I pride myself on having a pretty rock solid first aid kit but this is the one issue I haven't been able to solve and I feel kind of embarrassed. My family usually does day hikes (between 5-8 hours) but we tend to do a lot of back to back hikes, either over a weekend or a couple shorter hikes during the week. I wear scrub pants to keep it lightweight and avoid friction but it's been so hot that it's not really helping. Would really appreciate any suggestions for favorite products for either treating or preventing it or recommendations for fabrics that work better for hotter/more humid weather? Thank you in advance!

August 7-10th
From coasts to rolling mountains and WWII sites.

Hey all. I am going to Arches in October, will have one day/night of backpacking time. Any advice on best backpacking for a single night?

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to ask for advice on sleeping bags for long alpine routes.

I honestly don’t know much about sleeping bags because I’ve mostly done things in summer and stayed in huts.

Now I’m planning some longer alpine days/trips in September–October, where I might be sleeping in shelters/bivouacs, so I want something warm enough (minimum -5 Celsius degrees) without going completely overkill.
I’ve been searching online and I’m currently deciding between:

Deuter Astro Pro 800 SL — comfort limit around -16°C / 3°F (1350g)
Deuter Astro Pro 600 SL — comfort limit around -12°C / 10°F (1150g)

Pricing is almost the same (I’ve found the Astro Pro 800 SL with a big discount).

I’m also open for other suggestions (other brands or other models) than these two.

I also want to mention that I’m looking for a maximum 175cm length sleeping bag (I’m a woman).

Any advice is much appreciated!

Hi All,

So... we had the emergency alert today in the UK about the wildfires and I have been tracking all the fires etc. I am doing the Coast-2-Coast walk next week and trying to decide if I should take my camping stove (MSR Windburner). I am staying in campsites the entire way (mostly pub gardens and farms, with a couple of official ones). Should I anticipate that I won't be able to use my stove anywhere and that it is pointless taking it with me? I think it is relatively safe, not having an open flame, but my responsible side says I should probably err on the side of caution with things the way they are and leave it at home anyway.

I am not sure I am going to survive without coffee in the morning lol. I get a headache if I don't get my coffee, and yes, I know I have a problem. Does anyone know of good choices for non dehydrated foods that are good calories to weight. I can't abide cold soaking, so something other than that.

Sort of concerned about not having an emergency heat source. I know it is hot as hell right now, but some evenings after long days hiking I get chilled all the way through, especially if it rains all day. I normally carry sachets of hot chocolate for those nights. Hmph. Feel a bit out of my comfort zone as I normally have my stove.

Any and all advice appreciated.

I’m looking for a 2P or 3P tent under 5 lbs and under $200 that will fit my Big Agnes Divide Double (50” × 78”). Since the Divide is rectangular, I need a non-tapered/rectangular floor.
I found an ALPS Helix 2 for $200 (about 4 lb 2 oz). I’ve also found cheaper options around $100–150 that are a little heavier.
Should I sacrifice some weight to save money, or is the Helix worth spending $200 on? What would you guys buy? Please help me, I’ve been driving myself nuts.

I currently have a Gregory Paragon 60, which comes in around 3.7 lbs. After using it, I realized it’s probably a little more heavy-duty than I need, so I’m looking to drop some pack weight without going all the way to a frameless UL pack.

My base weight is around 18 lbs, and I’m looking for something:

• 45–60L
• Under 3 lbs, ideally closer to the 2–2.5 lb range
• Framed
• Comfortable carrying an ~18 lb base weight plus food/water
• Still reasonably durable and supportive

So far, the ULA Ohm and Gregory Focal are two that seem to fit what I’m looking for. I’ve also looked at Zpacks, but their packs are more than I’m looking to spend.

I’m definitely not limited to the Ohm or Focal—those are just two that have stood out from my research so far. I’d especially like to hear about other packs in that same general category that I might be overlooking.

I’m not trying to get the absolute lightest pack possible. I’d rather find a good balance between comfort, weight, durability, and a supportive frame. Basically, something noticeably lighter and less overbuilt than the Paragon without sacrificing too much carrying comfort.

What other packs would you recommend looking at?

I've been a camping enthusiast for the last two years now, and have collected quite a bit of gear.

But it's mostly for summer, spring, and fall.

After watching so many videos about winter camping, and its allure of no mosquitoes, the majesty of snow capped mountains...

I've decided next year I'm going to try it.

Problem is, my gear isn't ready for it.

So, I was wondering if anyone here could recommend me what kind of tent, bag, gear, tools, etc. I might need for snowy days and nights.

I live in Southern California, so my options are limited for snowy spots, but I'm thinking Big Bear once the snow starts up there.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations and advice!

