the flat face of the disk-like device horizontal while I hiked?
2) Garmin strangely refers to what I believe is "transmit power" as "protocol" in three models-- it is correctly called "transmit power" on the "plus" model
3) Garmin doesn't advertise the differences in power. They recommend clear overhead. Unfortunately, #hiking in the wilderness frequently involves forests and may require the extra power!
END
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3/4 Last week, I used my new Garmin Inreach Messenger Plus for 20 hours in the same heavily wooded areas I had used my mini, including 10 hours of snowing and heavy overcast. It worked great! Connect times ranged from a few seconds to a few minutes (NOT 10's of minutes like with my mini). Not a scientific test, but not a single long delay among the 22 transmissions of text messages-- looks very promising that there is improvement! (CONT)
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2/4 Here are some specs of the four Garmin Inreach models of interest: mini/mini2/messenger/messenger-plus have transmit powers (at Iridium satellite frequency) of 31.7/31.8/35.9/39.7 dBm. The "plus" has 3.8 dB higher power than the regular messenger and 8.0 dB higher than my mini (which translates to 6.3 times the power of my old unit). With such an increase in power, I was hopeful for faster connect times with the "plus". (CONT)
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Finally after 11 months my Hilltop Packs' dry bags arrived. Not the fault of Hilltops, but USPS. The originals are now probably being sold on a street market in Egypt.
Hilltops did me a replacement set.
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I fixed two pieces of MSR cookware today.
The first was the little rubber grab on the the lid of a MSR 2lt Trail Lite pot. It broke off one day, making it difficult to lift the lid up. After roughing up the rubber I managed to glue it back. I think it will hold.
The second is on the older model of the Titan 900ml kettle. It is not insulated and one needs to wear a glove when lifting if off the stove. I added make-shift rubber handles. I boiled a pot of water and then seem not to be affected when using a Pocket Rocket stove.
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Having done some reading into some shoes today and having a look what's on offer at two retailers, I think I am going to try out the following low cut trail shoes:
- Merrell Moab3 GTX: I already have the same model, but a mid model, so I am well aware of the comfort of the shoe. It has a TC5+ Vibram sole, which strangely is not listed on Vibram's website.
- La Sportiva TX5 GTX: A low cut shoe with a leather upper and a Vibram Megagrip sole.
- La Sportiva Spire GTX: Really like the looks of this one and it comes with a Vibram XS Trek sole.
As far as the La Sportiva shoes are concerned, I need to ensure that they do fit my feet as most Italian brands don't.
I also opting only to fit models that have VIbram soles. I might be sacrificing some flexibility for durability.
My main application are mountain day hikes, not necessarily on paths, crossing rocky terrain. When solo, I tend to go fast downhill. Shoes need to cope.
#whatsinyourpack #hiking #shoes #merrell #lasportiva #vibram
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FRC gear review 1: MSR Gravity XL 10lt filter.
This really worked well for the group. A couple of people had Sawyer if similar kind of small squeeze filters, but having this MSR filter meant we could filter into two 4lt MSR Dromedary bags in little time and people could then fill up their hydration bladders or water bottles easily.
It took a bit of time to get used, and there was not always place to hang it up, but we made do with the terrain we got.
I did find that due to the pools, we had to backwash the filter every 7-8lt. We also had to take care of getting air out of the system.
Luckily I won't need this for a while, but it will be there again when we need it.
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A common practice on the FRC is to sleep in the open and not use a tent. It is also common practice to take two groundsheets. One is to sleep on and the other to unpack your gear on.
For this reason I invested in a lightweight, 2-person wide groundsheet from Gram-counter Gear. It weighs 220g and can be pegged in, if necessary. Size is 220x140cm.
It is waterproof to 8000mm, but I don't expect water to be problem. I do expect to find a scorpion or two below it when packing up in the morning. 🤔
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The type of tent stakes is a very personal choice and depends on the kind of terrain one frequents. I have different tent stakes that I can use with my Durston X-Mid Solid 2P. Not all of them go along all the time.
The long Triwonder stakes are only meant for snow and soft loose sand. I never had to use them yet, although just after Easter I'll be doing a trip that might need them.
I prefer the Y-stakes above the V-stakes as one has to pay less attention how you put them in the soil.
If I know it will be a wind-free place, I'll only take take six stakes. In the Pyrenees, I have found that the short ones work best.
As the chances of wind increases I can add more stakes into my pack up to a max of 16, although I admit, I've never done as yet.
For a trip to the Drakensberg for instance, I might take 8 or 10 which will be a mix of short and long.
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Finally got to try my new BD Alpenglow Pro hoodie on. The material is really soft and it is easy to roll it up small. Should be easy to stuff it into one of those stretch back pockets on an Osprey backpack.
I do suspect it will suffer some eventual damage due to being used with a backpack, but time will tell.
The hoodie seems to work well worn under a hat, or over a baseball-type cap. I also tested with wearing buff underneath it and over it (balaclava-style). Definitely a lot of versatility here.
Besides a sun hoodie, the idea is to use it as a 2nd baselayer. I am used to wearing a long sleeve base layer, with a T-shirt over it (or under it). Now the Alpenglow can fulfill the role of the long-sleeve baselayer.
https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/product/alpenglow-pro-hoody-mens/
#whatsinyourpack #frc2024 #Drakensberg #hiking #blackdiamond
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The cutting board dilemma. I have a small cutting board I made, weighs only 18g. Have done many trips. Works well, when there is only two of us or I alone. We like to cut cheese, fuet, biltong, chillis, onions etc on it when eating or cooking, so it is an important part of trail ritual.
