Questions tagged [backpacking]
Questions related to backpacking equipment, routes, safety concerns, or issues related to traveling on foot while carrying all of one's equipment (such as accessibility of certain regions to foot travelers, weather affecting backpackers, etc.).
349
questions
2
votes
0
answers
76
views
Solar charging for modern phones? [closed]
Planning an extended backcountry backpacking trip and would like to use my iPhone as a camera, which means I need a way to charge it. I have a MagSafe battery pack that I could connect to a solar ...
- 121
3
votes
1
answer
150
views
Backpack hiking poles loops
Anyone knows where I can buy this piece for attaching the hiking poles to the backpack? Including the plastic "hook", not only the elastic band.
- 131
3
votes
0
answers
162
views
Are there any durable hiking boots left on the market?
I just had the outer sole of one of my expensive, 22 month old, Hanwag hiking boots completely delaminate from the boot in the middle of a four day backpacking trip on the Olympic coastline. I managed ...
- 3,032
2
votes
2
answers
267
views
How far can a pair of shoes last?
The expert consensus seems to be that shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles or thereabouts, as they will by that point no longer have their original characteristics. Fair enough.
But the rated ...
- 1,691
5
votes
0
answers
273
views
What are the dimensions of the ladders on the West Coast Trail?
We're training for West Coast Trail, and I'm going to build a ladder to practice going up and down, and I'm curious if anyone knows what the dimensions of the ladder are so I can make an accurate ...
- 53.5k
6
votes
3
answers
374
views
Desolation Wilderness - Store backpack in tent overnight?
We are going backpacking in Desolation Wilderness for the first time. It's black bear country. We will be using bear canisters to store all food and other scented items away from our tent, and make ...
- 61
2
votes
0
answers
113
views
Why do mosquitos prefer my right arm?
I just got back from a 5-day backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota and the mosquitos were insane. Like a fool I didn't take the reports seriously enough before I went (...
- 731
9
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Logic of Bivvy Bag for the U.K?
Is it worth having a Bivvy bag in the U.K?
Currently I own a moderately lightweight (2.8 kg) 2-man tent, but I've been considering buying a bivvy for minimalistic camping/hiking in the summer months ...
- 290
2
votes
0
answers
81
views
I need a personal guide/assistant for backpacking [duplicate]
I have probably asked this question before, but I have not received a specific enough answer.
My husband and I backpacked for more than four decades, but he died in early 2019 -- and then Covid. I am ...
- 23.9k
2
votes
1
answer
386
views
What is the proper method for attaching the straps to this North Face frame pack?
This internal frame pack came to me second (possibly third) hand with the straps all in a mess.
The yoke attaches with two straps on the bottom and one on top.
It’s obvious that the top strap is ...
- 424
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the first signs that you are headed for heat exhaustion, and what should you do?
Extreme heat by historical standards is in the news, and most likely in our future. So this question is how to know when you are headed for being seriously affected by the heat, and what to do about ...
- 23.9k
2
votes
2
answers
305
views
Back curvature and pack selection
When we bought a new pack (50L+, multi-day backpacking) for my wife in 2013, the (obviously experienced) gearhead steered her towards a Gregory pack and away from an Osprey, pointing out that her ...
- 161
35
votes
10
answers
9k
views
Trumpeting while backpacking?
I am a professional trumpet player getting ready for my first backpacking trip. I'm equipped with a plastic trumpet that I'll clip on my pack. Now I'm starting to wonder about the best way to keep my ...
- 522
5
votes
1
answer
258
views
Looking for lightweight backpacking tent suggestions
Some context: I am a very small female (< 5 ft., < 100 lbs.) and I am thus very limited by gear weight. A lot of information is written for large/tall guys, so I'm having trouble researching ...
12
votes
10
answers
6k
views
Cooked meat/chicken when hiking
I have a 5 day hike in a national park in Chile. I was wondering if it's safe for me to cook/grill chicken breast or a steak before entering the park, put it in a Ziploc bag and consume it the day ...
- 131
5
votes
1
answer
274
views
What backpacks for a fat hiker/camper?
Context: I'm a heavy guy - at my widest point, about 58 inches (147 cm) around, and one of the ways I exercise is to incorporate it into some other activity (walking or cycling to the shops, commuting ...
