Practice What You Preach: Part 1

*Originally written and drafted FW 2021, updated 10/2022*

If you are going to test your gear. New, old, milsurp, REI gear, whatever. Do it in a fashion to actually TEST  it.

I have always been of the type that if I get gear for when things go bad I should probably test the gear before hand in less than comfortable conditions. Embracing the suck and being uncomfortable can be enjoyable though.


Any chance to get out into the wild and into the woods is a good time. Even when the weather doesn't cooperate and when you go alone. Going by yourself is a great time to reflect and actually listen. With the added benefit of taking as long as you want or going as quick as you please without the worry of other peoples skills or time schedule.


Weather was a brisk 36 degrees. I have numerous fairly easy trail options close to home. As soon as I left my house, it started to drizzle. Now I did know there was a chance and was going to go anyways. The temperature had dropped a little lower than I had planned though earlier in the week. But hiking was going to happen. Rain or not.


I tested out numerous things. Slacking on the outdoor activities it finally took vacation time coming up to get around to do something physical outdoors, so why not knock a couple things out at once? I needed to actually work in some colder weather gear. This is sort of an area I don't have a lot of money, nor experience in. Years past Ive managed survivable camps with 3 season gear in the below freezing temps as lessons. This would sort of be a one day adventure version of that but in the rain.


Base layer wise I have some summer moisture wicking gear. A set of fairly nice somewhat loose fitting pants that are rip offs of some Under Armor option I am sure, and a milsurp long sleeve German Bunderswehr Tropen shirt. Over that, super simple, I rocked my BARS 3M Gorka. Since I have not used the Gorka in wet conditions this was a pretty good day to do it. I also had a pair of steel toe boots that were broken in but never hiked in. I threw those on as well.

I made sure to grab some gloves too. Insulated Mechanix gloves worked perfect for this.

The main reason I went out was because I just bought and cleaned up a milsurp British PLCE Patrol Pack. This monster is 110L (allegedly) of space, and it reportedly had some decent defense against water and wet conditions. This was a perfect day to make sure of it.



Between testing all the different gear and things I am not all too familiar with, the normally easy trail became a challenge quickly. Lots of mud, loose rocks, wet and very slippery surfaces made it clear that it would be much more difficult.



In total I did 3.5 miles in rain the entire time. Ive done this trail numerous times before. Getting it done in 90 minutes or so would be doable I think for most people with hydration bladders and a swift pace. Took me about 2 hours exactly to do it with only one stop to check my gear and cook some food.



The cold and wet is unforgiving. The gorka, the boots, the bag all performed very well in all of it. Much better than I expected actually. The exchange with breath-ability and comfort I think with its basic water resistant properties were a great combination. On all the pieces that is. Because chances are if its waterproof, its probably not going to be comfortable when you get hot and sweaty.



The trail was totally empty as one could imagine. A very different experience from the normal in a large conservation area or park. Very enjoyable even though mother nature had plans.



When it comes to prepping, training, and general outdoors activities its a good thing to test your gear in less than optimal conditions. Chances are when you do actually need to use it, it will be less than optimal conditions naturally. To be comfortable in discomfort is its own zen. Being able to adjust and acclimate to it is something most wont even bother to learn. Its easy to be that way. And you shouldn't. Not if you care about being prepared that is.



So when you make the plans to go into nature you should keep those plans. Do not be afraid to go alone all on your own. It's a great thing to do occasionally. Especially if nature isn't cooperating with you, or your optimal plans.

Because as we know, nature does not care about you or your plans.