For Beginners

I’m a tool guy. I always have been. When I was a kid I was notorious for taking things apart and (sometimes) getting them back together again. I was always building things with saws, hammers, drills, nails using the occasional free sheet …

If you’re interested in reducing the weight of your backpacking gear, the most important thing you can do is to buy a digital scale. I like the model shown here, called an Ultraship Scale because it can weigh your items in ounces …

Winter’s coming and it’s time to start thinking about gearing up your cooking system for winter backpacking and camping. One option is to go the Titanium route, and pick up a ultralight double wall insulated mug, like the Snow Peak Titanium Double …

I had a reader ask, “what’s in your gear repair kit?” after I went through all of the gear repair supplies I use to maintain and repair backpacking gear at home. Here’s what I carry in my gear repair kit on every trip in …

The majority of people who could benefit from carrying lighter weight gear balk when it comes to weighing everything in their packs and creating a spreadsheet. It’s a big time committment and it’s not clear that the results are meaningful for many …

How many of you have holed hiking pants laying around the house waiting for a generous sewer to repair them for you? Did you know that you can just as easily repair them with Tenancious Tape? I’m not talking about rain pants, …

What can older hikers do to help offset the stiffness, aches, and pains that come with getting older so that they can continue hiking into their late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. That’s the question that a reader sent me last week. She …

OK, so you’ve been getting out on the trail a fair amount over the past couple of summers, day hiking to all kinds of fun places. And you’ve mixed it up some with a few car camping trips to get the feel …

I hate getting my boots wet during river crossings and it’s nice when you’re on a trail where you can jump from rock to rock across a stream or river. But when you are really out in the wilderness, it’s likely that …

I’m helping a small (dare I say short) 5′ 2″, 110 pound female day-hiker named Lisa gear up for backpacking. Lisa knows she has to go lightweight in order to enjoy backpacking. There’s no way she can carry anything heavier than a 25 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …