(Part 2) Best products from r/hiking

Wool. Highest % you can get in most cases. (note: wool on some gear pieces is very expensive, others not)


100% is easy to do for base layer but is expensive (shirt and pants baselayer). I find socks that are best are smartwool, Darntough. Not 100% wool but high enough to be effective and very comfortable. Some suggest sock liners too, I guess that depends on the quality of your boots. Old wool socks would be nice if you can find them also.


I like wearing my muck boots out in the rocky mountains to hunt and even in below zero a pair of heavy mountaineering socks and my mucks I have always been toasty warm.


Head and hands are also easy to wrap in 100% wool. Military surplus gloves and beanie can be had for 5 bucks each. For -30, i'd have a back up of each and probably an outer windproof layer for each as well (mittens to go over gloves at least). These items get compromised the most easily, but easy to carry extra.


And you will want a windproof/water resistant outer jack as well. If you layer properly it can be a simple one serving basically those two attributes.


Layers is key and like someone else said, personal comfort as well. Some people can't stand wool. I love it. I would not make my first winter hike in -30. If it turns out you are miserable, it will be amplified many times.


Also when it's that cold, half my pack is filled with extra gloves, hats, beanies, shirt layers, socks, etc. More in the beginning, less with experience. I love the cold, I hope you enjoy it!

As a start, these are the gloves and beanie I wear all the way down to the negatives. Shop around they can be had cheaper. I have windproof layers to put over them if needed but they work well as is, and for the price...

If you were looking for shoes, rather than boots, I'd recommend a pair of the Patagonia Drifters, which I picked up recently. There might be a boot for them, without the gore-tex/waterproofing (since you're looking for breathability and high temperature use), but if not then you could look at the waterproof Drifter boots: http://www.amazon.com/Patagonia-Drifter-Mid-Waterproof-Hiking/dp/B006WEH7WC/ref=sr_1_5?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1394235747&sr=1-5&keywords=patagonia+drifter

Very strong and stable Vibram outsole, comfortable insole, and great lacing system (at least it's good on the shoe, I haven't tried the boot. The other two factors should be the same.) I've done about 10 miles or so in my pair so far (total over two hikes), and I haven't had a single blister. I'll try one of the longer 10-mile hikes I can do around here and see how they feel, but I'm pretty sure they'll hold up better than the rest of my body.

Anyway, check out those boots. Great brand, great look, the shoe version fits great on me, amazing outsole, strong toe-box, etc. etc. etc.. Too bad Amazon doesn't have them in a non-waterproof boot.

I don't have any experience with LL Bean gear, but I don't see anything wrong with the those items.

When I started I intentionally bought cheap gear knowing it wasn't going to be as light or as durable as a backpacker would ideally want. I figured I might as well try some basics out before I committed to spending money on high quality gear.

The pack you list looks pretty small - only 2400-ish cubic inches. That could be a tight fit. I started out with this guy. Its an ok but certainly not "good" pack. Its not super durable or super comfortable, but it was inexpensive and it got me through my first 3 trips until I decided I liked backpacking. After that third trip I went to an REI and got help trying on lots of different packs before laying down a good chunk of cash on my Gregory.

I still use this tent. Although a couple pounds heavier than the one you list its worked out well for me and its less than half the price.

You'll also need some other gear to do overnights. REI has a good list here. Highlights include hydration (something to carry water and a water filter / pump / tablets / whatever), food storage, headlamp / lighting, etc.

Do you live anywhere near an REI? Along with having great staff to chat with about what might want to buy they occasionally have "garage sales" where they have returned / used items at crazy discounts.

I'm excited for you. Yet, I would love some more details on what type of gear you have. Since I don't I'm going to cover everything at once. If you have a REI or Bass Pro Shop, you should be able to find most of these items, or you can get them overnighted to you pretty quickly from campmor.com, REI.com, backcountry.com or Amazon.com.

