#LETSTALKABOUT the 10 Essentials

Pop Quiz: what are the 10 essentials?

Palms sweating? Brow furrowed in confusion? Fear not, I’m here to help!

The Ten Essentials is a list of gear meant to keep you safe as you get outside, especially in the event of an accidental overnight or emergency. The list has been updated with modern information since it was first created and contains the following:

• Navigation: Map, altimeter, compass, GPS device or app, PLB or satellite communication device and a backup battery pack for charging.

• Headlamp: Plus extra batteries.

• Sun Protection: Sunglasses, sun-protective clothes, and sunscreen. Double check local regs: some destinations require “reef-safe” sunscreen.

• First Aid Kit: Don’t forget blister and foot care as well as bug spray.

• Knife: Or a multitool.

• Fire Starter: Matches, lighter and tinder, or stove as appropriate for your adventure.

• Shelter: Carry at all times but feel free to adjust for the season and terrain you’re adventuring on.

• Extra Food: At minimum, one extra day of food is recommended. More if you know you’re going into a more risky or remote location and weight allows.

• Extra Water or Water treatment ability: Carry more than you think you might need if weight allows, or make sure you have access to a water treatment device or tabs.

• Extra Clothes: Think layers. If you need to hunker down, you’ll want to stay warm.

Bonus items:

• Extra Medicine: this is particularly important f you take something that will result in additional risk to your health if you skip it. Example: blood pressure medicine, insulin, etc.

• Eye Care: if you wear contacts or glasses and are dependent on them for safety, have a plan for how to store your contacts safely overnight should you need to.

Questions or comments? Let’s hear them!

#LETSTALKABOUT Hiking in Trail Runners

I recently posted this photo in a local hiking group:

Check those shoes, which safely brought me to Everest and Annapurna base camps during my month in Nepal.

It’s a picture of me, at Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Almost immediately after I posted, the comments began. “I don’t think that’s approved footwear.” “Why aren’t you wearing boots?” “Wow, I can’t believe you did that in trail runners.” “You’re an idiot for those shoes.” The incredulous chorus wore on, despite the evidence of my successful return from the trip with all my toes intact and my smiling face. It made me realize that we need to have a conversation about trail runners, so let’s talk about them.

What exactly is a trail runner? Imagine your favorite tennis shoe, but beefier. Trail runners are specifically designed to offer better support, stability, and protection for your feet for off road adventures. Generally speaking, they offer better traction, shield your feet from inevitable contact with rocks and other trail hazards, and have stiffer construction than traditional tennis shoes. They also often feature more rugged face fabrics that can also be waterproof so you can tackle varied terrain without worrying about tearing them up.

Although these shoes were designed with runners in mind, more and more hikers are taking to them for non-technical (or technical, all hail local legends Alex Borsuk and Stuke Sowle) trails. I have worn mine for trails all over the world and even summited Glacier Peak (via the Gerdine Ridge) without ever stepping foot in a boot. I love how lightweight and comfortable they are, and how easy they are to pack when traveling greater distances. I don’t pull on my boots unless crampons are required or deep snow beckons and my bunion thanks me for it.

That said, there are a few things to consider before you ditch your boots.

1. Fit matters. Before you make a purchasing decision, visit your local outdoor retailer and talk to a fit specialist about the shoe that’s right for you. Make sure you tell them about any inserts you have, and your intended use of the shoes. Try them on, and don’t be shy about walking around the store in them.

2. Start slow. If you’re accustomed to wearing boots, you’ll want to start by tackling some shorter trails so your ankles and legs have time to strengthen and adjust to the difference in support and fit. Don’t be afraid to load up your pack and hit your neighborhood trail or pound the pavement for a few days so you can get used to the difference.

3. Consider your choice of socks. Even if you opt for a pair of shoes with waterproof fabric, trail runners are prone to getting wet if for no other reason than their height allows water to get in from the top as well as through any other non-waterproof parts. That’s okay, as many of them also offer fast drying features to keep your feet happy on multi-day treks. However, you will want to consider which socks you’re wearing. If I’m heading out for several days with a high chance of wet feet, I always wear wool shorties from Smartwool so my feet are warm even when wet. As much as I love my cotton KB socks from Costco, they have to go when it’s time to get after it!

4. Check your route before you go. As much as I love my trail runners, I am also aware of their limitations. While they have served me well for easy scrambles and long walks in the mountains (I logged 150+ miles in a month in the Himalayas in my latest pair), they aren’t a perfect substitute for boots in every situation. When steep snow and ice beckon, it’s boot time. Do your research, make smart decisions, and come home with happy feet!

As a final note, I want to briefly highlight another important aspect of this conversation: money. Often, we get caught up in the idea of the things we think someone needs to get outside successfully, when in reality we need much less to safely, successfully achieve our goals. When this happens, we run the risk of perpetuating some classist, gatekeeping ideologies and that’s not a cute look on anyone. So, the next time you catch yourself wanting to criticize someone for their choice of gear, take a step back and consider if you’re offering objectively sound advice, or if something else is at play.

Stay safe out there, friends. Happy trails.

#LETSTALKABOUT Sleeping Pad Ratings

Now that we have chatted about sleeping bag ratings, it’s time to hit on the next piece in the comfort quiver: your sleeping pad!

Whereas sleeping bags are given an EN/ISO rating, sleeping pads get an r value that indicates their thermal resistance. The higher the number, the warmer the pad will keep you! It’s important to note that unlike the EN/ISO rating, there isn’t (yet!) a standardized testing procedure for assigning r-values. Some brands conduct rigorous internal testing, others simply guesstimate based on the available data. Do your own research on the brand before taking the rating they give their product at face value.

Let’s begin talking about the practical application of r-values by thinking of them as stand alone pieces. The following table lays out recommend r-values for different climates:

This is a helpful starting point for thinking about climate, warmth, and what sleeping pad you want to bring with you.

Now, let’s think of your sleeping pad as part of a sleeping system that’s comprised of your pad, your sleeping bag, and the clothes you are wearing. Each part of the system has a different temperature rating, with pros and cons depending things like size, weight, packability, durability, and so on. You can play around with these variables for each adventure to balance things out. For example: let’s say you’re on a fall alpine adventure and the temps are expected to drop into the frigid. You don’t want to carry your massive 0 degree sleeping bag and you have an ultralight sleeping pad with an r value of 5.7. In this situation, you can likely forego the heavier bag for something lighter and rely on the warmer pad and some solid base layers to keep you toasty. If weight isn’t an issue, as with car camping, you have even more room to play.

Things to consider:

1. As with sleeping bags, these recommendations are based on the mythical “Average Person” and what works for someone else may be a poor fit for you. If you can, rent or borrow sleeping pads from friends or local gear outfitters before investing and see what works for you. The higher the r-value or the lighter the pads get, the pricier they tend to be so a little field research is a wonderful thing.

2. You can stack pads for cumulative warmth! A popular combination is using a lightweight closed-cell foam pad, like the Therm-A-Rest SOLite under your usual pad. It’s relatively light, relatively inexpensive, and textured enough to prevent slippage when stacked beneath your other pad. With an r-value of 2.8, it’s an easy boost to your sleeping system if you can spare the space for an additional pad.

There you have it, a basic run down! Questions, comments, or concerns? Let me know!