Colorado Prep Shake-Out Hike

The last month or so has seen a resurgence in my interest in hiking and camping.  I grew up spending a lot of time outside.  Getting back into the game is relatively easy since hiking is such a low-cost sport.  But, being the engineer/tech-geek that I am, I love new gear!  Because of my upcoming trip out west, I bought a backpack and a new set of gloves recently.  In order to make sure they were the right items, I went on a hike to shake out the gear and see where I stood on it.  While it was a simple three-mile round tripper, this hike provided me with enough of a feel for two pieces of equipment that I’m sure I’ll be using a lot out there.

Pack Review

I recently purchased the Osprey Kode 30 backpack for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, I needed a pack that I could take out to Colorado with me and use for some backcountry snowboarding hikes.  Secondly, I was looking for a pack that would meet my requirements for various dayhikes I plan this year including the Long Island Greenbelt Trail and a summit trip on Mount Washington.  The two main requirements I had were 1) the ability to strap a snowboard to the pack and 2) the ability to carry 2L of water (minimum).  This pack does both.  Osprey bills this pack as:

A great all around snowplay pack, the Kode 30 is great for a few hour to all-day side and backcountry tours.  Unique features include front panel access to avy gear compartment, backpanel access to dry pocket, stowable helmet carry and a LightWire™ frame to support heavier loads with flex for dynamic movement.

During my shake-out hike, I noticed the following:

•  The pack comes with an internal sewn-in hydration sleeve with reservoir hanger and a fully insulated, dual zippered harness router.  I was able to place my Blackburn 2L hydration system into this pack without issue and it worked great.  A Camelpak or Platypus system would also slide in very nicely.
• The pack has two main compartments.  The smaller front section is easily accessed when the pack is removed via a zipper.  The larger rear section is accessed once the load lifter straps are detached (via a quick-release buckle).  This access method is not ideal, but is also not too cumbersome.  I would like to see secondary access that doesn’t involve disassembly of straps.
• The goggle pocket (a fleece lined pocket on the top) has zipper access and, when not used for goggles, is a great storage spots for small items such as cameras, bandanas and first aid kits.  Anything that you want easy access to on the trail and/or provide protection that fleece affords should be placed in here.
• The helmet carry web works great with a snowboard helmet (tried it around the house) and is also great for quick storage of an outer layer.  I threw my shell in there after hiking for a while and it stored it terrificly.  You can also place small items (keys, bandanas, etc) in the pocket when not using the helmet carry web.
• The hip belt lacks a ton of padding, but given that this is a winter back, you don’t really need it.  The pockets on the hip belt are perfectly sized for items such as cell phones and handheld GPS devices.  Small snacks can also be placed in them for easy/quick access.
• The lack of outer pockets is a bit inconvenient as I would like somewhere to ditch extra water bottles, but, if you have a hydration system, you really don’t need to carry more water.
• The lack of strap location on the outside is also a bit inconvenient as lashing anything to the pack would be very difficult (not even a loop on the shoulder straps).

Overall, the Osprey Kode 30 backpack is a great pack for day hiking and I expect that I will be using it during all four seasons.  The two major drawbacks are the lack of external pockets and the lack of places to strap extra gear to.  Due to these drawbacks, overnights with this pack may prove difficult, however, I could see a late spring/summer/early fall one- to two-night trip with a hammock system being feasible.  It would be tight though.

Gloves

I also was testing my most recent glove combo purchase – a pair of Seirus Thermax Glove Liners under my new pair of Burton Profile Gloves.  The Seirus Thermax Glove Liners are made from 100% polyester with the exception of the Nylon cuffs.  The Burton Profile Gloves, on the other hand have a breathable DyrRide Ultrashell fabric with a Toughgrip synthetic leather palm.  Your fingers are kept warmed by Thermacore insulation. Both gloves passed the initial sniff test. I started my hike on a sunny but cold morning (low to mid 30’s).  At the halfway point, my hands were so toasty that I had to remove the Burton Profiles.  I finished the rest of the hike with just liners on.  My hands never got sweaty and I really think this combo will work out perfectly for cold weather snowboarding.  Not to mention, the liners will fit under some of my pipe gloves for those days when you don’t want bulky gloves but need a little extra warmth.

Overall, I’m quite happy with the products I picked.  The Osprey Kode 30 backpack is a great choice for the needs I have and I hope it works out as a good 3-season day pack as well.  The Burton Profile Gloves and Seirus Thermax Glove Liners will be perfect for my needs in Colorado as well as for when I need a heavier set out here on the East Coast.

If you have suggestions on other gear I may want to look at or have any experience with the gear I’ve talked about, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

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