What a Backpacking Pack Should Be!
They call it backpacking for a reason! Your backpack is probably the single most important piece of gear in your loadout. Because without a backpack, you're just camping, right? But there are thousands of backpacks on the market to choose from: large, small, traditional, ultralight, full-featured, minimalist
The KEY to Great Sleep Outdoors
What is the worst part about backpacking? I think most people would say it’s the sleep. I don’t know what it is, but I can hike all day long, be utterly exhausted from a hike
High-Quality and AFFORDABLE Ultralight Loadout
One of the most common misconceptions about ultralight (UL) is that it’s expensive. But in reality, UL isn’t any more expensive than traditional backpacking gear, if you know where to look. To prove it, I set out to put together a UL loadout that is high-quality, from well recognized brands, but still comes in under $850. For everything. Watch this video as I take you through the whole experience, or keep scrolling to read. https://youtu.be/POfHzNiWczU Okay, I’ve been working on this list for a while. As
5 BAD Habits that are DESTROYING Your Gear
Backpacking gear isn’t cheap. But if you treat it right, it will last you a long time. Like this sleeping pad I bought way back in 2009. You probably know it’s not good to leave your sleeping bag in its stuff sack. As I have talked about many times, sleeping bags keep you warm by creating loft. The beauty of down is how compressible it is. But leave it compressed too long, and it has a tendency to want to stay
$12 Hack Beats Expensive Down Jacket—Nikwax Down Proof Test and Review
Why am soaking my down jacket in a near freezing stream AGAIN? Because this time I want to see if the jacket I spent $12 on can perform as well as a $270 jacket. You may remember my post from a few weeks ago where I took this expensive jacket with specialty treated down and soaked it in near-freezing water to see if it could still keep me warm. Well, I did it again, but this time instead of relying on expensive factory-treated
5 Myths YOU Thought Were True About Backpacking
A few years ago, I was on a backpacking trip with my daughter and a few of her friends. She woke me up in the middle of the night shivering uncontrollably, slightly hypothermic, looking for help. And in my half-asleep, been-hiking-all-day, tired stupor, I said, "Did you try taking off a few layers?" Because I believed the myth that you sleep warmer naked. *face palm* Today we're going to talk about five myths you just thought were true about backpacking. Keep scrolling to read,
Backpacking The Grand Canyon – South Kaibab to Bright Angel
There are some experiences in life that stand out among the rest. experiences that before they are even over you can tell, there is something special about it. Something that will stick with you for years to come. For me, backpacking the Grand Canyon was one of those experiences. https://youtu.be/2k4yHIotL8A I have visited the Grand Canyon at least a half dozen times. North rim, south rim, day hikes, even spending the night on remote points along the rim. But nothing prepared me
Trampas Lakes – Pecos Wilderness – Carson National Forest, NM
The Trampas Lakes are said to be two of the prettiest lakes in NM. The perfect place to spend a couple nights and maybe bag a Summit or two. After a long summer with little opportunity to hike
Exploring the Untouched Beauty of Matilija Wilderness, California: A Backpacking Adventure in Los Padres National Forest
The Matilija Wilderness in Southern California is indeed a wild place. I recently did a 2 night backpacking tip of the North Fork Matilija Creek Trail in the Matilija Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest. I wasn’t looking to do a lot of miles on this trip and even what I intended to do was cut short due to how difficult the trail is to follow.
The 5 Best Backpacking Trips in Texas
Texas is nearly devoid of public land. No public land means backpacking opportunities are scarce in the Lone Star State. Even though Texas has multiple State Parks, most are no more than a few square miles in total size. At any given State Park you could hike the entire trail system in a day leaving no real opportunity for backpacking. Luckily we have two National Parks in the Western mountains (yes Texas has mountains) and a small group of National