Sponsors & Supporters

Sponsors

GoLite sparked the lightweight revolution in 1999 when it introduced a full range of ultra-lite gear for backpacking and other outdoor adventures. Today they are the worldwide leader in lightweight packs, sleeping bags, shelters, and shoes. In 2003 I joined GoLite as a summer intern and somehow convinced the co-founders, Kim and Coup, that they should sponsor a 23-year-old who was planning to walk across the continent on a then never-been-done-before hiking trail. They offered me a job, too, but they told me they thought I should go hiking instead. In addition to being my title sponsor, GoLite also hires me in the off-season to do specific projects, like nationwide slideshow tours and website content writing.

GoLite Footwear launched a revolutionary line of trail running shoes in early-2007. The shoes are the first to fundamentally address the unique footwear needs of trail runners by providing a "soft against the ground" metamorphic suspension system that absorbs ankle-twisting forefoot-bruising rocks, roots, debris, and uneven terrain -- similar to how an off-road vehicle with independent suspension works. While currently marketed to trail runners, GoLite shoes are certainly applicable for lightweight backpacking as well.

Balance Bar has been supporting me since February 2004, when I was fortunate to be a recipient of their grants program, through which they have given $615,000 to individuals, teams, and community organizations. When I am pushing my body to the max, it's important to be eating nutritious food that also tastes good. To date I have easily consumed over 2,000 Balance Bars, and during the Great Western Loop I will put down another 1,000. My favorite flavors are Honey Peanut, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chocolate, and Mocha Chip.

Supporters

Backpacking Light Magazine is the outdoor industry's most recognized, authoritative, and controversial voice about lightweight hiking and backcountry travel. It is published as a subscription-based website and a quarterly-print magazine; its reader forums and reader reviews are outstanding. In Fall 2005 I lived in Bozeman, MT, to work for Backpacking Light as a business consultant.

DeFeet has since 1992 been a leader in providing the best socks and apparel to pro cyclists, adventure racers and outdoor athletes. All their products designed and manufactured at their headquarters in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. DeFeet has supported me since 2004, and I am huge fan of their wool socks, gloves, and arm and knee warmers.

Headsweats is known for its premium endurance sports headwear, including a full range of visors, skull hats, team caps, and tie-backs. I have been using Headsweats SuperVisors, ProTech Caps, and Warm Caps since 2005.

Platypus makes the best water bottles for backpacking, period. Their 1-liter bottle weighs just .9 oz and the 2.4-liter weighs a mere 1.3 oz; no other bottle available rivals these capacity-to-weight stats. Moreover, the bottles are collapsible, so they do not take up any space when not in use; and at night they make comfortable pillows when partly inflated. Their durability, while not as good as a lexan bottle, is excellent all things considered.