Where You Can Buy Your Hiking Gear and Supplies From

Are you interested in going on a hiking trip? Whether you want your hiking trip to last one day or last as long as one week, you will need to bring along multiple pieces of hiking gear and other hiking supplies. If this is your first time buying gear and other supplies to take with you on a hiking trip, you may be unsure as to where you can make your purchase or purchases from.

Hiking gear is a phrase that is regularly used to describe pieces of equipment or items that are important to hiking. Hiking gear is regularly known to make hiking easier and safer. If you are in need of hiking gear, like hiking boots or a hiking stick, you may want to think about visiting one of your local sports stores. Sports stores are one of the best places to buy hiking gear from. Depending on the size of your local sports store, your local sports store may have a whole hiking department, which will likely be filled with multiple pieces of hiking gear.

In addition to visiting one of your local sports store, you should also be able to purchase hiking gear from one of your local department stores. Department stores are nice as they often carry a large selection of products. If you are looking to not only buy hiking gear, but other hiking supplies, like extra clothing or snacks for your trip, you may want to visit one of your local department stores. Department stores are not only known for their convenience, but they are also known for their affordable prices.

In addition to traditional department stores and sports stores, you may also want to examine online department stores and online sports stores. These online retailers often have a large selection of hiking gear for you to buy. In fact, the selection that you will find online will likely be larger than the selection in your local stores. Online shopping is nice, as it is convenient. For example, with online shopping, you can shop for hiking gear at three in the morning, while in your pajamas.

You may also be able to find a large selection of hiking gear, as well as other hiking supplies, like clothes, at specialty hiking stores. While some of these stores do exist locally, it is often a lot easier to find a specialty hiking stores online. Specialty hiking stores are a great way to find and buy hiking gear, as specialty hiking stores focus solely on hiking. Many specialty hiking stores also handpick their merchandise, ensuring that it is really top of the line.

Although most hikers prefer to have brand new hiking gear, you may also want to take the time to examine pre-owned hiking gear. Pre-owned hiking gear is great if this is your first time going hiking and if you are unsure as to whether or not it is something that you would like to do again. Pre-owned hiking gear is also ideal if you are looking to plan a hiking adventure while on a budget. If you would like to buy pre-owned hiking gear or at least examine some of the gear available for sale, you may want to check out online auction websites, thrift stores, and yard sales. Pre-owned hiking gear can sometimes be difficult to come across, but, when you do come across it, you will likely be more than pleased with the money that you can save.

Before you start buying your hiking gear, you may want to make a hiking gear checklist for yourself. A hiking gear checklist will help to ensure that you bring everything with you on your next hiking trip. When making your hiking gear checklist, you may want to walk yourself through your hiking trip and see what you will need. For instance, when you see yourself eating, what would you like to eat and so forth.

As outlined above, you have a number of different options, when it comes to buying hiking gear. As a reminder, for the largest selection of hiking gear, you may want to think about shopping online.

Should You Buy or Rent Your Camping Gear

Are you planning on taking a camping trip in the near future? If this is your first time going camping, you will need to get camping gear to take with you, as you may not already own it. While your first impulse may be to head on down to your local sports store, did you know that you have another option as well? You do. In addition to buying your own camping gear, you may also be able to rent it.

When it comes to determining whether you should buy your own camping gear or just rent the camping gear that you need, you may have a difficult time deciding what to do. If you are wondering what you should do, you will want to continue reading on. Below, the pros and cons of both buying your own camping gear and renting your camping gear are outlined.

As for buying your own camping gear, you will find that the biggest con or downside to doing so is the cost. Depending on what you need to buy, it can get pretty expensive to purchase your own camping gear. With that in mind though, there are a number of camping gear equipment pieces, like camping tents or sleeping bags, that can be purchased for affordable prices. If you are looking to camp on a budget, you can still buy your own camping gear, but you just need to know where to look.

Although there are a number of downsides, like the price, to buying your own camping gear, you will also find that there are a number of pros or plus sides to doing so as well. One of those plus sides is the fact that you will own the camping gear in question. This means that you can use it as little or as often as you would like. If you are planning to take a number of camping trips in the future, you will find that it is easier, as well as cheaper in the long run, to buy your own camping gear.

It is also important to mention the freedom that you have, when buying your own camping gear. When buying your own camping gear, you can buy basically whatever you want. For instance, if you would like a camping tent that is the color black, you are free to do so. When you buy your own camping gear, you have the ability to be picky if you want to be. With a large selection of camping gear pieces to choose from, from a number of different retailers, the decision as to what you want to buy is yours to make.

