sheperd80 wrote:thru-hiking has affected the backpacking gear world significantly
Yes, they are true test pilots, but their gear choices are different in ways many might not have expected. Perhaps the most surprising is the turn away from (extreme) UL. Whether reading blogs, doing a section hike yourself, or getting out during thru-hiker season and seeing/talking to hikers (May/June in the Sierra for PCT trekkers), it's pretty obvious what the general consensus seems to be:
1. First and foremost, it seems that you cannot get a permit unless you're wearing Altra Lone Peak 2.5s. I jest, but only slightly - this is the go to shoe for so many.
2. Osprey Exos 58. Read some blogs - AT, PCT, CDT - or check out IG hiking tags; they are in every photo. It's the lightest (framed) pack Osprey makes, but is still heavier than UL specialty gear. The reason it's so popular is because you can try them on @ REI to get the right size/fit, they're reasonably priced, they are well made, and they can be exchanged/repaired at any major town stop along the way (that has an REI near by).
3. Darn Tough socks. Gone are the days of low-cut socks and gaiters (eg Dirty Girl). Nowadays, it's low mid-calf Darn Toughs without gaiters. The reason: they can withstand thru-hiker destruction and have a replacement guarantee.
4. Smart Water bottles. Forget camel/playpus hydration bladders - smart bottles come in convenient 1 liter sizes, are cheap, practically indestructible, light weight, available anywhere, have a nice profile that fits in side pockets (perfectly in the Exos 58), and accept the Sawyer squeeze filter cap.
5. ISO cannisters. Say good-bye to the hassle & fidget factor of alcohol & esbit, even if it means carrying an empty canister. No one has time to dick around to make a quick meal, or cook dinner before collapsing.
6. Thermarest Z lite. Forget air mattresses; again, fiddle factor, risk of leaks vs bullet proof solution. Can be dragged out and used to take a nap on rocks. You see practically everyone with these strapped to the outside of their pack (usually an Exos 58). They get mutilated, but are cheap and easy to acquire.
7. Tyvek ground cover. Again, the days of playing around with lighter solutions is over. Everyone is back to using a 4x8 sheet of Tyvek.
8. Bags - I think the movement is back towards true bags rather than quilts. Maybe it's the increase in women hiking, but hikers seem tired of chancing being cold in a quilt (regardless of rating) for the security of a system that is pretty bullet proof, especially if it has a hood that can be cinched down tight.
9. Tents - there has been a real movement towards free-standing tents and away from tarp/tent set-ups that use hiking poles & require (many) guy lines. Again, the trade-off for carrying an extra 1-2 lbs is an extremely fast set-up that has practically -0- fiddle factor. (I say this as a tarp guy - no matter how practiced you are, it still takes a few minutes to properly set-up.)
10. Rain jacket - once again, the extra weight of a real rain jacket vs a poncho is a result of real world hiking all day, many days perhaps, in rain. Thru-hikers don't just quit or get off trail - or make other plans - just because it's raining. Rather, they hike. Real rain jackets allow them to at least stay warm while hiking, if not completely dry, which is really their bottom line: staying warm.
That's about it. I've adapted some of this equipment philosophy into my own kits, to the point where I still have a UL set-up (even a SUL list that comes in at a 5 lbs baseweight), but also a more traditional arrangement for different conditions:
I use a neo-air, but I dragged out an old z light to double them up to get an r-rating over 5 since we camped on snow every night.