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Desert Lobster
11-15-2007, 11:46
What is hot in terms of hiking equipment, clothes, style of hiking, etc.?

Lone Wolf
11-15-2007, 11:49
nothing. just the same 'ol high dollar crap

Sly
11-15-2007, 11:51
I liked the Petzl E+ Lite but lost it after 10 days..

Uncle Silly
11-15-2007, 12:11
Style of hiking? I like the ever-popular one-foot-in-front-of-the-other approach, but you might prefer something different.

Frolicking Dinosaurs
11-15-2007, 12:41
Sadly, being a shelter rat so you can carry less and hiking so fast you miss most of the good stuff is in vogue.

saimyoji
11-15-2007, 12:48
Newest AT cuisine. http://whatscookingamerica.net/LobsterTail.htm

Bearpaw
11-15-2007, 14:43
What is hot in terms of hiking equipment, clothes, style of hiking, etc.?

I'd say there are a couple of trends that I've noticed in long-distance hiking across country, on the Colorado Trail, PCT, and not quite so much yet on the AT.

Niche companies are making a decent dent for lighterweight gear.

Six Moon Designs (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/) offers outstanding lightweight tents and packs. Henry Shire's tarptents (http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html)do the same. ULA (http://www.ula-equipment.com/) offers the most comfortable yet supportive lighterweight pack I have ever owned.

These are quite prevalent out west, but considering that Mountain Crossings (at what used to be Walasi-Yi Center at Neel's Gap) carries them, they are likely to become more and more popular on the AT.

I also like that they are still made in the USA.

A-Train
11-15-2007, 15:34
Style of hiking? I like the ever-popular one-foot-in-front-of-the-other approach, but you might prefer something different.

That was so mid-90's buddy. Why don't you try hopping on one foot next time out, huh?

taildragger
11-15-2007, 15:42
The new hiking style is to walk about with a ton of high $ equipment, and then realize that you just because you buy high $ doesn't mean that your any good.

Also, another new thing thats in style is that your style of hiking is wrong, the way that you hike a trail is wrong if its not the way I hike. HYOH, but you're still wrong. And poles, you should have them, unless I don't have poles, then you shouldn't. Water bottles, you should use gatorade bottles, hydration systems, or nalgenes, unless I have something different, in which case, you don't know how to drink.

Note: this post comes from an experience that I had with a dayhiker who was decked out with new namebrand equipment, trying to use poles on something that required scrambling. She lectured me for not using poles, and laughed at me for having a bottle of water in its pouch instead of a camelback. I proceeded to run up the hill and watch her struggle with every step, which made me happy cause she obviously knew more about getting to the top than I did.

Rant off:

Serious part, I'd say the new trend is go light (possibly golite as a trend)

Mags
11-15-2007, 15:45
What is hot in terms of hiking equipment, clothes, style of hiking, etc.?

http://www.thread.co.nz/article/448

Fairydown Adventure have designed a new range of clothes for the adventurous, Zone, to wear in extreme conditions and solving the age-old dilemma of looking cute AND being warm...


http://www.active.com/gear/Articles/The_Gear_Junkie__Outdoor_Clothing_Coming_of_Age.ht m

The rare perfect mix of function and form is an apex of design, a blending of beauty with utility to create something that at once satisfies both a need and a want. Ostensibly, clothing, of all things, should provide such attributes, inherent desirability and amplification of the wearer along with such characteristics as comfort, sun protection, freedom of movement, sweat wicking, water repellency and warmth.

But style has always trumped utility in the halls of fashion. Workaday wear hits a mushy middle ground. The outdoors industry--the purveyors of polyester and nylon and laminates from Gore--for years eschewed mainstream looks for design that seemingly wanted its possessor to stand out: "Look at me! I ski!"

On a similar note, I am obviously concerned about looking cute, stylish and wearing cutting edge and fashionable outdoor clothing:

http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=36&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=14217
http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=36&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=14207

Mags
11-15-2007, 15:51
Note: this post comes from an experience that I had with a dayhiker who was decked out with new namebrand equipment, trying to use poles on something that required scrambling. She lectured me for not using poles, and laughed at me for having a bottle of water in its pouch instead of a camelback. I proceeded to run up the hill and watch her struggle with every step, which made me happy cause she obviously knew more about getting to the top than I did.




Something similar happened to me on the Colorado Trail in 2004.

From http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9807&highlight=colorado+trail+dana+designs

It is off the AT..but still afunny story.

