Time to get the maps and guidebooks out to start planning and dreaming for next year’s hiking trips. I love the whole process of organizing, reading and sharing my plans. My heart races just thinking of shouldering my lightweight pack and hitting what nature has in store.

Lady on a Rock’s annual hiking gear favorites is a post I enjoy putting together. The list helps me to focus on what gear really worked and what needs a bit of tweaking. 2020 was a crazy, frustrating and challenging year for everyone, even getting outside had it’s unique hurdles to jump through with shelter in place policies, traveling bans, closures of trails and public lands, and of course the devastating fires in the western United States.

I did manage to get out on various adventures and was able to test and try out some new gear. In 2020, I backpacked in the Grand Canyon, hiked 220 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from Tehachapi, CA to Bishop Pass in the High Sierras, climbed Lone Pine Peak, Mount Langley, Mount Starr, Laurel Mountain, hiked the Kings Canyon High Basin Route from Charlotte Lake to Bishop Pass, guided with Andrew Skurka Adventures for 4 weeks in the backcountry of the Yosemite National Park’s high country and in the Grand Escalante Staircase in Utah and backpacked in Joshua Tree National Park. I also alpine skied, rock climbed, mountain biked, learned to paddle board, and had my fair share of playing outside in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

I have compiled a list of 10 new pieces of gear I used this year that REALLY worked. All items fall in line with my belief of keeping things simple and light. The list is sorted with larger items first.

Wishing everyone a new year filled with safe adventures outside.

Top 10 New Gear for 2020

BACKPACK | Gossamer Gear G4-20 Ultralight

This new 42 liter frameless pack from Gossamer Gear is very light (25 ounces), has an extendable roll-top closure, a fixed hip belt, has lots of pockets including a handy taller side pocket and a hip belt phone pocket, is easy to pack, comfortable, fits a full size bear can, is offered in different colors, and I think it looks great. However, I found that with this frameless pack it was amazing for trips when my pack weight was under 24 pounds. Over that weight, the pack pulled down on my shoulders. For trips that I need to carry large amounts of water or a bear can full of more than 5 days of food, I will continue to use my Gossamer Gear Gorilla that has a lightweight frame. Use code ROCKIN2022 for 15% off

View Gossamer Gear G4-20

SHELTER | ZPacks Plexamid

The Plexamid is an ultralight single-wall, Dyneema Composite Fabric, non-freestanding tent that sets up with 1 trekking pole. I love the Plexamid because it is so light (15.3 ounces without stakes), roomy enough with adequate headroom and space to put all my gear inside, sets up easily (Tip: watch this video on how to set up single pole tents), requires a small footprint, packs up small, is very waterproof and fabric does not absorb moisture like silnylon, ventilates well, and is storm worthy. I appreciate when the doors folded back, the angle of the door allows a hiker to turn their head and get a nice view of the night sky.

View ZPacks Plexamid

SLEEPING PAD | Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad – 1/8″

I started using this ultralight pad as a replacement for the back pad of my backpack. I first remove existing back pad, then fold the thinlight to fit into the same slot. This pad is multi-use. If it is going to be a very cold night or on shoulder season trips, I place it under my NeoAir or NeoAir Xtherm sleeping pad for more insulation. It can also be used for the following: nap/yoga/stretching/sit pad. Use code ROCKIN2022 for 15% off

View Gossamer Gear Thinlight 1/4″

FOOD STORAGE | Bearikade The Scout

I own quite a few bear cans. Six to be exact, but this one is by far my favorite. Compared to the full size Bearikade Weekender, the Scout fits nicely in my pack, can fit at least 5 to 7 days of food, and is lightweight compared to other bear cans on the market (carbon fiber/aluminum). Drawback, it is pricey.

View Bearikade The Scout

SOLO STOVE SYSTEM | TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 650ml Pot with BRS 3000T Titanium Stove & TOAKS Titanium Folding Spork

This is a compact, lightweight, no-fuss, cooking set for the solo hiker. A small fuel canister, stove, spoon, and mini-bic lighter nestle in the pot perfectly. I also love the orange pot cover that comes with the pot. It is easy to find, durable, and can be washed.

View TOAKS LIGHT titanium 650ml Pot

View BRS 3000T Stove Titanium

View TOAKS Titanium Folding Spork

CLOTHING | Hereafter Legging

From the Everbrand website: “This high-waisted trail legging is equipped with patented technology to eliminate humidity + kill bacteria and described as wearing up to 5x without washing.” I put them to the test this summer wearing them for both hiking and sleeping on multiple backpacking trips. They are comfortable, supportive, stay in place, hold their shape and I think they lived up to their claim. They do run a tad small.

Hereafter

WEATHER PROTECTION | Extra Large 39 Gallon Garbage Bag

I have spent years using a few different pack liners and have always dreaded cramming my gear into my pack. Well, we bought some extra large contractor bags by accident and I tried one as a pack liner last summer while I backpacked in Yosemite. Game changer. With a larger bag than you need, packing my gear was easier and there is enough length to easily fold over a couple of times at the top. Solid rain/water protection.

View Hefty 39 Gallon Trash Bag

PHOTOGRAPHY | Square Jellyfish Grip with Jelly Long Legs Smartphone Tripod

Last summer I switched over to using only an iPhone for photography, leaving my big camera at home. I tried a number of mini-tripods designed for phones, but I often struggled with finding one small enough to fit in my hip belt pocket, was sturdy enough not to tip over in wind and slopes and that could easily flips from portrait to landscape positions. The Square Jellyfish is lightweight, sturdy, easy to use, and fits in my hip belt pocket.

View Square Jelly fish Grip with Jelly Long Legs Mini Tripod

PERSONAL CARE | GUM Travel Toothbrush

This toothbrush is sturdy, lightweight, easy to keep clean, and works as well as my toothbrush at home.

View GUM Travel Toothbrush

PERSONAL CARE | Huggies Natural Care Unscented Travel Size Wipes

Carrying a few wipes can make the difference between feeling sticky and stinky or being comfortable and fresh. These wipes are very gentle, thick, unscented, and don’t leave a residue on your skin. I divide each wipe in half before using.