Madison Dragna

I'm a freelance writer and devoted yogi. I completed my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013 and have been missing trail life ever since. I might not be the nomad I once was, but my current home in Colorado isn't a bad place to rest. I dream of the day all my belongings can fit in a backpack again. Until then, I am here to lend a hand to all the gear junkies, hiker trash, and outdoor lovers alike. Feel free to follow me on Instagram @madidragna

Posts

The Ultimate Guide for Preserving and Maintaining Your Backpacking Gear

The Ultimate Guide for Preserving and Maintaining Your Backpacking Gear

Backpacking gear can be a huge expense. With such an investment in your outdoor endeavors, not only do you want your gear to work but also to last.

Mar 11, 2015 : Madison Dragna
Gear Review: Outdoor Research’s Women’s Sonata Hoody

Gear Review: Outdoor Research’s Women’s Sonata Hoody

Late January brings chilly days and a crowd of panicked prospective future thru-hikers. This is the time I decided to hike the trail, and if you're

Jan 22, 2015 : Madison Dragna
Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses for a Thru-Hike?

Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses for a Thru-Hike?

If you battle with bad eyesight like I do, deciding on contacts or glasses for a thru-hike is a big decision. I've seen numerous forums on

Dec 19, 2014 : Madison Dragna
Gear Review: Audio-Technica SonicFuel in-ear headphones ATH-CKX5iS [PLUS A GIVEAWAY]

Gear Review: Audio-Technica SonicFuel in-ear headphones ATH-CKX5iS [PLUS A GIVEAWAY]

Find out how you can win a pair of Audio-Technica's SonicFuel in-ear Headphones ATH-CKX5iS at the bottom of this post! Hiking with music is

Nov 23, 2014 : Madison Dragna
Gear Review: Native Eyewear Polarized Sunglasses

Gear Review: Native Eyewear Polarized Sunglasses

The Appalachian Trail might be known as the “green tunnel” but that didn't stop me from using sunglasses during my thru-hike. I’m not going to lie, I

Oct 27, 2014 : Madison Dragna
Gear Q&A: Should I Get a Foam or Inflatable Sleeping Pad For My Thru-Hike?

Gear Q&A: Should I Get a Foam or Inflatable Sleeping Pad For My Thru-Hike?

The following Gear Question was pulled from the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Class of 2015 page on Facebook.  If you have a question you'd like

Oct 6, 2014 : Madison Dragna
Gear Review: Men’s & Women’s ExOfficio Underwear

Gear Review: Men’s & Women’s ExOfficio Underwear

ExOfficio makes many articles of clothing but their most popular item among hikers is underwear. Both my fiancé and I used ExOfficio undies for our

Aug 5, 2014 : Madison Dragna
This is Life on the Spectacular (and Insanely Difficult) GR 20 in Corsica

This is Life on the Spectacular (and Insanely Difficult) GR 20 in Corsica

For a background on Corsica's GR 20, please see my previous post HERE. “Have you ever done this kind of stuff before?” a red-faced, slightly

Jul 24, 2014 : Madison Dragna
The GR 20: Planning for the Hardest Hike in Europe

The GR 20: Planning for the Hardest Hike in Europe

For those that are avid Appalachian Trials readers, I am the gear aficionado. I usually write about gear reviews and tips. However, for the next few

Jun 13, 2014 : Madison Dragna
12 Unnecessary (& Hilarious) Backpacking & Camping Gear

12 Unnecessary (& Hilarious) Backpacking & Camping Gear

As the gear aficionado, most of my posts focus around essential gear items, gear reviews, and gear tips. I thought I would switch things up a bit

May 30, 2014 : Madison Dragna