If you’re a woman who dreams of walking the Appalachian Trail as either a thru-hike or in sections, you probably have thoughts and questions you’d prefer answered with a female perspective. Based on my experience preparing for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike and …
Read More »Frequently Asked Questions
How to Plan a Day Hike
When I go day hiking or backpacking, I begin preparing a few days in advance by watching the weather forecast and documenting my trip plan. It’s a good habit to get into especially if you hike in the mountains or on more …
Read More »Why Do Backpackers Use Foam Sleeping Pads?
Many backpackers carry closed-cell foam sleeping pads because they’re lightweight and don’t fail like air mattresses. If you want to carry multi-purpose gear to save weight, you’re hard on gear or want to save money, closed-cell sleeping pads provide many advantages over …
Read More »Insect Repellents (Bug Dope): How to Choose
DEET and Picaridin-based insect repellent sprays and lotions (bug dope) are available from a wide range of brands and in a variety of form factors. How effective are they are repelling mosquitos and ticks? What are the best concentrations to get? Which …
Read More »How Much Food Should You Pack for a 1-2 Night Backpacking Trip?
Most people pack way too much food when they go backpacking, especially for shorter trips lasting 1 to 2 nights in duration. While the rule of thumb is 2 lbs of food per day or 4000 calories, that number is based on …
Read More »How Much Should a Backpacking Tent Weigh?
Tent weight is a frequent area of concern for many backpackers, especially for beginners who are faced with a tsunami of gear choices without understanding what they need for the weather conditions they plan to backpack in, what they’ll like or dislike …
Read More »Hiking Gaiters 101
Gaiters are an essential clothing and footwear item for hikers and backpackers that provide moisture protection, extra insulation, and protection for your ankles and lower legs. They’re available in a wide variety of heights and fabrics, with a multitude of different attachment …
Read More »How to Sleep Warm At Night When Backpacking
Have you ever spent a cold night shivering in your sleeping bag under a backpacking quilt because the temperature dropped lower than you expected? Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to sleep more warmly using the gear and …
Read More »How Many Days of Food Can You Pack in a Bear Canister or Ursack?
There’s a simple rule of thumb for figuring out how many days of food you can fit into a bear canister. Find out the capacity of your bear canister in cubic inches and divide by 100. That will give you a pretty …
Read More »What is a Freestanding Tent?
Freestanding tents are tents that can stand up by themselves (the poles slot into the four corners) making them easy to set up in different types of terrain from desert sands and snow-covered peaks to wooden tent platforms. Most freestanding tents are …
Read More »What are the Pros and Cons of Rolltop Backpacks?
Rolltop backpacks have increased in popularity in the past few years as demand for lightweight backpacks has grown. Rolltop backpacks have certain advantages and disadvantages that are worth considering if you’re shopping for a new backpack or switching from a more traditional …
Read More »Do You Need a Hammock Ground Cloth?
A hammock ground cloth is a clean and dry landing zone where you can put your feet down at night when you need to get up for a bio break so you don’t track moisture or debris back into your hammock. It …
Read More »Titanium vs Aluminum Camping Cook Pots: How to Choose
Titanium camping cook pots are better than aluminum cook pots if your top priority is saving weight. They are stronger than aluminum pots, corrosion-resistant, and cool quite quickly so you can heat food up in one and then use it as a …
Read More »How Do Thru-Hikers Navigate on the AT and PCT?
When preparing to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trails (AT & PCT), people tend to wonder just how much navigation skill is actually needed to stay on the right path and not get lost. I’m often asked how I found …
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