You said "my knees stopped hurting after two days" but honestly, that could be from anything. Maybe you just got stronger or your body adjusted to the trail. I've been hiking for years and tried going super light once with a tarp and minimal water. Ended up cold and dehydrated because the weather turned bad and I couldn't find a good water source. Had to cut my trip short. Your setup worked for you that one time, but not everyone's body or trail conditions are the same. Some people need that extra gear for safety or comfort, and lighter isn't always better when you're out for more than a few days.

People spend so much time and money on the fancy surface stuff... but nobody talks about the bones underneath. It's like painting your living room but ignoring the crack in the foundation. Seen way too many nice patios get all wonky after a couple of winters because people skipped the drainage part. You're right, a little planning on the base goes a long way, same with houses or even driveways. Nobody wants to be the one tearing it all up in a few years.

Hear hear, nancyj11. The thing that gets me is how many people still think getting a second opinion is rude or something. Like no, it's your car and your money. But here's what I really want to know - have you ever actually tried to get that itemized quote and the mechanic got weird about it? I had one guy literally snatch the paper back from me when I asked to see the parts list. That's when I knew he was full of it. Makes you wonder how many people just hand over their credit card without ever seeing what they're really paying for.

Changed my mind reading this. Taking that random Friday this week.

Right? That's exactly how it went for me too. My nephew said something similar a few months back and it just clicked in a way I was not expecting.