Good gear for the Benton MacKaye Trail

I’m halfway through my northbound thru-hike of the Benton MacKaye Trail and it has surpassed my expectations on so many levels. Once I’m done hiking and have a real desk and keyboard I’ll go into more details about this beautiful, lesser known sister of the southern Appalachian Trail. For now – at 5 am camped at a remote creek and pecking on my phone screen – I just want to offer a few thoughts on what the trail has been teaching me.

Umbrella and clip

My umbrella is a winner, especially with the clip to fasten it to my backpack. There’s been a good bit of rain on the BMT, but it’s not always strong and sustained. Instead it seems to come and go in waves of clouds and moisture. Constantly donning and doffing a rain jacket and pack cover (since my pack is nylon rather than water-shedding DCF) would be a chore that puts me off my hiking rhythm. Instead I can hike under my umbrella, with both hands free for my trekking poles. And it’s a psychic lift not to have rain pounding directly on my face and shoulders. It also allows me to take photos without getting my camera wet. And on the hot sunny days it’s kept me cooler. So: umbrella “for the win.”

Camp shoes

I’ve never taken camp shoes before, but have enjoyed them here. I had some toe discomfort – blister under a nail – early on, and my sandals helped me recover faster. But more importantly, the BMT has multiple creek fords, and it’s been great to be able to quickly slip off my Lone Peaks and socks and use my lightweight Teva-like Hurleys in the water. And my feet have felt wonderfully refreshed and rejuvenated when I’ve put my shoes and socks back on.

Continue reading the full article written by Rolf Asphaug here.

마지막 업데이트

February 11, 2025

작성자
사진 썸네일 블로그 작성자

The Trek Editors

Editors

We are the word nerds of The Trek who want nothing more than to infuse some hiking and backpacking joy into your day.

더 많은 콘텐츠 살펴보기

미디어 언급

The Sawyer Mini is super lightweight, fits in your pocket, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water.

Menachem Kossowsky
작가

미디어 언급

Sawyer’s picaridin spray works up to 12 hours, and the company’s picaridin lotion is effective up to 14.

Bruce Ingram
기고 작성자

미디어 언급

The Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter earns our top pick for its unbeatable mix of weight, longevity and versatility.

멕 카니
기고 작성자