After all, I had to be sensitive to weight as we were required to carry our own water for 10 miles as there were no options for filtering during that stretch. In the following paragraphs I share just a few design features that, in my opinion, make this a well-designed product. Similar to many of the other thru-hikers, I downloaded the OTA’s excellent GPS maps, but I loaded them into the Gaia GPS app on my iPhone. I used this mostly to make sure I was on the trail when blazes were hard to find, and I logged my campsites and where I filtered water. My Suunto Baro 9 GPS watch has a battery that would last a whole day, and I brought the Anker PowerCore power bank that weighs a whooping 20 ounces.
Be prepared to face changing weather conditions out in the wilderness. Water sources such as rivers and streams may only be available seasonally. Ozark Trail maps are a great resource to help identify places where you can access water. Bring enough water for your trip or a way to purify water to make it safe to drink.
Ticks were unavoidable given the amount of growth encroaching on the trail,” she said. “I was cautioned by members in the OT Facebook group that a July thru-hike would be brutal. “Extreme heat increased ozark trail canopy water intake, and the summer storms were fierce. Lightning struck just 350 feet from me, and the winds destroyed my shelter system…so I had to spend an unexpected $150 for a new Hennesy hammock system.
Beussink suggests going with a buddy for all or part of the trip. “For me, having company is more enjoyable than hiking alone. Those times I had a fire and company added much the enjoyment of ozark trail backpack an evening in the woods,” he said. His base equipment consisted of a Zpacks Arc Haul backpack, a Zpacks Duplex tent, and a Zpacks 20F quilt with a Therm-a-rest Neoair Xlite sleeping pad.
While they have solidified their place as a brand, they have not gone beyond some of their original design features which has allowed competition to come in and provide a few more core offerings. This cooler, when compared to the Pelican 45Q Elite and Yeti Tundra, has the smallest profile while still providing 45Q internal storage. It features rubber latches which I am a huge fan of for boating applications. When you are out on the water, people often sneak over to grab something from the cooler and may not latch it back up. With a hard plastic latch, you run the risk of brushing by the cooler and hitting your shin, which I have done and is awful. One of my favorite features though is the rubber wheels vs. the hard plastic wheels on the Pelican and Yeti.
I’ve carried out many extraordinary “adventures” in my 53 years, but hiking the entire 230-mile OT through the Mark Twain National Forest in southeast Missouri was one of the more fulfilling. I’ll forever cherish the memories made and accomplishments achieved ozark trail chairs — and my own cherishing quickly turned to wondering about other OT thru-hikers’ experiences. While this pack may not be big enough to carry all the gear you need for longer treks, it offers many of the features you would want at a good price.
At under $50, this pack was my main backpack for over a year, and still serves as an occasional backup to my other bags. Before purchasing this pack I used a more traditionally styled, and heavier, backpack for daily walks. I recently attended a seminar that explained the major difference of carrying lighter gear while outdoors. I drooled over all the lightweight packs from the major manufacturers for a few years. There’s no way I can justify paying five times more for something that might carry just as well. This pack has no extraneous features, save for the small front zip pocket and an internal hydration sleeve.
“I was surprised that Missouri could have a wilderness that still gives a feeling of solitude. I was also surprised by the amount of trail maintenance on such a ‘less talked about’ trail,” Tils said. On the small side, so it won’t work for hikers who need a spacious pack. Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free. Because it’s basically a single compartment stuff bag, I did have to make sure the items inside were distributed properly.
She enjoyed many “zero days,” visiting local attractions with her brother, who followed her in a support vehicle. Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. When all folded up, it takes up about the same amount of space as two t-shirts. Overall, its a great backup to have when traveling, and very inexpensive.
Consider bringing waterproof shoes and treating your clothes ahead of time with permethrin to repel insects. In the colder seasons insulating layers are a must, and a good rain shell for you and rain fly for your tent are necessary year-round. The pack size and weight is good for all my day hiking to any shower. I’m not sure if it is durable enough to hold any of my camera equipment.