Pikes Peak with Janae
Top 3 Gear Must haves
Here are 3 gear items Janae would never step foot on a mountain without.
Disclaimers
The items mentioned below are not brand specific, even though Janae mentions brands.
The items listed do not necessarily require a large financial investment.
The items listed are items Janae ALWAYS takes on a mountain adventure- no exceptions.
Whatever items you pick, practice wearing them and moving in them. They need to feel comfortable.
Blisters, chaffing, and uncomfortable gear are a buzz kill on any mountain.
So here we go….
Shoes
Anything from trail running shoes to hiking boots are good. Street shoes or road running shoes will not do the trick. The trails are rocky, uneven, and gravely. The knobs on the bottom of hikers and trail runners are made to grip and manage the trail terrain. Road shoes or street shoes slip out and can cause injuries and ultimately require more energy spent then necessary. Save your energy to manage the more challenging parts of the trail.
Janae wears trail runners, Hoka®’s in particular. Many brands are appropriate and excellent.
Janae is just a Hoka® Girl 😉
Break in or wear in your Runners or Hikers to avoid blisters on the trail. Do not be the guy who wears flip shoes up a mountain (Yes, Janae has seen it before, and she hope his blisters healed quickly).
Hydration Pack
The pack needs to be ergonomically appropriate for you- do not skimp on this aspect. The pack needs to hold a decent amount of water to keep you hydrated. The pack also needs to hold any gear, food, or clothing needed.
There is nothing worse than having an ill-fitting pack for hours on end.
The pack will be heavier, especially at the beginning or after filling up water.
Size of water bladder or bottles and pack capacity is important. Over stuffing a pack will only create more trouble and issues.
Janae has used several different brands: Nathan®, Osprey®, Ultimate Direction®, even a Camelback® and other off brands. The 2 brands that Janae LOVES and buys again and again are Soloman® and Black Diamond®.
Janae only uses vest style packs not day style packs. Day style packs tend to have a waste belt to help support the load carried and typically have a larger gear capacity. Vest Packs allow for quicker smoother movements, easier access to food, phone, etc., and feel more comfortable for Janae.
Expect the pack to cause damage to your clothing. Every Pack Janae has ever worn causes piling or snags. For more information about what clothing helps limit damage, please see my link at the bottom.
Practice wearing a full pack around to make sure the pack fits and is manageable.
Rain Jacket Shell
The rain jacket needs to be packable and have a hood. You will thank Janae profusely if you follow this advice.
It is worse to not have a rain jacket than the weather that can impulsively dump rain, snow, hail, sleet, and wind. Always take a rain jacket even if the weather does not indicate the need for one.
Janae has used The North Face®, Eddie Bauer®, Patagonia®, and a weird brand she purchased at Costco. It does not matter the brand. All have been good.
The shell works wonders to keep you warm, dry, and as a huge bonus, it keeps the wind out.
Never leave home without a rain jacket. No exceptions. period
So, there you have it. The 3 gear items Janae will never leave her home without for mountain adventures. Keep reading for the bonuses 😊
Bonus 1
Gloves
Especially windproof gloves.
It is miserable to have cold hands, not to mention that if your hands (and feet) are warm you are usually warm.
Windproof with some warmth are good aspects to look for in gloves.
Janae always takes gloves and ends up using them if there is any wind and cooler temps. Mountains are full of valleys, creeks, and higher altitudes that all bring cooler or downright cold temperatures.
Gloves in a tank top looks silly but are highly effective- Just FYI.
The North Face® makes some excellent gloves for many different weather conditions and styles. Head, Mountain Hardware, and Smartwool have also proven to be successful.
Janae loves the little clips that snap gloves together. Simple to clip onto your pack for easy access.
Bonus 2
Micro Spikes or Crampons
These are an absolute must if there is snow or ice on the trail.
Micro spikes are also useful if the trail is gravely.
Spikes may help more on the descend than the ascent. However, if you need them on the ascent, you will most definitely need them on the descent.
Side Note: More injuries occur on the descent than on the ascent.
Khatula®’s are an excellent brand. However, Janae has purchased off brands for years on Amazon that have worked wonderfully
For additional info and hacks for a prepared fun trail hike please follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
There are also additional workbooks, ideas, and insider information available- check it out.
