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Why Your Gear List is Lying to You
Have you ever seen a hiker with a $3,000 kit, only to watch them soaked, blistered, and miserable by day two?
Their gear wasn’t bad. It just didn’t match the track.
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The Myth of the Perfect Kit 🦄
Those glossy gear list videos? They’re lying to you.
I’ve guided hikers carrying thousands in new gear—never tested, never fitted, never suited to the wild.
Tents that collapse in Tassie storms
Trail shoes falling apart after three days of mud
Jackets shredded by scoparia after two hours
There’s no perfect kit. There’s only the right kit for this trip.
How to Bulletproof Your Setup 💪
To trust your gear, it must pass your tests, not just someone’s …YouTube review.
Here’s how to test it properly:
Pitch your tent in a storm at home
Leave it out overnight in rain see what leaks
Break in your footwear on short walks
Take a weekend shakedown trip with your full pack and gear you plan to take on a longer walk
Adapt your gear to your terrain and forecast every time
That’s how you earn trust in your gear.
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Stop Chasing Reviews. Start Testing Reality. ⛺️
I still get comments like “Trail runners are better than boots.” And sure, they can be. On alpine trails. But in the Tasmanian scrub, the sort of trips I do?
I’ve seen trail shoes shredded by undergrowth, or sucked clean off in knee-deep mud.
That’s why I go back to boots when I know conditions demand it. I love my trail shoes but down here, they have their place.
Use the SCOPE Method 👇
SCOPE is how I build reliable, adaptable kits:
S – Sequence Matters
Start with critical systems: rain shell, footwear, layers, sleep. Pack comes last.
C – Core Kit First
Prioritise shelter, sleep, stove, insulation. Everything else must justify its weight.
O – Ongoing Audits
After every hike, log what worked, what didn’t, what was dead weight.
P – Pack Integration
Organise gear by frequency, waterproof what matters, test your pack’s balance.
E – Environment-Specific Tweaks
Adjust every setup for the location, weather, and group dynamic.
☑️ Before Your Next Hike: Use This Checklist
✅ Backyard test – pitch, pack, simulate bad weather
✅ Footwear reality check – wear them for a full week
✅ Shakedown overnight – test your full system locally
✅ Gear journal – note failures, redundancies, surprises
✅ Cut the fluff – only upgrade if it improves safety, comfort, or durability
🎥 Watch the Breakdown
See real-world examples of failed gear lists—and what to do instead:
👉 Watch the Video
THAT’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK
Thanks for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope this helps you hike further and happier.
Stay dry, stay sharp, and I’ll see you on the trail.
Mowser
Discover more. Hike further.
P.S. Spots will open soon for our revised Multi-day Hiking Blueprint. Built to take your hiking prep to the next level.
👉 Join the Waitlist Here
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