{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Designing and Sewing All of Her CDT Gear with Eliza "Swerve" Sweeney (BPR #379)","description":"In today\u2019s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Eliza \u201cSwerve\u201d Sweeney, a textile design graduate who\u2019s taking on the CDT with an almost entirely homemade kit, including her backpack, tent, quilt, and even her underwear. In this one, Eliza walks us through skipping her final physics exam to squeeze the PCT into her summer break, turning her senior design project into the gear she\u2019s now trusting to get her across the country, and learning to let herself take a damn zero after spending an entire thru-hike racing to get back to school. We also cover the joys of stuffing a puffy jacket inside a tent at four in the morning while down feathers get in your hair and mouth, her innovative hiking pants design meant to remove friction at the hips, and her hiker bro quiz, which reveals that Sauce is twice the bro I am. We wrap the show with Trek Propaganda on whether you actually like thru-hiking or just the party scene, how one couple hiked the PCT for roughly $12k (which is shocking- a budget thru-hike), a Question of the Day touching on the elusive triple deucer, and a Triple Crown of employees you\u2019re most annoyed to interact with. Topo Athletic: Use code \u201cTrek15Hike\u201d for 15% off at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code \u201cBPR10\u201d for 10% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Darn Tough: Use code \u201cBACKPACKER\u201d for free shipping from darntough.com. Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code \u201cBPRADIO15\u201d for 15% off at hyperlitemountaingear.com. [divider] Interview with Eliza \u201cSwerve\u201d Sweeney Eliza's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:30 - Reminders: Take the 2026 AT Thru-Hiker Survey, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:55 - Introducing Eliza 00:13:20 - What\u2019s your trail name origin story? 00:14:20 - Did hiking the AT inspire your degree? 00:19:20 - Discussion about hiking the PCT in 100 days 00:23:00 - How has your CDT daily mileage compared to your earlier thru-hikes? 00:25:20 - Are you working in college to fund your thru-hikes? 00:28:00 - Discussion about fabrics 00:33:30 - What machinery did you use to create your pieces? 00:37:45 - What does the design process look like? 00:39:25 - Tell us about how you made your hiking underwear 00:42:00 - Were you nervous to start the trail with untested gear? 00:43:12 - How long did it take to make everything? 00:47:40 - Which gear item was the most time consuming and why? 00:51:00 - Discussion about quilt design and creation 00:53:15 - What was the biggest surprise pain in the ass? 00:56:45 - What fabric did you use for your tent? 00:59:30 - What are your career goals? 01:01:25 - How fast could you do the shorts if you made it more efficient? 01:02:20 - Tell us about making the fanny pack 01:04:50 - Tell us about making the down jacket 01:11:50 - Have you thought about what your dream job would be? 01:13:12 - How did you choose the fabric for your rain jacket? 01:15:30 - Discussion about shirt and pant fabrics 01:21:00 - Tell us about your overall baseweight 01:26:00 - What\u2019s your favorite luxury item? 01:29:27 - What is your hiker bro quiz? 01:46:49 - Peak Performance Question: What\u2019s your top performance enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Do You Actually Like Thru Hiking, or Do You Just Like the Party Scene? By Peg Leg A Typical PCT Thru-Hike Cost $10,000 in 2025. Here\u2019s How We Did It for Just $6,000 Each by Anna McKinney Smith QOTD: Do you know what a triple deucer is? Triple Crown of employees you are the most annoyed to interact with Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly\/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek\u2019s newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Go Bills, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Bret Mullins aka TakeOff, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason \u201cI Miss Chaunce\u201d Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Nathan, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, Brad & Blair from Thirteen Adventures, Timothy Hahn, Tracy \u2018Trigger\u2019 Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ack, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jacob Cheely, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lucas Hamilton, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Tyler Powers. ","author_name":"Backpacker Radio","author_url":"https:\/\/www.backpackerradio.thetrek.co\/","html":"