If you are unable to buy your own camping gear or if you would prefer not you, your other option is to rent your camping gear. When it comes to renting camping gear, you will also find a number of pros and cons. As for the cons of renting your camping gear, you may find that you are faced with a limited selection of camping gear pieces to choose from. Many camping gear rental stations only carry the basic items, like tents, hot plates, and coolers. While you may have some choices, you will mostly find that your selection is limited.

As for the pros or plus sides to renting your camping gear, instead of buying it, you will find that the cost is much more affordable. Despite being relatively affordable, different camping gear rental stations charge different rental fees. You will also find that camping gear can typically be rented for as little as one day or as long as a couple of weeks. Renting your camping gear is nice if this is your first time going camping and if you are unsure as to whether or not you would be interested in doing so again.

As you can see, there are a number of pros and cons to both buying your own camping gear and renting it. In addition to the two above mentioned options, you may also want to think about borrowing camping gear from someone that you know. You may even be able to do so free of charge.

Importance Of Having The Best Hiking Backpacking Equipment

There are many times out in the woods that people end up not having fun because they do not have the proper hiking backpacking equipment. There are many companies out there that manufacture hiking backpacking equipment, but not all of it is high quality equipment. If you have never had to purchase hiking backpacking equipment before you may have no idea what out there is good and bad. There are several ways you can be assured that you get quality hiking backpacking equipment.

How to Find the Right Hiking Backpacking Equipment

Once you have decided what equipment you need you are going to have to shop around and see what equipment is available. There are many places that advertise having camping and hiking backpacking equipment, but for the most part these places do not have the expertise nor the proper equipment for you to make the right decision.

I would recommend going to a store that specializes in hiking and backpacking gear. These stores will have not only a variety of different products to choose from but will also have experts there that can help you decide what to get. My favorite store to go to is Eastern Mountain Sports.

This store was founded in 1967 by two rock climbers who were not satisfied with selection of climbing equipment they found in other stores. They soon added camping equipment and grew from these humble beginnings to more than 80 retail outlets. They carry the philosophy of a dedication to outdoor sports to all of the different outlet chains that they have. They carry brands that many other stores do not and will not ever carry. Some of these products are the best in the field.

While you may not have an EMS near you, you more then likely will have a store like them near you. Check the internet for the stores near you and what they carry. Once you know that you can go out and see what they have to offer. Ask a salesperson to help you and they should be able to point out the features and benefits of all the different products they offer.

Once you have seen the different products you do not need to purchase right away. If you want you can go home and research the hiking backpacking equipment to see what the reviews of the products are like. Take your time and buy the right thing.

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Arrangement Of Backpacking In The Sleeping Bear Dunes

I was backpacking in the Sleeping Bear Dunes. It was March, so when I made it through the woods and over the dunes, I’d have miles of beach to myself. It was an over-nighter, a chance to test new ultralight backpacking equipment. I hiked the wooded hills quickly, enjoying the cold air.

Halfway through the forest, I stopped to cook noodles. The cheap 3-ounce pot was from a dollar store, and it worked fine. I was happy, because from the catalog descriptions, the expensive titanium pots are all heavier, probably because they’re too thick and with too many gadgets.

I had to use a small twig-fire when my homemade alcohol stove didn’t provide enough heat. I later learned that isopropyl alcohol doesn’t burn as hot as the alcohol used for a gas additive, but the twigs worked in any case.

Backpacking On The Beach

After eating, I hiked to Lake Michigan, and sat up on a large sand dune. I watched the waves push ice up onto the empty beach. Coyotes began to howl in the distance, and the clouds rolled in. I was on the beach looking for petoskey stones when the snow began. Backpacking in March has its risks.

I was in running shoes, and it would be below freezing that night. In northern Michigan, March is definitely part of winter. My feet stayed warm while I hiked, but I hadn’t planned on them getting wet. At least I had a pair of warm, dry socks for sleeping.

Ultralight Backpacking Equipment

It was the first time I used my GoLite Breeze backpack, which weighed only 13 ounces. I was hiking with about nine pounds on my back, and that only because I threw in some canned food. I was going light, but I knew the forests here and felt comfortable with my abilities.

My down sleeping bag was a 17-ounce Western Mountaineering HighLite. It was the first time I would use it below freezing (It hit 25 degrees fahrenheit that night). Fortunately, it wasn’t too windy.

At the edge of the forest, behind the dunes, I set up my small tarp. I piled pine needles and dead bracken ferns under it, finishing just as it became dark. This made a warm mattress, and I slept well, listening to the coyotes, and to the waves pushing ice around in the lake.

In the morning I was happy to see only a dusting of snow. My one-pound sleeping bag had been warmer than my three-pounder – and I thought that was light. I poured alcohol in the cut-off bottom of a pepsi can (my 1/2-ounce backpacking stove) and made tea. After some crackers I was soon hiking in my mostly-dry shoes, along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Backpacking Lessons Learned

I ended my trip that afternoon, with a hike to the village of Empire, seven miles away. I was mostly satisfied. Only two problems: My tarp was too small, and the alcohol I brought was the wrong type.

