Search Results for: "Backpacking"

Ultralight Backpacking and Hiking

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Ultralight Backpacking Gear – How to Hike Light and Fast Going “ultralight”, or at least shedding pounds from your backpack, is not as tough as it may sound. Initially, it just takes a commitment to spending money on newer, lighter gear and depending on how light you want to go, making a few sacrifices. Once you have replaced a few basic items, you will have to convince yourself that your insulated mug is not necessary, that you don’t really need all those stuff bags, that your Thermarest chair can be left behind. And finally, you arrive at the point where … Continue reading →

Backpacking Gear Guide: Best Eco-Friendly Outdoor Brands

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Buzzwords like “sustainable,” “eco-friendly” and “green” have all been trending for the last few years, and with good reason. Have you seen recent reports on climate change? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or avid news-reader to feel the change in weather, from record-breaking temperatures to devastating tropical storms. But we’re not here to bring you down; in fact, we want to do just the opposite. Here’s how you can have fun outdoors while decreasing your carbon footprint, just by buying your gear from eco-friendly outdoor brands. What makes a brand eco-friendly? Remember those buzzwords we mentioned? Often … Continue reading →

Best Backpacking Tents

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One of the best ways to get out of the fray and commune with nature is a backpacking trip. With your food, clothes, and bed all strapped to your back, not only are you enjoying nature during the day but throughout the night as well! Sleeping outdoors, even for a night or two does wonder for the spirit. With a surge in backpacking in recent years, many people are trying it out. So with that in mind, we’ve made a list of the best packing tents available on the market today The Best Backpacking Tents With all of that being … Continue reading →

Wyoming Snowy Range Mountains

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Snowy Range is Wyoming’s Best Kept Secret When my family took a camping vacation to Wyoming in June of this year, we discovered the Snowy Range Mountains—the best Wyoming mountain range you’ve never heard of! We’ve been to the Tetons, the Beartooth Mountains, Yellowstone, and past the Wind Rivers. Earlier in our trip we camped in the Bighorns because we had been hearing about them for years. But we wouldn’t have known about the Snowy Range except by word-of-mouth from friends who had been there last summer. They knew about them because of the recommendation by mutual friends in Laramie. … Continue reading →

Dangers of the Desert

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Desert Dangers and How to Survive For those visiting the Southwest for the first time, words of caution are in order. The typical dangers inherent in outdoor activities still exist- becoming lost, falls, animal encounters, inclement weather. But the southwest offers its own exciting possibilities for mishaps. Do not be alarmed by this- knowledge, common sense, and proper planning will keep you perfectly safe, and insure your safe return. First on the list is to know your limits- be aware of your physical abilities and be realistic about them. Use common sense- do not undertake a hike beyond your ability. … Continue reading →

Survive A Thunderstorm When Camping

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Thunderstorms are part of nature testing our grit in the wild. Thunderstorms range from being mild to severe and they have the ability to definitely ruin a camping experience and set you back on backpacking trips as well. Many people have even found themselves stranded in these storms and this could keep them stuck in the location for days at ends. One of the main problems with camping storms is the floods and lightning that is associated with them and most people might not be prepared for dealing with these types of storms. However, with the right skills and tips, … Continue reading →

Climbing Devils Tower and Oregon’s Big Dunes

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CLAW DEVILS TOWER, WYOMING Frank Sanders delivers climbers a true skin-on-rock close encounter when he leads them up Devils Tower, the stumplike rock pillar that vaults 1,267 feet above the prairie in northeastern Wyoming. Half the people who rope up with Sanders have never climbed before; most top out. A weekend climbing package at the Devils Tower Lodge Bed & Breakfast and Wilderness Climbing Retreat ($525 for two nights, including all meals and equipment; www.devilstowerclimbing.com) begins Saturday on the lodge’s indoor climbing wall and progresses to warm-up routes of 50 to 200 feet on the monolith itself. Climbs range from … Continue reading →