I'm assuming you already have some shoes that are comfortable and broken in from your other day hikes. Stick with these, even if they are just tennis shoes. DO NOT buy a pair right before this trip, you do not have time to break them in. Your feet are essential to your enjoyment of this trip and having unfamiliar shoes that aren't broken in will lead to painful, even debilitating blisters. One thing though I would recommend is picking up two pairs of light wool socks, like these. They will keep your feet dry and comfortable. Try them on with the shoes you have to make sure they don't squish your feet since they are thicker than normal socks.

As far as clothes. Try to avoid cotton. It doesn't dry well, tends to be heavy and stains easily. There is a reason hikers say "Cotton Kills". That moisture retention can lead to hypothermia very quickly. For shorts, if you have some comfortable swimming trunks or other nylon type material, wear those. I personally love nylon pants with zip off legs. Again, I'm assuming that since its summer that you will be in a pretty warm climate this time of year. Also wear an athletic t-shirt that specifies that it "wicks" sweat away. If you expect cooler temps at night I would pack along a fleece pull over for warmth.

Your big 3 items for overnight camping are Backpack, Sleeping Bag and Tent. Again I'm not sure what you have or what your budget is or if your sharing equipment with a friend, so I'm going to give you some cheap, but quality options to get you started. All of these items can be debated endlessly, but this will give you some specs to compare other things that may be more readily available to you.

Backpack: GoLite Jam

Sleeping Bag: [Kelty Cosmic Down] (http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Cosmic-Degree-Down-Sleeping/dp/B004K1D9NA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375119204&sr=8-3&keywords=north+face+cats+meow)

Tent: REI Camp Dome

After the big three you want to avoid packing unnecessary gear. The more weight you bring, the harder it is to hike, the less fun you have. Here is a basic gear list that we all make sure to have to one degree or another: Gear List

See what your fellow hikers are bringing so you're not duplicating gear, if you're going solo you pretty much need all of those things.

Now as far as food goes, I would personally just pack in a bunch of dry foods like granola and protein or even snickers bars. You want things that have high levels of energy packed into a small size. If you really want something hot for dinner, I love ramen noodles, or macaroni and cheese. To add some protein I dump in a packet of Tuna fish or chicken after they are cooked through. You can pick all this up at your local grocery store. I'm cheap so I don't like buying the pre-packaged trail meals, yet that is another alternative you might enjoy. All you do is add boiling water to the packs that they come in and eat after a few minutes.

Those are your essentials. Other than that, take your time, relax and enjoy the scenery and let us know how it went.

Sure! I started out with "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking". He's one of the more well-known names in tracking, but also a little controversial -- he makes some claims that sound pretty outlandish and his whole background story sounds like a myth.

But overall it's a really good book! It was a good first step, and it got me to start paying attention to what was around me. From there I've spent years practicing. When I'm hiking, I have one eye in front of me and one eye on the ground, trying to spot subtle little things even in really challenging terrain (like pine needles!). Any time I come across something interesting, animal or human, I stop and take a closer look. (I totally love trail poo too.) I also make it a game to try to count the number of people that might be ahead of me on the trail and their gender -- how many different tracks there are, what size they are, how recent they are, how many go out and come back vs. just going out. It's sort of become second nature now.

When I head out on a trail and then come back, I try to find my own prints and pay attention to how they change in the conditions: how long does it take mud to try, bits of snow to melt, plants to return to their original position. And I totally blew it with this on Thursday when hiking with a friend! We crossed some snow on the way out, and on the way back I wasn't positive we were on the correct fork of the trail because I didn't see recent tracks in the snow. My buddy and I spent a few minutes debating it and taking a closer look, and it turned out that they had melted way faster than I was expecting in those conditions -- they were there, but they looked like they were days old, not hours.

I don't have any certifications or professional training at it, although I'd like to, but I recently joined my county's search and rescue team and it looks like I'm decent enough to join their tracking team. I'll find out on Tuesday evening!

First Aid Kit - you might not need it ever, but you should always have it. All kits are different but there are fundamental items that should be carried, you can check out the NOLS Kits
and either buy one or for less, make your own that is custom to your needs and desires.

Tools - First, carry a knife that can cut decent size branches, again, you might not need it but its good to have. Second, I recommend getting a water filter such as a Sawyer mini or Katadyn Be Free as they are both lightweight and will probably decrease your pack weight if you hike near water. Third, Fire can be helpful in many situations but must be used carefully and with respect. If you live somewhere that allows it, a wood burning camp stove will be worth some warmth and also allow you to cook if you bring along a mess set. I personally use an MSR Pocket Rocket. As a day hiker, you might not use a stove often but it's not bad to have if you do longer hikes or are far from civilization so if that's the case, look into tablet stoves. generally, you should have a lighter or two just in case. You may also consider carrying a survival blanket just in case (as goes for most these objects).

The Front Pouch - So the idea behind having this pouch is to have things that you want quick access too on the trail, the most important of which is your map. Navigation is important when hiking so if you're not familiar with an area buy a map and bring a compass. I personally don't use a compass but I've learned how to navigate without one, however you should always have a map. You may also need to have a permit for some hiking areas and it's nice to have within reach, usually with your map. you may also like to have TP and a camp trowel in there so that it is not hard to find at the wrong moment. along with that, a trash bag of any kind should be carried. Finally, carry snacks in there so that you don't have to dig around to find them.

Summary - This is all advice from a Backpacker so there will be many things you don't need on every hike but could save your life if you get caught in a bad situation, many of the objects I recommend are the same. If I'm close to home or not going out too far on a day hike, I usually carry a Knife, Be Free Filter, Lighter/Stove (depending on mileage) an extra coat, and extra food, but each hike and hiker are different. You will eventually find a system that works well for you, but it's always good to carry things that make life on the trail easier and can get you through a night in the wild. With thought on my comment, you should also check out the Ten Essentials as they will almost always be worth their weight.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask!

Female hiker here! These are what I use:

My favorite pants are these cabelas brand womens trail pants. They are not waterproof but will wick off a light rain. They are lightweight and super comfy. Big deep pockets which I love. They are also UPF30 and have a button so you can roll them up to shorts.

For socks I wear a mens sock also from Cabelas. I find them way thicker and comfier than most womens brands..plus I didn't want pink or bright green frilly socks. Here is a link. I own the mini crew as well and LOVE them.

For colder hikes I wear a thicker sock by Wigwam. I find myself wearing these around the house in winter. They are super comfy.

For a base underlayer of pants I wear these. They are super soft and very comfy. I find them very warm on chilly outdoor activities.

I am personally working on a jacket still so I don't have any good info on that.

I was just in the Porkies last weekend, my second hike/camp in the park. The Lake Superior Trail (LST) is 16 miles end to end, and can be joined with the Escarpment Trail or Big Carp River Trail to make a pseudo-loop, but you'll never get back to one end or the other of the LST without doubling back on the trail.

Your big choices in the Porkies are vistas of the big lake, waterfalls, and smaller inland lakes. It's hard to get all of it. Personally, I was a big fan of Mirror Lake and the East and West Presque Isle River Trails, a short 2 mile loop along both banks of the river offering views of some fantastic waterfalls over shelves of shale. It's at the west end of the LST, and worth dropping packs to hike around at the beginning or end of your trip.

I'd highly recommend picking up Jim DuFresne's Porkies guide if you do the Porkies. He breaks the system of trails down nicely into various length loops, and highlights the various features of the park.

Also, even if you're a hard core hiker, I'd take advantage of one of the many rustic cabins or yurts in the park. They're pricey at $60/night, but I've found it's a welcome relief after a few days of hiking to be able to have a roof, bunk, and a fire in the stove, particularly if you're hiking in November. Each cabin is equipped with an axe and saw for cutting up dead fall for the stove. If you luck out like I did, you may find a tug or two of 12 year scotch left behind by a previous hiker. There are multiple cabins on the LST.

Regardless, if you do the Porkies in late November, be prepared for winter camping. It's not the norm, but it's not unheard of for us (Yoopers) to get blizzards and sub-zero temps that time of year. It'll be particularly crisp right on Superior.

Finally, jump in Superior. Do it after you're done hiking and have quick access to warm, dry clothes, and can get into the car and turn on the heat. I did it in December with ice on the shore. It's exhilarating.

The biggest regret I have when I did my first day hike was wearing a pair of cargo shorts and nike running shoes. The forecast showed rain but we decided to go anyway and about halfway up the mountain the rain turned to snow and we ended up having to turn around because we literally couldn't hike anymore. I guess the moral of the story is be prepared for weather, wear comfy workout clothes, and if you don't have hiking shoes/boots, wear some active shoes with strong support. I don't know your financial situation but it's better to be safe than sorry and if I were you I'd buy some hiking shoes like these: https://www.amazon.com/Adidas-Terrex-Swift-Hiking-Shoes/dp/B00DJ634GO

I've had a pair of these for two summers now and they rock!

Other general things I've found helpful:

• take screenshots of the trail description, map, and surrounding area to look at in case you forget something or come to a fork in the trail. This also helps for understanding your pace.
  
• bring a hydration backpack if possible
  
• buy hiking socks
  
• don't forget your inhaler if you have one!!
  
• I have no idea how the class system relates to where I hike (New england), but usually the people who rate the trails are experienced hikers. This means that a beginner such as yourself would find a moderate rated trail to be very difficult. Just something to consider...
  
• In terms of building up muscle and exercising, I would try to build stamina via running and walking for longer than usual amounts of time. I find the stairmaster and bike at my gym to be very helpful as well.
  
  Hope this helps!
  

I can't say enough for Keen hiking boots. I've had a pair of the Targhee II's for about 4 years now and I'm just now getting to the point of "yeah I should probably replace them". They are still waterproof and as comfortable as heck. You can snag a pair for $119 on Amazon.

On a side note, we were hiking the trail just past Laurel Falls in Great Smoky Mountain NP and were overtaken by an older gentleman with just himself and a singular trekking pole. He asked us how far we were going (We are quite the site with myself, my wife and 4 kids all in a row) and we told him we were going to see the trees (there are a bunch of old growth forests up on the mountain) and he told us it was beautiful up there and that he loves this trail. He then explains that he is a local and he hikes from the visitors center, where his wife drops him off before her job, over the mountain to Wears Valley where his truck is. Some 7 miles every Sunday and it takes him about 2 hours. He was BOOK'N it! He then reaches down and picks a leaf off the ground and starts eating it... then hands it to us to try. Says it's called Tea Berry and sure enough, it tasted like sweet berry gum. Supposedly there is an old gum brand called Tea Berry that uses the same leaf.

All that to say that I look down and he has Keens on... I mean if they are good enough for the self-described hillbilly they are good enough for me!

May is still fairly early season, the vast majority of ascents happen in July and August. Since it's early season and PNW weather is what it is, you're much more likely to have bad weather than if you waited a few months. Depending on how long you'll be here you may get a great weather window or could have a week+ long period of low visibility and rain.

Would you trust your friend to rescue you from a crevasse without any assistance? If not, they're probably not the best partner to take on this climb. While many of the crevasses will still be snow covered in May, they may be starting to melt out and thin snow bridges won't be as apparent. Mt Rainier is not a 'technical' climb nor is it especially high, but it certainly is a test of fitness and has its fair share of objective hazards.

Depending on conditions, any of those routes could be the right one for you. All are relatively easy as far as glacier climbs go.

I'm not going to go into depth on the other questions - you can do your own research there. RMI and IMG are local guiding companies that can provide resources and make recommendations.

