The best hiking gear for your hiking style will take a bit of time, effort and brain power to find.
If you're winter day hiking alone, it's important to bring extra insulation including a sleeping bag and sleeping pad in order to prevent hypothermia if you are immobilized and you need to survive until help arrives. A 20 degree sleeping bag, a foam accordion sleeping pad like a Therm-a-rest Zlite , and an lightweight bivy sack will usually suffice to keep it dry, if you put on all of the clothing you're carrying.
The ZPacks Duplex is a specialized shelter for those looking to go as fast and light as possible. It has a single-wall design that requires trekking poles and stakes for setup, which will make it a poor fit for most backpackers. But for the thru-hikers and ultralight trekkers willing to pay it's sizeable price tag, this tent will be a dream come true. It's made out of Cuben Fiber, a material that's crazy-light, completely waterproof, and won't sag when cold/wet like silnylon. It also has a simple design that makes it surprisingly roomy, especially for shelters in it's weight class. The main downside to consider with any single-wall shelter is interior condensation. If your main goal is hiking fast and light, you can probably deal with a little condensation. If you're looking for complete wetness protection, you should probably go with a double-wall shelter.
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