Gear We Use
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Hiking · Biking · Photo
Hiking Gear
Anyone can start hiking with what they already own, but purpose-made gear will reward with comfort, reliability and safety. So we've linked some of our favorite hiking gear below. This is in addition to usual considerations such as water, food, first aid essentials, emergency whistle and sunscreen. Trailspotting is non-commercial and ad-free, so any links we publish are not monetized in any way.
• Outdoor Research Pocket Cap | Our favorite hat could only be better if we could find a way to get the Trailspotting Logo onto it. The folding plastic peak makes it very pockatable and easy to rinse off.
• AllTrails Plus | AllTrails is a great website and app for navigation, planning and trail discovery, though if you're hiking away from cell service you need their annual subscription for offline maps. We're particularly impressed with the stability of the iPhone app, that has never let us down over the years. We're happy to pay for this app, and also there's usually a 50% sale on Black Friday and other times of the year.
• Organic Maps | Free open-source mapping app alternative to AllTrails. Download basemaps from Open Street Map for offline use, and load as many GPX routes as you'd like, including those from Trailspotting. The user interface is a little rough around the edges, and we do find its trail recording abilities to be lacking somewhat.
• Anker Power Bank | Ensures that we're never without power for our smartphone & headlight. The linked Anker model is the densest power to weight we can find from a reliable brand. Since this uses an older USB-A port we're looking to upgrade in the future, possibly to a lighter but more pricey Nitecore model.
• Nitecore USB Headlamp | We recommend carrying a headlamp if there's even a chance of running out of daylight. A USB-powered model means you have confidence of ongoing illumination if you also bring a backup USB power bank.
• Generic Hydration Belt | On longer hikes we're equipped with a backpack, water bladder and widemouth 32-oz Nalgene bottles. This generic belt is good for shorter hikes when you pair the two 10 oz bottles with an 18 oz Gatorade bottle placed sideways into the zippered pouch. Note that the zipper will break eventually, but that doesn't effect its functionality. We also use the elastic side loops to hold sunscreen and picaridin in repurposed small hand sanitizer bottles.
• SaltStick Electrolite Fastchews | Water replenishment alone is not enough on the most strenuous hikes, particularly in hot weather. Heat exaustion is not pleasant. We use these chewable tablets to recover lost salts and electrolites on the trail. We prefer tablets to powders to avoid contaminating ourwater containers.
• Permethrin Repellent | For clothes, hikers in New England. Spray on your hiking clothes in spring, and repeat later in the year if necessary. Protects against ticks, mosquitos and more. Also not safe around cats. Please also read up on other tick precautions to take before hiking.
• Picaridin Repellant | For skin, hikers in New England. Provides 4-5 hours of protection from tick, mosquitos and more. Doesn't contain DEET which has drawbacks and loss of effectiveness when combined with sunscreens.
Biking Gear
Our compact folding bikes fit in the trunk of our car without having to worry about theft, or the cost of equipping our vehicles with hitches and bike racks. These bikes have smaller 20" wheels that are slightly less comfortable than a full-size ride and require a little more pedaling effort. On hardpack rail trails we usually limit our rides to around 40 miles or so.
• Zizzo Via Folding Bike | US based Zizzo are a reliable brand for budget folding bikes built well. The Zizzo Via suits us with fenders and hybrid tires as standard, and it handles unpaved trails and rugged terrain well. We can confirm that it can handle a 6'2 220lb human for hundreds of trail miles. We get three bikes in the trunk of a VW Jetta with the back seats still up. They're also great for kids around 10 and up since they're readily adjustable. See us fold up a Zizzo Via on YouTube.
• Lectric XP 2.0 Folding e-Bike | Very popular folding e-bikes on the cheaper end of the scale, though they tend to be heavy and cumbersome to lift into a vehicle. We removed the fenders and cargo rack for some small weight savings. Battery lasts 25-30 miles on trails with pedal assist, but we bought a second battery and engineered a battery holder that fits behind the seatpost to double our mileage.