Last year I was onthe my Colorado Trail hike just north (trail wise) from where the CT and the CDT split for the last time. The CT heads south and west towards Durango, the CDT heads south towards Wolf Creek Pass.

Anyway, I am hiking up the trail. I see a genteman with thick, heavy leather boots. A HUGE pack (Dana Designs, maybe?). Had the Nalgenes and every other item it seems from the outfitter.

Here I am: Nike sneakers a bit torn, my lightweight all mesh pack. Banged up ski poles. Dirty polyester dress shirt. Almost three weeks beard growth.

I said "Hello'.
He said "Interesting gear you have". (While eyeing me up and down with a *** look on his face)
Me: "Yep. Works for me"
He said: "Well, always more to learn as you backpack more. When you backpack more, perhaps you will have different gear"
Me: "You are right. Always more to learn"
He: "Enjoy your hike. Be careful".
Me: "You too! It is a great day!"

:)

The guy probably thought I was a total moron (Well...he may be right, but not in the context of backpacking. :D). Probably thought I'd died somewhere in the San Juan mountains!

Anyway, not quite the story you asked..but a good story I think.

Marta
11-15-2007, 16:09
And I thought people saved all their condescending lectures for me.

This summer, as I'm coming DOWN Mt. Whitney a man who is still hiking UP told me I was going too fast and that I'd probably hurt myself.

Just a Hiker
11-15-2007, 16:20
I have noticed over the past couple of years that going SOBO is getting more popular. I met alot of SOBO's in Maine this year!

A-Train
11-15-2007, 16:23
And I thought people saved all their condescending lectures for me.

This summer, as I'm coming DOWN Mt. Whitney a man who is still hiking UP told me I was going too fast and that I'd probably hurt myself.

Many day-hikers were shooting us these terrible "your crazy, slow down" looks when we were descending Whitney at 10am with huge grins on our faces:)

Frolicking Dinosaurs
11-15-2007, 16:25
And I thought people saved all their condescending lectures for me.

This summer, as I'm coming DOWN Mt. Whitney a man who is still hiking UP told me I was going too fast and that I'd probably hurt myself.The Dinos have been guilty of telling youngsters running by that they have to slow down because they're making us look bad :D

Jim Adams
11-15-2007, 16:26
The newest hiking trend that I've noticed is "tunnel vision"!

geek

taildragger
11-15-2007, 16:26
Many day-hikers were shooting us these terrible "your crazy, slow down" looks when we were descending Whitney at 10am with huge grins on our faces:)

Thats why I want to descend whitney on a weekday, preferrably with crappy weather coming in, that way I can avoid the dayhikers from LA, if not I won't be able to hold in the sarcasm and hiker karma will get me later on in the trip (I'll probably get mooned by some punk kids on a train ala the reverse cog)

cowboy nichols
11-15-2007, 17:00
I seem to have slipped into a pattern of two steps forward deep breath ahhh

Tin Man
11-15-2007, 18:25
Note: this post comes from an experience that I had with a dayhiker who was decked out with new namebrand equipment, trying to use poles on something that required scrambling. She lectured me for not using poles, and laughed at me for having a bottle of water in its pouch instead of a camelback. I proceeded to run up the hill and watch her struggle with every step, which made me happy cause she obviously knew more about getting to the top than I did.

Camelbacks suck.

Tin Man
11-15-2007, 18:26
I seem to have slipped into a pattern of two steps forward deep breath ahhh

Are you doing left foot, right foot or right foot, left foot? It could make a difference in your breathing.

ARambler
11-15-2007, 21:30
And I thought people saved all their condescending lectures for me.

This summer, as I'm coming DOWN Mt. Whitney a man who is still hiking UP told me I was going too fast and that I'd probably hurt myself.


Many day-hikers were shooting us these terrible "your crazy, slow down" looks when we were descending Whitney at 10am with huge grins on our faces:)

Day hikers coming down Whitney??? You didn't hike the JMT both ways? In 1976, I saw some early "ultra-heavies" They carried day packs and a hang glider to the top and spent the night in the emergency shelter. The next morning had only a mild breeze, but they decided it was too much (probably pretty smart at 14000 ft) and carried the hang glider back down.

Rambler

Nearly Normal
11-15-2007, 21:53
What is hot in terms of hiking equipment, clothes, style of hiking, etc.?

The gear you used 30 years ago and replace today weighs 30 lbs less.

Better info on what to expect.

Lots of Libertarians hiking out there that still think they are Democrat or Republican.