After backpacking in Michigan for years, I know it well. I know where to find dead grass and bracken ferns, for example, to make a warm mattress in a few minutes. Knowledge, obviously, can be as valuable as expensive backpacking gear.

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Ultralight backpacking – china CRI-1001 Tester – CRS-TESTER manufacturer

History Ultralight backpacking was popularized by rock climber Ray Jardine, whose 1992 book PCT Hiker’s Handbook, later retitled as Beyond Backpacking in 1999, laid the foundations for many techniques that ultralight backpackers use today.

Jardine claimed his first Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike was with a base pack weight of 25 pounds (11 kg), and by his third PCT thru-hike it was below 9 pounds (4.1 kg). Yet the concept of ultralight camping gear is certainly not new. The outdoors writer Horace Kephart, in his 1917 book Camping and Woodcraft, listed in detail several camping kits manufactured in England that weighed 67 pounds (2.73.2 kg), and included silk tent, rubber sleeping mat, down sleeping bag or quilt, alcohol stove and cooking equipment: it was Kephart’s view that these kits were insufficiently durable. His own base pack weight for light trips was 18 pounds (8.2 kg), including the 2.75 pounds (1.25 kg) of his preferred Duluth-style backpack.[citation needed] Another early pioneer was Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1955 with only a duffel bag containing an army blanket, a plastic sheet, and other very simple gear much lighter than the heavy equipment common among thru-hikers in those days.

Philosophy By carrying lighter and more multi-purpose equipment, ultralight backpackers are frequently able to cover longer distances per day with less wear and tear on the body. This is particularly useful when thru-hiking a long-distance trail. The first way to reduce weight is by leaving items that are unnecessary at home. This often includes camping luxuries such as camp chairs, coffee makers, electronic gadgets, multiple items of clothing, etc. This is the initial step taken by any backpacker seeking less weight on their back. The next method is reducing item weight. Modifying items to reduce superfluous weight, such as removing the handle from a toothbrush or cutting tags off of clothing is one example of reducing an item’s weight. Replacing heavy items all together is another means by which to reduce an item’s weight. Replacing items manufactured using heavy materials with items made from lighter ones will help as well. For instance, Ripstop nylon can make a much lighter pack than canvas material. The fabrics Silnylon, spinnaker sailcloths and spectra-woven Cuben Fiber (UHMWPE) are regularly used in ultralight applications for their low ratio of weight to surface area . Exchanging fully-featured items for minimalist (and therefore lighter) items will save weight as well. For instance an inflatable sleeping pad is more feature-rich and weighs more than a closed-cell foam pad, yet both serve the same intrinsic purpose. There are many options, so reducing item weight has innumerable choices. Field-expedient poncho shelter. The final method is to utilize multi-purpose gear – one piece of gear which serves the purpose of two, thereby theoretically cutting the weight of the item in half. For example, a lightweight rain poncho which is modified with tie-outs (or tied out with sheet bends) also serves as a tarp shelter. According to Jordan: “The poncho-tarp is probably the lightest possible combination of shelter and raingear…” Another example is an insulated sweater or jacket used in conjunction with a lightweight sleeping bag which boosts the efficiency of the lightweight sleeping bag as well as remaining a useful clothing item. By using an insulated sweater in conjunction with a lightweight sleeping bag a warmer rated sleeping bag may be made appropriate for the current weather. Warmer weather sleeping bags tend to be lighter and more compressible than colder weather sleeping bags. Base Pack The “Three Heavies” or “Big Three” The rain shelter, sleeping system, and backpack are considered to be the three major items carried by backpackers. Consequently, reducing the weight of these will reduce overall pack weight. Using the methods described above the weight of the big three will be reduced.

A bivouac (using a bivy sack) in winter at Benediktenwand, Germany The most common rain shelter in use is the tent, but these are relatively heavy due to a number of reasons. They are often designed from two layers of fabric (to address the internal condensation problem), often require the use of metal poles, stakes, and sometimes include a separate ground cloth to protect the tent bottom. Replacing a double-wall tent with a simple tarp and bivy combination will reduce not only weight but also volume carried in a backpack. Other methods to reduce shelter weight include single layer tarp tent hybrids, hammocks, poncho-tarps, or the use of a bivy sack (Alpine style) as the sole-shelter. Reduction in weight of the second of the big three, the sleeping system, is achieved through reduction of the quantity of fabric used in its manufacture or through use of lighterweight materials in its construction. The use of down as an insulation material which is lighter by volume than currently available synthetic fibers will decrease bag weight but alternately suffer from its susceptibility to loft loss caused by moisture. Reducing the overall weight of a sleeping bag by eliminating superfluous material will reduce its weight. An example of this is the use of a sleeping quilt or top bag. A sleeping quilt is a bottom-less insulated blanket which has no insulation on its bottom side, relying on the user’s sleeping pad to guard against conductive heat loss into the ground. A top bag is more like a conventional sleeping bag in that it wraps around the user’s entire body but the bottom fabric contains no insulation. The philosophy behind these two alternatives is that insulation crushed under a person’s weight is devoid of air and therefore useless. Some modern down sleeping bags are through-baffled and under-filled such that the user can shift all the insulation to the top of their body thereby maximizing its potential to retain heat.

