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
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9
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What's the best way to store/carry olive oil for hiking?
Bottles of olive oil often have special caps that help prevent drips/etc. when pouring the oil, but an entire bottle of olive oil is far to heavy to carry for a hike. What's the best method for ...
- 32.1k
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5
answers
8k
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How can I tell which way is "down wind"
I'll be backpacking in areas where a bear canister is required by regulation. All of the tip's I've read say to store it XYZ number of feet "downwind from your camp", presumably so the scent of the ...
- 377
19
votes
5
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Stoveless/fireless hiking food suggestions
In light of the recent forest-fire qualms that have arisen all over the globe (not to imply that any of y'all are irresponsible enough to have the capacity to start any, and hopefully that same would ...
- 191
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11
answers
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How do I fold in / tidy up the straps on my rucksack?
I bought a new rucksack. However, how can I tidy up and hide away the myriad straps so they don't flap about and get caught in things?
- 1,327
18
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6
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Effective way to carry a sleeping mattress with rucksack?
I am going for four day hike in Western Ghats. The terrain is
rocky humid and It is one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of
biological diversity in the world.
I am trying to pack my rucksack as ...
- 765
18
votes
4
answers
16k
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Is it ever safe to let a hypothermic person sleep?
My understanding is that with severely hypothermic patients you want to keep them awake if possible. I'd heard moving a hypothermic patient is risky, as you don't want to jostle them. Some wilderness ...
- 361
18
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3
answers
2k
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How precise is a pedometer for estimating on a backpacking trip?
In practice, how precise is a pedometer for estimating your progress on a trail? For example, if I'm to hike 10 miles, how far should I expect to be from the 10 miles marker?
Is there data comparing ...
- 8,061
17
votes
10
answers
7k
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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.
...
17
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9
answers
14k
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How can you make a MSR WhisperLite stove simmer?
MSR WhisperLite backpacking stoves are ubiquitous, but they lack a key function: the ability to simmer easily. How can you set a WhisperLite to simmer without having to constantly watch the stove and ...
- 19k
17
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5
answers
2k
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How can I keep my backpack safe?
I went on a hike with my wife the other day in Norcal. This place had a creek that led into a cave that you can swim in. We both left our backpacks at the cave entrance and then swam through it to the ...
- 335
17
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6
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How long does mayonnaise last unrefrigerated in the back-country?
Yes, mayonnaise. It is sold unrefrigerated, and is an essential component of any back-country sandwich. Has anyone reached its limit and had it spoil on them?
(I haven't. Of course, I've never had an ...
- 19k
17
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How do you lower a backpack over a cliff without damaging it?
I was backpacking in Coyote Gulch, Utah this past week and ran into an issue with my 70 liter backpack. The entrance to the gulch through "Crack in the Wall" was a narrow "slot" entry, so the ...
- 453
17
votes
6
answers
6k
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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
17
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5
answers
22k
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Are there any low sodium freeze dried meals?
For health reasons, I usually try to keep my sodium intake fairly low. However, most freeze dried dinners offered in camping stores contain an more sodium than I'm looking for. I consider 800mg a ...
17
votes
3
answers
8k
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Is drinking water containing dirt harmful?
I noticed that if I collect water from a stream dense of small debris/thin mud, if I keep the water bottle close to the surface, while it takes a longer time to fill the bottle, the water is cleaner ...
- 4,585
17
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6
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13k
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What is the proper way to tarp tent to avoid condensation?
I tried pitching a tarp instead of a tent this weekend. In worked well, kept off the rain etc, except for the condensation. It was far worse than any condensation I've ever had in a tent. We had ...
- 32.1k
17
votes
3
answers
608
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Where is the optimal place to do dishes in the backcountry?
I just came back from a backpacking trip in an alpine area. I was cleaning some kitchen items (pot, spork, pan, etc) with some remnant food particles that were coming off. I use a very small amount of ...
- 2,138
17
votes
1
answer
1k
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Minimum equipment recommendations for hammock camping
I'm looking to try out some hammock camping on our next trip to the wilderness, but I don't have any of the gear yet. I could buy it all, but as it's a trial run it might not make sense to pour a ton ...