0
votes
4
answers
341
views
Help with choosing camping gear
So I have recently developed an appetite for camping and thinking about buying some gear. Since I'm not sure how committed I'll be, I want to keep my purchases on the lower side. So I have chosen
Tent:...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
186
views
Is there any evidence that bears use (or used) cub labor to get food from backpackers?
Bears are back in the Question Queue, which reminds me of the claim going around Lawrence Berkeley Lab several decades ago.
The claim was that some mother bears in the Sierra would send their cubs up ...
- 23.9k
7
votes
4
answers
487
views
Pack volume that can be shared with a partner
A partner and I are hoping to hike over a 4 - 5 day trip in Glacier National Park in August (hot days and cool nights).
We are trying to decide on backpacking packs size.
We can share a tent and ...
- 173
3
votes
1
answer
148
views
New Hampshire A.T. Section Hike in May? Logistics and Trail Conditions
I am new to this particular StackExchange site, so if this question is off-topic please let me know. The question involves weather conditions along the A.T. through the White Mountains NH in May, as ...
- 133
17
votes
10
answers
7k
views
Keeping a backpack from being stolen whilst sleeping in a tent
In the past, I have always slept with my backpack wedged uncomfortably beside me due to limited room in a fully manned tent, since I'm concerned about bag theft when miles away from civilization.
...
8
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Clothing for cold weather hiking
I will go for two day hiking on a mountain (intermediate level). The weather will be chilling (3 °C to 5 °C, no snowing,but it may rain). I would like to know what kind of clothing would be better?
...
- 241
3
votes
2
answers
483
views
Osprey Atmos AG 50 raincover
I have Osprey Atmos AG 50 and I am trying to buy a rain cover for it. There are two sizes in Ultralight rain cover model.One is 'M' size (upto 50 L) and another is 'L' size (50-75 L). Have anyone ...
- 241
10
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Suffocation while cooking under an umbrella?
I was recently backpacking in Olympic National Park. I didn't have a tarp with me (was being cheap. Bought one shortly after the trip) but had a $5 umbrella. It rained a bit during one the mornings ...
- 4,053
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Long distance hikes with small children
In recent years, my wife and I completed a few long distances hikes together, for instance:
Kungsleden from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, 105 km (Sweden)
Landmannalaugar to Skogar via Laugavegur and ...
- 1,552
1
vote
0
answers
1k
views
Is it worth it to switch from Osprey Atmos to Exos to save weight? [closed]
My wife and I started hiking this season (we have been cycling for 10 years before that). We have pretty light and compact gear, except for the backpack. We carried Osprey Atmos 50 and Osprey Talon 22 ...
- 119
77
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Sleeping solo in a double sleeping bag
I'm buying a double sleeping bag for travels with my girlfriend.
Parameters (of the bag, not the girlfriend): 1500g of goose down, 680 in³/oz (393 cm³/g), 90/10% down/feather, rated to -9...-15°C T-...
- 1,770
17
votes
6
answers
6k
views
How can I pack my food so it doesn't smell?
TL;DR: How can I pack my food so that it isn't an odor nuisance in my backpack, in a lightweight manner if animals are no issue.
In a month I will be going on a 14-day trekking trip, completely self-...
- 305
23
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Backpacking with incontinence
Suggestions on how to backpack with urinary incontinence? Not a fun topic, but I’m headed out on a 5-day backpacking trip and am concerned how to pack out any used products without attracting bears.
- 231
10
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Boots or trail runners with reference to blisters?
I know that I can significantly improve my hiking efficiency by reducing the weight of my footwear. However, I have historically had trouble with blisters while hiking. I also often do long distance ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
Daily distance estimation AT Maryland
My Daughter and I are considering hiking through Maryland on the AT in early October. Most of the trail I have done up to this point was in New England a Pennsylvania. Trail guides are indicating ...
- 603
7
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is the Battery Life of the Garmin InReach Mini enough for a 2 week trip?
I am going hiking for 2-3 weeks with no possibility of charging the battery again. Assuming I only turn the InReach on only once a day to send a "I'm ok"-message and then turn it off again, would the ...
- 171
2
votes
3
answers
764
views
How much time/distance on average does it take take to break in hiking boots?
If you are buying new hiking boots before a trip there is a break in period before the boots get comfortable and you don't want to go on a long backpacking trip with brand new boots. Time will depend ...
- 69.3k
6
votes
2
answers
318
views
Need Help Identifying a Birdcall (Sierra Nevadas)
I went on a weeklong backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevadas and in the third or fourth night while we were camping next to the Kern River we heard this odd noise.
