In this post we share our electrical diagram for our Sprinter van and a brief explanation on why we chose what we did. Our goal in creating this system was to be fully off-the-grid in the simplest way possible. For full transparency, we are not electricians! However, we're open to questions and totally support consulting a certified electrician when it comes to building your own system! Van Electrical components Renogy two (2) 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Compact Design) Renogy two (2) 100Ah 12 Volt Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries Renogy 2000W 12 Volt Pure Sine Wave I ..read more

Stage 3 Highlight super excited about cutting the first of many holes in the van roof! In this post, we discuss how we installed two major accessories in our van, the Maxxair ceiling fan and the C.R. Laurence sunroof. Both projects required carefully cutting permanent holes in our roof, an inevitable and intimidating task for any vanlifer. We decided to tackle the smaller hole for the fan before we moved on to the sunroof. By the time we got to the sunroof install, we felt pretty comfortable using the jigsaw and how to seal up our new accessories. Cutting holes in your van is most definitely ..read more

After we finished painting from Stage 1: Demo, Clean, and Prepare the Van, we felt like we had a brand new van! We painted over all the scuffs and had a clean slate. The next stage includes building a subfloor, adding sound dampening material, and insulating the van. Sound Dampening Unboxing the Kilmat Sound Dampener After we bought our van, we quickly learned that Sprinters can be pretty loud from revving the diesel engine to any rattling cargo components or the vibrating sheet metal. Therefore, we decided to minimize the noise with automotive sound dampening material. We went with the Kilm ..read more

Let's get started! The first stage in our van build started with clearing out the cargo area and preparing the space to build. Our 2007 Dodge Sprinter came with a variety of commercial equipment, i.e. ladder rack, metal partition, and storage shelves, all of which, we didn't need and could sell. It took us two days to remove everything since there were a million nuts and bolts (no exaggeration) holding the metal partition and shelves in place. Looking back, this important stage makes all the difference and feels like major progress. If you buy a new, empty, or clean van, consider yourself luck ..read more

For northbound hikers in Georgia, the first food resupply is 30 miles from the terminus. A sharp contrast for southbound hikers, the first resupply is impressively 100 miles from Mount Katahdin. The 100-mile wilderness marks the longest section on the Appalachian Trail. For the final stretch of Highlight’s SOBO Starter Guide, I’ll discuss this beautiful section, my stoveless strategy, cell service, water sources, shelters, and a few other insider tips to help you enjoy the first section of a southbound hike. How many days does it take? Depending on your mindset and fitness, the 100-mile wilde ..read more

Mount Katahdin Guthook elevation of Mount Katahdin Day 1: Mount Katahdin The centerpiece of Baxter State Park and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail sits Mount Katahdin. The highest mountain in Maine at 5,270 feet, Mount Katahdin is over 1,000 feet higher than any other in the state (Sugarloaf Mountain is second highest at 4,237 feet). For southbound thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, your new adventure starts by climbing Mount Katahdin. For most, it's an all-day 8-12 hour trek that you don't want to rush. You'll hike from subalpine fir forest, above treeline, and through nume ..read more

Western Mountaineering Versalite 10 Degree Sleeping Bag By far, my Versalite sleeping bag by Western Moutaineering is my favorite piece of backpacking gear. I purchased the Versalite before my thru-hike on the Continental Divide Trail in 2019 and I only wish I had it sooner. I knew my old Marmot Phase30 wasn't going to cut it in Colorado and I was ready for an upgrade. Sleeping bags are a big investment and you usually take a gamble when you purchase your first one. With the Versalite, you won't need to upgrade to something better, since this bag has it all for the temperature rating and weig ..read more

Since my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I've worked at two gear shops located on two National Scenic Trails. First, at Mountain Crossings on the Appalachian Trail (February 2019) and later at Triple Crown Outfitters (June 2019) in Kennedy Meadows on the Pacific Crest Trail. You could say I have an affinity for gear talk, shakedowns, and everything in between! With that in mind, I’ve compiled a suggested packing list for aspiring thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. In addition, I include a few links for what brands work best. For a longer, more detailed post about what I carried on the Appalach ..read more

I’m a believer that the right gear can make or break your hike. When it comes to rain or wind, I admit that I’m not the happiest camper. I will happily take a zero-day to avoid the rain. However, on a thru-hike, sometimes it’s unavoidable. On the Appalachian Trail (AT), I picked up a set of Frogg Toggs in Hot Springs, North Carolina right before I entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park section. Rain is a constant on the AT but by mid-November you can expect snowy conditions as well. Frogg Toggs are inexpensive though you can't count on them for long-term durability in bushwacking cond ..read more

We’re officially owners of a 2007 Dodge Sprinter! We lovingly named our van Morning Star after the campsite in Glacier National Park where Brew Hiker and I met. We’re excited to share the progress with our friends and family as well as anyone interested in building their own adventure van. Stay tuned here on The Concrete Hiker blog and our joint Instagram account @Highlightandbrew for Instagram Stories and new posts. Morning Star Lake campsite in Glacier National Park, Montana ..read more