For Beginners

While SectionHiker is a backpacking blog, I also do an enormous amount of day hiking and like it because it can be such a social experience. Here are some tips that I provide day hikers who are just getting started and contact me seeking advice, to set them on the …

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 real-world factors that can affect boil times and …

When I go day hiking in New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine, I usually start preparing a few days in advance by watching the weather forecast and documenting my trip plan. It's a good habit to get into if you hike on mountains or more remote trails. I make a point …

Alcohol backpacking stoves are popular with long distance hikers and with good reason. Here are the 7 reasons why they’re a good option for backcountry cooking, especially if you’re a beginner, looking to soften the up front expense of buying backpacking gear. 1. Alcohol stoves are inexpensive Alcohol stoves are very …

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 John Muir Trail or Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness. …

How do you protect yourself from the sun when you hike? Describe your complete sun protection system including clothing and creams. Where do you use this system when you hike? Most Popular Searchesbest sun cover for hikinghiking skin protectorahiking sun protection

How many pairs of underwear do you take when backpacking? While some people (like myself) only bring one pair, no matter the length of the trip, most SectionHiker readers bring two pairs on multi-day trips, one to wear, and one to wash while hiking. The vast majority of SectionHiker readers prefer …

Wearing rain pants when you’re hiking or backpacking can be a mixed bag because you’re going to get wet whether you put them on or not, when it starts to rain. Huh? Isn’t rain gear supposed to keep you dry? Good luck with that. I sweat when I wear rain …

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 to think. I know a lot of hikers …

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 get plantar fasciitis and I have to stop …

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 shelter after a cold night. However, backpacking stoves …

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 2 years and they’ve served me well.  That’s …

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 in turn can make it possible for you …

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