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I went to REI today to check out trail runners and they sold me on these: rei.com/product/828400/merrell…proof-hiking-boots-womens Due to their liberal return policy, I bought them and plan to do a day hike soon to test them out. Reviews are ok, but there is some dissatisfaction from some folks. I also bought some Superfeet insoles and some wool/spandex socks. I spent hours in the store, tried out some packs, perused sleeping items, and spent WAY too long testing out shoes. Anyone else have the …

Quote from hikerboy: “mummy style bags are the most confining, also the lightest weight/warmth.rectangular bags allow you to move within the bag. most bags have 2 way zips that can allow you to vent the lower part of the bag. rectangular bags can be fully opened and used as a quilt. a quilt is just a bag with no zipper. i'm still unsold on any advantage, but rasty swears by quilts. ” Yeah, I hate mummy bags personally. It seems every recommended brand I read is of the mummy variety. Anyone have …

I know this one is a "starter bag", but I wondered if anyone here has had any experience with it? amazon.com/Kelty-Cosmic-20-Deg…ds=western+mountaineering

It seems most hikers use sleeping bags as opposed to blankets. I've always hated how constricting sleeping bags are at night. I also like to hang my feet out of the covers on warm nights to regulate my temperature, so I'm wondering if a quilt might be more up my alley? What are the pros/cons of blankets vs sleeping bags in your experience? Thanks!

I'm going against the advice of asking fewer questions. Questioning everything is how I roll. So on that note, this one may be dumb. Why do you use a 2nd foam pad along with the thermarest, just for added comfort? Is the thermarest too thin to be comfortable on its own? If using a full body length thermarest, is a 2nd pad still necessary?

Ooh, I'm interested in the thermarest sleeping pad and the sit pad!

Day off tomorrow means a ride into Atlanta to REI! I'm really psyched hearing how much more comfortable most of you find trail shoes as opposed to cumbersome boots. Awesome!

Quote from WiseOldOwl: “I like Brown Sugga...kind of embarrassed abt it” Don't be embarrassed. You're not alone! beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/2264/ A good beer is a good beer. Don't judge a beer by its bottle. Have you tried the Lagunitas Sucks (The brown shugga substitute that became one of their most popular beers?) beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/74986/

That's the impression I'm getting the more and more I read on the subject. I hate boots, and I've always hated the limited flexibility in my ankles. I'm leaning toward some trail runners. What kind of socks do you prefer with yours? Synthetic, wool"? Padded?

I'm really tempted to go that route myself too. I hadn't even considered it until I started reading how common it was. A newbie thought I always had was boots were kind of a necessity for long-distance hiking. I love me some tennis shoes!

Quote from TrafficJam: “ Mostly brown ales and wheats.” Nice! Brown ales are a favorite of mine, but I've never been too fond of wheats myself. I love talking beer. It's why Asheville is one of my favorite cities, and a must-stop for me while on the trail.

Much of my recent reading is pointing me in the direction of trail tennis shoes over boots. Obviously boots offer more ankle protection, but I have worn tennis shoes comfortably my whole life, less so with boots. Can you guys share your preferences and why it's the one over the other? Or if my search sucked (as sometimes they obviously do :p ) , link me to some good, high-quality reading? Thanks!

Quote from Tuckahoe: “ Just do it and do not over think it.” I can't count the number of times I've been told that in my lifetime. It's always a refreshing reminder to me. Thanks!

Quote from TrafficJam: “One of the beers I tried was the Pumpking. I like subtle flavors in my beer, this one was too strong. I also don't like IPA's, they're too bitter. So now you know my secret...I have no taste! :D” Nothing wrong with that! People seem to either have a love or a hate relationship with IPAs. I, personally, love 'em. In cooler months, I enjoy a good porter or stout, but I know less about them than I do IPAs, brown ales, etc. So you don't like IPAs, but what kinds do you like? …

Good. I kinda cuss a lot. Edit: But I can restrain. I'm a teacher. I'd have been fired a LONG time ago if I couldn't.

I fear crazy ass people way more than a bear. I've read a lot about bear spray. I need to research how that stuff actually works. Do most of you carry it with you?

BEER!! Beer is my 2nd favorite topic to discuss. Quote from TrafficJam: “Quote from A.T.Lt: “Ive tried about a half dozen different pumpkin beers and they all taste like ass” You're right, I tried 2 tonight...blech!!!” Have you tried Southern Tier's Pumking? BEST PUMPKIN BREW EVER! Quote from odd man out: “Quote from WiseOldOwl: “here is another favorite on tap (fresh) Lagunitas-IPA.png” Yes that is a good one. I also have liked everything I've had from Great Divide Brewing. But alas, they don't…

Quote from July: “Congrats on your new interest/passion for mother nature, don't believe everything you read.” Nice one! Can you break the one-sentence rule and elaborate? Quote from BirdBrain: “WOO gave me a thumbs down. However, what I say is true. It is not that experienced people are inherently rude or intend to come across that way. It is just that they have answered the question many many times. Eventually they get abrupt.” Thank you everyone for the warm welcome and solid advice AND for r…

TrafficJam told me about this friendly forum. Hey! I'm Ally! I'm a complete hiking noob who's always up for the next challenge in life. Now my challenge is to learn to hike, relish a new challenge/adventure, and live without a rigid schedule at this natural fork in my life. I have every opportunity to do it and nothing holding me back other than the "save for retirement rational side" who sometimes fears failure. I need to do this. I've needed it for a couple of years now, and the Universe is ma…