The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast
The First 40 Miles: Hiking and Backpacking Podcast
Heather Legler
031: Summertime
28 minutes Posted Jun 16, 2015 at 6:00 am.
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Show notes
Today on The First 40 Miles, the Top 5 List for Totally Fun Summertime Backpacking Gear. Then on the SUMMIT Gear Review, we’ll show you the simplest way to drink 500 liters of water. On the Backpack Hack of the Week, we’ll explain a cool trick that dads can do to impress their kids while on their next backpacking adventure. And we’ll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a quotologist.
Show Notes: Episode 031
Opening
Father’s Day: Tribute to our fathers
Outdoor experiences, childhood
Top 5 List for Summer Fun Backpacking Gear
Lunatec Aquabot

* Turns your waterbottle into an air-pressurized water pump so you can get a jet stream spray, or mist, or even shower
* Works upside-down
* Works with a Nalgene or Camelbak bottle
* Great gift idea!

NUUN (pronounced NOON)

* Fizzy tablets that turn water into an non-carbonated electrolyte sports drink
* Summertime: sweating more, these tablets fizz in the water, and are a fun way to flavor your drink.
* No artificial colors or flavors
* Sweetened with sorbitol and acesulfame potassium (or stevia on some flavors…)
* Nuun’s goal is for all of their products to receive USDA Organic, Non-GMO and Vegan certifications
* $5 makes twelve 16 ounce drinks

Popticals

* Available SUMMER 2015
* Collapsible wrap-around performance sunglasses
* They are so small they will fit in the palm of your hand
* Love this idea because sunglasses are normally so bulky and fragile!
* These are slim and streamlined

Raw Elements Organic Sunscreen

* This is NOT a chemical sunscreen
* This uses actual zinc oxide (not the nano particles)
* Benefits? It works, it’s biodegradable, won’t drip into water, it has all natural and organic ingredients
* Easy to use
* Will show up on your skin as a little bit lighter
* Research is questioning the safety of nano particles and chemicals in our sunscreen

Lightload Towels

* Lightweight, burnable, disposable, compact, durable
* You may have seen these little discs at the check out counter at your local outdoor store.
* They are sold compressed, and need to get wet in order to expand and uncompress
* They’re a multi-use item on the trail

SUMMIT Gear Review™: Vapur Microfilter
Structure

* Soft polyethelene/nylon bottle-not rigid
* Hollow-fiber filter membrane has a high flow rate so you can sip on the straw and it filters water as it’s on the way to your mouth; no pumping, no batteries and no chemicals
* BPA-free
* Two colors: Blue and Olive Green

Utility

* 2-micron filter physically removes 99.9999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera and E.coli; removes 99.9% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium
* Filters 500 liters
* Has a clip so you can store it anywhere on yourself or your pack

Mass

* 2 ounces
* Holds 1 liter

Maintenance

* Waterbottle is dishwasher safe
* Don’t put filter through dishwasher

Investment

* $40

Trial

* Easy to use
* No-brainer
* Love the weight, convenience, and amount it filters
* Fits in water bottle pockets of all backpacks
* Chemical taste for the first liter, then it totally went away. Rinse and squeeze before first use.

Backpack Hack of the Week™: How to Put on Your Pack Impressively