Hiking: Should You Bring a Light Backpack or a Heavy Backpack?

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

When someone is going for a hike, they inevitably run into a decision to make: should they pack heavy and be sure they have plenty of supplies, or should they strip down to the minimum and carry a lighter load? It doesn’t take much thought to imagine that the heavier your bag is, the more supplies you’ll want to keep (such as food and water to remain hydrated and fueled). Is either strategy better than the other one? Let’s take a closer look.

Bringing a heavier bag will sometimes be necessary. If you’re going on a long hike, there are certain supplies you’ll need that you wouldn’t carry on a short hike. If you’re going on a weekend backpacking trip through the hills, you’ll want to carry supplies for camping at night, as well. If you’re just going for a quick jaunt up the hiking trail, you’ll only need a first aid kit, and some food and water.

General wisdom amongst minimalists who like light backpacks suggests that the lighter your load is, the less you’ll need to carry. To consider the alternative of wearing a heavy backpack, we’ll have to consider the benefits that adding extra supplies might carry with it.

Ultimately, the things you bring in your backpack should either be necessary for your survival - first-aid, food, water, etc. - or should make your life easier in some way. This brings us to the idea of technology.

Some gadgets, such as GPS navigation devices, can really make your life easier. However, they aren’t always totally necessary. The decision ultimately comes down to enjoying the convenience of a heavier load against depending on yourself with a smaller amount of supplies.

It’s recommended that you bring everything you need to keep safe, and work to keep it as simple and light as possible. For example, a GPS watch is easy to carry. Make a list of all of the things you’ll want to bring hiking, and then narrow it down to the bare necessities, or the excellent conveniences that don’t add too much weight to your load.

Ultimately, experience and skill will help determine how little you’ll be able to carry. Even if you want a very light load to carry, try going on a brief hike to see what kind of supplies are and aren’t necessary. Good hiking starts with you.

Photo Credits: rebonnett

Three Things the Rookie Camper Needs to Know

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

For some people, camping is a way of life. Having warm clothes for cool summer nights, knowing how to build a fire, and cooking out in the open air comes easily to them because they’ve been around it for so long. But for the rookie camper, what seems like what could be an ideal vacation is often marred by their lack of experience and the little details that make things different in real life. So how can the rookie camper get off to a good start? By keeping in mind these three things:

1. There’s a good chance you’ll over-pack. When you’re out camping for the first time, the temptation is to bring so many gadgets and so many supplies that you’ll have plenty of options for eating, sleeping, and dressing. But while this may feel fun as you pack, it often just makes things more difficult, getting in the way of utility and taking up precious packing space. You can eat simple foods, you can dress in simple clothes, and you don’t need to bring a laptop with you if you aren’t going to be working on it. Resist the temptation to over-pack on what you don’t need, because you’ll have more space for things you’ll actually use.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of the weather. Even in summer, it’s easy for the temperature to drop during the night, and nothing ruins a night of sleep quite like cold air. Don’t be afraid to over-do it with the warm gear. Pack an extra outer layer and make sure that you’ll be well-insulated against the cold at night. Also, be ready for rain and use tents and tarps to protect what needs to remain dry.

Photo Credits: papalars

Using GPS on the Hiking / Camping Trail

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Today, with Global Positioning System (GPS) gadgets still a new technology, many people are unaware that GPS wasn’t only meant for the open road. It can be used while hiking or camping, and can even help you from being lost when there are no roads or highways nearby.

How is that possible? Portable GPS’s can track your journey, leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs that keep you secure even on deep-woods adventures.

