Podcast: Episode 179: Let's hear this again: a Gear Guide with Andrew Skurka and Mary Cochenour

YOU asked and the experts answered! Re-listen to this episode from a little over a year ago where Andrew Skurka and Mary Cochenour answer listeners' gear questions on a very wide variety of applications.

Original Show Notes

These are just some of the questions from our listeners:

What type of sun protection is best?

"I'm a fan of covering up" - Mary

"A hooded shirt is the way to go" - Andrew

Is "Sunscreen the New Margarine?" - Buzz

How much of a difference do trekking poles make and how to know when to use them?

"Poles are standard equipment. Like wearing a shirt." - Andrew

"They can be difficult in technical terrain" - Mary

"The Black Diamond 'Z-folding' running pole was a game-changer" - Andrew  

For those long efforts, how best to recharge my GPS watch, phone, etc?

"A 10,000 mAh battery pack is the sweet spot" - Andrew

"You can get 3 phone charges from an Anker" - Mary

"Solar power is great, but has a terrible weight/power ratio for this purpose" - Buzz

What socks and gloves do you prefer during winter time?

"The RBH Designs mitten is expensive, but it's the best" - Andrew

Andy: What’s the single 'must-have but they might not know about it' piece of gear?

"I tested a Zoleo this year - this PLB is designed to be paired with your phone, so is lighter than a Garmin or SPOT"

Mary: What bit of gear has impressed you the most?

"The Gaia GPS app! We just added Snotel sites as a map overlay."

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Full CV

Andrew Skurka

• Age: 39
• City:  Boulder, CO
• Family:  wife Amanda; feline fur child, Oden
• Occupation:  Andrew Skurka Adventures, a backpacking guide service
• Sports Highlights - - -
  • 2018 Houston Marathon: 2:28:34
  • 2017 Bighorn 100: 4th
  • 2017 UTMB: 34th
  • 2015 Run Rabbit Run: 3rd
  • 2008 Leadville Trail 100: 2nd
  • 2010 Alaska-Yukon Expedition: 6 months, 4,700 miles
  • 2007 Great Western Loop: 7 months, 6,875 miles
  • 2007 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
  • 2004-5 Sea-to-Sea Route: 11 months, 7,775 miles
• Social Media - - -
  • Website: www.andrewskurka.com
  • 'Gram: www.instagram.com/andrewskurka

Mary Cochenour

• Age: "I'm right between you and Andrew Skurka - you do the math."
• Residence: Helena, Montana and spending half my time in Big Sky. 
• Family: Husband Matt, and two kids ages 12 and 10 who are awesome outdoor athletes. 
• Occupation - - -
  • Content Manager at Gaia GPS including the Out and Back podcast. 
  • Backpacking guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures.
• Sports Highlights - - - 
  • Currently focused on skiing in all its forms from resort to nordic to backcountry.
  • A lot of mountain biking.
  • I've backpacked and kayaked all over the west, and a little bit in Chile and Costa Rica.
  • My background is whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, rafting, windsurfing, climbing.
  • Former Grand Canyon River guide, pro ski patroller, and a wilderness ranger. 
  • Scary podcast episode where I tell about being stalked by a man in the wilderness for a summer. 
• Social Media - - - 
  • Website: www.hikermidnight.com
  • 'Gram:   https://www.instagram.com/hiker_midnight/
  • Twitter: can't stand and don't do