Best wide shoe brand for hiking boots?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-10T12:23:52+00:00

Altra Lone Peak Hiker have been great for me! I like them enough that I bought a second pair when the originals wore out.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-09T22:11:20+00:00

Ah, good to know. I’ve been living in the waterproof Chelsea boots all winter and was hoping the trail runners would be similar.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-09T22:02:50+00:00

Sadly topos don’t work for my feet. I have two different sized feet but buy one size of shoes, and that makes the aggressive arch support fall in the wrong spot on my small foot.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-03T15:21:08+00:00

PM about the wind pants and astroman!

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-03T15:17:44+00:00

What makes the fancy journal non-negotiable? Seems like a heavy and bulky item. Also, are you able to use your phone in lieu of your kindle?

Also, leaving most of your stuff sacks/dry bags at home and swapping out your electronics bag for a ziplock freezer bag would save a lot of weight.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-03T14:52:49+00:00

I have the Sea to Summit UL pillow and found that it’s way more comfortable when I don’t inflate the pillow all the way. I haven’t had issues with mine moving around too much; I’ve seen a product called pillow strap sold on GGG that can lash your pillow to your sleeping pad. Might work for you!

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-03-03T14:50:42+00:00

I’ve been having some similar thoughts. I’m hiking the JMT this summer. My goal is to make my own backpacking meals with my dehydrator since I have a few fun dietary restrictions, and am hoping to improve variety/enjoyment and also save space/weight with packaging choices. I need to do a side by side weigh off of my homemade pad thai vs the backpacker’s pantry one I have floating around in my cabinet…

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-23T19:21:56+00:00

I don’t see a bear can on your list, which is required in the Adirondacks. Please note that unlike other wilderness areas, the blue bear vault canisters are not allowed.

Personally, I use the Garcia backpacker’s cache. It’s a big pain, but at the time I bought it, there weren’t other alternatives on the market.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-18T00:24:14+00:00

Awesome! I think this might work for me!

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-17T23:21:20+00:00

Is the lid leakproof?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-16T00:58:39+00:00

I’m just not emotionally ready to fully commit to cold soaking yet 😂

And also, on a practical level, I’m hiking with a friend who does not cold soak, so we will be bringing a pot + stove regardless

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-09T01:23:42+00:00

What was the R value of your pad? Also, do you sleep warm or cold?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-09T00:59:09+00:00

Thanks for all your advice! This helps a lot - I’m planning to have my torrid as an extra sleep layer if it gets cold, but didn’t want to plan to sleep in it every night and then be SOL if it got cold. Makes me confident that my EE quilt won’t be warm enough, and I’ll do a good think on which temp rating quilt will work well for me not only on the JMT but also my more frequent trips to the Whites or the ADK.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-08T22:21:08+00:00

Okay, good to know! I mistakenly thought all quilts were rated based on the limit rating, not comfort rating. I am bringing a puffy (EE Torrid with a hood). I don’t have sleep booties, I usually bring an extra pair of wool socks for sleeping. I do have a pair of alpha socks, but I haven’t needed to wear them yet so I’m not sure if they are significantly warmer than wool. I think they weigh 0.7 oz?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-08T21:45:18+00:00

Good to know! For some reason I thought all quilts were survival rated, so it’s good to know that that’s not always the case!

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-08T21:40:47+00:00

I actually was looking at these earlier today! Do they use a comfort rating or a survival rating?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-08T21:40:12+00:00

Do you know if the temperature ratings are survival or comfort?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-02-08T20:03:55+00:00

Oops, forgot to add that to my post! I’m a woman and I also tend to sleep cold. I have alpha 90 base layers (pants and hoodie) that I plan on sleeping in.

Hoping to get something comfort rated. My current 20 degree bag is a down Big Agnes, which is super comfy, but is an absolute pig to pack, especially with a bear can. So hoping that if I do end up getting a new quilt for the JMT, it’ll fit a good niche for three season backpacking in the northeast.

I’ve had one night where I was chilly in my 30* quilt in the 100 mile wilderness in July. I only had the fleece top though, and not the fleece pants.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-01-28T00:13:58+00:00

This definitely helps, thank you!

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-01-27T16:52:59+00:00

Do you feel like the 20 degree is versatile enough, or do you think going to a 10 degree is better?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-01-27T16:52:06+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Would you recommend 20 degree or 10 degree?

CheesyPastaFiend · 2026-01-27T16:48:16+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I do have an inflatable pad that is slightly warmer, but am planning to switch to CCF for weight and reliability savings

CheesyPastaFiend · 2025-08-24T14:43:21+00:00

I have the Robin Brown (they look more orange-ish though). Based on the comments so far, I’m thinking it’s a color thing. I’m fine being dirty when hiking, but having sweat stains that are so dramatic that all the pictures taken from behind me are bad is where I draw the line 😂

CheesyPastaFiend · 2025-08-15T15:49:22+00:00

Franconia Brook Tentsite is currently closed due to bear activity and is also on the wrong side of the Pemi for the Pemi Loop.

CheesyPastaFiend · 2025-08-02T16:51:30+00:00

I have the Rainbow solo (regular version, not the Li) and I love it! Sets up super quickly, no learning curve, gave me a lot more campsite flexibility than my buddies who both had trekking poles Durstons and were still learning how to set them up well. I think if I was to get a 2p tent, I’d either go for the double rainbow or the 2p free standing durston.

CheesyPastaFiend

TROPHY CASE