Hot & Not (2026 Backpacking Edition)

Just spent two nights in the Adirondack High Peaks and checked Gothics and Armstrong off my list (and repeated Upper Wolfjaw).

Here are some gear notes about what went well and what didn’t so I can do better next time:

Served me well:

1. Skippy creamy peanut butter squeeze pack

   On past trips I’ve skimped on the calories and suffered for it, this is an attempt to fix that

2. Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow

   This is so much better than resting your head on a pair of rolled up pants I can’t believe I put myself through that for so long. I accidently got the large but I’m sure the regular is great too

3. REI Flashpack 22

   I like to backpack in, set up camp, and then do some mountains. The Flashpack 22 packs down small enough that I can fit it in my big pack. I actually bought my first second-hand, use it until it wore out, and then just now bought a new one.

4. SPAM Singles Lite

   I couldn’t find the classic in stock but this was great to eat at the top of a mountain

5. Katadyn Hiker Pro

   I hate filtering water. This isn’t the lightest thing in the world but it’s quick and I’ve set mine up so it plugs directly in to my hydration bladder eliminating the mess.

6. JetBoil Zip

   I bought you on sale on a whim and you have changed my life. I used to spend too much time waiting for water to boil but you boil almost too quickly. I wish you had a built in ignighter and I’m still a little scared of lighting you by hand but its worth it to have water done so quickly.

7. IR5 EOS

   Baby you light up my world like nobody else

8. XTEINK X4

   Amazing. Don’t tell me about the newly released pro model, I want USB-C, not a proprietary charging cable (I wouldn’t have even needed to pack a charging cable for 2 nights… but it feels wrong to go on a trip without the charging cable)

9. Bus from NYC to Albany-Rensselaer

   Usually I take the train but it was sold out. Bus worked well! It’s a long trip to the ADK and I don’t like driving all the way back when I’m tired.

Served me less well:

1. Bare Boxer Contender

   A little too small for one large dehydrated dinner plus snacks, and toiletries for two nights. Great for one night out and in that case much better than carrying the full size cans they rent at the ADK Loj but a little too small for this trip.

   Also, I need to get a dedicated thing for opening bear cans.

I’m not mentioning brand names for these next couple becasue they don’t deserve any hate, they just didn’t quite work this trip:

2. Backpacking pack

   It’s a good backpack!! I’ve done a bunch of ~2 night trips with it but it’s wearing out and it’s time for me to replace it

3. Headlamp

   Maybe you just need new batteries but you were kind of dim

4. Air mattress

   I have broader shoulder than I did when I bought this air mattress

Broke my heart:

1. REI NYC

   I can’t believe you left me 😭