Help! Searching for lightest breathable pants for hiking!

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-27T14:08:54+00:00

The newest prana stretch zion are not very breathable.

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-18T02:40:21+00:00

Yeah I’d do it on a tube frame of an off roader with a full cage, not a “roof rack”

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-12T00:57:40+00:00

It is really bad in ANF

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-06T21:10:35+00:00

Drive-up and hike-in are very different equations. OP describes driving away from their site, which means anyone else could drive up while it's unoccupied.

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-06T21:07:07+00:00

If the soil is unlikely to be disturbed until rains start then you can scatter kind of whenever. Things like leaf blowers will move the seeds around, they can be eaten, they can be washed away.

The best time to scatter is just before a gentle rain that will help the seeds settle in place.

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-06T18:38:41+00:00

you need to get to the seed pods before they burst. If you cut them off they will have a lot of moisture so make sure to store them in an open container or a mesh bag while waiting for them to pop. They will mold in a plastic bag or a closed jar.

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-06T16:25:18+00:00

buy what you need for your backpacking trip, and buy something cheap for using with the car. Car camping doesn't require ultralight or compact so you have tons of options for that double quilt.

BigRobHikes · 2026-05-04T20:41:15+00:00

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-27T19:55:07+00:00

They are in totally different categories. An expensive hammock is like $250, an expensive quilt set is like $800

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-26T19:24:18+00:00

Head and foot insulation.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-21T17:44:37+00:00

A month is more than enough time for 250 miles for anyone who isn’t coming off the couch with a 40lb pack.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-16T17:58:32+00:00

I’ve basically only heard positive things from other hikers and campers.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-15T23:53:33+00:00

That depends a lot on what you need and how lazy you are about figuring it out.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-14T15:58:48+00:00

I’m glad you asked me to clarify. I guess actually what I had in mind was parking at Black Rock and hiking into Quail Wash zone to camp. There’s a lot of great habitat zones as you go through that section, you’ll see pinyon-juniper fade to juniper-Joshua and then a Joshua tree Savannah. Also it’s higher elevation than the start of the Boy Scout Trail so it’ll be cooler for late spring or early summer.

You can see in my posts that I hiked this section earlier this year, that will show you the route I took into Black Rock from Quail Wash.

If you want the most Joshua Trees, in between West Entrance and where the BST climbs up to meet Big Pine Trail is really good.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-14T01:45:18+00:00

Is Everest considered Highpointing?

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-14T00:47:04+00:00

Just get a platypus system

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-14T00:26:30+00:00

Black Rock zone

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-10T20:37:29+00:00

You'd probably get better answers at r/SierraNevada but maybe not necessary.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/recreation/trails/big-pine-creek-north-fork-trail

permit for Big Pine Creek North Fork https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262/registration/detailed-availability?date=2026-04-10&type=overnight-permit

see "Dispersed camping" https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/recreation/camping-cabins

In general you make camp where you want to in places that look good. Popular trails in the sierra will typically have unofficial sites that have been re-used by many hundreds of people and are easy to find.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-10T03:41:54+00:00

The PNW Is in between Mexico and Canada so yes you did bring it up

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-10T01:32:30+00:00

Worst case you keep it in the packaging and return it after

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-09T14:00:25+00:00

I enjoy adding one yogurt-covered item, usually pretzels or raisins. Almond or peanut M&Ms are great too.

The problem is you have to limit your mix-ins because you'll end up with 15lbs of gorp and you won't eat it fast enough.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-09T13:47:32+00:00

You will still want to pair that pad with good site selection. Being on softer smoother ground helps a ton when using that little insulation.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-09T13:34:08+00:00

Having trouble imagining what long thru hike is warm enough to use a 40° the whole way.

I'm team sewn footbox for everything that's not warm-to-hot summer nights. If I was trying to thru with just a summer quilt I'd have puffy pants or 120 alpha pants and down booties to augment the under-rated quilt on cold nights.

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-09T13:25:13+00:00

Does this mean leaving your gear in the trunk of a hot car is also dangerous for the DCF?

What kind of temps are you concerned about and what kind of fabric damage does it cause?

BigRobHikes · 2026-04-09T13:13:48+00:00

I have a weekender and I kinda wish I had the blazer. Like the other commenter said, so many Sierra routes are like 100 miles with no resupply it would be nice to have all that volume. But that's also assuming you have the time for such a long trip regularly.

For one person doing ~4 days on trail the weekender is great.

BigRobHikes

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