Cyrus asked me to suggest tents for claustrophobic backpackers. Cyrus will be attending my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event at Harriman State Park. It’s an even that I’m hosting with Hudson Valley Hikers, the largest outdoor Meetup group in the world. Cyrus asks:
What are the lightest tents and with the highest height? I need high heights as i get a little claustrophobic.
Christopher has asked me to suggest a lightweight but functional Backpacking Toiletry Kit. Christopher will be participating in my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event in Harriman State Park hosted with Hudson Valley Hikers. All members were required to ask a question ahead of time as a prerequisite to attending. Continue reading Backpacking Toiletry Kit
This weekend I will be hosting an Intro to Backpacking seminar with Hudson Valley Hikers. This is not a backpacking trip, but a short hike with an opportunity for show and tell. The idea is to let novices see some gear options in the field before they go shopping. My co-hosts and I will have a wide variety of gear available, ranging from typical “beginner gear” to expert ultralight gear. Participants will get to try on our packs and takes turns carrying them to our mock campsite, where we’ll set up various tents and talk about our gear. Continue reading Intro to Backpacking Syllabus
Several participants in my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event have asked me to suggest a minimum size backpack for backpacking. The answer isn’t as straight forward as it may seem, so I’m going to talk about several different pack sizes that work for me for different tripsthroughout the year. It is important to note that I usually carry minimalist style gear. I also know that I’m prone to over-pack if my pack is too large, so I always go for the smallest possible backpack. Continue reading Minimum Size Backpack for Backpacking
Sandra has asked me to recommend some good tents for backpacking and bikepacking. Sandra will be attending my Intro to Backpacking event in Harriman State Park in a few weeks and was required to ask a question to get off the wait-list. I require participants to ask a question in order to get off the wait-list. This gets them invested in the event ahead of time. The event is hosted with Hudson Valley Hikers. Continue reading Tents for Backpacking and Bikepacking
When I was learning to backpack, I found it helpful when others posted their gear lists. It gave me a reference point for the kinds of things I needed, what I was doing right, and what I could be doing better. That said, there is no “one size fits all” gear list. There are a number of personal factors that go into making a gear list, such as size, weight, fitness level, and need for comfort. It also matters where and when you plan to go backpacking. One must factor in temperature, precipitation, terrain, water availability and natural shelter, among other things.
Updated for 2018!
Mike wants to know more about long term water treatment methods. Mike will be participating in my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event at Hariman State Park with Hudson Valley Hikers. Mike asks:
What’s the best long-term method of water filtration? E.g. Trump leads us into nuclear war, city water will be undrinkable for 5 years and you can no longer buy whatever filtration straw, tablet, etc, and we all retreat to the woods for survival…
I’ve started making homemade energy bars. I got tired of big brand bars with chemicals, preservatives, or too much fiber. A lot of the bars I bought in stores give me an upset stomach and deplete my energy. By making my own bars, I can control exactly what I’m eating. Continue reading Homemade Energy Bars
Karja wants to know more about sleeping in a backpacking hammock. She’ll be attending my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event with Hudson Valley Hikers at Harriman State Park. She asks:
Is it a sane and good idea (when trekking through the woods with an abundance of trees) to sleep in a hammock?
Frances wants to know more about trekking poles. She’s asking to prepare for my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event at Harriman State Park. The event is part of Hudson Valley Hikers and beginners will get to try out a variety of gear Her question is:
My question is whether I need to get those hiking sticks if I really get into hiking?