I attended a really fantastic Ax training and certification class for trail maintainers this past Friday offered by the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire. It’s the only such course offered in the United States and teaches you how to sharpen an …
Read More »Backpacking Skills
How to Repair Mesh Backpack Pockets with Tenacious Tape
I have torn holes in the side pockets of many backpacks, enough that I now ding manufacturers in product reviews that include them on backpacks because they’re not durable enough. External mesh pockets are nice to have, but the only “safe” place to …
Read More »Superfeet All-Purpose Support High Arch (Green) Insoles
Shoe Insoles If you don’t already use Superfeet All-Purpose Support High Arch (formerly called Green) insoles in your hiking boots, you should. They provide your feet with far better shock absorption than factory insoles. I started using them in my leather hiking …
Read More »The Joy of Esbit
Esbit Cubes are the simplest, lightest, and most reliable way to boil water or cook food on backpacking trips. There’s no extra container weight to carry with Esbit Cubes, like a white gas stove bottle or isobutane canister, and you can even …
Read More »No Cook Backpacking 101
Backpackers are always looking for ways to save pack weight. Some continuously upgrade to the latest lightweight gear, while others remain solely focused on eliminating all but the necessities. Regardless of the motivation, the objective is the same – to lessen the …
Read More »Best Dimensions for a 1 Person Backpacking Tarp
If you crave a deep connection with the wilderness, there’s nothing more intimate than sleeping under a square or rectangular tarp. Pitching a tarp takes more thought than setting up a tent because you need to consider what the best setup or “shape” will …
Read More »Feathered Friends Down Booties Review
Feathered Friend’s Down Booties are goose-down socks that have a removable weather-resistant shell so you can wear them in your sleeping bag or outdoors when winter camping. I like wearing mine in the cabin or on winter backpacking trips after removing my …
Read More »Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Brace Review
The best knee brace I’ve found for hiking and backpacking is the Cho-Pat Knee Brace. I’ve used one when my knee bothers me from carrying too much weight and I have a few hiking buddies who swear by theirs. They wear two …
Read More »What is an Inverted Canister Stove?
An inverted canister stove is a canister stove that can burn canister gas (an isobutane/propane mix) in lower temperatures than a regular canister stove. It’s good for winter camping when the nighttime temperature drops below 15 degrees (F). That’s the temperature at …
Read More »10 Backpacking Gear Maintenance Tasks for April
With spring hiking and backpacking season on the horizon, here are some important gear maintenance tasks for you to perform to prepare for your next trip. If you have other spring gear maintenance tips you’d like to share, please leave a comment …
Read More »Comparison of Five Ultralight Backpack Liners
Backpackers are split about 50/50 when it comes to using a backpack rain cover or lining the inside of their backpacks with a plastic bag or backpack liner designed for that purpose. When I started backpacking, I used a backpack rain cover …
Read More »Plantar Fasciitis and Compression Socks
Plantar Fasciitis is an overuse injury of the foot that is associated with heel pain and severe foot cramping. The pain is caused by the inflammation of the ligament that connects your heel bone to the ball of your foot. I suffered …
Read More »How to Reduce the Weight of Your Consumables
The heaviest items in your backpack are water, food, and fuel. They’re called consumables because you use them up as your trip progresses, as opposed to “base weight” which measures the weight of non-consumable items like a backpack, tent, unworn clothing, a …
Read More »How to Increase Your Daily Hiking Mileage
There will probably come a time in your hiking career where you need or want to do a big day hike or a backpacking route that requires hiking longer daily distances than you’re used to. While training for bigger mileage in advance …
Read More »