Best products from r/CampingandHiking

It's Monday and I'm bored at work... so... here are links to all OP's items. It's a great list and this may give other CaH'ers more insight into what OP is carrying. Plus my random comments...

• Exped Lightning 60L Pack - never seen this pack, looks light and quality
  
• Exped Packliner UL 50 - dummy proof way to keep your gear dry
  
• Big Agnes Slater UL2+ - I'd prefer the 3+ design for 2 people, but a great tent all around
  
• Cumulus Quilt 150 - fill weight is on the low side, but this is a summer bag so I'm not knocking it
  
• Thermarest NeoAir XLite - my favorite pad
  
• Sea To Summit Ultralight Pillow - totally a personal piece of equipment here, I have other favorites but you've got to find what works for you. I consider a pillow mandatory - although sleeping on a bag filled with clothes does get the job done (when you actually have enough extra clothes to keep your head off the ground).
  
• TOAKS Ti Light 650mL Pot - I thought my SnowPeak Trek 700 was light at 4.8 ounces - 2.8 is a upgrade, nice choice.
  
• BRS 3000T Titanium Stove - fine choice, I'm committed to MSR (local shop and longtime fan) and their MicroRocket, but the BRS is half the weight (28 vs. 73 grams)
  
• Sea to Summit Long Spoon - the perfect utensil
  
• Alfoil Shield Windshield - I'd love to hear you say the word Aluminum!
  
• Sawyer Mini Water Filter - excellent light/cheap/functional filter, I switch between this and the Sawyer Squeeze (with chemicals for backup)
  
• 2L Sawyer bag - I prefer the Evernew bags as my dirty bag
  
• Platypus 1L Soft Bottle - versatile water carry option, for on-trail or in-camp
  
• Outdoor Research Helium II - love mine, although not for long lasting rain
  
• Patagonia Cap 4 Hoody - super warm and durable mid-layer
  
• Rab Aeon LS Tee - never worn this, but RAB is awesome and it looks comfy
  
• Merino Socks - gotta have good wool socks, Darn Tough and Point 6 are my current favorites
  
• Ex-Officio Boxers - everyone says they are the best, I agree. I switch between the give-n-go and give-n-go sport 6''
  
• Kathmandu Koruna LS Shirt - never heard of this brand, looks nice. ExOfficio also has travel shirts like this
  
• Montane Terra Short - I want these, but unfortunately Montane isn't popular in the US and I have no idea where I could go try them on. I typically wear lighter shorts
  
• Salomon XA Pro 3D Trail Runners - Salomon fit me really well, I've worn the Speedcross for a few seasons now. These look great too
  
• Leki Corklite Speedlock - my favorite. Used these for a LONG time (with a few warranty replacements)
  
• Original Buff - versatile $20, I take this everywhere
  
• Cap MD Trucker - I prefer 'performance' style hats like Headsweats but a trucker hat is classic
  
• Julbo Tensing Sunglasses - great mountain glasses
  
• Mini Bic lighter - best fire starter there is
  
• Leatherman Squirt Multitool - I prefer the style cs, but you really don't need much in this category
  
• Silva Starter Compass - top brand, super simple compass
  
• Map - I have a ton of GreenTrail maps for my area, CalTopo is great too
  
• Nexus 5 Phone - I use my smartphone as a camera, carry it in a Loksak or my Zpacks hipbelt pocket
  
• Black Diamond Spot - top quality option, the new version looks slick. The BD Ion is lighter if you want to shave weight
  
• Sony RX100 III - looks fancy, I'm no photographer
  
• Xiaomi Power Bank - cheap and easy way to get power, Duracell makes one I prefer
  
• TP - everyone poops, I pack extra ziplocs with my TP in case I have to pack it out
  
• FAK - make your own
  
• Small pack towel - Cascade Designs PakTowl makes great options
  
• Toothbrush - cut that handle off!
  
• Sun cream
  
• Alcohol Gel
  
• Trowel - I use the QiWiz, but the Duces of Spades is more popular (and cooler name)
  
• Food
  
• Water
  
• Fuel
  
  Gaiters for your trail runners?
  Coozy for reheating your dehydrated meals?
  
  EDIT: formatting

If you want to get by cheap, pare the list down to essentials.
You need water, food, good shoes/boots, and shelter and to keep it light. Everything else is periphery.

The cheapest and lightest way to carry water is to use an empty quart milk jug or two with a rope on it. It's not as good as a camel back style bladder, but it's more reliable in my experience for fractions of pennies on the dollar.

I recommend a Lifestraw or a Sawyer filter for water purification. They cost about 20 bucks and they're really effective. Not necessarily essential for short trips, but it does a lot for peace of mind and you never know when bad stuff will happen. They don't filter out heavy metals or dissolved materials (ie anything <.1 microns).

REI has a really good info primer on sleeping bags

I wouldn't worry about poles for overnight stuff at all. That's for like weeks of constant hiking or alpine stuff. They can be useful and are helpful, but they can be passed by most of the time.

I get by with a rubberized army poncho and a blanket instead of a tent and bag. It's good enough to keep the rain off and a bit of body heat in, but it's not ideal and it's time consuming. I got it at a yard sale for two bucks. But for one night, it's good enough. A rain fly or tent foot print, or plain tarp is also effective. There are some pretty legit one person backpacking tents out there for about 70-100 bucks, I'll probably get one next. Not sure which brands are good though.