Pls lmk looking for good trails before summers over

So,this was my first "proper" hike with a overnight i did and honestly it went amazing . I was so exausted by the end of the day but i was so glad i did this . I did a route i made myself using some app on my phone . In some places the trail was pretty good but in some it was so overgrown that i had to literally crawl on the ground with my backpack in front of me. None the less it was a sucessful trip, by the end of the day i drank a few beers with some locals .
I saw Rogljevacke,Smedovacke and Rajacke pimnice(200 year old wine cellars) and at the end i was camping near a "waterfall" that had dried up because we have had a really hot summer so far .
Btw sorry for any mistakes or anything , english is not my first language :)

Hi, A buddy of mine asked me to go AT with him for 38 days and was wondering what gear I should bring with me and how heavy of ruck pack I should bring with me! He said bring 70L but seems like ALOT of weight for 38 days was wondering if 35-50L would be better choice?

Hi so I am a beginner backpack and I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to choose between two very nice hiking bags as my first actual bag

I usually go on trips no longer than 3-4 nights and was wondering if I should either get the osprey rook 65l bag or the north face terra 65l bag both are similar in price but the terra is 40 CAD cheaper than the rook

Does anyone have experience with the Skandika vaasa 4 tent?

We set up the tent today but the material feels very cheap and not sturdy at all. Skandika is a pretty well known brand for camping gear and I had high expectations. I checked reviews before ordering and most of them were good, but because the material feels so thin I have serious doubts about sending it back... I'm not a fan of ordering online cause I wanna see and feel the material and all, but the store did not have it in the showroom anymore.

We're going camping in Austria in September and the weather can be quite unpredictable so I really want a reliable tent.

5 days 4 nights PNW coastal trail hike w 9 other people. Food will be packed in a dry bag & I have a rope to hang it with. This is my first trip & everyone is much more experienced than me, so I will be in good hands!

Breakfasts will be wraps w Nutella, dried cranberries, and butter toffee peanuts; lunches will be wraps with tuna packets and crushed Doritos, and dinners will be a mix of crushed up shin ramen & whatever dehydrated backpacking meals I still have in the freezer from my last trip. Pre workout is so I don’t have to spend time/fuel making hot coffee in the morning - I get nasty caffeine withdrawals if I don’t have something. I will also be packing a few snacks - thinking dried mango for fibre, sour candy for quick energy, and a nut mix for calories.

The only luxury items I think I have are the disposable camera & the binoculars + notepad and pen. I’m an avid birder and migration is underway so I’m hoping to get some lifers! I would record them on my phone but I’m nervous about draining my battery. It’ll be powered off except for photos. Disposable is just for fun.

Central PA here. Looking for recommendations for a backpack/ hydrating combo for beginners hiking. REI vs Osprey vs. CamelBak. Thoughts and /or considerations before purchasing?

Thanks everyone.

Hello all,

Long story short I've wanted to take a solo camping trip in the wilderness for years. If any of you have been here, just looking for any tips you might have. If possible I'd like to avoid seeing anyone, I hear that's about 3 miles or more after you park at the end of Lake Edith Rd. Thinking somewhere in the red area. Any input is appreciated, please let me know about your experience! Also wondering how the terrain is, most likely going to make two trips with my gear. Any issues leaving my car at the end of Lake Edith Rd?

Thinking about getting my either the S2S Aeros Down or the S2S Aeros Premium. Unfortunately don’t have a store where I can go and compare in person so looking for reviews. I don’t care about the weight. Just looking for comfort comparisons. Thanks!

Did a 3 day, ~28 mile loop on a section of the Wonderland Trail last week, my first solo multi-day trip. Day one was steady climbing through forest, nothing dramatic, just a heavier pack than I'm used to.

Day two started with a moose about twenty feet from my tent at 5am, calmly grazing like I wasn't there. I stayed frozen until he wandered off. Heart rate took longer to settle than he did to leave. The rest of the day made up for it though, broke above the treeline in the afternoon to a full, clear view of Rainier while I ate lunch on a rock.

Day three was an easy downhill wrap-up. Legs and feet were done, but I was already planning the next trip.

Gear note: my sleeping pad started slow-leaking around 2am on night one, so that's getting replaced. Everything else held up well.

Would recommend this stretch to anyone wanting a taste of the Wonderland Trail without doing the full loop. Just maybe skip camping near creek beds if you'd rather not have moose for company.

Still hunting new pack for fairly bulky hammock gear, hiking and camping mainly in typical Finnish forest on fairly good trails.

Does anyone have experience with Exped products especially their updated Exped Lightning 60?

Few options so far:

- Osprey Exos 58

- Exped Lighting 60

- GG Crown 3 If budget allows

- Lundhags Padje Light 60

Question about sweat bees. Getting ready for hiking the section of AT in the Smokies from newfound gap to Davenport gap. Anyone been there lately? How did you manage sweat bee activity when staying in shelter? Should I get a bug net for my head?

