I do my share of solo hiking and backpacking. It’s not for everyone, but I enjoy the added self-reliance required. All of the decisions are mine alone to make. There are no social distractions, enabling a deeper connection to the forest and …
Read More »For Beginners
10 Tips for Beginner Backpackers
I get a lot of email from experienced day hikers and car campers who want to try backpacking and are looking for help on how to plan their first overnight backpacking trip. Here’s the advice I give them. 1. Buy a Local Guidebook and …
Read More »Intro to Lightweight Backpacking
If you’ve ever been backpacking, you’ve probably heard people boast that their pack weighs 50 or 60 lbs. Those days are over. With a little knowledge, it is possible for anyone to reduce their pack weight to a comfortable 25 or 30 …
Read More »How to Choose a Backpacking Stove and Pot
A lot of backpackers own multiple pots, stoves, and windscreens, because like other backpacking gear, there’s often no perfect combination of components that will fit all of your needs. Here are some factors that you should weigh when selecting the components of …
Read More »Do you Carry an Emergency Whistle When Hiking?
I always carry an emergency whistle (a Fox 40 Classic) when I go hiking, one that I tie onto my backpack’s shoulder pad. It’s much much louder than the pathetic whistles that many backpack manufacturers include on sternum straps. Whistles are much …
Read More »Alcohol Stove Boil Time Videos: Theater of the Absurd?
What do alcohol stove boil time test videos done in peoples’ kitchens, basements, and backyards tell you about the real world performance of your alcohol stove? PRECIOUS LITTLE You can’t measure stove performance indoors unless you take into account all of the …
Read More »How to Prepare for a Big Summertime Backpacking Trip
Summer is here and you probably have a big backpacking trip planned for July or August. Maybe it’s the first backpacking trip you’ve ever taken with your son, daughter, or family, or maybe it’s the trip of a lifetime like thru-hiking the …
Read More »Solo Car Camping Tips
I do a lot of solo camping before and after day hikes when I’m up in New Hampshire’s White Mountains for the weekend. It’s a great way to save money, get a good night’s sleep between hikes, and get a little privacy …
Read More »Reader Poll: Do You Wear Special Insoles for Hiking or Backpacking?
Do you replace the factory insoles in hiking boots or shoes with better ones that are more supportive or comfortable? Example Comments I use Green Superfeet insoles in my Asolo TPS 520 boots because my arches need more support. If I don’t use them I …
Read More »Backpacking Stove Safety
Backpacking stoves can greatly increase your comfort and safety on multi-day trips and in challenging weather conditions. There’s nothing like hot food at dinner to warm you up after hiking in the rain all day or hot coffee after sleeping in a …
Read More »Breaking in a New Pair of Hiking Boots
I started breaking in a new pair of boots today. My current pair of Asolo TPS 520’s (left) is in need of resoling and some repair work by a qualified cobbler. I’ve hiked at least 1000 miles in them over the past …
Read More »Lightweight Backpacking Makeover Video
How would like to reduce your backpacking gear weight by 10 pounds without spending a lot of money? Interested? The key to doing this is to remove all the stuff you really don’t need or replace it with smaller, more compact alternatives. This …
Read More »Backpacking Packing Tips
What packing and organizational tips would you give beginner backpackers or day hikers, that will help them fit all their gear into a backpack? Leave a Comment
Read More »Lightweight Backpacking for Boy Scouts – Free Video Series
In 2012, I participated in lightweight backpacking seminar for boy scouts that was hosted by the Capitol Area Council in Austin, Texas. The event was organized by my dear friend, scout and lightweight backpacker Alan Graham, and featured a number of scout masters, …
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