Kalalau Countdown: Confessions of a Gear Tinkerer

I am in the final weeks before my next Kalalau adventure. This is always an anxious time for me as I’m watching the weather and finishing up my training. As my mind wanders off to the trail on a regular basis with anticipation, what could be more appropriate and entertaining than to focus on the final tweaks to my gear?

While I have all the basics well-covered, the tinkerer and eternal optimizer in me continues to make a number of smaller tweaks and adjustments. 

Here’s what’s currently on my mind:

Getting my stakes in the ground (or sand) can sometimes be more cumbersome than expected, especially in Hanakoa. Instead of hunting for a small rock to use as an improvised hammer, I came across a YouTube video that introduced an ingenious little device: The Tent Stake Pusher. It’s small, cheap, and brilliant! It comes in different variations for different types of stakes. Had to get me one of those!

Ever since an almost-incident which could have gotten me stuck in the Kalalau Valley overnight (long story!), I’ve been somewhat obsessed with making an emergency fire (or at least having a backup for my MSR piezo igniter). Even though my Firebiner can light the stove, what if I need to make a real fire? So I started looking into ferro rods. Pretty cool, but most are big and shockingly heavy. I did, however, find this ferro-rod-based fire starter, which is small and light enough to even fit into my small med kit. I’ve been trying it out and while it takes a little practice, I’m pretty confident I can get a fire going if necessary. (Admittedly, I don’t like being dependent on a cigarette lighter & gas.)

On a related note, I’ve been somewhat obsessed with multi-tools, but the weight factor has turned me off so far. Although they’re pretty cool, I must admit. What almost pushed me over the edge was the Gerber Stakeout Spark which is relatively small but features a ferro rod and stake-puller. However, it’s still a little too bulky and the reviews weren’t stellar, so I chickened out. I will stick to my Benchmade Bugout, which is super light and always fits in my pocket.

Speaking of survival… The overpreparer in me has been downloading survival guides to both my phone and my Kindle. (Yes, you read that right, I bring a Kindle; find out why here.) But books are challenging and aren’t we all slaves of ChatGPT these days? Too bad there’s no connectivity to use AI during the hike if needed. But then I came across Locally AI, which lets you download AI models and run them offline on your phone (iOS)! And then there’s Survival AI - The Ark. I still need to play with these some more but I love the idea of having interactive guidance if and when needed. They bring the power of AI to the offline wilderness. Pretty sweet!

For my valley excursions, I’ve been a big fan of the Keen Hyperport H2 sandals. However, on a recent 6-mile test run, they gave me gnarly blisters in one spot, something I can’t afford in Kalalau. My research (with ChatGPT, you guessed it) has led me to two solutions, which I’ll combine: injinji makes a very thin liner toe sock which will prevent friction and sand from getting between skin & sandal. (Okay, fine, the look of “socks in sandals” isn’t going to be my favorite, but hey, form over function!) Furthermore, the go-to tape of choice for blister prevention (according to through hikers) is apparently Leukotape P, which is basically bulletproof. (This tape could also come in handy with known hot spots hiking in and out or even gear repair.) With those two additions, I’m hoping to keep my feet well-protected, so blisters can’t ruin the adventure. I’ll be testing these out more. (This also includes figuring out how to pack the tape, since it comes in big rolls. Instead of schlepping the whole roll, people suggest using parchment, baking paper, or backing from shipping labels to store custom strips.)

I’ve always brought a large fuel canister (8 oz) to be on the safe side. But after several trips and careful before/after measurements, I’m certain that I can easily get away with the small 3.9 oz canister instead (and still have enough safety buffer). So the small canister will be my companion on my next trek. (Of course, the thought that - due to the weight saved - I could bring extra gear briefly crossed my mind.)

One item I’ve been bringing along is a small notebook for, well, notes (duh) and drawing. One time, my gear got soaked, unfortunately, and my notes turned into a complete mess. Turns out there’s water/rain-proof paper: Rite in the Rain makes a great stapled waterproof notebook, which you can write on with a regular pen (or pencil). While a little bit smaller than my original notebook, I think it’s a useful little upgrade. According to the company’s web site you do not need a special pen for these.

So there it is, my list of tweaks for the next adventure. These final adjustments are fun and keep my mind occupied while I wait for my hike to start. And yes, it’s no surprise to anyone that I’m gear-obsessed and enjoy researching products and gadgets. But if these changes make my trip more fun or even save me from blisters, why not!?