At around 5-10 PM we would here an ...
4
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Dog-friendly backpacking trails in Northern California and Southern Oregon
Once a year I go on a backpacking trip with a friend of mine who lives near Sacramento, California. He likes to bring his dog. The trip lengths typically range from 2-5 days (including car travel), ...
- 51
3
votes
1
answer
173
views
Ultra-light camping setup for solo-backping in the Uintas
I am considering a solo three-day trip in the Uinta Mountains in Utah in August. I have lots of experience backpacking but I've never soloed before and so am thinking of ways to shed some weight. My ...
- 161
5
votes
2
answers
354
views
How can I prepare physically for a long distance thru-hike such as the Pacific Crest Trail?
I'm planning on hiking the PCT next summer (April 2020-August 2020). I have nearly eleven months to prepare, physically and mentally, and nearly eleven months to read up on the PCT.
I have a lot of ...
2
votes
0
answers
188
views
What is an efficent and effective way to find a reputable private guide for a backpacking trip?
My first question on TGO was about low altitude trips that have the feel of much higher elevations. I asked that question because of the declining physical capacity of my husband. I received ...
- 23.9k
2
votes
1
answer
169
views
Looking for information about the large circles free of snow that form in the spring around the trunks of large trees?
We have often used the large snow free circles that form in the spring around the trunks of large trees as camping spots. Even in an area blanketed with deep snow, there will be such bare, dry ground ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
1
answer
170
views
What overnight backpacking trails are clear of deep snow now (or likely to be in the next two weeks) in northwest Washington?
I am looking for an overnight backpacking trip to do in the next few weeks somewhere in western Washington. But I am worried about deep snow remaining on the trails. Based on last winter's snowpack, ...
5
votes
1
answer
265
views
How much margin due to charging inefficiency should I add when calculating the size of batteries needed for a trip?
In order to charge my electrical equipment while backpacking (GPS, camera for timelapses, phone, etc) I bring along a large battery. To calculate the size of the battery you can figure out how many ...
- 69.3k
3
votes
0
answers
96
views
Pulling vs. Carrying [duplicate]
I've done a lot of backpacking in my home state of Colorado. My pack and its contents is pretty light but not "ultralight", maybe 20 pounds including food.
I'm considering something like these for ...
- 683
11
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Yosemite Fire Rings - What to Expect?
I'm planning a Yosemite trip for this summer. In reading up on the rules on fire restrictions, I saw this:
When and where fire restrictions are not in effect, wood fires are allowed in existing ...
- 265
5
votes
3
answers
299
views
Planning where to stop and camp in advance
I'm planning what will realistically be my first backpacking trip. It'll be in Yosemite this summer.
I've already been going through checklists of things we need, the trails we'll take, what we'll ...
- 265
2
votes
3
answers
256
views
What type of pants would be durable and suitable for outdoors in all kind of climates?
I am about to start a long backpacking trip through South America, and I would like to take as little weight as possible. I have the rest of my stuff more or less sorted out, but I am a bit at a loss ...
- 3,454
6
votes
4
answers
381
views
What is an efficient and effective way to test an emergency day-hike kit?
Questions like these two have made me wonder about my own answer in the first linked question. I have to admit, I haven't 'tested' the kits I put together. I have some wilderness survival training (...
- 991
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does “Pay attention to the ounces, and the pounds take care of themselves” make sense when planning backpacking gear?
The classic advice given to backpackers trying to limit the weight they have to carry is “Pay attention to the ounces, and the pounds take care of themselves.”
Brooks Landon M.A. Ph.D.. Building ...
user9750
6
votes
1
answer
486
views
What is an alternative sleep system if I don't want to use a down mummy bag for winter camping?
I would like to winter camp in a 4-season tent but am interested in alternatives to mummy sleeping bags. I want to avoid that shape.
What alternative sleep systems do people use that are appropriate ...
- 1,013
15
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What are some good foods for recovering from calorie debt?
Calorie debt is when you are using more calories than you are eating and making up the difference from stored reserves of body fat.
Sometimes people will do this to save on the amount of weight ...
- 69.3k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is a reasonable budget to solo-hike the Continental Divide Trail?
I am considering a thru-hike next summer of the Continental Divide Trail.
What is a reasonable budget for covering the time from starting to finishing the hike?
This question has an answer for the ...
- 1,013