Washington has a huge selection of hikes, from PCT section hikes through the Cascades to long loops in the Olympics. WTA is a great resource for finding the right one for your trip. I'd recommend Washington Scrambles as a good book for non-technical summits in the area.

its a little over your limit, but a steripen has been on my wish list for a while. i havent used one personally but they seem to get pretty good reviews. a nice knife would be cool too (see r/knives), and there are some pretty swell hammocks in that price range if he is into overnights or wanting to try hammock camping. one of the easiest and best ways to backpack, imo

Would you be interested in water purifying tablets? Pristine Tablets are available at Sportchek for 12$/50pc. Use one tablet per 1 litre. They have them elsewhere as well (Mountain Warehouse, Sail, outdoorsy stores), this is just a brand I’ve looked into before. I recommend a mini filtration system like Lifestraw as well. It’s only for individual use so you’ll have to grab one for each of you, but it’s totally worth it. Not to say you and hubs can’t take turns drinking if you’d rather buy one!

Have an awesome time!! 😊


Edit: I searched for a small water filter for two people and I can’t find one! I did find this though! it’s small and will take a while to filter, but it’s a small pump! 😊

You don't need heavy duty crampons, something like this would work (on mobile, not sure how to properly format this link): YakTrax 8611 Pro Traction Cleats for Walking, Jogging, or Hiking on Snow and Ice, Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094GO6ZG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gU1lDbGMSKRKH

If you're camping prepare for it to be very cold. Especially if you're along the river. Wind can also pretty strong there. Definitely lots of outfitters in Moab, but as November is the slow season you may have shorter hours and some may be closed completely.

You will definitely need a car for both parks. Devil's Garden is a great hike in Arches, but the trail can be hard to follow. There's two sides to Canyonlands - Island in the Sky and the Needles district. Island in the sky is what people typically think of, and it's quite close to Arches. The Needles district is farther south and a little more difficult to get to, but it's really pretty, has some areas of hoodoo formations which are always cool to see. Dead Horse State Park is also pretty close and has a really cool viewpoint and some small hikes you can do. Alltrails.com is a good resource to get more information on hikes in the area.

Just make sure to layer your clothes - temperatures can change dramatically! - and always have lots of water. Utah and Arizona are both very dry states, and the lack of humidity can impact people a lot, especially if they're not used to it. Carry more water than you think you'll need.

Have a great time!

This was my first big hike of the year! I received new hiking boots for Christmas and have been spending the past few weeks breaking them in. Since they felt good, I figured I'd put some miles on them and see how it goes.

I did the full Cape Henry Trail in First Landing National Park. The signage says it's 6.1 miles each way, but RunKeeper says I did 12.95 miles total. Either way, it was a good hike. I had a 25 lbs pack to get back into the groove of carrying gear.

The weather was nice and sloppy (I prefer foul weather hikes). I was really wanting to test these new boots since they're "waterproof." I didn't believe it, but they really worked. I sloshed through pretty much every puddle on the trail and my toes stayed nice and dry! The boots are great. (Saloman XA Pro)

All-in-all, it was a great day on the trail!

I am very happy I camped there. It's a rough and long 11km to that point, and I'm amazed that people do the whole thing in a day. We hiked through a lot of rain and mud which made it much harder though, so maybe without those factors it would have been more feasible. I didn't prepare for the trek, but I already keep in shape so I'm not sure how to answer.

That being said, I think that camping is always a better option. Why hike for hours and hours to a certain spot just to turn around an leave it? There are some good places about 1 km from Trolltunga to camp that will protect from the winds and a little waterfall that provides fresh water. So get a light 1 person tent, a sleeping bag and pad, and bring some snacks with you. You wont regret waking up in the morning to it again. Plus, it rains a lot in Norway so you have a longer chance to get good views with the constantly changing weather.

edit: this is the sleeping bag I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015DVHSOQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With a sleeping pad and maybe some light thermals you will definitely be warm enough. It was cheaper when I bought it though.

I excerpted this from an email I sent to a buddy of mine. I used to guide hikes in and around RMNP.

