Whether you’re taking your puffer jacket out of storage as the weather gets cold again, the key to keeping a puffer down jacket looking like new is the puffy appearance. This puffed appearance is achieved by filling the channels in the jacket with goose feathers, also called loft or synthetic fibers depending on the brand. … Read more
When you start learning more about long-distance hiking and longer-duration hikes you may hear people talk about how hiker hunger takes over. This is something that isn’t necessarily bad but can be controlled as it is a leading cause of weight gain once off the trail as the habit gets built. What is hiker hunger? … Read more
If there is one thing I have come to understand in the last few months learning about ultralight backpacking for thru-hikes it is that equipment has gotten super light! It used to be when trying to hike you would carry a 40-60 pound pack, these new options can make for smaller easier to carry backpacks … Read more
“Zero Drop” shoes are footwear in which the heel of the shoe is the same height as the ball of the foot. Your foot’s natural position is to have your heel level with the ball of your foot, as a human foot is naturally level. Altra Shoes initially used the term “zero drop” itself to … Read more
About 60 percent of the adult human body is made up of water, and through physical exertion and sweating, you can deplete that percentage rapidly and find yourself slowing down. The effects of dehydration on a hiker can be lethal, as it can lead to disorientation, confusion, nausea and extreme dizziness. What may start as … Read more
If you are new to thru hiking and are starting to get to grips with all the terminology and phrases you may have heard “the big four” mentioned before. Well, today we are going to explain this and help you understand what this means and why it is so important to any thru hiker. What … Read more
When you begin looking at shoes for your hike most, like myself, will think that they want to get shoes which are waterproof to help keep the water from getting inside the shoes and making your feet soaked. This is actually not the way you should go though, crazy right! Are Altra Lone Peak Waterproof? … Read more
I have been hiking for most of my life with elongated periods of inactivity. Over the years I have started to wonder what actually causes the overwhelming blisters on my feet when I hike for long distances. So I dove headlong into the internet to find out all the information I could on hiking blisters … Read more
Doing a thru-hike on a major trail like the Appalachian can be one of the most exciting experiences in a lifetime, but like most adventures, it comes with its own set of risks. While many hikers have some form of health insurance, many also aren’t aware of exactly what their insurance will cover on their … Read more
