GoLite’s Malpais Trinity Jacket and Tumalo Pertex Pant round out Habitual Hiker’s Holiday Gift Guide.
Here’s a few more items I’ve used this past year that may help you round out your holiday gift list.
Long time BRO readers know that I have gone through a number of sets of rain gear in the continuing quest to lighten my pack. I liked the performance and weight of the very lightest rain suits I could find, those made by Frogg Toggs and Rain Shield. However, they are both made of materials that are not very abrasion or tear resistant, so they’re great if you’re only going to be out for a weekend or so.
With GoLite’s (www.golite.com; 888-546-5483) Malpais Trinity Jacket ($250) and Tumalo Pertex Pant ($100), I think I have finally found a fairly durable rain suit at a light weight. Only two ounces heavier than the suits I had been using, together the two items are a mere 13.3 ounces.
Both have nylon exteriors for durability over time or during a long-distance hike. Waterproof-breathable membranes and fully taped seams keep you dry during inclement weather. The jacket has waterproof zippers, a fixed hood, hand pockets, and cuff closures. The pants have an elasticized waist, calf zips for easy on and off over boots, and ankle closures.
If either item is beyond your budget, consider giving your hiking partner GoLite’s Dome Trekking Umbrella. It’s just $35 and weighs only 7 oz., yet with a canopy of 45 inches it provides coverage large enough to keep both hiker and pack dry.
I’m sorry to say that this will be my last Habitual Hiker blog post for blueridgeoutdoors.com. About every year or so, the management brings in new bloggers to provide a different perspective on things. I’ve been privileged to be kept on board for almost three years. It’s been a great run. I’ve visited many and diverse places just so that I could write about them for you, and it’s been fun keeping up with hiking and related topics so that I could keep you informed of issues and items that may have a bearing on your times in the outdoors. I’d also like to thank those of you who took the time to write me with your comments, insights, and tips on places I should check out.
However, I’m not going to stop hiking. In fact, with this break in writing responsibilities, Laurie and I are heading to New Zealand within the next few weeks to fulfill a nearly lifelong dream of traversing the Milford Track (billed as the “Finest Walk in the World”) and some other tramping opportunities on the South Island. You can always keep up with this and our other adventures by taking a look at my website, www.habitualhiker.com, to see where we are and what we are doing.
Of course, the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains are our home, so we’ll often be in the woods looking for new places and revisiting familiar and favorite haunts. I look forward to meeting many of you out there. Happy trails.