The Completer Hiking Guide by Lisa Foster is the best guide to Rocky. She's a ranger there, or at least was when I was there.The only problem is that she doesn't really differentiate between hard scrambling and easy climbing.

http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Complete/dp/0615526845/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Hikes

Easy

• Bridal Veil Falls
  
• Lumpy Ridge
  
• Circle of Lakes (Mills Lake, The Loch, Lake Haiyaha, Dream Lake)
  
• Fern-Odessa Loop (start at the Bear Lake Trailhead. Use the shuttle to get back to the Bear Lake parking lot)
  
• Cub Lake
  
• Emerald Lake, good after dinner hike
  
• Bighorn Mountain
  
  
  Medium
  
  
• Lake of Glass/Sky Pond
  
• Flattop, Hallets and Otis peaks
  ~Go up Flattop. Hike the tundra to Hallets and Otis. Glissade down the Andrews Glacier, b/t Otis and Andrews. Hike out on the Loch trail. Check the conditions on the Andrews Glacier before doing this one. Also if there's still a snow pack, you may want to go with a guide, i.e. a hikemaster form the YMCA of the Rockies.
  
• Tyndall Tarn?
  ~This is above Emerald Lake at the base of the Tyndall glacier, which is a hanging glacier. To get there, find a route over the boulder field to the South, left, of Emerald Lake. I made it most of the way there and got turned around by a storm.
  
• Timber Lake
  
• Ptarmigan Tarns?
  ~There's a climber's trail heading toward the saddle between Flattop and and Notchtop Mtn, called Ptarmigan Point on the quads. You should look for it just past Two Rivers Lake, prior to heading down toward Lake Helene. It will be off to the left of the main trail. Follow it until your reach Ptarmigan Tarns. I think there are two.
  
• Joe Mills Mtn.
  ~There's no trail once you turn off the trail to Odessa Lake. Scramble to the top and head to the west for the high point. Very nice view of Lake Helene.
  
• Chasm Lake
  
• Teddy's Teeth
  
• Twin Sisters
  
  Hard
  
  
• Mummy Mtn./Lawn Lake (very long hike)
  
• Chapin, Chiquita and Ypsilon (high elevation, hike from the Fall River Rd. trailhead)
  
• Mt. Ida, from Timber Lake
  
• The Never Summer Range ~These peaks are characterized by long approaches over rotten, unstable rock. The advantage is there are lightly visited, compared to other areas of RMNP.
  
  Restaurants
  
  
• Smokin Daves
  
• Poppy's
  
• Kind Coffee
  
• Hayley's
  
• Breakfast place in Allenspark, CO
  ~can't remember the name of it. Really, really good breakfast. Find a local and ask them. They should know about it. Head about 16 miles south on C0-7. It's right in the main part of Allenspark.
  
• Rock Inn
  ~don't remember much about the food. I went there for the live bluegrass every weekend. Here's the schedule: http://www.rockinnestes.com/
  
  
  You should definitely spend a day hitting the breweries in Fort Collins.There are six breweries, I think. The tour at The New Belgium Brewery was a favorite. The EP Brewery isn't bad, either.
  
  Lastly, some general tips for hiking there. Most of the rock there is granite. It is very hard on footwear. There will be perpetual construction on Trail Ridge road. This can lead to very long delays in both directions (hours). Plan accordingly. Much of the park is at high elevation. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common. If you're attempting a summit, or heading to a high elevation lake, you should be on your way down by around lunchtime. Plan on the early starts others have mentioned. You will probably have to acclimatize. Start with easier stuff and work your way up to more difficult hikes.The best source of information will be the rangers. They know their park and what goes on in it. Sorry for the wall of text. Enjoy the trip, RMNP is an amazing place.
  

I have an Osprey bag and looooveee it. It's awesome because it's two in one, so I have the small day pack for short trips, but the huge backpack for long hikes (I actually travel full time and live out of it too). It also opens up like a suitcase which is super convenient. The company gives a lifetime guarantee for them so if something snaps or rips you can send it in to be fixed or replaced. I've been using mine for about a year and recommend it. It's definitely pricey (here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014EBLI7Y?colid=1JUHPBXFPJXNE&coliid=I1GJ3DP66U6CUQ&ref_=hit_wr_dt_vr_md_pt) but I think it's a good investment.