- 657
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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What are the main differences between dehydrated foods and freeze-dried foods?
What's the big difference between Dehydrated and Freeze-dried foods? What are the pros and cons to choosing one over the other for backpacking?
- 53.5k
17
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1
answer
1k
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How to deal with unethical campers?
Earlier last month I witnessed someone fell a tree in the Eagles Nest Wilderness while I was on a backpack trip. Its quite obvious that you're not supposed to cut down trees in a national forest, in ...
- 513
16
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7
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2k
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Splitting up weight hiking as a couple/mixed gender group
Assuming equivalent fitness, what is a fair way to split up weight when hiking as a couple/in mixed gender groups? Should the weight be proportional to the individuals weight? Are there other ...
- 1,684
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5
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Dog Breeds for Backpacking and Trail Running
Which dog breeds are best for backpacking? I know malamutes do well in the cold and on mountains, but what if I'm backpacking in the summer?
Which dog breeds are good for daily trail runs? I would ...
- 5,756
16
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6
answers
1k
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Tips for a novice backpacker
I would like to get into backpacking and make 2-3 day backpacking trips in moderate climatic conditions in mountainous terrains (mid-Atlantic U.S. or Central Europe, spring-fall). I am looking for ...
- 4,053
16
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4
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3k
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When making camp in the mountains, which direction should I face my tent?
Sometimes I hear that, when making camp in the mountains, a tent should be pitched so the door is facing a certain direction, usually downhill. I've repeatedly asked why I should do this, and the ...
- 1,792
16
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5
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2k
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What are the Pros and Cons of No-Cook Backpacking?
While perusing my gear this morning, it occurred to me that I hadn't bothered to buy or make a stove for backpacking. On the whole, I'm not a big fan of hot food, even when I'm a mite chilled.
What ...
- 1,211
16
votes
3
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2k
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What is a good tool for minor trail maintenance while hiking?
I hike a few trails in the lower Appalachians which are very infrequently traveled. Maintenance when it happens, is performed by hikers. I much prefer to just clear smaller blowdowns as I come to ...
- 32.1k
16
votes
3
answers
3k
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Stuff or roll a tent for storage?
When packing a tent, is it best to stuff it in its sack or roll/fold it? I always stuff my sleeping bag so I wasn't sure if it was the same for tents.
- 505
16
votes
3
answers
13k
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How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad
I went camping last trip and my nice inflated pad... deflated. I always carry a patch kit but I discovered another issue: I couldn't find the leak. The leak was small. It took quite a while of me ...
- 32.1k
16
votes
2
answers
22k
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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?
- 799
16
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2
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4k
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Do kevlar sacks work against bears?
We ran into a hiker on the AT last year using a kevlar back to keep out bears and rodents. He said the product was an Ursack and seemed very happy with it. However he'd never had a bear try to get ...
- 32.1k
16
votes
4
answers
10k
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Tips and tricks for backpacking with a guitar
There are numerous compact and travel guitars that exist, some of which are designed specifically for outdoor pursuits like backpacking. This is one I've been considering.
Being a musician, music is ...
- 5,575
16
votes
1
answer
2k
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Train yourself to need less water
I'm interested in doing multi-day hikes (i.e. backpacking) in the desert where water sources are not readily available, thus requiring one to carry in enough water for the duration of the trip.
On ...
- 361
16
votes
1
answer
3k
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How do I test my water filter?
How can you verify that a water filter still works? I've had one for several years and I suspect it may not be working. Is there a way to test and make sure that it still filters to the factory ...
- 32.1k
16
votes
1
answer
614
views
How well does solar recharging work when strapped to the backpack?
This answer recommends solar cells to recharge batteries. However, this likely works best during a layover day. I usually don't have those. For a nice-to-have situation, how well does it work to ...
- 27.2k
15
votes
7
answers
3k
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How can I test out my equipment before a backpacking trip?