Here are some of the top strategies for using GPS on the camping trail:

• Plan in advance – Some GPS systems, like the Suunto X10 GPS watch, allow you to coordinate your GPS map with a map on Google, giving you an advanced knowledge of the track you’ll be heading on. You can also cross-section this map with Google Earth so that you have a better idea of the terrain and environment you’ll expect.Planning in advance is always crucial to having a good time when you’re camping and hiking. If you’re planning on exploring deep into the woods or wilderness, you would do good to prepare your general track by merging your computer with your GPS for an advanced map.
• Keep an eye on the weather – Some GPS devices (including the Suunto X10 GPS watch) allow you to monitor the weather before it happens. If a storm is coming, you should know about it before you see it on the horizon, or before you watch the skies turn grey. The GPS extends your “inner meteorologist” and gives you added technology – such as a barometer – to assist you in watching the weather. While this obviously has implications for your cmaping or hiking trip, it’s useful for a variety of other outdoor activities, as well; especially if you don’t have the internet or a TV to access.
• Watching your time and distance – Especially useful for runners and hikers, keeping a track of your distance is great for athletic endeavors, as you’ll be able to monitor exactly how long it took you to walk, hike, or run how many miles.This allows you to monitor your distance, for example, even if you feel like taking a side jaunt somewhere else entirely. If you have your ideal 10k run mapped out somewhere, and need to take a detour, you’d still be able to keep an eye on the distance you’ve traveled.

These are just three of the strategies you could employ while using your GPS watch or other GPS device while outdoors. Much like a GPS navigation system will help prevent you from ever getting lost in the car, today’s technology can even help you from getting lost in the woods. You’ll be able to monitor weather, altitude, and other variables that let you know about the skies you’re hiking or camping under, and you’ll find yourself having a better time for it.

The Wackiest Camping Gear

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

Getting into the Great Outdoors is about adventure, exploration, safety, and fun. For you “indoorsy” types: yes, it’s possible to have fun on a camping or hiking trip. It just takes a little creative imagination and the desire to make it happen.

And, of course, the best and wackiest camping gear you can find.

If you’re going to make your camping or hiking trip and enjoyable – and a memorable one – you’d do well to try out some wacky camping gear that takes you out of your element, even while bringing some of civilization with you into a rustic setting.

If your kids aren’t used to the great outdoors, it can be helpful to find some wacky camping gear and gadgets to help them make the adjustment – or to just have a simple camping experience in the backyard. Here are some of the wackiest camping products you’ll find:

• Progressive International Microwavable S’Mores Maker – Okay, maybe a camping trip to the backyard might be right for this microwavable item, but you can’t deny the tempting idea of fresh, quickly-warmed S’mores made in your microwave with none of the mess. The Progressive International S’Mores maker allows you to make S’mores the way they were meant to be made – in between two graham crackers without the marshmallows spilling out.
• Play with Me Tent and Tunnel – The Play With Me tent and tunnel works as a tent and as a small, portable playground that lets kids do camping their way. With a sleep-room tent as well as a tunnel coming out through a side door, this tent makes a quick distraction for kids that don’t want the “adult” camping experience.Bringing a Play With Me tent on a camping trip, or simply for some fun in the backyard, can help you and your kids enjoy the camping trip a little better.
• Eastman Outdoors Big Kahuna Burner – The Big Kahuna Burner takes the stress work out of building a camping fire and allows you to simply start your own fire – when you want. For some who enjoy a more rustic experience, building the fire is more ideal, but if you’ve got other things on your mind, bringing along a Big Kahuna Burner is ideal for making the experience simpler and more enjoyable.

  This is especially helpful if you’re camping with friends and family and have a larger group that needs a stable fire for cooking a larger quantity of foods.

• Texsport Non-Stick Popcorn Popper – The Popcorn Popper from Texsport is a folding popper tha tallows you to cook popcorn over an open flame – much like roasting a marshmallow. Simply bring some popcorn seeds and oil and you’ll have a handy camping snack that is clean, easy-to-use, and brings a taste of indoor living.

Remember that camping and hiking are about moving through the world at your pace, and at the level of comfort you want. If you want to live of the land and try the rustic alternatives, feel free – but even just one of these gadgets will give you something to look forward to on your next camping trip.