Trekking poles (AKA: hiking sticks) are an odd thing for backpackers. Some of our fellow backpackers refuse to use them but others refuse to go without them. We personally love them. They are a must-have when backpacking through creeks on slippery rocks as they help maintain balance and give more points of contact in uncertain…
Category: Gear/Apps
Best Backpacking Emergency Gear – How to Choose
Nature is wild and it can be dangerous. The best backpacking emergency gear and supplies should include items that help you not only survive an accident but also follow leave-no-trace principles. More often than not twisted ankles, blisters, broken gear, and the need to use the facilities when there are none are the great challenges…
Best Backpacking Lamps – How to Choose
I am so thankful to live in an age when backpacking can be done without a kerosene lantern or even a traditional flashlight that uses heavy batteries. LEDs have made lanterns and headlamps extremely lightweight and they generate no heat, allowing for ease of use around the campsite or directly inside the tent. Flashlights are…
Best Backpacking Cooking Gear – How to Choose
Backpacking food isn’t going to be a high-end gourmet affair. Honestly, it is rarely even as good as standard camp food because fresh food is heavy and you obviously won’t have access to a refrigerator while on the trail, unless you are backpacking in the winter :). This isn’t to say we don’t carry good…
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads – How to Choose
Having one of the best backpacking sleeping pads is crucial to getting a good night’s rest after a long day of beautiful backcountry exploration. The idea of a sleeping pad seems very simple. The goal is to lift the body evenly off the ground, making a hard, rough, and uneven surface soft and comfortable enough…
Best Backpacking Water Filter – How to Choose
Filtering and/or treating water in nature is essential for keeping your pack weight down and being able to do a trip that is more than a night or two long. Water is heavy and humans need a lot of it to survive. The best backpacking water filter will not only help save you weight in…