Also when solo or in a pair, we don't need plates, we just eat out of the pot. But in a group of four, do I forego the cutting board and get myself a plate with a built-in cutting-board such as Sea-to-Summit's X-bowl. It rolls in at 80g, so quite a step up in weight.
WDYT?
What do you use for a chopping board?
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We are probably taking two pots, but on the FRC one specific pot is for certain. It is an MSR 1.1lt Stowaway. It is completed with a pot cozy I made. This allows us to cook meals which normally requires time and simmering to rather cook in own heat. Rice, dehydrated cooked beans all benefit from this. It also allows for one to start meal preration when arriving at camp and then go for a walkabout.
- https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/stainless-steel/alpine-stowaway-pot---1.1l/321109.html
#msrgear #myog #frc2024 #hiking #trailcooking #whatsinyourpack
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The call of nature...
The FRC is a delicate ecosystem. We want to leave as little behind as we can.This inspired us to take a CuloClean this time. ( @freeder23 has one in his lic the other day too - https://mas.to/@freeder23/112021670373932860).
Also taking the Deuce trowel along.
Not sure about the hand sanitizer though. Wet wipes might be lighter, but needs to be carried out. WDYT?
Everything goes in this waterproof multi-compartment Culo bag. It has a small bag for carrying out your dirty paper.
- http://www.thetentlab.com/Deuce/DeuceofSpadespage.html
- https://culoclean.com/#frc2024 #whatsinyourpack #howtoshitinthedesert #hiking #drakensberg
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I don't need a tent for the FRC as we'll be sleeping in the open (98% probability). I do need one for camping one night prior to crossing the border into Namibia.
I do need a tent for my Drakensberg trip. In 2022 I used a Nemo Hornet 2P and in 2023 teice a Vango Nitro 2+. This time I am taking a Durston XMid Solid 2P.
The Nemo Hornet is too narrow a cut and allows water to run inside when unzipping the fly. The Nitro (now superceded by the Xenon) is a great tunnel tent. Great for basecamping and windy conditions, but I handed it down to one of the kids for their mountain adventures.
The XMid is lightweight, simple to pitch and pretty decent in the wind. I can use it as a solo tent or share with someone.
- https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-solid
- https://www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/review/review-vango-f10-xenon-ul2-tent/
-#whatsinyourpack #frc2024 #Drakensberg #tents #durstongear #hiking #nemoequipment
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I am only taking one pair of trousers on the FRC - the MT500 zip-off trousers from Decathlon. With big temperature extremes during the day, one wants to be able adjust quickly as the temps go up in the morning and then when the sun sets.
What like about them is that there is a vertical pocket that is easy to get a mobile phone in and out of. It is also very easy to zip off the bottom parts with boots on.
I have used the same pair for trekking in Nepal up to 4800m.
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I wrote about my sandals conundrum previously ( https://mountains.social/@ysb33r/111861977618179548 ), but I have now opted for the Kimberfeel sandals. A bit more bulky, but light.
I also spent a day just walking around in them, and I reckon I could hike in them with a hike, should I really want to.
I also came across this opinion lately and it agrees with me. https://youtu.be/7ZgYxiS8d3E?t=222&si=vNzNC7iHF8oEaAa8
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Interesting addition to events. I am now joining a 5-day hike to the Drakensberg, roughly one month before the FRC trip. As I a flying into Johannesburg, this means that I have double plan my gear, to include both situations.
By example: whereas for the FRC, I do not really require serious rain gear, I also now have to bring rain pants and definitely have my rain jacket, not just a windproof jacket. I'll also require a warm beanie etc.
So I might be tweeting even more about #whatsinyourpack.
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Talking lightweight gaiters. I wore my Montane gaiters on tough mountain trips until they got holes. (It looks like the model I have is discontinued).
Then I managed to get some Dirty Girl gaiters based on good reviews. I love the feel and quality.
For the FRC though, I am going blind. I ordered a pair from South African brand AR Gaiters, which I'll pick up upon arrival.
None of these gaiters are waterproof, but I prefer the lightweight nature as opposed to waterproof as I am not walking in rain-soaked places like the UK.
All of f them use the approach of having a bit of velcro at the back of the shoe. From experience I say is not to rely on the glue of the velcro - use a stronger glue and let it dry before using the gaiters.
Onwards... in a couple of months I'll post my impression of the AR Gaiters.
- https://argaiters.co.za/products/argaiters-hiking
- https://dirtygirlgaiters.com (In Europe https://www.trekking-lite-store.com/Dirty-Girl-Gaiters-Spacin-Out.html )#whatsinyourpack #frc2024 #hiking #argaiters #dirtygirlgaiters #gaiters #montane
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They are expensive, but oh they work so well! That is why I am sticking with SIlverlight when it comes to socks. I'll wear one pair probably for the duration of the trip and keep a 2nd pair in the pack for in case. They hardly smell, but given the heat on the trail, I should be able to rinse out a pair and they'll soon be dry. They come in R-L pairs identified by the words Venture & Out
- https://silverlight.store/product/silverlight-socks/
#whatsinyourpack #frc2024 #hiking #silverlight #socks #silverlight