What are /r/backpacking's favorite Products & Services?

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As a native Austrian living just an hour away from Hallstatt, I have to admit that this is probably one of the most overrated places in this country. It is pretty for sure, but not worth the hype and the hordes of tourists. I went into a local bakery there once at 3PM on a Wednesday and the saleswoman was totally surprised when I greeted her - I was the first customer who actually spoke the local language this week.

There are a lot more scenic places just arround the corner that have a lot more to offer and are nowhere near as crowded.

Just in case you wonder want this view looks like in winter, here is a picture I took last year at the same spot :)

Better yet, wear liner socks and never get the blisters in the first place.

I wear these and keep an extra pair in my first aid kit for other hikers/if I lose mine.

I came here to suggest Leukotape as well. It will stick to you through sweat, water, abrasion, etc... It basically stays put until you are ready to take it off. I have even added a little tissue or paper towel to make a Leukotape band-aid to protect a blister. My only gripe is that I wish they sold it in strips so you didn't have to haul the whole roll around.

I also second the trail runners. You'll thank yourself for wearing something light and comfortable. Those boots look new and very stiff, I would recommend breaking in any shoe before going on a rough hike in them.

But that photo.... looks like it could be in a catalog, sans blood.

Oh you won’t regret this one! The best resource for this one is AllTrails

Willet: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sespe-river-trail-to-willett-hot-springs

Sespe: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sespe-river-trail-to-sespe-hot-springs

I included both because the trail to Sespe is only one direction for some reason.

A couple things to note:

1) the gps track is a little confusing right out of willet. There’s an unmarked river crossing and it’s really easy to miss it. On the way back it’s more obvious, but basically the first opportunity to cross the River when you are leaving the Willet junction is the right one!

2) there’s a fire ban in effect that includes camp stoves. We saw a lot of people still using stoves, so I don’t think a lot of people know. But just an FYI!

This doesn't look possible.The furthest North East (coastal) it appears to be possible to get to by road is here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Magadan, which is still thousands of miles from Alaska.

Also, the journey there sounds kinda rough:

>Independent travel in Kolyma is serious adventure, with the very real possibility of death. The area is essentially lawless, undeveloped, barely populated, and unbelievably remote. Just getting to either terminus at Magadan or Yakutsk is an adventure in itself - travelling along the road makes this look like buying a bus fare in comparison. Every year dozens of people die in the region from drowning, freezing, car accidents, starvation, tick-borne encephalitis, alcohol poisoning, fires, crime, wild animals, or just disappear. While travelers in the region are rewarded with nature, adventure, and so on, there is NONE of the safety net that accompanies nearly every other area that people travel, such as health care, consular support, English speakers, law enforcement, telecoms, etc

Yeowch.

I would say around 6k - 7k USD for a 8 - 10 week trip.

Here are some tips that I learned from mine:

1. Avoid EU rail pass if you are strictly on budget (Use buses & Rideshare).
2. Europe is very well connected through road (Buses:Flixbus, Regio Jet, Lux express)
3. Use Blablacar ride sharing service (Convenient and cheap)
4. Avoid AirBNB, if you are alone and want to meet people (Stay in Hostels)
5. Avoid Hostels with cheap ratings and choose the one that includes free breakfast.
6. Choose the free walk-in tours in every city to get an overview (Tip the tour guide: 5€ approx)
7. Follow wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/) to find cheap & best places to eat.
8. You wont be needing a local phone or data plan, Its very easy to find free wifi everywhere
9. But if you want one, take Ortel sim card (Can buy in belgium or germany) or order on ebay a month before (you can activate online)

More pictures from one of my favorite places in the US to hike! This was a couple hours hike (easy day trip — I’m pretty sure it was lake Sabrina to blue lake trails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lake-sabrina-to-blue-lake-trail) + some pictures of the buttermilks which is a world famous climbing area. When we went we met people who’d come all the way from Germany to boulder! 🧗‍♂️

Cheaper alternative which receieves pretty decent reviews

3F UL GEAR lanshan 2 Tent 2 Person Oudoor Ultralight Camping Tent 3 Season Professional 15D Silnylon Rodless Tent 4 Season https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859HWPTH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_i_PFGaGbKCNSST0?psc=1

I'm going to add one thing that I came up with as my business travel expanded - scan your passport's ID page, drivers license, possibly health records, insurance etc. etc. etc. and keep those scans/pix* in a secure account - Proton Email is still free, is encrypted (you have to enter an encryption key after the password) and based in Switzerland. You can just email this to yourself and let it sit there.

