Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - usually along trails and across unmarked wild country.
20
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9answers
436 views
The outdoors, solitude and dealing with loneliness
I have been out camping a few times, once with a group, the other times with my girlfriend. Although I enjoyed those times very much, I often wondered what would it feel like to enjoy the complete ...
9
votes
3answers
120 views
Should I always take a hard hat if I go scrambling?
Should I always take a hard hat if I go scrambling?
Scrambling (also known as alpine scrambling) is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges
Quite often when I'm out on ridges in the UK, I ...
7
votes
2answers
195 views
What makes nylon an effective material for hiking pants?
I often see 100% nylon pants a lot in stores. What properties does it have that make it effective when hiking? Is it effective in all seasons or just under certain conditions?
5
votes
2answers
76 views
How do you determine current trail conditions before going on a hike?
In addition to getting the current weather report on the day of a hike, how does one find out if the trails are currently in good shape and what kind of gear may be necessary that day (i.e. crampons)?
...
7
votes
4answers
91 views
New Zealand recommended hiking maps, books and other resources
Me and my girlfriend will go there in January and we plan on hiking for a week or so. Unfortunately there are no maps or books available for NZ hiking in my area. Could you recommend some for me?
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11
votes
2answers
281 views
What is a buff?
What is a "buff", how is it used, and why should I have one?
I've seen them advocated in numerous places, but I'm not sure why a tube of cloth is better around my neck than a scarf, etc.
12
votes
2answers
503 views
Why don't we apply the principles of layering when it comes to pants?
Whenever I see clothing articles geared toward hiking and backpacking that discuss layering (base layer for wicking, mid layer for insulation, etc.), they always seem to discuss these things in terms ...
5
votes
2answers
119 views
Are there any easy hiking daytrips up mountains in Lofoten, Norway?
I realise that's a pretty big area, but we're going to be there for 6 days and we have a car so we can go prettty much wherever. We're not big on climbing - anything requiring equipment is out, we ...
6
votes
3answers
156 views
Is department store merino wool less effective than branded (i.e. SmartWool) merino wool in staying warm and wicking moisture?
At my local Costco, I see a Kirkland brand 100% merino wool quarter-zip sweater being sold for $25. On EMS, I see a SmartWool 100% merino wool half-zip sweater costing $140. Would I be potentially ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Can a PVC rain jacket also be used as a windbreaker?
I have a Columbia 100% PVC rain jacket. It has a nylon lining.
Can PVC material be used as an effective windbreaker? Are there any side effects (such as making me sweat a lot more) that could ...
6
votes
3answers
115 views
What lower temperature limit should I look for in sleeping bag for the Appalachian Trail?
I'm planning on hiking about half of the AT Northbound at the start of May 2013. What sort of temperature ranges can I expect to encounter, and what should I look for in a sleeping bag to best suit ...
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Energy bars for outdoors activities: what are the important criteria?
What are the criteria that I should worry about when buying energy bars ?
What are the ingredients to avoid and those to look for ?
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Destination for (half-) day hike near Kraków, Poland in late autumn/early winter
At the end of this month, I will be spending some days in Kraków, Poland. I might have a half or a full day available and apart from exploring the city, I'd like to do some hiking in the close ...
11
votes
1answer
81 views
How do you best treat a turned ankle in the back country?
Possibly the most common injury I see when hiking with groups is when someone turns or rolls their ankle. Assuming that access to a vehicle is not feasible, what is the best way to deal with the ...
8
votes
5answers
568 views
How do I treat a blister? How can I prevent getting them in the first place?
When hiking with a new pair of boots or if I haven't been hiking in a while, my feet might get blisters.
How can I treat a blister and keep hiking? Are there things I can do to prevent getting ...
7
votes
1answer
94 views
How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad, while hiking
Kevin did a nice job of providing a quality answer here for how to find the leak if you are at home. However I usually realize I have a leak when it deflates under me in the middle of the night. If ...