Ultralight hikers also tend to carry bags rated for warmer temperatures than traditional-weight backpackers – making up the difference on cold nights by wearing insulated clothing to bed such as a balaclava) or insulated jacket. Proper camping site selection that avoids colder hollows (low points where cold air tends to collect) or that makes use of natural wind barriers such as thick vegetation or cliffs makes up the difference in heat lost by lighter gear. With a lighter shelter and sleeping system, the backpack can consist of lighter material and a less bulky frame or no frame at all. The common ultralight alternative to an internal frame pack is a frameless pack made of ripstop nylon, silnylon, or Dyneema, with a carrying limit of 25 pounds (11 kg). An internal-frame pack can weigh upwards of 6 pounds (2.7 kg) with features such as hip belt stabilizers, lifter straps, sternum straps, and compression straps; ultralight frameless packs are commercially available in weights ranging from eight to fourteen ounces (200-400 g) and can consist of not much more than a sack with shoulder straps, a return to the simplicity of the rucksack. Jardine’s book includes directions to make your own “ultralight pack”. Grandma Gatewood used a lightweight duffel bag slung across her shoulder and stated that “Most people are pantywaists”. Some backpackers make their own gear. Possible advantages include individually customizing the items, as well as potential cost savings. An added advantage is that if a homemade item were to break down, the hiker would be in a better position to repair it. Materials used to make commercially available gear are normally not as lightweight as they could be; one reason is in order to minimize returns of damaged gear. Homemade lightweight gear can last as long as needed if cared for properly. Referenced examples Jardine: Backpack: homemade “ultralight pack” (13.5 ounces (380 g)) Sleeping system: homemade polarguard 2-inch (5.1 cm) thick quilt (33 ounces (940 g)); stowbag (1.75 ounces (50 g)); trimmed 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) thick, 36-inch (91 cm) long, closed cell polyethylene pad (4.8 ounces (140 g)); space blanket ground sheet (1.25 ounces (35 g)) Rain shelter: homemade 9-foot (2.7 m) by 7-foot (2.1 m) silnylon tarp (12 ounces (340 g)); 8 aluminum tent stakes and stowbag (2.6 ounces (74 g)); guyline cord (0.5 ounces (14 g)) Total: 69.4 ounces (1.97 kg; 4.34 lb) Jordan: Backpack: commercial “ultralight pack” (3.7 ounces (100 g)) Sleeping system: commercial 2.25-inch (5.7 cm) loft down sleeping bag (15.2 ounces (430 g)); spinnaker cloth stuff sack (.5 ounces (14 g)); torso sized, 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) thick, sleeping pad (1.9 ounces (54 g)); Rain shelter: commercial poncho-tarp made of spinnaker cloth 5-foot (1.5 m) by 8-foot (2.4 m) (6.3 ounces (180 g)); silnylon bivy sack (6.2 ounces (180 g)); 6 titanium tent stakes (1.3 ounces (37 g)); 24 feet (7.3 m) UHMWP guyline (0.2 ounces (5.7 g)) Total: 35.3 ounces (1.00 kg; 2.21 lb) Other Gear The remaining gear (see ten essentials and survival kit for some of the other items) carried by an ultralight backpacker follows a similar philosophy of replacing traditional backpacking gear with lighter options. Below is a short list of replacements that some Ultralight hikers choose instead of traditional backpacking gear: Making a fire instead of carrying a stove. Light weight alcohol such as a beverage can stove or solid fuel stoves instead of heavier gas stoves and a single cook pot (“billycan”) with a single spoon instead of a traditional mess kit (some ultralight hikers opt to not carry a stove and its associated paraphernalia at all, relying on no-cook meals for food, see also Raw foodism). Trail running or running shoes (Grandma Gatewood used Keds sneakers) instead of hiking boots and lightweight nylon socks instead of heavy wool socks. The minimal amount of extra clothing safely possible. At 40 F (4 C), an uncovered head accounts for half of lost body heat, making a balaclava particularly vital. An ultralight hiker’s first-aid kit and repair kit are often stored in plastic or silnylon bags instead of the conventional (and heavier) packaging that a traditional backpacker might carry. The contents can also be optimized, for example Jordan proposes a 5-ounce (140 g) kit. A 1 ounce (28 g) mini pocket knife instead of a heavier Leatherman style multi-tool or Bowie knife or machete. Chemical disinfectant water treatment (iodine tablets, aquamira) instead of heavier water filters. Plastic Soft drink bottles instead of heavier nalgene or lexan bottles or Hydration packs. A 0.25-ounce (7.1 g) LED light instead of a heavy flashlight or headlamp. Consumables In addition to carrying equipment, hikers must also carry consumables such as water and food and in some cases fuel. Some ultralight backpackers save weight by resupplying these items more frequently. On long-distance trails with multiple access points, some ultralight hikers choose to place food caches or stop at stores to resupply consumables at frequent intervals, allowing just two or three days worth of food to be carried in place of a larger load. Water See also: Drinking water A 1.5-litre (1.6 US qt) bottle of water. The water itself weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb). 1 litre (1.1 US qt) of water weighs 1 kilogram (2.2 lb), thus it is a significant contributor to pack weight. Moderate activity in a moderate climate requires 2 litres (2.1 US qt) of drinking water per day , and in many regions hikers must carry their water from oasis to oasis. When traveling through an area with many springs and streams, some ultralight hikers can carry as little as 350 millilitres (12 US fl oz) of water or none at all, provided the hiker is confident on how far away the next reliable water source is and the expected weather conditions (or is smart enough to double back before becoming dehydrated). Water from many sources should be purified to prevent Waterborne diseases such as Giardiasis, Cryptosporidiosis and Dysentery. Some ultralight hikers reduce the weight of water purifying devices by carrying lighter disinfectants as opposed to heavier filters. Some ultralight hikers even forgo treatment in regions where water purification may not be essential or are particularly careful about choosing sources, see also Potability of backcountry water. Neither boiling, disinfectants or ordinary filters are effective against chemical pollution. Food See also: Nutrition Once the Big 3 (see above) and water are resolved, food becomes the biggest contributor to pack weight and an area where substantial gains over traditional backpacking can be gained. The Basal metabolic rate requirement of food calories (one food calorie is 1000 heat calories, thus sometimes labelled kcal) is approximately 1000 per day per 100 pounds of body weight. However exertion in the form of hiking consumes additional calories; for example the standard US Army field ration is 4500 calories per day for strenuous work. Thus depending upon type of food an average hiker carries, a hiker requires approximately 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) of food per day.