I used solar power for the first time in a backpacking trip (or anytime) on my hike of the Iberia Empty Quarter. As discussed in the trip report, I had previewed this need, then I did an extensive search for the best solar panel for my needs and settled with the PowerPort Solar Lite 2 from Anker. This is a review of the product based on this single trip use.
Tag: Reviews
Pack / Tent / Sleeping bag / Mat / Stuff sacks / Clothing / Towel / Poles / Stove
This is about gear, Iceland and myself. It’s all mixed together. I mean to assess how my kit worked in Iceland but some of the sections are necessarily decontextualized, if only because I love to talk about gear, in essence because I’m talking about myself.
Must not care about aesthetics
One of the problems with rain jackets is what happens at their lower edge: water drips down over a sensitive area where it soaks your pants at pocket height. It then soaks your underwear. It there’s enough water, capillary action may soak the lower section of your tops too.
At maximum load
I got this pack as my new thru-hiking pack. No frivolity, I really needed a new one. My old thru-hiking pack was worn out beyond usability after more than 10 years. Not bad. I researched the market for a pack that would meet my requirements and the Southwest won.
A weekend (2 days and 2 nights) out in mild, post-summer conditions is not the most demanding use case for a pack this size. The Southwest was not fully loaded with only two days worth of food and minimal spare clothing, base weight below 4 kg. Yet it was my new toy and I was eager to try it. This is how it turned out.
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