For food, I'd do the mountain house meals and hoist my garbage high and away from camp after wards, preferably in an air tight bag of some kind when you haul it out.

Normally I prefer to do something like pilot bread, PB, dried fruit, a big bag of spinach for the first day or two, green beans, nuts, and maybe some quality sausages and cucumbers, but the convenience of the MRE style foods is often appealing. army steel canteen cups are good for boiling stuff in, but the canteens are kinda useless.

A lighter, some matches, and wet fire packets are great.

Get a mid grade belt knife, like a buck or a k-bar or similar. It's a whole nother can of worms to discuss however. Just be careful as some buck knives are made in china, the ones made in idaho are always marked american made on the packaging.

Silva makes a good compass, a good topographic map, a small 10ths scale ruler (or any cheap one) are a good idea. Know your pace count and hwo to use these tools effectively. Compasses are pretty useful in foul weather or unfamiliar places, but navigational things aren't really essential.

I'd get some biodegradable toilet paper and read this.

That's about all I can think of right now, there's probably more to say and think about. Good luck! Park jobs are a ton of fun! Wish I was going with.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to do something like this, but a trip this ambitious is a lot more likely to be successful if you work up to it. Yes, people have managed to complete long distance trails before with minimal experience prior to starting out, but I'd say that the odds are probably stacked against you in this case (especially since the Finger Lakes Trail doesn't really have the trail community and support network of more well-known trails like the Appalachian Trail- you can't get a professional gear shake down and purchase new equipment on the FLT 4 days into the trip like you can on the AT). You'd be well-advised to at least do a few weekend shake down trips, and perhaps 1 or 2 longer 4 or 5 day trips prior to attempting the FLT from end to end. The reason for this is that backpacking is a lot of trial and error when you're starting out- figuring out what works for you and what doesn't. You don't want to be 20 miles into a 500 mile hike when you find out that your shoes that felt OK worn around the block give you massive blisters after 5 miles on the trail, that your pack that felt comfortable when worn in your living room is torture after 4 hours on your back, that your stove doesn't work well in certain conditions, that your food isn't giving you the energy you thought it would, that your pack's rain cover is useless in a torrential down pour, so on and so forth. All of these are common issues that beginner backpackers often end up having to address at one point or another.

The Finger Lakes Trail is a good place to start with easier trips, though, because there's a bunch of places you can camp on the trail that are a relatively short hike in from the road (1 or 2 miles or less). If you go to the FLT website, they have an interactive map of the trail that will help you to find campsites and plan your trip. You can also order maps from the website. (I highly recommend at least using the interactive map, taking a screen shot, and then printing it so that you have a physical map with you to use for navigation. Many areas of the FLT don't have good cell reception, so you can't rely on being able to pull up the map on the FLT website if you find yourself turned around in the woods.) Picking a destination to camp at that isn't a very far hike in allows you to build experience without putting yourself outside your comfort zone or ability level. If things get bad enough that you need to bail, having a short hike back to your car makes it easy to do so without much difficulty.

Most of the camping options on the FLT are on NYSDEC State Forest land. Make sure you take the time to familiarize with the DEC's regulations for hiking and camping. Additionally, you should also take the time to read through and understand the Leave No Trace principles. This is really important, as there is a lot more to minimizing our impact in the backcountry as hikers and campers than just carrying our trash out with us.

In terms of hiking the entire FLT in one go, a few things to keep in mind are that the FLT doesn't see a lot of end-to-end hikers (maybe 5-10 in a year), and accordingly doesn't really have the same culture associated with more popular trails like the AT (this may or may not be a consideration important to you). There's also fewer resources for thru-hikers generally along the trail so some careful planning is needed. While most of the trail is complete, there are some lengthy road-walking sections where your feet will be on pavement for the better part of a day at times. There are a number of stretches of the trail on private property that are closed to public access during the spring and fall hunting seasons. And while there are some scenic destinations along the way, the trail predominantly passes through rolling hillsides dotted with farms and state reforestation areas (and much of the later is plantations of spruces, pine, and larch). It does at times drop into hollows with cascading streams and there are some nice waterfalls here and there, but the trail is generally lacking in areas of outstanding scenery (like the whites or the smokies on the AT). Perhaps the best attribute of the FLT are the opportunities for solitude- much of the trail gets relatively little use, and you'll likely be camped alone most nights as a thru-hiker. (I personally greatly enjoy hiking and camping on the FLT for this reason.)

As an alternative to the FLT that would afford a more "traditional" long distance hike (if that's what you desire), I might suggest considering Vermont's Long Trail. The southern half of it coincides with the AT so you'll get to experience part of that community if you time your trip so that you hike with the thru-hiker bubble. And there's quite a few mountain summits across the full length of the Long Trail that provide spectacular views. The Long Trail is substantially more rugged than the FLT, though.

There's a ton of info on backpacking gear and techniques online that can easily be found through some google searches. If you want a book, I highly recommend Colin Fletcher's The Complete Walker IV (you can probably get it at your library through inter-library loan if you don't want to purchase it). The book goes into a great amount of detail about all different kinds of gear, including discussion of the pros and cons of different types/models of equipment.

I hope this is helpful! :)

This is a good list for someone who is going to go car camping... but if your goal is to be a backpacker, you might not want to spend money on some of these things.