I'm in the slow process of acquiring all of the gear I think I will need to do a week-long backpacking trip somewhere in the Midwest. Many of the more experienced backpackers I've spoken with or read ...
- 1,335
15
votes
7
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7k
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Is a type of walking trailer a good alternative to a heavy backpack in off-road conditions?
Heavy backpacks can spoil the pleasures of being in the outdoors. There are two ways to resolve this:
Carry less
Find an alternative to the backpack
While the first option is usually the best one, ...
- 890
15
votes
6
answers
2k
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How can I backpack further without resupplying?
There are a couple of long hikes that I am thinking of doing, both are 70 to 80 miles (110 to 130 km) long one way. I would like to do a yo-yo (140 to 160 miles, 230 to 260 km) without a resupply.
I ...
- 69.3k
15
votes
7
answers
11k
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What are some good gluten-free foods for backpacking?
I have quite unfortunately found out several months ago that I'm gluten sensitive. Nearly all my meals I've planned and eaten on the trail have included wheat, and thus gluten, in some fashion. I'm ...
- 5,575
15
votes
3
answers
2k
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How do I protect my book(s) while backpacking?
I recently started backpacking in the Olympic Mountains. While camping, I usually bring along a trade paperback for light reading before bed or during a lunch break on a day-long hike. Up until now, ...
- 1,211
15
votes
4
answers
1k
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What should I look for in hiking binoculars
I'd like a pair of binoculars for hiking. I don't have a specific use other than for looking off of overlooks, at animals, etc. What are the important things to look for in a good set of binoculars? ...
- 32.1k
15
votes
3
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4k
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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
15
votes
1
answer
956
views
How does the Esbit stove perform in cold & wind?
I was on a group trip this weekend where a fellow hiker brought an Esbit stove which uses hexamine fuel tabs. The temperature was not what I would consider extreme. Temperatures in the high 30s to ...
- 32.1k
15
votes
3
answers
8k
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Where can I find an iodine crystal water purification product?
For years I used a product called Polar Pure for water purification when weekend backpacking. It was an iodine based solution, so not great for a thru-hike, but fine for a week or less. Specifically, ...
- 3,515
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1
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2k
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Will Iodine Tablets Ruin My CamelBak?
In the past, I have gone backpacking with some fairly expensive, heavy water purification tools. But the more I read about water safety in California's Sierras (here and here), the less I think these ...
- 5,756
15
votes
1
answer
703
views
How much experience is needed with llamas to hike with a llama, on one's own?
I've seen people on multi-day hikes with a llama, and the llama seems docile and easily led. It seems too good to be true. I would never go out with a mule or a horse on my own. If my husband and I ...
- 23.9k
14
votes
7
answers
5k
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How do you deal with a picky eater on a backpacking trip?
Obviously, the solution to this problem is to pack food that everyone enjoys eating. However, according to Murphy, this doesn't always happen. Also, sometimes the best tasting food is ruled out by ...
- 69.3k
14
votes
3
answers
9k
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How to keep contact lenses from freezing during backpacking in cold temps?
My fiance and I are planning our first backpacking trip together. I am an experienced backpacker, so I can handle most questions he has and I already have most of the gear that we'll need. However, he ...
- 143
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6
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10k
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What are the pros and cons of air pads vs foam pads for backpacking?
Backpacking sleeping pads come in two basic types, foam and air, with some of the air pads being self-inflating.
What are the pros and cons of each and how would one decide which type to get?
- 69.3k
14
votes
4
answers
3k
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Is using ultralight gear possible without sacrificing safety, comfort, or skills?
I recently came back from a 17-day backcountry hike. At the start of the hike, my backpack was 28 kg. At the end of the hike it was around half of that or a little bit more. I'm fine hiking with 20 ...
- 27.2k
14
votes
3
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3k
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Is there a difference between a hiking trail and a backpacking trail, including if it's the same piece of land?
I saw an article about the Long Trail, a 272-mile trail through the Green Mountain range in Vermont, USA.
It's famous for being the oldest hiking trail in the United States, having been built between ...
