Summary: Show Notes: Episode 052<br> Today on The First 40 Miles, there are times when shortcuts are a bad idea, and times when they’re a great idea! We’ll help you figure it all out in today’s Top 5 List. Then, on the SUMMIT Gear Review, a light, lightweight way to deal with microorganisms in your drinking water. Next, on the Backpack Hack of the Week, we’ll show you a great resource you can take advantage of that will improve your outdoor skills and knowledge. And we’ll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a guy named Woody who wrote the handbook on <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf07232806/pdf07232806dpi72.pdf">Trail Construction and Maintenance</a>.<br> Opening<br> <br> * Cutting the Switchbacks<br> * Americans are big fans of trail blazing, making our own path…but there are times on the trail when that is not such a good idea<br> * <a href="http://www.backcountryattitude.com/switchbacks.html">http://www.backcountryattitude.com/switchbacks.html</a><br> * Trails are graded and sloped for ideal drainage, if people do “cut throughs”, the land is changed and major sections of trail can be wiped out if vegetation isn’t in place to hold the dirt to the earth.<br> <br> Top 5 Gift Subscriptions for Backpackers<br> <a href="https://thefeed.com/product/backpacker-magazines-3-day-box/">The Feed: Food for Athletes (Three-day Backpacker Box)</a><br> <br> * 3 meals (theFeed)<br> * Fun mix of high quality food<br> * You can subscribe<br> * $66<br> * Great mix of sweet and savory<br> <br> <a href="http://stridebox.com/">StrideBox</a><br> <br> * $15 to sign up, and $15 on the 26th of each month (which you can pause)<br> * or $50 for 3 month gift subscription<br> * Items in box: most are items that would appeal to BPers and runners alike.<br> * Great if you have a recipient who is a trail runner<br> <br> <a href="https://naturebox.com/">NatureBox</a><br> <br> * Don’t let the name fool you, this is not organic<br> * Calorie-dense snacks<br> * 3 snacks for $14<br> * 5 snacks for $20<br> * Free shipping within US<br> * OPTIONS: Once a week, every two weeks, once a month<br> * Change, pause or cancel your membership at any time.<br> * These are not desk snacks–these are burn it as you hike snacks!<br> <br> <a href="http://campboxco.com/">Campbox</a><br> <br> * Their gear is curated based on: Durability, Pack-ability, Seasonal Relevance, and Social Impact<br> * $35 a month plus shipping<br> * Will soon be offering a Trail Package Service<br> * Gift giving is a wee bit awkward in that you have to give gift cards<br> * They have plans to roll out CBX Kids—which is a camp box for the younger crowd.<br> <br> <a href="http://www.youbars.com/">YouBar</a><br> <br> * 13 bars for $47 (that’s with shipping included in the price)<br> * You pick from a long checklist of bar bases, mixins, sweetners, and infusions.<br> <br> SUMMIT Gear Review™: <a href="http://www.steripen.com/freedom/">SteriPen Freedom</a><br> Structure<br> <br> * UV light (purification works as the cells of microbes absorb ultraviolet energy emitted by the lamp so they can’t reproduce)<br> <br> Utility<br> <br> * Rechargeable! Yay!<br> * USB rechargeable – no batteries needed. Power up via wall outlet, computer or USB compatible solar charger. Full charge lasts for 40 treatments<br> * Easy-to-use: just remove lamp cover, place lamp in water and stir. In 48 seconds up to a half-liter of water is purified. Lamp automatically shuts off when treatment is complete.<br> * Includes water sensors safety feature so the UV light only turns on when safely below water surface.<br> <br> Mass <br> <br> * 2.6 oz.<br> <br> Maintenance<br> <br> * Comes with carry case, instructions and 3-year limited manufacturers warranty<br> * The UV lamp provides up to 8,000 one-liter treatments.<br> * Use when nodes are submerged<br>