Canopy - great if you're a car camper, but not something you're going to haul around as a backpacker. Get a cheap $10 tarp and some rope.

Stove - I suggest Camp Chef Everest for car camping, but if you're thinking of being a backpacker, then you're better off getting something like the MSR Pocket Rocket. It's harder to cook meals on a single butane canister stove, but you're definitely not going to be hauling a Coleman dual burner on your back.

Lights - I love my Coleman propane lantern, throws off great light and lots of it. But again, if you're thinking of backpacking, a Cheap camp lanterns on Amazon that you can take in your pack is a better idea (if you bother taking a lantern at all, most don't). You should have a good headlamp like the Black Diamond Spot for either car camping or backpacking.

You do need a good cooler; the more money you spend, the less you'll need to refill the ice. Table and chairs aren't strictly necessary... but it's much more civilized cooking standing up. It's also much nicer sitting at a table eating. It's kind of the point of car camping, that you can bring some luxuries along. But again, if you need to save some cash to get a good backpack, then you probably want to keep the luxuries to a minimum.

Oh, I mentioned it below, but to for hauling stuff around, use something like a Rubbermaid tote. These tubs make a great way to haul and store gear at home.

Don't forget some garbage bags to haul out garbage. Bring along some smaller bags in case you've got some smelly garbage.

REI's base/family camping checklist is a good list for car camping.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/family-camping-checklist.html

But if you're going backpacking, check out their backpacking list and remember that backpacking items will work for car camping, but generally not the other way around.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html

edit: missed a link

Oh right, well, in case you haven't actually done an overnighter, just expect some bumps, especially if you haven't encountered adverse conditions, say overnight in the rain, or whatever. I guess that's part of the fun.

I have been using an MSR pocket rocket and I like it a lot. As long as it's not super cold where you are, it should work fine. If you want to shed weight, you can try an alcohol stove. I can't speak to it's effectiveness yet, but I'm experimenting with a DIY "super cat" stove on my next trip. But if having hot food is vital to the enjoyment of your trip, you may want to stick with something fool proof like the pocket rocket on your first few multiday trips. If you want to save a few bucks you might try this $6 pocket rocket knock off. http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Ignition-silvery/dp/B004U8CP88/

For water filtration, I bring a sawyer squeeze and aqua mira drops as a backup. Just make sure if you go somewhere where it's freezing, to keep the filter on you to keep it warm. If I was buying something today, I'd get the sawyer mini. Both are 0.1 micron, have a fantastic life span and are easy to operate.

I hike without a beacon but I don't get too far out there either. Just be sure to let someone you trust know when and where you're leaving and when and where you're getting back, and any other details about your trip that you may be able to provide. You probably already know this. Just get out there and see how it goes.

From my experience of being a poor college student who loves the outdoors, take advantage of bargain gear, Craigslist, and thrift stores. Yes, if you buy titanium cookware, an ultralight 4 season tent, and a 0.2 micron purifier you will be good to go, but you will also have an empty wallet.


Some good cheap items that I still use today from time to time:

Stanley Cook Pot from Target/Walmart: This $12-$15 foldable cook pot will snugly fit a small fuel canister and this stove http://www.amazon.com/Leegoal-Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Ignition/dp/B004U8CP88/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451241733&sr=8-2&keywords=backpacking+stove+piezo , plus some aluminum foil and seasoning packets, etc. Find a bowl and cup for cheap and bring some top ramen and oatmeal packets (plus some freeze dried veggies, fruit, and jerky) and you have an entire cooking set up plus breakfast and dinner for somewhere in the range of $30.

For water purification you can buy a Coghlan's purifier and iodine tablets for about $20 combined. The iodine tablets taste terrible, so I would highly recommend having a good purifier being one of your first major purchases (after boots).

Sleeping bag and backpack can be bought from Craigslist or army surplus for cheap. Sleeping bags are rough because the price and quality difference between the mid-end and high-end stuff is huge, in my opinion, but you make do with what you have.

Most other essentials (compass, waterproof matches, paracord, etc.) can be bought pretty cheap. I'm not entirely sure what the opinion of Coghlans is on this sub, but I have not bought a product from them I didn't like. I would not expect to own anything they make for life, but for the money it is usually pretty good.

As far as deciding where to go, places like Reddit are excellent. Look at a Google Maps view of your area and find the green space. Look up any national forests, parks, or monuments in your area and find out what kind of opportunities they have. A good sign of a quality wilderness experience is dispersed camping opportunities, in my opinion.


Lastly, only experience will tell you what you don't need to pack, do need to pack, etc. I used to only bring one compass until I got lost and started doubting my compass. Thankfully my hiking partner had a gps tool, especially since my compass was indeed malfunctioning. Now I have a light compass I bring along that I can use as a sanity check in case I begin to doubt my main one.

I love the Adirondacks, like the other poster suggested, but they are FAR from PA--depending on where you are in NE PA, they could be over 6 hours away.

There is some good backpacking in PA. Loyalsock trail (especially the 20-mile Loyalsock Trail-Link Trail Loop. A great 1-2 nighter, with many pretty cascading brooks and overlooks. VERY steep ascents and descents. In North-central PA, there are the Quehanna, Donut Hole, and Susquahannock Trail systems. Plus there is the Black Forest Trail and MidState trails. Even futher west is the Allegheny Nat. Forest.