In addition to the routine cycling accoutrements, we've also equipped our bikes with FlatOut tire sealant to help us avoid the need to change a flat tire in the field, along with CO² cannisters for some reinflation. Thankfully however, after hundreds of miles of rail trails we're yet to actually get a puncture. Also, we recommend plastic water bottle cages and a low-profile bicycle bell to avoid scratching the frame when folded.
Photography Gear
We travel extremely light and rely solely on an iPhone for trail images. Although modern dedicated cameras can provide better-quality images, they're bulky and often overkill for web-based productions like ours. Additionally, changing lenses on a trail can be a real chore. We've been using the iPhone 14 Pro as our only camera since its release, and more recent iPhone iterations are yet to demonstrate substantial camera improvements.
• Photo Software | Our photos are processed with Adobe Lightroom 3.2 (2010) and occasionally touched up with Photoshop CS2 (2005). This is software so old that it could be bought without a monthly subscription, which we refuse to do. We do test modern open-source alternatives, but we're still happy with the results we get from our decade-old workflow.
• Stitching Software | Because the iPhone's ultrawide lens produces over-sharpened results (even the new, supposedly 48MP, ultrawide iPhone 16 lens), we usually focus on the main 48MP lens and create wider high-quality images from multiple shots stitched together with Hugin free stitching software.
• Phone Lanyard | Our most important accessory is a wrist lanyard that can be secured to our phone case, combined with a retractable badge holder that attaches to a belt loop. We pull our phone out so often to take photos on the trail that this has stopped us from dropping our device more than once.
• Smartphone Tripod | Photos are better with people in them, and on remote solo hikes, a tripod is sometimes the only way we can frame a person in the shot. Our new favorite gadget is this selfie stick and tripod. We clip it to our belt using the Spider Tool Holster (the one with the round lug) and the tripod takes literally 5 seconds to set up or strip down. The tripod does need a flat surface and it can be unstable in windy conditions. Combined with the lanyard for security, we can also use the tripod as a selfie stick to get exterior shots of fire towers and other unique shots.
Tangents
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us
Hiking Gear
Anyone can start hiking with what they already own, but purpose-made gear will reward with comfort, reliability and safety. So we've linked some of our favorite hiking gear below. This is in addition to usual considerations such as water, food, first aid essentials, emergency whistle and sunscreen. Trailspotting is non-commercial and ad-free, so any links we publish are not monetized in any way.
• Outdoor Research Pocket Cap | Our favorite hat could only be better if we could find a way to get the Trailspotting Logo onto it. The folding plastic peak makes it very pockatable and easy to rinse off.
• AllTrails Plus | AllTrails is a great website and app for navigation, planning and trail discovery, though if you're hiking away from cell service you need their annual subscription for offline maps. We're particularly impressed with the stability of the iPhone app, that has never let us down over the years. We're happy to pay for this app, and also there's usually a 50% sale on Black Friday and other times of the year.
• Organic Maps | Free open-source mapping app alternative to AllTrails. Download basemaps from Open Street Map for offline use, and load as many GPX routes as you'd like, including those from Trailspotting. The user interface is a little rough around the edges, and we do find its trail recording abilities to be lacking somewhat.
• Anker Power Bank | Ensures that we're never without power for our smartphone & headlight. The linked Anker model is the densest power to weight we can find from a reliable brand. Since this uses an older USB-A port we're looking to upgrade in the future, possibly to a lighter but more pricey Nitecore model.
• Nitecore USB Headlamp | We recommend carrying a headlamp if there's even a chance of running out of daylight. A USB-powered model means you have confidence of ongoing illumination if you also bring a backup USB power bank.
• Generic Hydration Belt | On longer hikes we're equipped with a backpack, water bladder and widemouth 32-oz Nalgene bottles. This generic belt is good for shorter hikes when you pair the two 10 oz bottles with an 18 oz Gatorade bottle placed sideways into the zippered pouch. Note that the zipper will break eventually, but that doesn't effect its functionality. We also use the elastic side loops to hold sunscreen and picaridin in repurposed small hand sanitizer bottles.
• SaltStick Electrolite Fastchews | Water replenishment alone is not enough on the most strenuous hikes, particularly in hot weather. Heat exaustion is not pleasant. We use these chewable tablets to recover lost salts and electrolites on the trail. We prefer tablets to powders to avoid contaminating ourwater containers.