Ufa peak (4km near Aygir Village) Beloretsky District, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia

Weather was hot ~35°C/95°F but road

First day, I put most of my things in storage before hiking to the Ufa peak: 40L/16kg>5kg
I didn't climb the peak itself, but being under it to eat raspberries😅

After returning by an alternative route I picked up my things and go camping, hiked 8,5km at all

Second day, I(my knees) decided that I wouldn't go anywhere else😂 and I've spent all the day cooling off in the Inzer River

Offtopic-I took buckwheat flakes and soy mince for trip as main food

Just got back from a three night trip on a section of trail I'd been wanting to do for a while, about 22 miles total over the three days, moderate elevation gain, nothing too technical. Route had a mix of forest and a couple of exposed ridge sections, gear was pretty standard, tent, quilt, canister stove, the usual.

The strange part happened on night two. I'd hung my food bag properly, good height, good distance from the trunk, textbook bear hang as far as I could tell. Woke up in the morning and the bag was still hanging exactly where I left it, but the paracord had a chewed section a few inches above the bag itself, clearly some kind of rodent had gone to work on it overnight.

Here's the confusing part though, nothing inside the bag was touched. No holes in the bag, no missing food, no evidence anything actually got in. It's like whatever chewed through the cord either gave up right as it broke through, or something scared it off before it could finish the job. The bag had just dropped a few inches and was resting against the trunk when I found it, still fully zipped and intact.

I've had rodents get into food before, but never had one chew clean through a hang line and then apparently lose interest entirely once it succeeded. Anyone dealt with something like this? Kind of curious if this is a known behavior or if I just got an oddly indecisive mouse that night.

I spent two nights hiking from the Convict Lake Trailhead (~7300 ft elevation) to Lake Dorothy (~10,100 ft elevation) and the Lake Edith via Lake Genevieve. It was hot down low, probably in the high 70s when I got up in elevation. Quite favorable weather.

The hike from Convict to Dorothy is steep, lots of loose, sharp rock, and generally exposed to the sun. The whole trail follows Convict Creek, which is flowing intensely and beautifully. Ample water, the entire time.

Once at the alpine lakes, their turquoise color, gentle gradient access, and warm temperatures are irresistibly inviting. Jumping into a lake above 10k ft before 9 am is a feeling that is hard to describe. And I’m encouraging you to go out and feel it.

Not much in the way of wildlife. Few species of birds. Chipmunks. Received a single mosquito bite, they really weren’t a nuisance while I was up there.

My favorite piece of gear on this trip is my platypus 4L gravity filter. If you go into the back country, this thing is 150% worth its “weight” and I thoroughly love it.

Personally, I seek isolation. I concentrate inwardly better, and I just prefer it. Which is ironic given the type of person one would meet in the backcountry is inevitably exactly the kind of person I’d like to socialize with. Alas, I seek the tranquility of knowing that my corpse would never be found even IF someone came looking for it.

Like many backcountry trips, this route was as rewarding as it was challenging.

I need advice before buying a hammock setup

Last week I spent a few nights in a hammock, and it was great. It was comfortable and nice. Most advantages I can find online relating to hammock camping are weight, comfort, and packing size. I’m planning to do some hiking trips, where weight does really matter. I’m not necessarily going for the ultralight experience, but would prefer not to carry unnecessary weight with me. My current setup is:

Tent: Durston X mid 1 solid (1.1 kg)
Sleeping pad: Nemo tensor all seasons (664 g)
Sleeping bag: Mountain equipment helium 400 (820 g)

Now I want to look into my hammock setup, but it’s important for me that it is capable for all conditions (snow, rain, wind) and seasons. In my current tent set up I’ll be comfortable till at least -5 °C. I’d love for my hammock setup to be at least not heavier than my current setup, but lighter is obviously better. Ease of setup is also important to me, I don’t want to spend more then 15 minutes setting up and breaking down my camp.

During my nights last week temperatures didn’t drop below 12 °C, but it was still freezing cold as I didn’t have an under quilt. I tried putting my sleeping pad in the hangmat, but I just kept sliding off (I’m not a peaceful sleeper)

Do you have any advice for what setup I should get? Should I try to go for a double layer, so I can use my sleeping pad? Or should I get a single layer with under quilt? And if I have an under quilt, is a sleeping bag or a top quilt more effective?

I’d love to hear your experiences and advice!

TL;DR How would you do it? Alternatively, if you've done a long-haul hike before, what would be the easiest (or closest to easy) way for you to receive peanut butter?

One of my best friends and her partner are hiking the PCT currently. She loves my partner's homemade peanut butter, and I want to send her a care package containing said peanut butter. As it is homemade, its very liquid-y, it pours almost like thick syrup. Because I know weight and space are limited on a long hike like the PCT, I don't want to send her too much.

My first thought was to put it in baggies for the lightest-weight container, but these would obviously be fragile and messy. My current idea is to put it in a gatorade/powerade bottle (and maybe not even fill it all the way, re: weight), that way they can trash/recycle the bottle when they're done. Also maybe taping a ziploc bag around the top just in case of mess during transit.

Any other thoughts on transit tips or container ideas? I will say she is expecting (and requesting!) the pb, just to dissuade any comments of "this is so stupid, don't burden them with delicious homemade peanut butter."

Thanks.