11
votes
2answers
149 views
Formula for rough amount of water to carry on hike?
Is there a formula which can be used (I'm thinking one that gives amount of water needed factoring in time or distance covered and temperature) to roughly work out the amount of water that needs to be ...
9
votes
2answers
119 views
How should I correctly use poles and other equipment to avoid back pain on long hikes?
3 of my lower vertebra have irreparable damage, so I have various workarounds to minimise pain and swelling at home and in the office, and even on short term hikes (ibuprofen FTW) but on a longer hike ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
How to properly lace hiking boots?
When I go on hiking trips, I wear proper boots. However, when I lace them tight, my ankles swell terribly after a few hours and start feeling funny (bending the joint feels like touching a balloon). ...
9
votes
3answers
246 views
Soft or hard drinking bottle?
When choosing a water bottle for hiking, a very distinct choice I can make (amongst all the other types of materials and hardiness, size and so on) is weighing up whether to purchase a "hard" plastic ...
5
votes
1answer
39 views
How to choose a safe cliff path
When walking alongside eroding cliffs in more built up / touristy areas, there's usually big warning signs or closed paths if the cliff is unsafe to walk on. Sometimes it's obvious why, if the path is ...
6
votes
5answers
181 views
What should I do if I break a shoelace in the wilderness?
If I'm hiking in the wilderness and my shoelace breaks, what's the best way to go about fixing it assuming I have no spare?
5
votes
2answers
127 views
How do I identify dangerous, marshy land?
At a casual look, grass with a bit of surface water on it can look very similar to a potentially deadly marsh, and in many rural places there can be lots of both after it's been raining! In dry ...
13
votes
3answers
177 views
What are the key features to look for in mobile device apps for hiking/camping?
I've used EveryTrail and was satisfied but am looking for something better... What are the features I should focus on for selecting an app? What bells and whistles are really useful on the trail?
9
votes
1answer
267 views
Tent floor waterproof rating
I'm currently looking to buy a new tent. The old one had a floor that was said to withstand a hydrostatic head of 10000 mm, but the tents I find in the stores here go to at most 3000 mm for the floor, ...
12
votes
2answers
894 views
How do I avoid leeches?
The last time I was attacked by leeches I thought I'd taken enough precautions such as pulling my socks over my trousers and avoiding walking through particularly wet areas or long grass but I still ...
7
votes
3answers
244 views
How do I prevent rocks or sand from getting in my boots?
So when I hike, usually I get a small pebble or two, or sand in my boots. How can I prevent this? I already wear pretty tight boots, and stopping every so often to take off a boot and get a rock out ...
8
votes
1answer
79 views
What qualities should I look for in a good walking pole?
I've seen walking poles range from <£10 to >£100 - and to a casual observer there doesn't often seem to be much to distinguish them, with both having good grips and shock relief / suspension. What ...
3
votes
5answers
228 views
How much vertical distance is it possible to make in a day?
Are there some numbers on how much vertical distance can people make in a day’s hike? I know that greatly depends on fitness and other factors, but I’d be happy with some statistical curve that would ...
14
votes
1answer
109 views
Tree Identification
I'd like to start identifying trees in my area as a project with my kids while we are hiking.
What is best for tree identification, a good color book such as the Audobon Field Guide to North ...
9
votes
2answers
585 views
What is the difference between men's and women's hiking boots?
When I bought my current pair of hiking boots, the brand/style I tried on and liked was out of stock in the womens version, so the storeperson offered me the mens ones instead. I tried them, liked ...
9
votes
1answer
3k views
How should you wash clothes after exposure to poison oak/ivy/sumac?
I have heard that the oils from poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumac can remain on clothes even through a wash cycle. After hiking through an area with poison ivy (or poison oak/poison sumac), how ...
8
votes
1answer
212 views
Material of shirt for Desert hiking
I have pretty much always worn 100% cotton shirts when hiking but I have been reading more and more about the amazing "wicking" properties of other fabrics.
Is there one that will keep me cooler ...