• Permethrin Repellent | For clothes, hikers in New England. Spray on your hiking clothes in spring, and repeat later in the year if necessary. Protects against ticks, mosquitos and more. Also not safe around cats. Please also read up on other tick precautions to take before hiking.
• Picaridin Repellant | For skin, hikers in New England. Provides 4-5 hours of protection from tick, mosquitos and more. Doesn't contain DEET which has drawbacks and loss of effectiveness when combined with sunscreens.
Biking Gear
Our compact folding bikes fit in the trunk of our car without having to worry about theft, or the cost of equipping our vehicles with hitches and bike racks. These bikes have smaller 20" wheels that are slightly less comfortable than a full-size ride and require a little more pedaling effort. On hardpack rail trails we usually limit our rides to around 40 miles or so.
• Zizzo Via Folding Bike | US based Zizzo are a reliable brand for budget folding bikes built well. The Zizzo Via suits us with fenders and hybrid tires as standard, and it handles unpaved trails and rugged terrain well. We can confirm that it can handle a 6'2 220lb human for hundreds of trail miles. We get three bikes in the trunk of a VW Jetta with the back seats still up. They're also great for kids around 10 and up since they're readily adjustable. See us fold up a Zizzo Via on YouTube.
• Lectric XP 2.0 Folding e-Bike | Very popular folding e-bikes on the cheaper end of the scale, though they tend to be heavy and cumbersome to lift into a vehicle. We removed the fenders and cargo rack for some small weight savings. Battery lasts 25-30 miles on trails with pedal assist, but we bought a second battery and engineered a battery holder that fits behind the seatpost to double our mileage.
In addition to the routine cycling accoutrements, we've also equipped our bikes with FlatOut tire sealant to help us avoid the need to change a flat tire in the field, along with CO² cannisters for some reinflation. Thankfully however, after hundreds of miles of rail trails we're yet to actually get a puncture. Also, we recommend plastic water bottle cages and a low-profile bicycle bell to avoid scratching the frame when folded.
Photography Gear
We travel extremely light and rely solely on an iPhone for trail images. Although modern dedicated cameras can provide better-quality images, they're bulky and often overkill for web-based productions like ours. Additionally, changing lenses on a trail can be a real chore. We've been using the iPhone 14 Pro as our only camera since its release, and more recent iPhone iterations are yet to demonstrate substantial camera improvements.
• Photo Software | Our photos are processed with Adobe Lightroom 3.2 (2010) and occasionally touched up with Photoshop CS2 (2005). This is software so old that it could be bought without a monthly subscription, which we refuse to do. We do test modern open-source alternatives, but we're still happy with the results we get from our decade-old workflow.
• Stitching Software | Because the iPhone's ultrawide lens produces over-sharpened results (even the new, supposedly 48MP, ultrawide iPhone 16 lens), we usually focus on the main 48MP lens and create wider high-quality images from multiple shots stitched together with Hugin free stitching software.
• Phone Lanyard | Our most important accessory is a wrist lanyard that can be secured to our phone case, combined with a retractable badge holder that attaches to a belt loop. We pull our phone out so often to take photos on the trail that this has stopped us from dropping our device more than once.
• Smartphone Tripod | Photos are better with people in them, and on remote solo hikes, a tripod is sometimes the only way we can frame a person in the shot. Our new favorite gadget is this selfie stick and tripod. We clip it to our belt using the Spider Tool Holster (the one with the round lug) and the tripod takes literally 5 seconds to set up or strip down. The tripod does need a flat surface and it can be unstable in windy conditions. Combined with the lanyard for security, we can also use the tripod as a selfie stick to get exterior shots of fire towers and other unique shots.
Tangents
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us
Best Trails of California
See our favorite hiking trails for each region of California.
See our favorite hiking trails for each region of California.
Best Trails of New Hampshire
See our favorite hiking trails and rail trails for each region of New Hampshire.
See our favorite hiking trails and rail trails for each region of New Hampshire.
Trailspotting the Southwest
See our growing collection of hikes from the Southwestern US states.
See our growing collection of hikes from the Southwestern US states.