Why do this? If you're in real trouble and have to contact someone, find your way home or if some other calamity happens, you may need to contact a consulate and prove who you are. If your stuff has been stolen, this can get difficult, particularly in this security-conscious day and age.

Good luck - I did something like this one summer when I was 19. Really changes your view of the world and how little you really need to be a content person. It also highlights how changing your location won't change you unless you let it.

*If this information is kept as picture files without descriptive labels (or with misleading ones e.g. "Picture of mom"), it will be more likely to be ignored by hackers' bots looking for data strings with known patterns (social security numbers, credit cards etc) in the unlikely event that the accounts are compromised.

This post inspired much discussion about taxonomic differences between "Grizzly Bears" and "Brown Bears." Both are currently classified as the same species as several comments noted. Beyond that significant detail, I'll leave it to taxonomists to distinguish subspecies, etc.. My interest is in differences between these animal in the field and how they respond to human encounters. Many authorities note important behavioral differences between "coastal brown bears" and "interior grizzlies." I have never been close enough to an interior grizzly to see anything but a small blob in the distance. I've had brown bear mothers with cubs walk right though my campsite in Katmai and not take notice of me. Tom Smith, bear expert, described in his 2012 NOLS Faculty talk that bears have a tolerance for close approach that is variable, but generally, coastal bears are more approachable -- not that you should approach them. On the other hand, interior grizzlies react at much greater distance and may be a much greater threat. Smith and Stephen Herrero both suggest that many grizz charges are bluffs. Bear spray, according to these experts, is a better counter-measure for several reasons, not least of which is that you are not wounding a bear that was just bluffing in the first place.

Check out revolut. It's a card you can use at ATM's that you top up via an app.

I'm in the UK and really impressed with the sign up. You get the app, sign up and your card is delivered a few days later. As a plus it also looks cool.

They are a new startup and currently not making money from the exchange rate with no ATM fees globally. My GF has been using hers for a couple of weeks in SE Asia without issues and I plan to do the same when I join her.

Check out Field Trip. It's made by Niantic, the people who made Ingress and Pokemon Go. It has all the Atlas Obscura information plus a lot of other stuff. You can even set it up to notify you when something interesting is near by.

In my opinion you are making a huge mistake in wanting just way too much.

What you should do:

Mexico:

• Cancun > Isla Mucheres (take padi+advanced diving), Playa (party), Tulum (cave\cenotes diving) and skip Cancun.

• Chitzen Itza (while going from Tulum > Merida)

• Merida (Uxmal if you want more ruins)

• Palenque (More ruins there, skip on Campeche between Palenque and Merida)

Guatamala:

• Flores (Tikal)

• Lanquin (cave exploring, http://wikitravel.org/en/Lanquin)

• Rio Dulce\Livingston (Few days in http://www.fincatatin.centramerica.com/main3E.htm)

• Antigua (It's possible to get there in one day from Livingston by Puerto Barrios - DO NOT STAY IN G.C.)

• Lago de Atitlan (huge lake in the middle of Guatamala)

• Quetzaltenango

Mexico:

• San Christobal de Las Casas (canyon with a boat is a nice trip and the city is just very relaxing)

• Mexico City (antrophology museum, city itself (zona rosa), Teotihuacan, frida kahlo museum)

Something like this is allot better for the time that you have. And yes you won't see as many countries, but can you really say you've seen a country when you only spent hours there? I really hope you don't go through with your schedule because I don't think it's the best way to go about spending your time. However with what I posted I can guarantee you that you will see and experience amazing things while not feeling rushed.