[dubious discuss][citation needed] Ultralight techniques can substantially reduce this weight, Jardine suggests 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) per day for thru-hiking, Jordan suggests 1.25 pounds (0.57 kg) per day (at 125 calories per ounce, 4.4 calories per gram) for a 3-season 3-day backpack. Many foods can be dried or dehydrated to reduce water weight. Dehydrated meals can be purchased or dehydrated at home. On the trail, rehydration can typically be performed by cooking in hot water. Some ultralight hikers reduce weight by not carrying a stove and rehydrating food in a container with water (although this method requires more time to rehydrate than the traditional cooking method). For example Ramen noodles, dehydrated refried beans (in powdered form), or dehydrated hummus can be put in a ziploc bag or lightweight microwave disposable plastic container with water to rehydrate. Gaba rice (or GBR, germinated brown rice) can be made with brown rice, body heat and water and eaten uncooked.[citation needed] Oats (groats or rolled, granola or muesli) and barley also become soft enough with soaking to eat uncooked. A common variety of trail mix made out of peanuts, raisins, and candy coated chocolate, around 4.8 kcal/gram. Weight in the form of food can also be reduced by choosing foods that have the highest ratio of calories per weight. Proteins and carbohydrates have approximately 4 food calories per gram whereas fat has 9 food calories per gram, thus carrying foods high in fat content can reduce weight, such as the following examples: Peanut Butter (5.89 kcal/gram) Nuts (Pecans are 6.87 kcal/gram, toasted coconut is 5.92 kcal/gram) Pemican (5.7 kcal/gram) Dried whole egg (5.92 kcal/gram) Clarified butter (anhydrous), which stores well unrefrigerated, is almost pure fat (8.76 kcal/gram), thus about 4,000 food calories per pound, however it is also a potent bear attractant. Alternatively, so-called “energy bars” on average contain more protein and carbohydrates than fat, similar to a fig newton (3.68 kcal/gram), lowering their calorie to weight ratio relative to other choices Food protection A captive bear tests a food canister In many areas, unprotected food has the potential of being eaten by wild animals. One common method (where the technique is legal) is to hang the food. In many areas, food is hung in trees to keep it away from ground animals, but this is ineffective where animals have become accustomed to humans. In the U.S.A.’s Yosemite National Park where there are numerous black bears, hanging food is ineffective, and an approved bear-resistant food storage container is required . The conflict with the ultralight hiker philosophy is that approved, bear-proof containers weigh several pounds empty. References ^ a b c d George Cole; Ryan Jordan; Alan Dixon (2006), Lightweight Backpacking and Camping, Bozeman, MT: Beartooth Mountain Press, ISBN 0974818828  ^ Ray Jardine (1992), The PCT Hiker’s Handbook, LaPine, OR: AdventureLore Press, ISBN 0963235907  ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ray Jardine (1999), Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardines Guide to Lightweight Hiking, LaPine, OR: AventureLore Press, ISBN 0963235931  ^ Freeling, Elisa (Nov-Dec, 2002), “When Grandma Gatewood hiked the Appalachian Trail”, Sierra, http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200211/good.asp  ^ “Fabric Mojo – Descriptions of common lightweight fabric materials”. Mountainlaureldesigns.com. http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/fabric.php. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ Jordan, Ryan Lightweight Backpacking and Camping, page 135 ^ “Where To Start”. Ultralightbackpacker.com. http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com/where-to-start.html. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ a b c Colin Fletcher; Chip Rawlins (2002), The Complete Walker IV, New York: Knopf, ISBN 0375703233  ^ a b c d e f g Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills ^ “USDA food database: Snacks, trail mix”. Nal.usda.gov. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ “Online Merck Manual: Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats”. Merck.com. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch152/ch152b.html. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ “USDA food database: Nuts, coconut meat, dried (desiccated), toasted”. Nal.usda.gov. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ “Methods of meat preservation without refrigeration”. FAO. http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0562e/T0562E04.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ “USDA food database: Butter oil, anhydrous”. Nal.usda.gov. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/. Retrieved 2009-09-23.  ^ , 2001, http://www.healthcentral.com/fitorfat/408/34334.html  ^ Food Storage in Yosemite National Park, 2008, http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm  External links Joe’s Ultralight Backpacking — introductory page including an example gear list v  d  e Adventure travel Types Accessible tourism  Adventure recreation  Adventure travel  Agritourism  Backpacking (travel)  Backpacking (wilderness)  Bicycle touring  Camping  Disaster tourism  Ecotourism  Extreme tourism  Flashpacking  Ghetto tourism  Hang Gliding  Hiking  Hitch-hiking  Jungle tourism  Mountain biking  Mountaineering  Naked hiking  Paragliding  Rafting  River trekking  Safaris  Sustainable tourism  Ultralight backpacking  Urban exploration  Volunteer travel Miscellaneous Backpack  Bottled water  Campsite  Free Independent Traveler  Geocaching  Overlanding  Social photography  Zip-line Categories: Adventure travel | Backpacking | Camping | Hiking equipmentHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from May 2008 | All accuracy disputes | Articles with disputed statements from February 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from June 2008

