Hello!
So if you are like me and anyone even says the word “gear”, you cringe on the inside. The reason you cringe is not because you don’t like gear, its because there is just so much pressure to get the “right” gear that if you make one misstep of miscalculation, the course of you life (or at least you life for the next 11 months) will the drastically impacted.
Well, I’m gonna tell you right now: your gear is not the end-all-be-all of your race. Everyone has there preferences and their budgets they are willing to work in, and if you get the 28 liter daypack instead of the 30 liter day pack, it is not the end of the world. You may notice the difference and find yourself looking longingly at other people’s packs that seem much more efficient than yours, but in the end, you will survive.
You really will.
On the other hand, maybe you don’t see the point in spending $300 dollars on a tent you could buy for $20 at Walmart. I also want to tell you that there is a BIG difference in quality. You don’t need to buy the nicest tent REI has to offer, but you do need to get something that will last the wear and tear of 11 months of travel.
So, with that being said, I want to share with you the gear I have currently on my race and the pros and cons of each item. This is what works for me, but everyone is different, so you need to know yourself before taking my word as gospel. I just wanted to offer my perspective because I packed a little differently than most World Racers do.
Sooooooo here we go!
Back Packs:
Teton Sports Scout 3400 Internal Aluminum Frame – 55 Liter
PROS: CONS:
-Compact -Not many outside loops for carabiners
-Good for short people -Top-loading only
-Good weight distribution -Only 55L
-Bottom zippered slot -Pack itself is a bit heavy
-Bottom straps for tent of sleeping bag
-Rain cover included
So far, this pack has been pretty solid. The nice thing about this pack is it’s designed for short people (I am 5’3”). The first pack I had went over my head when I filled it the whole way, and any time I bent over I felt like I was gonna fall down, which is not ideal. This pack is much better at distributing the weight so that you can carry it with ease through a crowded airport, on a public bus, or in a train.
I personally chose a smaller pack because I wanted to limit myself. I knew that if I got a 60 or 70 liter pack, I would find a way to stuff it full of stuff I didn’t need just because I could. However, for a 55 liter pack, it still packs pretty efficiently.
The only complaints I have are the lack of outside loops to hang carabiners and the fact that it’s only top loading. Granted, most back packs are only top loading, but there are some really nice back packs that have zippers in the front on the sides. That way you can pack and unpack your bag almost like a suitcase, which is really nice. This pack on it’s own is also a little bit heavy because of the frame, but that hasn’t caused too many issues for me.
Deuter Speed Lite – 26 Liter
PROS: CONS:
-EXTREMLY compact packing -Not many pockets
-Skinny, so fits in small overhead compartments -Hard to reach items on bottom
-Lots of outside loops and compression straps
-Zippered hip straps
-Bottom loops for sleeping bag or tent
So I ended up liking this day pack A LOT more than I thought I would. Originally I got the 24 liter version of this pack and loved it, but it was just a tad to small. Then I got this one, and the configuration was slightly different and a little more awkward than the first one, but I needed the extra 2 liters of space, so I took it. I didn’t like how few outside pockets there were or how tall it was because stuff on the bottom was impossible to get to.
However, I learned to love this pack. It’s tall, but it is skinny, so it is very compact. Even in sketchy buses, this pack always fit in the smallest overhead space because of how skinny it was. It also was a great weekend trip bag. I took this bag for an overnight trip to Mindo in Ecuador and everything I needed fit in half of this pack. So do not be deceived by the size and shape of this pack. It is a really really great pack, and people on my squad have already commented on wanting a pack like this for later when we will just be backpacking.
Sleeping:
Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite
PROS: CONS:
-Packs extremely small -Doesn’t have a lot of cusioning
-Skinny, so good for use in small spaces
This sleeping pad was great for me, bit is probably not for everyone. It packs super small (like when the description says ‘as packable as a water bottle’, that’s true. It was even a bit smaller than my LifeStraw water bottle) but that means there is not a lot of extra fluff. For me this was fine, because I can usually fall asleep just fine on the bare floor, but for others who need more support, I would not recommend this mat. However, if you think you can do without the extra fluff, the packability of this mat alone was worth it.
Our first month was our all squad month and there were 30 girls sleeping in very tight quarters. This mat was perfect for that because it is very skinny when blown up. It’s slightly wider than the width of my shoulders, so if you are in a living scenario when you are literally shoulder to shoulder, this is a great mat to have.
Kelly Salida Tent – 1 person
PROS CONS
-Packs very small -Not a lot of wiggle room inside
-Lightweight -Not many interior pockets
-Mosquito proof -No place to hang tent light
-Easy to set up
I still have mixed feelings about this tent. I got it mostly because I knew I had to pack into a small pack, and packability was a top priority of mine, so I didn’t even consider 2-person tents. However, I kind of wish that I did, because it is a tight squeeze in this tent. Because my sleeping pad is so long, it’s difficult to store my back pack inside as well. I don’t mind scrunching up a little bit to sleep, but this may not be possible for someone taller than me.
The nice thing about this tent is that it’s very easy to set up. It’s just 2 poles you set up in a X-shape, so pretty standard. It’s also self standing which is great when you need to use your tent inside. It’s also great for when you are limited on floor or ground space because it is so small.
I had to get the footprint and the rain fly separately, but even with both of those this tent still fits in a 5 liter stuff sack (not including poles) so if packability is a priority for you, this is a good option. But if you want an option with more space, you could probably find something better.
Nemo Rave Sleeping Bag
PROS: CONS:
-Compresses really small -Could compress even more
-Built for short women -Not necessary for race
-Lot’s of wiggle room -Down
-Warm, but has good ventilation
This sleeping bag is pretty solid, but honestly I haven’t needed it a whole lot on my race yet. I’m prettty much just hanging onto it for when we backpack on the Camino. However, it’s totally worth lugging around. It’s pretty light and compresses down pretty small. The compression sack makes it pretty small, but honestly it could compress even smaller in another bag.
This bag is really good of you’re not a fan of mummy sleeping bags. It Dow’s not restrict your movement but it is still small and shorten enough that is packing friendly. However, it is lined with down, which depending on your circumstances may be an issue. There is a girl on my team who is allergic to down, so that makes sleeping situations a little bit difficult, so that is just something to be aware of because it could happen.
So this is just a little insight on what is in my pack and how it’s worked out so far. Like I said before, everyone is different and has different priorities, so the things that worked for me may not work for other people, but I hope my little tidbits of information can help anyone in the future!
