It's a challenging hike overall, but the most strenuous section was the last mile or so up to the lake
Ideally, you want to invest in gear tailored to your lifestyle that keeps you dry during unfavorable weather conditions for several years
If you never use them, they are just extra weight and complexity
The ultra-wicking construction combined with CoolJade-infused yarn decreases your skin surface temperature up to 10 F keeping you cool, comfortable, and focused on the race at hand
So after essentially replacing everything except for the frame and crank, it (thankfully) rides completely differently, and so much better
The build on the ProTactic line is robust, and the SlipLock system lets you clip extra pouches to the exterior as your kit grows, rather than forcing you into a bigger bag