There are probably 1000s of miles of backpacking and hiking trails in PA. Here's a good book: http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Pennsylvania-37-Great-Hikes/dp/0811731804

I would recommend that Loyalsock-Link Loop trail. It is great, but do buy the map and guide for it (or any other trail you do). If you don't have an REI or EMS, Cabella's (or Amazon) might have that stuff. You can begin and end the loop at World's End State Park, which makes for easy parking and access. You might even be able to buy the guide at the park, I think I bought my copy there.

You really need to go and try some packs out or better yet Buy a few and load it with what you think you will be carrying do not have the store people stuff bags in there it's not the same as having gear in there they fell much more different. I ended up with a Osprey Black and a Green Pack. I also have a Kelty Lakota 65 for longer hikes.

Osprey is the lighter of the Brands Gregory and Kelty are more heavier and more durable, but if you take care of the packs even the ultra light ones will last you. For $150 you won't be getting the Higher end packs they cost more then that, Or you can try a REI Garage sale and get lucky.

Trips like the one's you posted are great for light packs like the Osprey 65 you can pack a bunch in that pack and still feel like nothing is on your back. The only thing I don't like about Osprey is the side zippers I am a larger man and they don't work too well with my form lol.

This TETON Sports is a great pack it's not the lightest but for the money and the ENTIRE pack is nylon so it's tough as nails, I used it for a few year before upgrading to a lighter packs. I do not regret this at all.

here is a new version

https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Adventurer-Ultralight-Backpacking-Mountaineering/dp/B016ZXEDCQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Internal-ALUMINUM-Backpack-Backpacking/dp/B000F34ZKS/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1500753362&sr=1-5&keywords=hiking%2Bbackpack&th=1

For shelter, you really have a choice, tent, tarp and hammock, or tarp and net tent. If you want to hang around camp, you might want a bigger tent. If you plan to do hiking, many people only use the shelter to sleep in, and go with something small and lightweight, like a small solo tent, or even bivy.

I would point you towards some lightweight hiking gear here. That gives you the option to hike off to primative sites, carrying your shelter and supplies on your back. You don't necessarily need to go to the ultralight extremes that serious distance hikers go though.

You could start with a tent like this or this. If you wanted to get more serious into distance hiking, you would maybe spend more on something even lighter in weight (like maybe 2 lbs).

In Florida, I like the combination of a bug bivy (like this ) and a good tarp (like this). Though you would need poles as well. Hikers tend to use their trekking poles (like these). You would also need paracord (550 cord works well) to pitch a tarp.

For a stove, I mean something like this. Those are inexpensive and work fine.

For clothes, you can probably use mostly things you already own. Avoid cotton and linen. Synthetics like nylon and polyester will dry much more easily and do a better job in the heat and humidity in FL. And if you are going to go out there now, in hunting season, make sure you have some things that are bright orange. The hunters can be more dangerous than the bears.

As for bears, you don't really need any special container. Just learn to hang a stuff sack with any food or toiletries which have any scent. Using an odor barrier bag as a liner isn't a bad idea though. They'll generally leave you alone unless they smell what they think is food (and their sense of smell is very strong).

For shoes, again existing walking shoes are probably fine for now. Especially if you stick to sites off existing hiking trails to start.

For now, I'd start with a less primative site in a campground in someplace like Ocala. You can explore from there (there are sites near to trails), and have an idea next time you go out where you might want to try more primative camping. For now, focus on developing skills like how to use a compass, how to pitch a tent or tart, learning usefull knots for pitching tarps or hangning bear bags, etc.

It probably is a good idea to have a sleeping pad right off. A RidgeRest Classic might do the job for about $20. You can spend more on an inflatable pad if you think you will be more comfortable.

Check out this guy: https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU/

It's lighter (just under 4 Lb), it's listed as JUST too wide for your bag, but do you think you can squish it in? It's lighter, cheaper, really well reviewed, and a much bigger floor space. Your tent only has 20 sq feet!

Listed as 6"x17.5" so the volume works, may just need some re-configuring? Ditch the stuff sack.

I have a tent which is almost exactly these dimensions and man, I love it. I backpack, so it has room for my sleep pad, stuff next to me (water, phone charger), room for my pack at the end by my feet, and I never ever feel cramped. It sucks to be unconstrained by weight (motorcycle) and still sleeping like you're UL hiking. It's heavy, so it's not my ultra-light setup, but it takes literally 45 seconds to set up camp.

edit: You can get the Static V insulated for cheaper. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Klymit-Insulated-Static-V-Sleeping-Pad-06IVOr01C-/191504068900 $62.76 right from the manufacturer - it's a great pad. I have the regular and the insulated as my only sleep pad (side sleeper, wide dude), just switch out based on weather. You have the best in price/class product there.

edit2: This could be had for $90 if you're an REI member, or can find one who will let you use their coupon. https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/110867/kelty-dualist-22-sleeping-bag

This one is 8x13: https://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Tuck-Degree-Sleeping-Bag/dp/B00NFCFIR0/ref=sr_1_14?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1491157929&sr=1-14&keywords=20+degree+sleeping+bag

Can't really speak to any of those specific bags, but if price is a primary concern it looks like you can do all around a little better, especially if that tent can fit. I think youll have a much comfier trip.

