I have had the Golite Spikes for about 2 months but have only taken them on day hikes, and left them at home for my backpacking trips until they were broken in, until this weekend. First, they run in full size increments, so i wear an eight but got an 8.5 with differing insoles. This wasn't a big deal but i think they run a little big, i should have ordered a 7.5. They are super comfortable, and i like how breathable they are, my feet stayed relatively dry on the first backpacking trip i took them on, which covered alot of ground. the soles have spongey spikes that offer the cushion instead of relying on internal cushion that retains moisture so they dry out super fast, they are low tops btw.
the only thing i can really say on a negative note is the way the spikes are positioned your foot sticks over the edge of the spikes a little, and if your not careful you can roll your ankles which i did pretty often on my trip. if the sole was wider i would venture to say they would be almost perfect. they are worth the money, and i will use them from time to time, but not if i anticipate going fast paced (which is funny because they are trail runners i think). I didn't roll my ankle so badly that it was going to stop me, but i had to be more careful than normal about avoiding it. I will probably go back to a running shoe with a wide base for faster paced solo trips, but i will still use these on slower paced trips because they are very comfortable.
The granite gear meridian vapor is a relatively new piece of gear. i have taken it on dayhikes and 2 overnight trips before my most recent trip. It weighs 2 lbs 13 oz with the lid, which i removed, so it can weigh 2 lbs 5 oz with 3200 cubic inches of space. If you carry a tent you may want to opt for more space, but it worked well for my purpose. I will state that it has the most comfortable hip belt out of any pack i have owned, all the weight sits on your hips and the small of your back, unless you adjust it to be on your shoulders. It carried 30 lbs soooooo comfortablythey make larger volume bags that if any of you are interested in a new bag, these could be considered. They are a lttle pricier than any of my past bags, they run about 200 bucks.
the only complaint i could see is that the side compression straps run over the side pockets, limiting the space in the pockets (which are not mesh and did not snag on any bushes on the oml). the straps gave me confidence that i wouldn't lose anything i stuffed in there, especially trash. they would work well for tent poles or trekking poles though. Also i think if you went over 35 lbs with this bag, it might not be the greatest pick. I will be using this bag for all of my big bend trips where i will be water humping!
I made a "supercat stove" which is really easy and the directions to make it are found at:
http://timberwolf.us/SuperCat/very easy to make and weighs less than 2 oz, and i carried about 6 oz of fuel, more than enough for 1 or two nights. i like the alcohol stove idea after trying it, one reason mentioned to me by some hikers i was discussing gear with is, you can see how much fuel you have left and can make adjustments based on how much fuel yiou have. i boiled 2 cups in about 3-4 minutes, a rolling boil in about 4.5 minutes. i will be using this exclusively from this point, replacing my msr pocket rocket.
the stove is its own potstand btw.
some notes on the stove, it is extremeley wind sensitive, so a windscreen is a must, i didn't have one but i will be making one out of aluminum foil. alsoyou can not control output so it is perfect for bringing a few cups to a boil to rehydrate food, make cofee (which i am heavily addicted), or make noodles. A third note ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL AKA RUBBING ALCOHOL WILL NOT VAPORIZE CORRECTLY, you have to use denatured alcohol, found in most if not all hardware stores by the paint thinner. it is a camp stove fuel made of methanol. you can also use heet, which is a fuel line antifreeze, and i am sure there are several others but those are what i am aware of.