10
votes
2answers
183 views
Long or short sleeves on a hike in the Desert?
I have heard different things from different people, but here in the South West we do a decent amount of desert hiking.
Protection from bugs is usually little concern because most of the time in the ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Searching for a lost group member
Following on from this question, what searching methods and techniques are best used in scenarios where a single group member (or perhaps couple of group members) become lost and separated from a ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Is a compass generally accurate in only one hemisphere, or both? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Navigational gear worldwide
I'm not that well travelled (never been outside of Europe!) but at some point I'd love to head elsewhere to perhaps hike somewhere a bit more ...
10
votes
4answers
159 views
What practical issues do I need to be aware of when hiking or camping on my own?
Related to this question, if I'm camping and hiking on my own, I'm obviously at more of a risk than if I were with someone, and some key tasks will definitely be harder with no-one to assist (such as ...
21
votes
6answers
400 views
If I'm caught in lightning above tree-line, what should I do?
We all know the general lightning guidelines, but what if I am above tree-line and caught in a freak lightning storm. Is it better to:
Run like mad to toward the trees
Lie flat, and find religion
...
14
votes
1answer
373 views
Raw meat on hikes
When backpacking we often carry raw beef which we have salted and frozen, usually cut into strips that can be easily cooked through. I'm confident that this is good for 24 hours, and I know that meat ...
14
votes
4answers
8k views
How do you determine how long a hike will take?
Is there a general rule of thumb for converting miles to hours when looking at a potential hike? For example, how long does it take an average person walking at an average speed to walk a mile on the ...
13
votes
2answers
91 views
A little bit of acclimatisation or no acclimatisation at all?
This summer I'm planning to mount my first 4000 m mountain in Switzerland. So far I only got around 3300 meters while hiking and had no problems. However 4000 meter an above is definitively a ...
12
votes
1answer
119 views
What are some good games to play with children on hikes?
Sometimes children find long hikes boring and tiring, but if you can turn it around to play some games along the way they can find things a lot more interesting.
What are some good games to play in ...
7
votes
4answers
505 views
Which brands make wider hiking boot sizes?
My old boots are dying. Sadly it took me quite some time to find them, and the particular brand is not made anymore. I have wide feet, like 4E wide, but some 2E boots will fit fine. Unfortunately ...
19
votes
6answers
4k views
What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots?
After purchasing full leather boots (similar to these boots) I had many blisters for the first few hikes until I broke in my boots.
What are the fastest ways to age the boot so that when my foot ...
5
votes
1answer
83 views
How to get more information about a planned tour?
This summer, I plan to walk from the Wormser Hütte in Austria to the Heilbronner Hütte in Austria. I know that this can be done in 1 day, but when googeling, the tour length differs a lot. Some ...
5
votes
1answer
98 views
Where to find hiking shorts that last more than a few months?
I'm one of these crazy people that tend to wear cargo shorts all year round, and do a lot of hiking and general outdoor activities in them. However, because of this they tend to wear out relatively ...
12
votes
1answer
358 views
Kilimanjaro expedition - trousers - softshell vs. gore-tex
I am going on an expedition to Kilimanjaro and I'm going to buy new trousers specifically for this purpose. Some agencies recommend to take soft shell trousers and I'm not sure if it would be the best ...
26
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking?
From personal experience I tend to wear two pairs of socks, normally some running socks and then my hiking socks on top of that. It helps me avoid blisters. Quite a few of my friends thinks this is ...
8
votes
2answers
176 views
What good options are there for wine transport?
Large glass bottles just don't strike me as a "good idea" for hiking.
What options are there for carrying wine and preserving the flavor for a couple of days while hiking?
17
votes
7answers
557 views
What clothing would be appropriate for hiking in -18°C with up to 30 km/hr wind?
I recently moved to Germany and am planning to do a hike in the Harz mountains. The weather is expected to be around -18°C. Most of the trail will be sheltered by forest, but the mountaintop is ...