Since I'm new at this (I have however been camping in wilderness multiple times for 3-5 days, just never backpacking) I've been reading a ton of guides. I don't have a huge budget since this is something I'm just getting into, but looking around at different reviews this seems to be the best stuff I can get within my price range. If anyone cares to take a look and possibly give any suggestions I would appreciate it.

• Tent - I wanted a two person because the weight difference between this and similar-priced one person tents didn't seem large enough, and more importantly I plan on backpacking with SO or my sister, so the split weight from only having one person carrying a tent seems better.
  
  
  
• Backpack - Once again, budget, but seems to be exactly what I need.
  
  
  
• Sleeping Bag - I'm in Louisiana, so nearby backpacking spots such as Texas don't warrant me buying a super low F rated sleeping bag. I don't want to be burning up and I figure once I get to the point where I'm hiking in colder weather I won't mind dropping more cash on a better rated sleeping bag.
  

I just got one of these and it's pretty awesome. I generally carry Aquamira as a backup.

I'm not terribly concerned about Crypto, depending on the water source. I do treat all water, because I don't trust other hikers not to shit near it. How I treat it depends on where I am: Sierra? I'm generally OK with chemicals and maybe a bandanna. One of my local spots with free-range cattle nearby? I'll filter even the best looking water. With the new filter being so light and fast I might just use it all the time. No wait time is nice.

Wow, fantastic answer. Thank you!

By cheapish I mean all gear for the trip for under about €500.

Re Gear: I couldn't find suppliers for the gear you suggested in Europe and shipping was very expensive from the US so what do you think of these.
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Mat
Stove set
with something like this as a bear bag (with rope etc)?

Re Food: Yes there is alot of villeges/towns along the way. However I was looking at this and thought it might be a good idea.. I will look into water purification device as well.

I don't think my budget will extend to a GPS device this time around so a map/compass + smartphone it is!

Sorry for all the silly questions. Your answer the last time helped a lot!

Yeah that's what I've heard about wetness, hopefully won't be much of a problem... As for a stove I'm not sure, I was thinking something [cheap and small like this] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Stove-Ignition/dp/B004U8CP88/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1) which seems to have pretty good reviews. The Soto looks awesome, would it be a good idea to invest a bit more into a stove or will a cheap one work fine? They all seem to be fairly simple for what they are

Personally, i really like my multi-fuel stove. Its an off-brand model, called "booster+1" but it does a damn fine job. I made a little aluminium bracket so that it fits into my Trangia, and with the excellent wind-shielding from the Trangia it boils a liter of water in just under 2 minutes, which is great when on trips.

I am considering buying a lighter burner, also off-brand, similar to the MSR Pocket Rocket. This one
fits my student budget and have gotten good reviews. Any of you guys own something similar, maybe a JetBoil or the MSR Pocket Rocket?

Try these cascade mountain tech poles. I have them and love them. I've put them through a couple hundred miles and accidentally stepped on them a couple times and seem to be doing great. Pretty light weight (about 8 oz per pole). I love the long cork/ foarm handles and straps. My only beef is that the tip covers fell off somewhere when hiking. But I've heard people bought them for as low as 28 dollars at costco in the northwest. When I find them at costco I'm going to get 4 or 5 pairs and give em out to friends they are so good.

There are a bunch of gear tips and recommendations in the wiki:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingandHiking/wiki/index/gear

Probably worth reading through the whole wiki if you haven't been out in a while, there's some good stuff in there that'll get you on the right track.

I'm a fan of Gossamer Gear packs for light loads, they make a nice day pack, too:

http://gossamergear.com/packs.html

The Pocket Rocket is a pretty tried and true backpacking stove, and there are a ton of cheap clones on Amazon.

Firstly for the sleeping bag what temperatures are you looking at needing it for? also have you considered the possibility of a quilt?

How much water depends on the availability of it where you're hiking, but generally 2-4L as a start is usually good. For purification I bring a Sawyer Mini with a 2L bag and aquamira as a backup.

I prefer baby wipes as they can be used for other things but make sure you get biodegradable ones as well

My stove is a MSR Pocket Rocket but as a cheaper option [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Ignition-silvery/dp/B00ENDRORM/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1411302345&sr=1-2&keywords=msr+pocket+rocket) stove works well too. You also have the option of small alcohol stoves and other liquid fueled types.

I can't sleep without a sleeping pad and there have been many many times where I was happy to have one. I have the Klymit V. It's not super expensive, it rolls up to about the size of a nalgine and is SUPER comfortable, as well as insulated.

This is going to sound like overkill but on a recent car camping trip I used a coleman cot with my klymit insulated static v and I slept better than on some beds. I am in my late 30s and a side sleeper and the klymit pad is great even without the cot.

Looks like you're very well prepared, so luck shouldn't enter into it, except where weather, animal sightings, and sunrises/sunsets are concerned, of course. Have fun!!!

PS: Your gear photo reminds me of the cover my "hiking bible", The Complete Walker, a book worth buying if only for the introduction.

You're welcome!

>Is there a good compass or gps you would reccomend?

I'm afraid I'm not a good authority on GPS. I use a DeLorme InReach which is a two-way communicator with GPS ability if tethered to a phone. It's overkill for someone starting out, I wouldn't recommend it unless you've got piles of money burning a hole in your pocket.

