If you hike or backpack in areas that have large amounts of decaying vegetation, like the forests of North America, you’re going to come across natural water sources that have a sickly red, orange, or yellow color. The tea-like coloring is caused …
Read More »Frequently Asked Questions
How to Become an Expert Off Trail Navigator
A compass is one of the 10 essentials and while many hikers and backpackers carry one, many don’t know how to use it to navigate in the backcountry. This is something I hear often when I teach map and compass skills courses …
Read More »Cowboy Camping for Beginners
Cowboy camping is a good way to make your backpacking trips more efficient while falling asleep to a view of the moon and stars. If the forecast is good, you can roll out a foam pad and a sleeping bag/quilt and camp …
Read More »10 Appalachian Trail Tips for Women
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 »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 »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 »Internal Frame Backpacks vs Frame Stays: Which is Better?
When choosing between lightweight multi-day backpacks, which is better: a backpack with an internal frame or one with frame stays? It’s a question that confuses many backpackers who want to lighten their backpack weight but want to retain the comfort and load-carrying …
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 …
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