Yes. Both. 2000kms 3 years ago. But no high altitude mountaineering or technical terrain or freezing temperatures.

This is probably not the space to discuss hiking. Let's just say that I prefer ultra light (under 8kg bag) and use sandals precisely because they make wet feet a moot point.

Regarding saddles, it would be instructive, to me at least, to focus on design principles.

Please note that I have nothing against leather. My current saddle is made of leather. Now, it looks like the market share of these saddles is minuscule. But they seem to be the overwhelming choice of tourers. It is tempting to conclude that it is because leather hammocks are superior for this type of use. This is what I believed until I met a round-the-world tourer who had built a strange looking contraption and proceeded to explain to me what was wrong with conventional wisdom. He had good arguments