I’ll admit it — I’m a gear nerd. If it’s has toggles, power, or a clever way to make life a smidge more “George Jetson,” I’m in. Doesn’t matter if it’s for hiking, cooking, or cleaning the house — I geek out on gadgets.

That said, graduating from day hiker to backpacker was a rude awakening. A single pound — one stinking pound — can make or break your comfort when that pack’s living on your shoulders all day.

Day hiking was simple. Toss in the 10 essentials, liquids, enough snacks to survive a small apocalypse, and 5lbs of GoPro gear. Easy. But once I set my sights on year-round weekend backpacking throughout Kentucky, my thinking had to evolve from “grab and go” to “plan and survive- lightly.”

Clothing-wise, I was mostly stocked — but of course, I found reasons to “upgrade.” A new rain jacket, fleece, boots, gloves, socks, and some fresh base layers made their way in. The MVP of the bunch? Injinji toe liner socks. Honest truth — I hiked my first 12 miles without a single toe issue. For someone known as “Tenderfoot”, that’s a small miracle. I still pre-taped my heels with KT Tape as insurance, but my toes? Pain-free. Game changer.

My biggest investments were: pack, sleeping bag, and sleep pad. The first weekend out, they all passed the test — but I couldn’t help tinkering. I’ve since swapped for a lighter pack and pad, trimming 2.29 pounds off my base weight. Doesn’t sound like much until you’re climbing uphill in January. The new pack fits great, and the features hit all my functional sweet spots. The pad? Going forward strictly a hammock camper, I like a bit of back support, so the new lighter pad handles that.

Then came the new essentials: water filter, stove, bathroom kit — and finally, the safety net I should’ve had years ago — a Garmin InReach Mini 2. This tiny gadget talks to satellites so I can send my location, text check-ins, pull weather updates, or, if things go sideways, call for help with an SOS that goes straight to local rescue teams. Time-saver? Yes. Life-saver? Hopefully not needed, but also yes.

It’s funny — I used to think more gear meant more fun only. Turns out, smarter gear means more freedom. Less weight, more miles, fewer blisters, and no wondering if someone will find me before the raccoons do. I picked up most of my gear from — Quest Outdoors, REI, and good ol’ Amazon (because, honestly, that site always seems to have something I “need”). I did make an effort to support smaller brands and local shops when possible.

Now, let’s talk about the financial side of this new obsession. Backpacking gear isn’t cheap — I learned that quickly. There’s a special kind of irony in realizing that going “lightweight” often means carrying a heavier price tag. I’ve embraced the hunt for good deals, scouring Facebook Marketplace, secondhand sections, and gear swaps.

Honestly, I’m curious to see how this setup evolves as the Kentucky weather throws its personality shifts at me. But that’s half the fun for a gear nerd like me. The gear evolves, the miles add up, and along the Sheltowee Trace, so will the stories of my “nerding” out.