 

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Cheap Camping: How to Save Money on Camping Gear

Going camping in the woods, desert or even on the beach is a favorite way to spend time together for many families. But it isn’t necessarily cheap. There are quite a few things you will need.

Tents, sleeping bags and propane stoves are a few of the things most people like to have with them, but don’t forget about other cooking gadgets, backpacking gear and storage for all the stuff you need to take and carry to the campsite.

Here are a few tips to save money on all that stuff:

Specialty Retailers – As is true for many specialty items (such as electronics), it can be very useful to find a retailer that specializes in carrying only that item. Because they usually have room on their sales floor for more items and more of each item, they are not forced to mark up their products as high as other retailers that may have very little stock. Remember what you learned in school about supply and demand? Same principle. In addition, by shopping at a specialty camping or outdoors retailer, you are assuring that you have the largest selection to choose from. This can often save you money alone by giving you the opportunity to purchase a high-quality product that will not fall apart after one camping season.

Surplus Stores – Many people are not aware of surplus stores, and many more are confused by what they actually offer. Surplus stores sell used items, or items that have never been used but were previously owned. They mostly carry outdoor equipment, military items and industrial specific items. For this reason, you can often find a lot of camping, hunting, or outdoor gear and equipment. In addition, you can get great discounts because of the nature of the store and how the products were obtained by the retailer.

Classifieds – One of the best ways to find great deals on camping equipment is to search your local classifieds. Many people decide to start camping, purchase all of the necessary equipment, and then shortly thereafter decide camping really isn’t for them after all. They then put their very slightly used equipment up for sale in hopes to get something back from their purchase. The deals found in classifieds may be so good that you’d even spend a little gas money to purchase and pick up something out of your immediate local area.