I didn't put an exact day schedule on this because you will find out that in same places you want to stay longer, perhaps because you really like it or maybe you'll meet some amazing people etc... IMO real travelling is not rushing from A>B but rather experiencing the whole journey without all too much planning. 45 days should be perfect for this trip and you might be able to visit a few more spots along the way.

Apologies, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I've been a photographer since the film days of the 80's but do digital now and have been lucky enough to have some talented friends to refer to over the years. Sometimes a shot looks good on its own and sometimes a filter adds to it. Figuring this out is just a basic part of photography but I feel it still needs to be learned by beginners. I'll leave this article here for you. Just some basic tips for someone who doesn't strive to be a photographer.

https://lifehacker.com/5662812/how-to-take-better-pictures-with-your-smartphones-camera

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqD--E2DpVnqdFFCWXZWellSSENMMktEbEh3YnlJcHc

Here's a quick list :)

I need to pick up some more food, but here's what I have. I'm walking out of work today and basically straight into the woods, and then getting picked up from wherever I am on Sunday night.

It’s more like 12-14 due to the extra 2.75 miles out and back. And you will slow way down on the last bit because of the water. We were worried we’d have too much time but actually it took a while to get through the water. Whatever you do, being sturdy water shoes or sandals.

There are also sections where you’ll need to hold your pack above your head.

Here’s my recording on AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-backpack-trip-0fcee95?p=-1

Jet Abroad is a pretty good flight search similar to Sky Scanner

Google flights lets you search in a map view showing prices from a location which is handy.

I would love to do the same thing while never using a flight.

Which country are you the citizen of?

Please make a list of what visas and costs you have paid for?

Could you post a picture with the route across Africa that you took?

If you don't know which app to use for creating the route, I can recommend this app to be used.

I feel like I'm fighting an uphill (and losing) battle...

My gf and I (dontbenuts) travel a lot. We use 25-35L bags and have full on outdoor shelters with us.

• My gear and bag: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/snr6gwlg3dk3cg8/CUvfHgn8kl

• Head over to GoLite. They have really light and cheap rain apparel.

• This whole "boots because they give you ankle support" thing is nuts. Unless you're using crampons get regular shoes. Boots restrict your ankle movement and thus will cause sprained ankles and such. Trail runners are great, but really $20 sneakers are fine. If you don't believe me head over to the PCT subreddit and check out what people are using for the 2600 mile Mex-Can trail. Hint: not boots :)

• As for a pack, GO LIGHT. You have to carry this thing. If you aren't bringing bedding then what do you need to bring? For your trip a good 30L bag is more than enough. If you feel like you need room for gear or first aid or whatever, I dare you to bring more than I do and mine all fits in a school sized bag... The Osprey 24/7 series is great. Tom Binh is even better.

• Clothes. This is the biggest problem. Bring 1 of (almost everything). 1 pants, 1 shorts, 2-3 shirts, 1 long sleeve, 1 hoodie, 1 rain jacket, 1 rain pants. Considering that you're gonna be wearing about 40-60% of this all the time, you won't need a big pack.

Pm if you'd like more info :)

I went to Iran in 2011 and absolutely loved it! The people were the most incredibly friendly people that I have met anywhere in the world. I couldn't walk down the street for people running across the road to shake my hand and welcome me to their country.

As you can imagine, tourists are few and far between, so people are genuinely surprised and happy to see Westerners.

I'm from England myself, but most people never even asked, so perhaps they either didn't mind, or they just assumed i was American/British.

I came in through the border with Armenia, then drove down into Tehran, before heading along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and into Turkmenistan. I only spent a week in Iran but loved it all and couldn't find any fault.

The thing to remember is that most people can distinguish between an individual from their country's government. So I wouldn't worry politically, unless you wear a lot of camo and look military or like a government official.

Check out the pages on http://wikitravel.org/en/Iran and the individual pages on any cities or towns you want to check out.

