The plan was the Mighty 5. A road trip through Utah’s national parks.
But I didn’t just map trails. I obsessed over the kit.
As a style writer, I had a conflict. I needed gear for early morning starts and desert oven-bakes. I needed shoes that wouldn’t kill my feet. But I also wanted to look like myself. Fire Instagram pics? Yes.
Gorpcore without the compromise?
Functional doesn’t mean boring.
I spent the week hiking everywhere. Delicate Arch. Bryce Canyon’s Navajo Loop. Zion’s overlooks.
The conditions shifted. Dust. Red rock. Sunrise chills that sneak up on you.
Most of the luggage sat untouched. The suitcase was basically a dorm. But a few pieces? They won. I wore them again and again until the fabric started to complain.
Planning your own hike? Looking for gear that actually works?
Here is what stayed in my rotation.
