There are ten items you should bring with you on any hike no matter how how calm the weather is when you start out, how short you think your hike is going to be, what great shape you’re in, or how close to civilization the trail begins, because emergencies do happen. The original Ten Essentials … [Read More]
Which aren’t really all that different than hiking safety tips for men, but there are some unique considerations for women that I’d like to talk about. Specifically hiking solo, self-defense options, and dealing with the occasional flak you get from people who think a woman in the woods is worse than a man in Sephora. … [Read More]
Multiday packs are 50-80 liter backpacks made for extended treks or winter travel. They will have the same features of the overnight pack (gear loops, internal frame, numerous storage pockets of varying sizes) but with a bigger main compartment and larger hydration reservoir, and even more luxurious padding. The hipbelt on my Osprey 75L was … [Read More]
Take the day pack and beef it up a bit with more padding, more support, thicker fabrics, and often a separate compartment for your sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack, and there you have the Overnight Pack, sometimes referred to as a weekend pack. Most of the packs of this size have plenty … [Read More]
For short trots, local/urban adventures, or ultralight hikers that are experienced in the wilderness and have pared their backpack down to bare-bones minimum, a hydration pack or vest might be the way to go. Both options will allow you to carry a couple liters of water and your small essentials, and some even have a … [Read More]
When it comes to backpacks, a day pack is my go-to when my UL pack or hydration vest just isn’t quite enough, and my overnight backpack is too much. A good day pack will typically have a 2 liter hydration reservoir and will always have plenty of nooks and crannies to organize snacks, first aid … [Read More]
Depending on the terrain and type of activity, a trail runner might be your preference over a hiking boot. Sometimes called hiking shoes or mountain runners, trail runners are great for days where you’re likely to do some hiking and some running, may encounter rocky rooty muddy terrain, or travel on slabs, including scrambling. Trail … [Read More]
Like trail runners, a basic day-hiking boot can be used for anything from a couple miles on mild inclines to long days with steep scree and minor scrambling, but the key thing that separates them from trail runners is the ankle support. Your day-hiking boot prevents any sideways movement and helps you stabilize on uneven … [Read More]
For when you need to step it up a notch, a backpacking boot offers a more protective upper and a slightly chunkier sole that can withstand long days, high miles, and heavy weight, while enduring multiple changes in terrain and weather. That through hike of the PCT, CDT, or AT? A weekend of 40 miles … [Read More]
Glaciers, anyone? Snow? Crampons? These are the boots that you would take up Rainier and Aconcagua and Denali. They aren’t going to be bunny-slipper comfortable no matter what, just because of the rigid sole—a sole so inflexible that they have made more than one person do a quick Frankenstein impression on the side of a … [Read More]