You can come close to cutting your flight budget in half if you're flexible. RT tickets to select (major) European cities for about $500-$600 from that airport. I don't know your exact months or circumstances, but $1100 is awfully high.

http://www.skyscanner.com/transport/flights-from/iad/cheapest-flights-from-washington-dulles.html?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&cabinclass=economy&rtn=1&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=f...

> y, save waypoints and navigate without using data. When I arrived in a city, I would do some reading and store various attractions in the app and then I could pull up the info offline during the day to see where i was and what i wanted to see.

maps4me is my app. same features prob. but the ability to have a map when off grid is very useful.

I would go trough spain(madrid/barcelona/malaga for beach) then portugal. lisboa is the city with cheapest and most modern hostels in west europe (personal opinion) And the portugese speak excellent english. no dubbing really help, compared to spain. Very liberal laws to ;-)

Make sure none of your clothes are cotton! It soaks up a ton of water and take forever to dry.

I'd switch the boxers to briefs, so the boys aren't banging around every step. (Not cotton.)

I prefer trail runners to hiking boots. They're lighter and usually comfier, though if you're hiking in the cold, or bushwhacking, boots are fine. No cotton socks BTW.

A rental sleeping pad sounds like sleeping on the ground with extra steps. I'd buy a closed cell foam pad. This is what I use. It doubles as a sit pad, so you don't need that camping chair.

Brit here, I can't speak for the other countries but certainly in the UK you can save a lot buying train tickets in advance. You need to book about 3 weeks or more in advance to really get better prices, if you book 2 or 3 days ahead its often little to no difference than the "on the day" price, so it depends if you know your travel dates. If you do want to book ahead, use websites like https://www.thetrainline.com and choose to pick the tickets up at the station. You'll need to put the card you paid with in the ticket machine and also enter a code they email you to print the tickets out on the day. Have a great trip, sounds like fun!

Edit: you can also try www.nationalexpress.com to take a coach instead of a train, often slower but cheaper!

Don't be sorry!

I assumed Oceania based on assumption. You were starting in Asia and working towards Europe and possible continuing onto North America. The phrasing made me feel like you were not from Europe or North America. I assumed Australia/New Zealand only because of the demographic I see posting on reddit. Sorry to make the assumption.

Within a region, you can usually find budget airlines that will transport you for reasonable prices. Our definition of reasonable prices may differ but here's an example where a one-way flight from Bangkok to HCMC for next friday will cost you $59 USD. Night buses can also transport you for likely a fraction of the cost.

It's not too bold to assume that in most countries, it's possible to take a bus to most major cities of neighbouring countries. This planning is easier when you're there but you can google things like "city x to city y" to see what people have done.

Playing around on skyscanner can also let you know what places are connected to one another. Check out the website. You can search "everywhere" as a destination.

Yep. Pretty fascinating. Link to the book if you want it:

Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart: A History and Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and a Study of Life Among the Mountaineers in the early 20th Century https://www.amazon.com/dp/165759341X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eUlOFbHT744ZD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Yes, there are a few different ways to do this.

1) The cloud. This basically means using an online storage service like OneDrive, DropBox, Box, Google Photos, Amazon Cloud Drive, etc. All are similar and have their own advantages/disadvantages. I typically use two of these to make sure photos/videos are not skipped and lost. The major barrier to this is finding Wifi, but not just Wifi, Wifi that is fast enough and consistent. That'll depend on where you're traveling and staying.

2) An external hard/flash drive with a portable file hub. The main purpose of the file hub is to serve as a connection between a USB hard/flash drive and memory card to your phone. You can transfer media from your phone to a memory card to a portable hard drive. I used it for my GoPro videos to transfer files from a memory card to a hard drive while using the app on my phone to control the process. No laptop or internet connection needed.

3) There are other options like bringing a laptop and connecting your phone to it, swapping memory cards in your phone if your phone supports it (sorry, iPhone users), phone specific USB/hard drive adapters, etc.

Yeah, it's a technique popularized by the /r/Ultralight crowd.