Best Climbing Gear

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Eagle Creek Load Warrior 30 with Sport Companion When traveling internationally for backcountry adventures, I used to take a 36 inch rolling duffle, and bob’s your uncle: everything you needed in one bag. That won’t work with airline size regulations, so now I use the Eagle Creek Load Warrior 30 inch (that’s the max allowable size for most airlines) wheeled duffel. This rig is so light it gives me substantially more weight for my own gear. I simply put my fully packed backpack right in there, and fill in around with things like hiking boots and trekking poles, and Eagle … Continue reading →

Introduction to Mountaineering

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Taking Your First Steps Toward Stepping Up High While we all love being outdoors, some of us have a little more hunger, a little more drive to seek more of a test, a deeper sense of accomplishment, and a little more of the edge. This primal call comes from the alpine, the land of wind and rock that shuns both trees and human alike. But even for those of us with a confident mastery of backpacking skills, the jump to mountaineering can certainly be intimidating, if not outright daunting. The following suggested course of action takes you from looking up … Continue reading →

Lucky but Unlikely Things Every Backpacker Should Pack

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What to Pack for Hitchhiking Rain, hail or shine there are a few essential things that every backpacker should make sure they have thrown in their bag before leaving. There’s something different and exciting and unique about backpacking. It’s a certain kind of travelling; for the brave, for the free-spirited, and, I’m afraid to say, – for the ones with substantial less dignity than other travelers. It’s not always glamorous, it’s often unhygienic, and sometimes you really have to question just how far you’ll go to survive for as long and as cheaply as possible. It is very important to … Continue reading →

First Aid for Broken Bones While Camping & Hiking

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Field Guide to Broken Bones If you are an avid person on hiking trips or backpacking trips, or just happen to be accident-prone then you probably have had a broken bone. If you fall or are in a crash of some type you could break a bone. Breaking a bone is painful. The body tends to not like it when your bone fractures, and it really doesn’t like it when you compound break your bone. It hurts and can be difficult to deal with. We need to define the types of breaks that can occur in an accident, (1) Simple … Continue reading →

DIY Can Stove

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Aluminum can stoves are easy to make and great to have on hand. Whether you need to cook, boil water, or need a heat source; an aluminum can stove is a perfect little tool to have. It only takes about 30 minutes to make and even better it is small enough to fit inside a pocket so you can carry it around with you no matter where you go. In order to create the aluminum can stove you are going to need at least one soda can, preferably two. Two works better than one because the bottom of the can … Continue reading →

8 Best Binoculars for Adults & Children

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A pair of binoculars is a vital outdoor tool. Whether you are bird watching, stargazing, hunting, or enjoying a Broadway show or even a close up of a magnificent sunset, it’s wise to keep a pair on hand. Below are the four best binoculars for adults, and the four best binoculars for children – so that you can make your hobby a family affair! Best Binoculars for Adults These binoculars are super lightweight (weighing only 9.2oz) and they will magnify anything you want up to seven times. They are also small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, … Continue reading →

How to Choose the Right Hiking Water Filter

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Can you survive in the backcountry without a hiking water filter? Yes. Is it possible to survive a car crash without airbags and a seat belt? Yes. Both are possible, but why take a chance with your life or your health? Backcountry waters, as clear and pristine as they may appear, can carry a whole arsenal of microscopic pathogens ready to wreak havoc on your stomach. Some of these tiny buggers include bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, that all thrive in water. Backcountry water doesn’t need to appear dirty to be bad for you, so don’t be fooled by a crystal … Continue reading →

Rod & Flint Combos – Fire Starter Kits

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There are many ways to start a fire. Matches and lighters are the most common ways to start a fire. In this post we will be taking a look at the Fire Starters that use a flint rod and a striker. These are great to have for camping, backpacking, hiking and survival gear. eGear Magnesium Fire Starter w/ Flint Rod & Striker The method of using a flint and rod to start a fire has been around for quite some time. Although it can be difficult to use it is a great source to have on hand. Scraping shavings of … Continue reading →