As for compasses, I carry a cheap Brunton baseplate compass. Similar to this Silva, but I don't go off trail or crosscountry. More importantly is that you know how to use one. Watch some youtube videos first, figure out if you need a compass that has sights, or if you live in a higher/lower latitude and need something to match your magnetic zone.

Hold off on the GPS and learn how to use a compass and map first. Then if you think it's necessary (or more convenient) step up to a GPS. Remember that maps and compasses don't need batteries.

>How much water is enough water?

General rule is 1 gallon/day, but it varies from person to person, terrain, temperature, etc. If you're in an area with decent water sources, get yourself a Sawyer Mini.

>When deciding where to go in back country do most people just choose a thing and then travel there and back and around or are there trails that people take and camp along?

Choosing a thing and traveling there is called "cross-country hiking" which means hiking off-trail and making your own path. This is allowed in some places and frowned upon at others, depends on how fragile/protected the terrain is. If you're going cross-country, you better be proficient at orienteering.

I'd wager the majority of people hike on trails and camp along the way at established camp sites.

I'm newer to this, but have done a bunch of research and searched for deals, plus gone on several trips now, so I'll just throw out some options on a few things that have worked for me. Just my $0.02; take it for what it's worth.

Knife: I've have several Mora's. They get tons of recommendations. Plus they're small, light and capable. I've used them to split wood. The one with the firestarter in it is nice.

Water bottles: I use store-bought bottled-water ones. My Sawyer Mini water filter screws right onto them. Granted, that's not a useful option to put hot water in your Nalgene to warm your feet in your sleeping bag, so for cold weather that may not be a good option for you.

Light: Use a headlamp. Much lighter-weight and allows for hands-free.

Clothing: No cotton as others have said. Search for deals on Sierra Trading Post. Sign up for their emails. They'll send you 2-4 every day, but I've gotten a lot of nice stuff for low cost going that route. I put stuff in my cart I think I want, and STP will send you deals regularly. I click through the flyers and then look at the prices in my cart. When the stuff in my cart is a price I like, I buy the stuff then.

Cheap Backpack Suggestions?

Looking to get a lighter pack, but not looking to spend a lot at the moment, as I will probably get a better pack later once I know my needs better.. I have a two night backpacking trip in about a week in Red River Gorge. I'll be using my hammock. I have found these four:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LPJUNYW/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=A14Q688O8PFMTG&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DZK65W8/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_5?smid=A38N1X0G3NLPB&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C7V8Y38/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=A14Q688O8PFMTG&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F34ZKS/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Thoughts? Better suggestions? Prefer Amazon due to quick shipping.

I started working on a kit and figure it would be good to brainstorm about it a bit. While it probably doesn't deserve it's own thread, I'd like some input about it if possible since I still have time to change things around before I order anything.

I plan on going hiking/camping anywhere from 1-3 days and potentially even more if possible.
The pack I'm currently looking into is the 5.11 Rush 72 which should fit the bill. It has a pouch for my hydration bladder (which is a must have since I live in an arid region and running water can be rare depending on where you are located) as well as the molle for additional customization if needed.

When I'm out camping I like to have the ability to fry food as well as grill it. I have a makeshift grill that I constructed out of four tent pegs and a grate so I have that covered. In regards to frying I found a cook set that seems like it would be useful for my needs. I doubt that I would bring the entire set with me (besides the frying pan and maybe the pot if I have dried meals) which should cut down on weight a little.

For my sleep system I'm looking at a Aqua Quest 10x7 ultralight tarp, paracord (for hanging the tarp plus other uses if needed), and an OutdoorsmanLab Ultralight Sleeping Pad. I'm not entirely sure that I need a tarp since it rarely rains here but I can see it having potential against sun/wind. Both the sleeping pad and tarp fold up to about the size of a bottle which will allow me to store more gear if needed. I already have a sleeping bag insert and mummy bag if need be but I don't see myself using them for 3/4ths of the year.

Lastly, I'm looking at getting a Mora Companion for bushcraft related activities.

In total all the gear weighs about five pounds which seems reasonable enough. Let me know what you guys think.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: this zero degree queen sized mummy bag


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|UK|www.amazon.co.uk|Macmillan|
|Japan|www.amazon.co.jp||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||




To help add charity links, please have a look at this thread.

This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

• Isobutane/n-butane/propane (aka "LPG" liquid petroleum gas) tanks are not universally available, though common in urban areas in First World countries.
  
  
• For long trips, methyl-alcohol is very common. (HEET in the yellow bottle is found in gas stations, "liquid chafing dish fuel" at supermarkets, nevermind camp-specific stuff)
  
  For general use, get an alcohol stove with Caldera cone:
  
  http://andrewskurka.com/2015/gear-list-3-season-backpacking-stove-the-cadillac/
  
  Buy a kit with a titanium pot set which you can use with any other stove you own.
  
  For ultra cold, very long, and/or high altitude: Optimus Polaris Optifuel. Burns anything except alcohol (LPG, white gas, kerosene, diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, car gas) all without changing jets. The Whisperlite is primitive compared to this one.
  
  To comment on your suggested stoves:
  
  
• Forget the Whisperlite; you have to change jets to switch fuels. (annoying, easily lost parts)
  
  
• I'm fairly sure the Windburner is for boiling water only; you can't cook or melt snow with it. Too limited and it's a proprietary system like buying into the Apple ecosystem.
  