You can get 5 for $6 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Hefty-Trash-Compactor-Bags-GAL/dp/B002BXRGQA

Pack covers do protect the fabric of your pack. However most modern backpacks are made of nylon materials that shed water and don't really retain water weight. If you've got a bunch of stuff strapped to the outside of your pack - the cover may still be necessary (although that's one reason we typically recommend not strapping sensitive gear to the outside of your bag).

Pack covers tend to flap in the wind. They make it a pain to get into your gear without getting everything wet.

A liner also helps eliminate extra dry bags. I used to have a dry bag for clothes, jackets, sleeping bag, etc. Now I just jam everything into my single pack liner and roll it up tight. Even more weight/space/cost savings there.

This helps with the 'pebble' problem. When you have many dry bags and other hard items in your pack, they take up extra space. Think of pebbles in a glass (pebbles = gear, glass = pack). There is air / unused space between the rocks. However if you take the gear out of those smaller / multiple dry sacks - and jam them all together - you use the space inside your pack more effectively.

I believe it’s this one: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/big-pine-lakes-trail

My dad and brothers and I did this hike a while back and it wasn’t too strenuous but the usual overnight hiking rules apply. Make sure they have good boots, good backpack, and warm clothes for night. There is a good bit of elevation gain the first day, but once you get over the initial hump it’s pretty easy walking. Bring a swimsuit if you dare! The water in lake 3 (where we camped the first night) is probably the coldest I have ever been in.

If fishing is your thing, these lakes hold an abundance of gorgeous brook trout, and the creeks that connect them hold browns as well. They were all eager to take a fly or lure.

Gotta give a shout out to these. They're fun to make while making candles with the gf too. Not to mention, its recycling :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Waterproof-Dryer-Lint-Fire-Starter/?ALLSTEPS

8 days in Ecuador? I would take a bus from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa. Takes around 4 hours and cost around 3USD. Once in Baños you will have plenty of nature and adventure activities (cheap also!) to fill your time. Quito is just a big city, it's enough to spend your first and last day there. You can also go a couple hours north of Quito to Otavalo, a small friendly town with a nice vibe allegedly one of the best places in South America to get handicrafts...

Wikitravel guide of Baños: http://wikitravel.org/en/Baños

go here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Banaue you wont regret it, stay at randys brookside inn and ask him how to get to sagada and then vigan. look up these places, seriously amazing. El Nido is also amazing

Meeting other people and spending time with them in cities will improve your experience dozen times. Try to find redditors/whatever in the places you'll go who will have time for you and you'll enjoy it much more with the people who live there.

To save money, you should try either couchsurfing or airbnb

That has hardly any PALS (MOLLE) webbing whatsoever. Most pouches that attach externally will require a minimum of two rows and two columns to fit securely to. You could still attach pouches to that single strip on each side, but they're going to flop around a lot. It doesn't look like a bad pack by any means, just doesn't have many attachment points - so why bother paying for the name?

A pack like this has more attachment points, so you're going to find it a lot more customizable, which is the entire point of going for a MOLLE system.

Keep in mind that if you do go with a MOLLE system, the addition pouches etc can be quite expensive (if you don't go with cheap knock-offs of questionable quality). Being able to customize your load layout is great, and external pouches make it easy to have quick access to items like water bottles etc, so if you're going to shell out for a MOLLE pack, make sure it has plenty of attachment points.

Thanks! Definitely check out the northern part around Sa Pa. It's amazing! Never trust Google Maps on certain road recommendations!

Also when you buy your bikes, don't judge them too much by the look. The local mechanics buy these bikes off backpackers and just spray paint them all over so the parts look fresh and new. Have a test ride, see if you're comfortable with it. Tbh most of these bikes have been running up and down the country several times so it's hard to see if a bike is alright or not. Either way, you'll have heaps of fun with them and breaking down is part of the experience ;-) You can get them fixed literally everywhere and its super cheap!

