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03.2014 BACKPACKER 65 STAY COOL. WHEN IT’S REALLY HOT, YOU KNOW TO DIP YOUR SHIRT AND HAT IN WATER, WHICH GREATLY ENHANCES EVAPORATIVE COOLING. WHEN WATER SOURCES ARE SCARCE: “SOAK AN EXTRA SHIRT AND PLACE IT IN A ZIP-TOP BAG; STASH IT IN YOUR PACK TO PUT ON LATER.” DOWNSIZE YOUR FIRST-AID KIT. HONAN’S 1-OUNCE KIT: ANTISEPTIC WIPES (3), 3M MICROPORE SURGICAL TAPE (TINY ROLL), IBUPRO- FEN (8 TABS), 3-BY-3 INCH PIECE OF GAUZE, SEWING NEEDLE, AND DENTAL FLOSS. HE USES THIS FOR ALL TRIPS AND REPLACES SUPPLIES AS NEEDED. Choose the right socks. Shoes are important, but so are socks. “The idea that you need thick, padded socks is one of the biggest myths in backpacking,” Honan says. Not only can you save several ounces per pair by switch- ing to thinner models, but with the right socks, you’ll also spare yourself heat-accelerated blisters. Honan likes REI’s Merino Wool Liner socks ($11; rei.com). “They’re not too thin (like synthetic lin- ers), and not too thick,” he says. He wears them alone, and says they’re durable, affordable, and dry quickly. And be aware that your feet may swell on hikes—growing as much as two sizes. But most hikers stop with buying larger shoes. “Get socks that fit, too.” your feet Don’t cook. “I go stoveless in three-season condi- tions. I rehydrate my beans/pea soup/ lentils in an empty Gatorade powder container (the one with a wide lid).” USE ULTRALIGHT RAIN PROTECTION. “Line the inside of your backpack with a garbage bag. It’s light, cheap, and does the same job as a pack cover or pricey liner.” Trash compac- tor bags are the most durable. Exception: In the foulest weather, Honan uses a mul- tipurpose poncho- tarp-pack cover (see left). CARRY AN UMBRELLA. Sounds like a lux- ury? Honan con- siders an umbrella so valuable—to protect against both desert heat and bone-chilling rain—that it makes the cut as part of a sub-8-pound base weight (all his gear, minus food and water). He recommends the GoLite Chrome Dome ($25; golite.com). S T R E T C H E V E R Y D A Y . AVOID TIGHT, SORE MUSCLES. DURING EACH BREAK DO SOME LIGHT STRETCH- ING; ADD 10 MINUTES OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE STRETCHING AT THE END OF EACH DAY. WORK YOUR CALVES, HAMSTRINGS, GROIN, QUADS, AND GLUTES. “THINK OF IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR ON-TRAIL HEALTH,” HONAN SAYS. (THOUGH LIMIT STRETCHING ON COLD MORNINGS BEFORE YOU’RE WARMED UP, HE WARNS.) SEE BACKPACKER.COM/STRETCH FOR TECHNIQUE TIPS. Pack gear that serves double—or triple—duty. For cathole digging, Honan uses a tent stake instead of a shovel. More multitasking: a pot that serves as a bowl, cup, and washing vessel; socks double as mittens; and a poncho tarp. Of the latter, Honan says, “It’s my shelter, pack cover, and rain protec- tion.” He likes Mountain Laurel Designs Silnylon Pro Poncho Tarp ($165; mountainlaureldesigns.com) because of the effective hood design and many guy-out options, which improve protection in a storm. Keep your feet clean. Honan maintains a three-step routine: 1) AIR FEET OUT AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. 2) WASH THEM EVERY EVENING (SPONGE WITH A BANDANA EVEN IN A DRY CAMP). 3) WASH DIRTY SOCKS. “A pair of socks is always hang- ing from my pack. I look like a walking clothesline,” Honan says. “In the southwest U.S., I wash a pair every day or two because of the extra dirt and grime. In Appalachian Trail conditions, it’s normally every three days.” (He usually carries two pairs, but adds a warmer midweight pair for really cold weather.) USE A SLEEPING MAT NO MORE THAN THREE-QUARTER BODY LENGTH. Sleep with your feet resting on top of your pack. “When your feet are elevated, there’s the added benefit of reduc- ing swelling in your lower extremities,” Honan says. DITCH THE SLEEPING BAG STUFF SACK. Use your sleeping bag as the ultimate pack filler. “Instead of cramming your bag in a stuffsack placed at the bottom of your backpack, use it as a filler for the outer sections of the pack.” Pack your heavy items first, exactly where you want them (near your back), and then stuff the sleeping bag around them. This secures the weight in the mid and upper regions of the pack. Benefits: “Packing this way helps maintain the bag’s loft long term,” he says, “and it keeps the pack’s cen- ter of gravity near your back.”