Nearly Normal

dperry
11-15-2007, 22:39
Are you doing left foot, right foot or right foot, left foot? It could make a difference in your breathing.

Actually, I prefer this technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w

However, I must say I haven't tried la marche futile yet. :D

Tinker
11-16-2007, 02:25
I've noticed more NOBOs earlier in the year in New England the last two or three years. Seems more people are leaving Springer earlier.

Uncle Silly
11-16-2007, 16:27
Style of hiking? I like the ever-popular one-foot-in-front-of-the-other approach, but you might prefer something different.

That was so mid-90's buddy. Why don't you try hopping on one foot next time out, huh?


I seem to have slipped into a pattern of two steps forward deep breath ahhh


Are you doing left foot, right foot or right foot, left foot? It could make a difference in your breathing.

I think I'm getting some inspiration here. Maybe instead of left, right, breathe, it would work better as left, left, right, breathe, right with a half-twist, left, breathe, right?

I'm starting to wish I'd never fired my hike choreographer...

Nightwalker
11-17-2007, 01:14
What is hot in terms of hiking equipment, clothes, style of hiking, etc.?

Cannon balls, lots of cannon balls. (Ask Mags.)

Uncle Silly
11-17-2007, 16:45
Cannon balls, lots of cannon balls. (Ask Mags.)

Do you need to pack gunpowder too? Or can you resupply that in trail towns?

Wonder
11-18-2007, 03:11
My new trend? Move to a trail town and earn bunches of trail miles walking up and down the white blazes on the way to the store, bar....whatever!

NICKTHEGREEK
11-18-2007, 09:23
http://www.thread.co.nz/article/448

Fairydown Adventure have designed a new range of clothes for the adventurous, Zone, to wear in extreme conditions and solving the age-old dilemma of looking cute AND being warm...


http://www.active.com/gear/Articles/The_Gear_Junkie__Outdoor_Clothing_Coming_of_Age.ht m

The rare perfect mix of function and form is an apex of design, a blending of beauty with utility to create something that at once satisfies both a need and a want. Ostensibly, clothing, of all things, should provide such attributes, inherent desirability and amplification of the wearer along with such characteristics as comfort, sun protection, freedom of movement, sweat wicking, water repellency and warmth.

But style has always trumped utility in the halls of fashion. Workaday wear hits a mushy middle ground. The outdoors industry--the purveyors of polyester and nylon and laminates from Gore--for years eschewed mainstream looks for design that seemingly wanted its possessor to stand out: "Look at me! I ski!"

On a similar note, I am obviously concerned about looking cute, stylish and wearing cutting edge and fashionable outdoor clothing:

http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=36&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=14217
http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=36&g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=14207
Bring back the coonskin cap

jambalaya
11-20-2007, 06:21
It doesn't matter who you are or what you're doing -- someone will always try to "help" by pointing you in their direction. I'm a wilderness ranger, which means (it's true, eat your hearts out, people) that I hike for a living. One guy still felt the need to point out (to a ranger, in uniform) that my light hiking boots didn't seem like they were suitable for "this rough terrain." What are you gonna do?

Mags
11-20-2007, 11:06
A little CTRL C and CTRL V action from a previous post:


Jardine (whose word I do NOT think is gospel) used to call these doo-dads "cannon balls". Thinks to make life "easier" but end up making life hard. Usually marketed as something you "need".

Sounds about right...

See http://www.rayjardine.com/papers/essays/cannonballs.htm

Back to new material:

I don't think that is a new trend though. Marketing things to people, things people don't need, is probably as old as the first red ochre stripes for the first wheel made by Bleeg in 12000 BC. ;)

(Bleeg my man..every wheel needs these red ochre stripes! A wheel without red stripes is not as efficient. Do you and Bleega really want to be the only couple in a cave without red ochre stripes ?!?!)

So instead of red ochre stripes, we have clothing and gear with all kinds of features that somehow do everything, probably including carrying our gear and cooking the meals for us, too.

I like my toys to a certain extent. But when getting gear for the sake of getting gear is the hobby as opposed to merely a tool to get outdoors, than something is not quite right.

YMMV. Jusy my .02. HYOH. BINGO. Etc. Etc. Etc.

emerald
11-20-2007, 14:01
My new trend? Move to a trail town and earn bunches of trail miles walking up and down the white blazes on the way to the store, bar....whatever!

So how many miles you racked up?

BTW, my post count now causes me to be living life the way it should be FWIW. I figured I'd reach Maine on such a reply. Thanks for helping Wonder.;)