Have fun on your trip!!

edit: you can have a look at my polarsteps travel blog for some more tips or just to check out the route we've taken :-) here's the link: https://www.polarsteps.com/SamZirbes/22893-

Google.com/flights/

I don't know if this link will work: https://www.google.com/flights/#search;f=JFK,EWR,LGA;t=LHR,LGW,STN,LCY,LTN,SEN,QQS;d=2017-05-07;r=2017-05-23

But roundtrip JFK to London May 7 return May 28th is showing $394 right now on a Portugal airline

1. Always buy your pack last, after you know what it’ll carry. Watch YouTube DIY vids about, and have a friend measure, your torso & waist dimensions.
2. Always buy shoes first - professionally fit your shoes + insoles + socks at REI or a running store. Spend a full hour trying on many combos.
   
3. Spend $8 on https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Second/dp/1426217846/ to learn everything in between.

1. Always buy your pack last, after you know what it’ll carry. Watch YouTube DIY vids about, and have a friend measure, your torso & waist dimensions.
2. Always buy shoes first - professionally fit your shoes + insoles + socks at REI or a running store. Spend a full hour trying on many combos.
   
3. Spend $8 on https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Second/dp/1426217846/ to learn everything in between.
4. Just go. You’ll learn more by doing than on r/

My go to is a collapsible coffee drip. Its my understanding that its best to get coarse ground coffee because a filter can take a while if it's finely ground.

The one I use collapses to the size of a drink coaster and then you just need to find filters that work. I dont have the one linked below but it's the same concept.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051HEFAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_JFA10GV6R674H87RABCV

It's a hugely bad idea.

But if you insist on running a 3 way race to see which wins between CO poisoning, 3rd degree burns laced with melted tent fabric and exposure death because you burned the tent up but managed to escape into the night:

Darwin's Heater

I use silicone spray on my old equipment and works great. I got a six year old hammock tent and a 80s external frame backpack. Some of the rougher spots you can take to a good seamstress or do the patch work your self.

Silicone spray https://www.amazon.com/Sof-Sole-Silicone-Waterproofer-12-ounce/dp/B01BSO9IAO/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=canadian+tire+silicon+spray+waterproof&qid=1621864485&sr=8-7

1. Always buy your pack last, after you know what it’ll carry. Watch YouTube DIY vids about, and have a friend measure, your torso & waist dimensions.
2. Always buy shoes first - professionally fit your shoes + insoles + socks at REI or a running store. Spend a full hour trying on many combos.
   
3. Spend $8 on https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Second/dp/1426217846/ to learn everything in between.
4. Just go. You’ll learn more by doing than on r/

Kitty balaclava

I really like my Columbia Watertight II Jacket - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M1SI6P0/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_bJTgvb1KN7NKR I have the 1st edition which they no longer make as its been replaced by this version. My jacket is light weight, packable, comes in many different colors and is also available from some sellers in a tall version(I'm 6'5" or 195cm).

I can't recommend waterproof boots as the only thing that works for me is Asics Trail-runners, I have super wide feet and thus need a 4E width(that whole 6'5" thing again😜). Asics does make great waterproof gore-tex Trail-runners if you like less weight on your foot and are ok with less ankle support.

Lastly I use an older version of North Face's Borealis for my day-pack. Not sure exactly what capacity/size you need but I've taken this with me on trips to about 20 different countries. It's also great for storing my laptop and has a lot of great compartments which work well for both urban and rural settings. Check the newest version of it out here. http://m.thenorthface.com/mt/www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/borealis-backpack.html

Obviously, these are just my opinions/interpretations. As you likely already do, I highly recommend doing extensive internet research on any product before purchasing by both reading profession reviews of the product by typing into any search engine the words "review and (name of product)" as well as reading the reviews from buyers of the products on websites like Amazon, REI and Backcountry. Hopefully this helps a little bit and have fun on your adventures, take care!

I like my Petzl Tikka 2 headlamp. Used it for pretty much everything: mechanic work, backpacking, camping trips and etc.

Wife borrows it for detailed sewing work.

