Taking a Gear Inventory

Tom Stientra suggests taking account of all your gear before a season in the outdoors, whether that means checking your bike tubes, restocking your hiking socks or even giving your boots a full ten-day test before going on a "real" hike. "I've tried about 10 kinds of boots and they've all been good in some way, yet imperfect as well and the search goes on. Francis Tapon, who hiked 6,000 miles last year, wears lightweight trail runners. Tapon's current favorites are Ino-8 Trail Runners, and he says they last about 500 miles. If you wear a heavy pack -- never advised -- or
trek in snow, you'll need a heavier waterproof boot." In the San Francisco Chronicle.