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Let’s talk gear.   Now my husband is the research king of the best, the most minimal, the lightest, and the most functional gear on the market.   But while I love the idea of a 20lb pack total,  I also need something that is comfortable.  If I’m cold, wet,  have blisters, haven’t slept well, or am experiencing back spasms due to an uncomfortable pack, it’s not going to be a pleasant trip for anyone.

I’m 5’2.5″ and 126 lbs.  I have the bottom half of  a creaky old troll and the top half of an anemic fairy . This is due, in part to genetics (short stature, arthritis), too many microbrews, and not enough time in the kayak.

Backpack: ULA Catalyst or Deuter ACT Lite 45+10 SL?

My first hurdle was finding a pack that was comfortable.  Nigel chose the ULA Catalyst for me, which is an absolutely gorgeous pack.  It has a coolest “sock” on the outside for stuffing gear, easy-to-reach-while-wearing side pockets, is a breeze to pack, has maximum room, minimum weight, and, when fully-loaded, was well balanced.  Unfortunately, after at least 4 miles pacing up and down our driveway, I realized that even the S-Curve straps were not going to cut it for me – rather, they were just going to cut into my shoulders.    

Instead, I chose a women’s Deuter pack ACT Lite 45+10SL (The SL stands for Slim line):

• The front “sock” pocket is stingy and useless for anything more than a windbreaker.
• Total pack size is only 3500 vs. 4600 cubic in. (ULA)
• At 53oz, it’s 5 oz more than the ULA  
• I don’t like how high it rides; it wobbles just a tad

But, in my “driveway tests,” the arm straps proved to be way more comfortable.  The hip belt was, much to my amazement better than the ULA,  and I  had to consider how I would feel after 10 or so hours hiking, per day, over 14 days.   

My first modification was to give my pack a functional sock.  I tried putting on some elastic cord, but it didn’t hold gear very nicely.  So, I fashioned my own “sock” from an old bathing suit.  It’s not attractive, but is certainly functional!   

Sleeping Pad

The other big weight bit of gear I have chosen is the Exped Synmat 7S with a 4.9 R. value.  I’m not a happy camper when I’m cold, and the NeoAir was just a tad  too chilly for my liking (2.5R).   The Exped weighs in at a whopping 1.3lbs (570 g) vs. the  NeoAir medium at 13 oz or 370g.  I know I’m going to love it! The Synmat has slightly larger baffles on the ends to keep you from rolling off and is 64″ long.  

We’re off on our TGO hike next week – I’ll report back how my gear faired when we return home in three weeks.

Lynn