Page 73 - SOUTHERN OREGON MAGAZINE SPRING 2022

think we’re all a little frazzled after the last few years’ worth of out the door. I knew that it was way lighter than my last trip but not
disruptions to “normal” life. For one reason or another, life gets in by how much. As it turns out, a lot lighter! My fully packed backpack
the way sometimes. Recently, I found myself needing to get away weighed 22 pounds! That’s when I looked at my trusty old boots and
I for some peace and solitude. Immediately I thought of getting in the thought “not this time old friends.” I’m going lightweight this time and
backcountry to get away from it all with my doggy Ursa. Admittedly, it’s trail running shoes fit the bill perfectly.
been way too long since I’ve been on a backpacking trip but Ursa is just
over a year old and this was going to be her first one. I have countless miles of happy memories in my boots, but times have
changed. A lot! Everything is way lighter than it used to be even 10 years
Over the past few years of working too much and not playing enough, ago. You don’t need to be carrying anything more than 30 pounds to be
I have managed to keep my sanity by tweaking my backpacking kit to very comfortable, warm, and dry in the backcountry unless you are
drop weight and increase comfort. I started going through the checklist: out in the snow or sub-freezing temperatures. You used to need boots
Pack, tent, pad, sleeping bag, stove and fuel, cook kit, food, layers, rain because your feet and ankles needed help dealing with the extra weight
gear, puffy jacket, toiletries, water filter, water storage, headlamp, first of your pack. With a 20-30 pound pack, your feet and ankles don’t need
aid kit, and other assorted creature comforts. Yep, got everything I need. nearly the same support that they did when packs weighed 40 pounds
I packed all of my stuff into a pack half the size of my last backpacking or more.
trip and headed out the door for a long weekend of backpacking on the
southern Oregon coast. Out of curiosity I weighed my pack on the way Trail running shoes have plenty of traction for all but your snowiest
adventures. They weigh a fraction of what boots do. They require little
to no break-in time. You can be significantly more nimble in them than
in boots any day. They are a lot cooler and more breathable than boots
ever were. And they’re what I’m used to wearing day in and day out.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love my boots. But I find myself needing
them less and less as gear gets better and lighter.

Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
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