If you’ve been tagging along with others when camping throughout the years, and are finally ready to purchase equipment of your own, don’t panic over the possible cost. Do a little research and use the tips above to help you on your search for affordable new or used camping equipment that will allow you and your family to have many years of camping trips to come.

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Goa Vacations: Backpacking Travel Tips

Backpacking is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to travel across the globe. Previously meant for students and budget travelers traveling on a shoe string budget, backpacking has made significant inroads into the travel industry the world over today. Goa, the west coast paradise in India, is an ideal destination for the backpackers. The beaches, hills, forests, and cities of Goa offer all the variety that an ideal backpacker looks for. The climate, people, and tourist friendly atmosphere is conducive to the backpackers in Goa. Here are a few tips that you can rely on before venturing on you backpacking Goa vacation

There are numerous tourist destinations in Goa that conventional tourists visit. These include the beaches, the forts, wildlife parks and the major cities and towns. Backpackers would definitely like to visit the wildlife parks like the Cotigao wildlife sanctuary and the Salim Ali bird sanctuary. The beaches are the most popular tourist spots in Goa. Backpackers would love the carefree ambience and the numerous options available there. Hiking, cycling, motor bike rides, rave parties, and a host of water sports are on offer at all the major beaches of Goa, like Baga, Vagator, Anjuna, Calangute and Colva.

The villages of Goa are beautiful places with their Portuguese style houses and winding roads suddenly bringing you face to face with a white church. There are numerous uncharted trails that you can find out from the locals, or yourself.

Backpackers do not need lavish accommodation. That is how you can get to know about the local customs and ways of life. Goa offers a wide range of options when it comes to accommodation for the backpackers. Apart from the numerous budget hotels, Goa has many village cottages and beach side huts that are let out by the locals at very cheap rates. Apart from saving money, you get to stay away from the city, right in the midst of the rustic beauty of Goa.

Now on to transport; the motor cycle taxis are the most attractive for the backpackers. Then there are the three wheeled auto-rickshaws with doors and curtains, giving you a modest and cozy version of a limousine. Of course, you must try out travelling with your group by hiring motor cycles. Motor biking along the winding hilly roads would make up for a memorable vacation in Goa.

The usual backpacking gear has to be carried. This includes maps, torch lights, pocket knives, water proof matches, fire lighter, compass, copies of your travel related papers and lots of first aid.

Goa tourism has never been hassled by major safety issues. A few stray incidents may make you think twice; but scores of tourists would assure you that the place is very safe for backpackers. However, a few points should be kept in mind while you are backpacking in Goa.

Although the people are very friendly and helpful, trusting someone too much, especially with your belongings or cash is not wise at all and should be avoided. The best approach would be to go through backpackers’ associations.

Never entertain anyone who approaches you with anything that smells remotely unlawful. Sometimes tourists do not understand local laws and backpackers maybe easily susceptible, being relatively independent while traveling.

To sum up, for memorable backpacking Goa vacations, stick to the basics. Do not try anything out of the box, follow safety guidelines, and always carry loads of common sense.

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Backpacking – The Secret To Packing Your Food

It is much easier to over-pack your backpack than under-pack it and it’s very easy to over pack it with food. Learn the secret of packing your food to take with you on your backpacking trip.

Packing your backpack correctly is always a challenge as you want to take everything you need – without being over-burdened. By planning your food needs carefully you will find that you pack exactly what’s needed and select the most suitable choices such as the lightest items that can fit easily into your backpack, together with all your other backpacking gear.

There are three key factors that you will have to bear in mind when planning your food for your backpacking trip. Firstly, consider both the amount of room and weight that you can actually allocate for food. Next, consider your own energy needs. Lastly, how many days do you plan to go for on your trip? These three factors will definitely help decide the food that you actually need to pack.

There are a few more key factors such as planning to eat one cooked, hot meal a day. The meals left should be both easy to prepare and required little or no cooking. Purchase foods that are designed to be prepared in their packaging. Bear in mind to buy single portion meals so that you only eat what you need. You need to be thinking smart when it comes to planning backpacking meals.

Always aim to eat three meals a day together with snacks. Eating well is very important as it keeps you well-nourished and revitalized, ready for the day ahead. It will keep your energy levels up and enhance sleep as well as boost morale if the going gets tough. It’s worth thinking about taking vitamin supplements on your trip if you think it would be useful, especially for longer trips. Be sure to eat every meal that you planned and never skip a meal.

Backpacking – Killer Tips For When You Go Backpacking

By having the correct backpacking gear you will be assured that it will be an enjoyable and pleasurable trip. It really can really make or break your adventure so follow these great tips to make sure you use the correct gear and have a fantastic time.

Buy gloves those are thick enough to protect and insulate from the cold and heat, but have good grip too.