  
• Canister stoves like the Microrocket are a dime a dozen. The Optimus Crux folds smaller and boils water faster but the BRS Titanium stove is the best bargain at $13 on Amazon or GearBest.
  

Sounds like you probably don't NEED the Whisperlite as you're not really taking advantage of its features and carrying all the extra weight of a Whisperlite.


There are tons of cheap canister stoves on Amazon. Since your friends use a Jetboil, it sounds like you can buy canister fuel. I currently use this stove. https://www.amazon.com/BRS-Outdoor-Camping-Portable-Ultralight/dp/B00NNMF70U/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1510073163&sr=1-1&keywords=bsr+stove&dpID=41J7KacqzpL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch I do find it is loud, but I bet it's much quieter than the Whisperlite which IIRC is very loud.


I've never understood the advantage to the Jetboil systems. IMO, they add a lot of extra weight to gain the fuel efficiency advantage of having a heat exchanger added into it. To me, they are simply not worth the extra expense and weight penalty.

I find the flick locks to be easier to use.

I bought these a while ago, and really like them for the price. Andrew Skurka recommends them as his value pick, if that matters to you

Yes on the pad. Here is a inexpensive light foam pad. Most hikers/mountaineers will strap this type of pad to the outside of the pack on the top between the lid and pack. This is an inexpensive inflatable pad. This will pack down smaller. If you are in cold area i.e. going below 50 f at night bring an extra sheet of reflectix(you can find these sun shades at any dollar store) to slip under this pad for more insulation.

Trekking poles: If you are going into high mountains or the trail is mostly up and down large hills you might want trekking poles. If it is mostly flat... don't bother. The less weight you are carrying the less you might need them. They are not required, just make it easier to go up and down mountains. Inexpensive and light weight carbon fiber poles.

Sure, no problem.

FWIW, we carried 3 days worth of food and water (about 4L each) and our packs weighed ~ 35lbs each. Since the days are really cool, we didn't consume a lot during the day. We planned our meals to require as little water as possible. Although, it turned out that water wasn't so much of an issue because of all the snow that we could have melted.

> (which I'm fine with treating...)

You should always treat water regardless of the water source (unless it is marked as potable water). I use Aquamira. It's extremely light to carry, and is supposed to do a much better job at purifying water than water filters etc. If the water has a lot of particles in it, we'll use a coffee filter to filter them out before purifying it.

I have a Klymit Insulated Static V. Was on sale for $45 on an Amazon deal of the day once so I picked it up. Pretty happy with it. Not sure what an additional 150 would bring to the table other than perhaps less weight or more insulation.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FA2RLX2?pc_redir=1405213547&robot_redir=1

Yes it is. One of the cheapest and also one of the highest filtration ratings on the market. The regular has like a 4 oz field weight. The mini is like 2-3 oz.

Food. These things are delicious. You just boil 2 cups of water and pour it in. let it sit for about 8-10 minutes and feast. I take them backpacking with a jetboil to boil the water and I eat like a king.

edit: formatting.

Looks like 70$ on Amazon. Are they still the most budget friendly at that price?

You can still find those cartridges, but they're really not advisable. If you are in the UK then one of these will really surprise you for value for money.

If I'm not mistaken its an ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 or 2. The weight is 3 pounds 12 ounces and 5 pounds 13 ounces respectively.

I have the lynx 1, so Im reasonably sure this tent is one of those although it could just be really similar colors/design.

If car camping, get yourself a butane camp stove. Sometimes you can't get a fire going or you need to cook more evenly. Great for making breakfast.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005OU9D/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_4_w

Hi guys, I'm looking to purchase a new back packing stove...I'm debating between an MSR pocket rocket: https://www.amazon.com/MSR-11792-PocketRocket-Stove/dp/B000A8C5QE/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1468872725&sr=1-2&keywords=backpacking+stove

A etek city ultra light:https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Ultralight-Portable-Backpacking-Ignition/dp/B00B4FY8YO/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1468872725&sr=1-1&keywords=backpacking+stove

And this other Etekcity one: https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Portable-Collapsible-Windproof-Backpacking/dp/B00Q6QT99A/ref=dp_ob_title_sports

Thoughts? Any stoves you would suggest? I like gas stoves, but if you can convince me to buy one that runs off of liquid fuel, I'm all for it!

Direct link to the single blue filter that's $18.69 w/ Prime shipping: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA2RLX2/?psc=1

Woot's still a better deal if you're ordering more than one, like OP said, since you only pay the extra $5 once.

I had some female friends who bought these:
http://www.amazon.com/Teton-Sports-Internal-Backpack-Hunter/dp/B000F34ZKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395182081&sr=8-1&keywords=backpacking

No problems, the pack worked great from both of them. We went on a 3 night trip. I don't think the boob issue should keep you away from this pack either. Both were fine.

Stove: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U8CP88/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thing is great, never let me down.

You've got 3 basic strategies for getting clean water: boiling, filtration, and chemical treatment. Each has their pros and cons:

• Boiling: low initial cost (you probably already have a stove that you're planning on cooking on), but it will cost you in the long run in extra fuel if you're using a stove. It's free if you're doing it over a campfire. It's also very slow, as you're limited to boiling in whatever size pot you have, and even after waiting for it to boil you have to wait again for the water cool before you can actually drink it. And even after it cools boiled water tastes pretty nasty. I'd save boiling for emergencies only, or when you've only got snow and not liquid water.
  
