Van builds require a lot of attention, work, and patience - as I've learned the hard way. But what about once the build is complete and it's time to finally hit the road? The amenities inside the van can make or break the experience just as much as the van itself. Comfort on the road comes from
HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 5 Trail Runner Review
The HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 5 is a lightweight trail running shoe with a Vibram sole that's a popular choice among runners, thru-hikers, and backpackers alike. It's the successor to the Speedgoat 4 and HOKA has made some serious improvements to the shoe; my favorite being the Speedgoat 5's new back
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Review
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT from Cascade Designs is a three-season 13 oz / 369 g inflatable sleeping pad with a 4.5 R-value (the measure of resistance to heat flow through a given thickness of material). It's the next evolution in what's essentially become the default ultralight,
Three-Season Backpacking Gear List for 2023
Three-season backpacking (aka backpacking outside of the winter months) more typically lends itself to summer and/or fair weather backpacking despite including both spring and fall. That said, here's everything you'll need - and everything I bring - for three-season success in the
Building Out a Van: An Exercise in Being Overwhelmed
Now that I've gone through the process of buying a van, I need to get started on the process of building it out. I've grown accustomed to taking on challenges outside my comfort zone or beyond my abilities but building out a van with zero experience may be the most daunting objective thus
Hayduke Trail Grand Canyon Itinerary
Every Hayduke thru-hiker will need a Hayduke Trail Grand Canyon itinerary. The trail spends nearly 150 mi / 240 km in Grand Canyon National Park and all Hayduke hikers will need a Grand Canyon backcountry permit. It's one of the few permits hikers will be required to get if they intend to hike the
The Best Pacific Crest Trail Moments in 2022
Hikers filling out the Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey are asked about their lowest moments on the PCT and their scariest moments on the PCT, so I thought it fair to also ask about hikers' best moments on the PCT as well. Most of the moments hikers recounted were short and sweet. They range from
Hayduke Trail Permits: A Detailed Guide
A single Hayduke Trail permit does not exist because the Hayduke isn't an officially established trail. Instead, it's a popular backpacking route that traverses multiple areas maintained by multiple agencies. Some employees and/or agencies are more aware of the trail than others. Many of these