2 hrs 22 min
#82 | Dan Durston on Designing Gear and Hiking the Great Divide Trail Backpacker Radio
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- Wilderness
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dan Durston. Dan is the gear nerd's gear nerd. In addition to hiking the PCT and being one of only two people to yo-yo the Great Divide Trail (the other being his wife as they did it together), Dan is visionary behind the new gear company, Durston Gear. We go way deep down the rabbit hole on why polyester tents are making a comeback and are possibly the ultimate fabric for shelters, how he's able to execute on his philosophy of creating lightweight gear that's super easy to setup, how his being a loudmouth on the Backpackinglight forums made his gear company possible, and much more. If you're into gear technology, even if you're not, we bet you're really going to enjoy this conversation.
Also, our buddy Legend breaks another FKT, we have another Reddit Brain Buster, and we have a point counter point on the virtues of summer vs. fall backpacking.
Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: PoopStory for 15% off your entire cart at gossamergear.com.
"How to Afford a Thru-Hike" discount code: "ipooped"
[divider]
Interview with Dan Durston:
Durstongear.com @Durstongear on Instagram Dan Durston Youtube Motorscooterguide.net 00:03:16 - QOTD: What’s an “oh shit” moment where you’ve realized you’ve been doing something the wrong way for years?
00:07:18 - Intro to Dan Durston
00:07:26 - What is your backpacking resume?
00:09:54 - Do you have to push gear by setting FKTs?
00:10:32 - Do you own the gear company? Are you not the sole proprietor of Dan Durston Gear?
00:12:09 - Do you get a royalty of every product sold?
00:12:59 - Did you also hike the PCT with your wife?
00:13:24 - How did you get into backpacking?
00:14:40 - You were determined to get your pack weight down before your first trip?
00:14:56 - How light was your pack when you first started?
00:16:38 - Did seeing someone do a whole 50-mile trail in a day create the origin for you going ultralight?
00:17:47 - When did the shift to ultralight happen? Was Backpacking Light involved in that?
00:18:40 - What were your big 3 when you were at 5 pounds?
00:20:00 - Were you giving gear companies feedback when you were testing products?
00:21:25 - To become a gear tester do you just go on backpacking forums and be loud?
00:21:44 - What did you bring on the PCT?
00:22:24 - Had you started making your own gear already on the PCT?
00:23:33 - How did you get into making your own gear?
00:24:23 - What is the hardest thing to make yourself? Packs?
00:26:26 - Advice to someone who wants to get a cottage industry pack but is worried about fit?
00:27:42 - Is there any benefit to going to REI and measuring packs there?
00:28:22 - What is the process with your designs going to manufacturing?
00:30:40 - Are you the only one doing product testing on Dan Durston Gear?
00:32:15 - Who is Dan Durston Gear for? Who is the target market?
00:36:49 - What makes setting up your tents so simple?
00:37:39 - Do you have any photos of your disaster feet?
00:39:01 - How tall are you?
00:49:36 - How did drop.com find you?
00:50:29 - What do you mean by ‘being a loudmouth on backpacking light’?
00:51:24 - Have you solved the condensation issue that most ultralight tents have?
00:52:43 - So should you not ventilate your tent when sleeping in humid areas?
00:55:14 - What are your recommendations for campsite selection to avoid condensation?
00:57:03 - Talk about polyester tents!
00:58:00 - What’s the weight difference between polyester and nylon?
00:59:48 - So what is the strongest fabric?
01:02:30 - Does the fabric make the tent more prone to smell or mildew?
01:03:35 - How long should you leave your tent out to dry?
01:04:31 - Is there a proper way to clean and store a tent?
01:05:30 - How often should you replace tents?
01:07:00 - How do you store your tent? Stuff or fold and roll?
01:10:51 - Who is the X-mid
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dan Durston. Dan is the gear nerd's gear nerd. In addition to hiking the PCT and being one of only two people to yo-yo the Great Divide Trail (the other being his wife as they did it together), Dan is visionary behind the new gear company, Durston Gear. We go way deep down the rabbit hole on why polyester tents are making a comeback and are possibly the ultimate fabric for shelters, how he's able to execute on his philosophy of creating lightweight gear that's super easy to setup, how his being a loudmouth on the Backpackinglight forums made his gear company possible, and much more. If you're into gear technology, even if you're not, we bet you're really going to enjoy this conversation.
Also, our buddy Legend breaks another FKT, we have another Reddit Brain Buster, and we have a point counter point on the virtues of summer vs. fall backpacking.
Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: PoopStory for 15% off your entire cart at gossamergear.com.
"How to Afford a Thru-Hike" discount code: "ipooped"
[divider]
Interview with Dan Durston:
Durstongear.com @Durstongear on Instagram Dan Durston Youtube Motorscooterguide.net 00:03:16 - QOTD: What’s an “oh shit” moment where you’ve realized you’ve been doing something the wrong way for years?
00:07:18 - Intro to Dan Durston
00:07:26 - What is your backpacking resume?
00:09:54 - Do you have to push gear by setting FKTs?
00:10:32 - Do you own the gear company? Are you not the sole proprietor of Dan Durston Gear?
00:12:09 - Do you get a royalty of every product sold?
00:12:59 - Did you also hike the PCT with your wife?
00:13:24 - How did you get into backpacking?
00:14:40 - You were determined to get your pack weight down before your first trip?
00:14:56 - How light was your pack when you first started?
00:16:38 - Did seeing someone do a whole 50-mile trail in a day create the origin for you going ultralight?
00:17:47 - When did the shift to ultralight happen? Was Backpacking Light involved in that?
00:18:40 - What were your big 3 when you were at 5 pounds?
00:20:00 - Were you giving gear companies feedback when you were testing products?
00:21:25 - To become a gear tester do you just go on backpacking forums and be loud?
00:21:44 - What did you bring on the PCT?
00:22:24 - Had you started making your own gear already on the PCT?
00:23:33 - How did you get into making your own gear?
00:24:23 - What is the hardest thing to make yourself? Packs?
00:26:26 - Advice to someone who wants to get a cottage industry pack but is worried about fit?
00:27:42 - Is there any benefit to going to REI and measuring packs there?
00:28:22 - What is the process with your designs going to manufacturing?
00:30:40 - Are you the only one doing product testing on Dan Durston Gear?
00:32:15 - Who is Dan Durston Gear for? Who is the target market?
00:36:49 - What makes setting up your tents so simple?
00:37:39 - Do you have any photos of your disaster feet?
00:39:01 - How tall are you?
00:49:36 - How did drop.com find you?
00:50:29 - What do you mean by ‘being a loudmouth on backpacking light’?
00:51:24 - Have you solved the condensation issue that most ultralight tents have?
00:52:43 - So should you not ventilate your tent when sleeping in humid areas?
00:55:14 - What are your recommendations for campsite selection to avoid condensation?
00:57:03 - Talk about polyester tents!
00:58:00 - What’s the weight difference between polyester and nylon?
00:59:48 - So what is the strongest fabric?
01:02:30 - Does the fabric make the tent more prone to smell or mildew?
01:03:35 - How long should you leave your tent out to dry?
01:04:31 - Is there a proper way to clean and store a tent?
01:05:30 - How often should you replace tents?
01:07:00 - How do you store your tent? Stuff or fold and roll?
01:10:51 - Who is the X-mid
2 hrs 22 min