When you turn in to sleep for the night make sure you wear a hat when sleeping in the cold. It is a highly effective way to get extra warmth as so much heat is lost through the head. You will be helping essential heat to not leave your body. Also, if you do feel yourself getting too warm then simply take it off – which is so much more convenient than taking off other layers of clothing or bedding.

Zip top bags are highly recommended as you can use them for both damp and wet items of clothing to isolate them away from your dry gear until you have a chance to dry them. It’s a great idea to carry your map in them to.

Bandanas are really useful too so include a couple in your kit. They can be used as a bandage, pot holder or even a water filter. They have many, many uses and are lightweight and take up virtually no room. You will not notice you are carrying them so if you don’t use them – it’s not a problem.

Take a newspaper on your trip – but not just for reading! These can be put inside your boots at night, when you settle down to camp. The newspaper will make your boots dry quicker by soaking up any moisture. If you don’t use them for your boots then they are also great as a firelighter.

Use individual colored bags to organize groups of items in your backpack. This will make these groups of items far easier to locate and will negate the need to empty your backpack in order to find something.

It is essential to carry some plastic bags – like the ones used for trash. These can be used for a multitude of things such as separating wet items of clothing from dry items, storing trash or covering over items form the rain.

Of course, don’t forget the essentials such as a swiss army knife, map and compass!

Hi everyone, here is my backpacking gear I use. It’s not completely ultralight but it’s still under 17lbs. What do you use? And more importantly, why? Thanks for checking it out!!

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Backpacking Made Easy With The Eureka Apex 2 Tent

Nicely lightweight with a compact fold size, the Eureka Apex 2 is a great choice for three-season backpacking treks to the backcountry. It also offers good storage space, with full vestibules on each side (6.7 square foot apiece) for stashing your gear out of the way.

But Eureka isn’t new to developing top-of-the-line camping and backpacking gear. In fact, Eureka began as Eureka Tent & Awning Company in Binghamton, New York in 1895. The company specialized in canvas products and produced some of the best Conestoga wagon covers and horse blankets for America’s first frontiersmen.

Since then, Eureka company quickly grew because of its high quality backpack and canvas tent products. It played a pivotal role in equipping military families with housing products after the return of soldiers from World War II. In 1960, Eureka’s innovative Draw-Tite tent was used in a Himalayan Expedition to Nepal by Sir Edmund Hilary, the first person to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier.

Eureka quickly established itself as an authority of canvas and outdoor sporting shelters and tents. Eureka’s StormShield design, a self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of its most popular tents in the entire industry with sales exceeding over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.

The Apex 2 tent by Eureka is no exception to the high standards for which Eureka holds itself. The Apex 2 balances maximal thermal efficiency with superior ventilation, thanks to one entire wall of no-see-um mesh–great for stargazing on clear summer nights. The other walls of the Apex 2 tent are waterproof while a sturdy double-coated StormShield polyester fly protects the mesh wall in inclement weather.

This free-standing, two-pole tent is quick and easy to set up with its durable shockcorded fiberglass frame, ring and pin attachments, pole sleeve attachments, and color coded webbing.

The tent is so easy to set up and use that even beginning backpackers can use this tent. It is safe, reliable, and sturdy, safe for families or individual campers who enjoy e2ra room to relax outdoors.

Plus the Eureka Apex 2 is equipped with a poke out vent for e2ra ventilation when needed, making it the perfect warm-weather camping tent.

Other features of the Apex 2 tent by Eureka are:

Two mesh gear pockets for internal storage
Clothes line loop, flashlight loop
2 doors, 2 windows
Tent, pole, and stake bags ARE included

Whether you are looking for a tent for a weekend trip, a rough-terrain expedition, or any other weekday or weekend outdoor trips, it is important to keep in mind some of the following points.

You Must Expect the Worst

It’s always best to choose camping equipment with the worst weather conditions in mind. By preparing for bad conditions, your tent is sure to hold up to whatever weather forecast you might encounter. Whether you are hiking and camping in a park, backpacking through remote areas, or enjoying a weekend camping trip to your local park, you can always rely on the Apex 2 tent. It was built with the worst weather conditions in mind – and it makes sure you are comfortable no matter what.

Size Matters

Ask yourself how many people you’d like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists who like e2ra room or for families or any size, check out tents that are lightweight, durable, and built to last. The nice thing about the Apex 2 tent is that is small enough to carry around easily but when set up it is big enough to accommodate two adults plus e2ra room for storage.

The Apex 2 tent is the perfect camping and backpacking accessory for today’s savvy outdoor enthusiast. Whether you are solo camper or a family camper, you can find the Apex 2 tent by Eureka at savings rates BackpackingHorizons.com

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