  
• Filters have a high initial cost, but once you own one they're relatively cheap to operate. Downsides to filters are the cost, the effort and time required to filter the water, the weight, and the potential for mechanical failure. If the handle breaks off the pump, you're SOL.
  
  
• Chemical treatment, either plain old household bleach, or something like Aqua Mira, have low initial cost, but the cost will rise over time as you have to keep buying more treatment. Chemical treatment is cheap, light, and reliable, but if you run out of chemical you're SOL. And like boiling, it kills the stuff in the water, but doesn't remove particulates, so if you're refilling from murky sources you're going to have murky (but sterile) water to drink.
  
  
  My personal choice is almost always Aqua Mira. It's cheap and light, and it works. Source selection and prefiltering it through a bandana keeps the chunkies out my water bottle.

Yeah it looks like the price is all over the place. http://charts.camelcamelcamel.com/us/B00FA2RLX2/amazon.png?force=1&zero=0&w=725&h=440&desired=false&legend=1&ilt=1&tp=all&fo=0&lang=en

Personally, I'd recommend a Kelty Trekker 65. I use one, it's incredibly adjustable. I'm bigger and wider than you are and it fit me fine once I moved the shoulder straps out. Everything fits inside or straps on the frame easily.

The only problem is it has more space than stuff I need to bring and I want to fill it up. Also no pockets on the hip belt, so you have to wear shorts/pants with pockets.

Water Filter
http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395805266&sr=8-3&keywords=sawyer+squeeze

this would be an easy, cheap upgrade and would save some ounces.

70.4 ounces for the half dome? REI Specs it at 92. I have the same tent, but am looking at upgrading to the quarter dome 1 person. When someone else is with, I can split up the weight for the half dome.

As some one else recommended, lose one of your knifes. For how much they're used, I don't find multi tools worth while and just carry a small folding blade.

This has served me well so far, been on a few backpacking trips with it now, held up well and not too heavy

I would give it a 6/10 rating for a pack.. but for the price i would give it 8/10.. I was using this one

http://www.amazon.com/Teton-Sports-Internal-Backpack-Hunter/dp/B000F34ZKS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367986527&sr=8-2&keywords=teton

Its hard to keep the weight overall even and the metal rods in the frame didn't really feel long enough.. On top of that my back got really hot wearing it.. but I hiked uphill and downhill with it for about 4 miles through snow, dirt, and ice during a 3 day winter trip in Angeles National Forrest in California.. I wouldn't recommend it for anything longer than a weekend.. just not built well enough.. but still works. As you can see I have a love hate relationship.. but thats probably because it was my first pack ever.

Overall its great for the price.. but at the same time you get what you pay for..

I'd either buy or borrow a copy from your library of The Complete Walker IV and read it. That should help you get started.

Here are some things I carry that aren't on your list:

• Rope or 550 paracord
  
• Matches and a butane lighter
  
• Survival/repair kit, which is a space blanket, garbage bag, signal mirror, magnesium striker, more matches, seam sealer, patch kit for my pad, and iodine tablets
  
• Water filter
  
• GPS, topo maps, plotter, and golf pencil and notepad
  
• Headlamp
  
• Scotch-brite pad for cleaning pot
  
• REI shammie towel
  
• Dry sack for sleeping bag and stuff sacks for everything else
  
• Bug spray and sunscreen, if needed
  
• Extra batteries for GPS and headlamp
  
• Rain gear

We got this zero degree queen sized mummy bag a couple years ago. It's so warm that it's probably overkill.

It fits perfectly in our camper (queen size beds) but it's kinda large (even compressed) for hiking with.

Good inexpensive water filter http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FA2RLX2?pc_redir=1395985123&robot_redir=1

For a first aid kit just build your own; a few band aids, bandage, neosporin, ibprofin, anti diarrhea

If you don't want to go the filter route but want to ditch the iodine taste give this a look.

The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-IV-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233

The Complete Walker

How do people feel about the jetboil compared to say the MSR PocketRocket or snow peak?

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP131-PointOne-Squeeze/dp/B005EHPVQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1463003067&sr=1-1&keywords=sawyer+squeeze

I ended up going with these. Opinions?

Tent

Sleeping Bag

Sleeping pad

Try the Sawyer Mini! Its half the weight, and $21 on amazon.

Ever heard of the BRS 3000T?

That's what I have and what I was going to suggest. I'm not convinced that I need to spend $100 on hiking poles.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XM0YGW8/ref=twister_B00YHMJ6BQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Replace the $70 Katadyn filter with a $20 Sawyer filter.

Replace the $60 Petzl with a $20 Wowtac A2.

> I am also looking for a set of hiking poles.

The $30 Monoprice CF poles are considered the best/lightest for the money. You really don't want heavy poles.

> Do I need any other cookware?

Are you planning to actually cook or are you eating trail mix the entire time?

Stove: BSR Ultralight stove

Spoon: Toaks Ti Long handle

Pot: Toaks Ti 750ml

Fire: Bic Mini

Seasoning: Tabasco in 30ml plastic dripper bottle

Water bottle: Smart Water 1L (x2)

Purification: Boil (winter) Sawyer Squeeze (other 3 seasons)

Meals: Mountain House, Packit Gourmet, SPAM singles, trail mix

I eat right out of the bag for the dehydrated meals