You can find it on Amazon for about $40

https://www.amazon.com/Petzl-Tikka-Improved-Output-Headlamp/dp/B009M664P8

Hey Friend! So glad you're joining the ranks of the millions of natural space users. As a professional in the outdoor industry, my first recommendation is to check out NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) line of books. They have all kinds of fantastic information to answer any questions you may have.

I'd highly recommend the "National Outdoor Leaderships School Wilderness Guide" book. While incredibly informative, factual and vast in size of information, it covers all the basics and is a fantastic tool for all outdoorsmen regardless of level of expertise! I will include the link below for you for amazon, but you can find it at Walmart as well.

If you ever need any advice or looking to chat, holler and I'd be happy to help!

Remember leave no trace and happy trails! Best of luck!

Wilderness Guide: https://www.amazon.com/National-Outdoor-Leadership-Schools-Wilderness/dp/0684859092

A variety of NOLS books that may interest you: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s/134-6116410-0434038?k=nols+books

No problem! The Klymit Static V sleeping pad is a popular budget choice and it looks like CampSaver has it for about $45. It's going to be warmer than that Amazon one (I assume, because the Amazon one doesn't list an R value at all). But maybe someone else around has some experience with it that they can chime in with. Personally, I would not skimp on the sleeping pad. Looks like Amazon has the insulated Klymit Static V pretty reasonably, too. That brings your R value up to 4.4 for only $40 more.

I'm a hammock camper. While I'm sure he would love snuggling with me in the hammock, I'd actually like to get some sleep. Lol. The pup tent also keeps him from his self-assigned patrolling duties and unintentionally scaring the bejeezus out of fellow campers 😅

Pup Tent

my advice. find a nice... well manicured state park. that has a fuck ton of car camping facilities. maybe even a KOA or similar if your states parks are shitty/bare bones.

do a moderate hike. maybe sub 10 miles (3-5ish) then... spend a good amt of time, setting up camp. practice setting up camp, cooking/eating. get some rest/see how you sleep with your current setup

then... or next. find any trail. give or take 10 miles. and just hike it, but with all the gear you're planning on bringing. see how your feet do. how your back feels. any like hot spots or chaffing from your pack. can you get to things in your pack, water filtration... just do the loop. no camping. but dry run carrying your full pack

from there i would plan... more of a weekend trip. pack food/everything for a weekend. not-car supported.

if you want ideas on "where" can go wrong with alltrails https://www.alltrails.com/us/texas?ref=header

I have thought about that, but I don't know if it would work for me. The only time I would want a tripod would be for long exposure night shots, or so I can do a selfie/group shot. Having a trekking pole as a monopod doesn't do much for those types of photos because it can't stand up on its own. I just saw a Kickstarter for an adapter that uses both trekking poles and a tent pole to make a full-sized tripod, it looks pretty neat:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1312251870/trailpix-ultralight-tripod

Anyone looking to travel here, especially from the United States, I can assure you they'd be completely safe travelling in the major cosmopolitan cities and these northern mountainous regions. In fact, not only are these areas the most beautiful and worthwhile part of Pakistan, they are also the most safest in the entire country.

Check these articles out written by a lot of international tourists from many countries (USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Poland etc) who have extensively traveled Pakistan:

Pakistan: Adventure travel's best-kept secret?

Pakistan rated top destination by the British Backpacker Society despite travel warnings

As you can see, if you're an international tourist, the only places you'd be recommended to visit are as follows: Islamabad -> Lahore -> taking a flight to the Nothern Areas.

Believe me, these regions are probably on par, if not better than the ones found in Switzerland. Also, like I said, you'd only want to visit the major cosmopolitan cities which are as safe as any western city.

Now, finally, there are a few regions in Pakistan that are still troubled, namely the far off Balochistan province and the tribal areas, but then again, no tourist, or even a well-off Pakistani would want to visit these 'troubled' areas.

I believe you wouldn't even be allowed to visit these areas if you wanted to.

So please consider coming to Pakistan, especially if you're American.

Hmm... actually, this looks like a white-box version of the Black Damond ReVolt :

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Diving-mining-headlamp-customer-elastic-bands_60426007156.html?spm=a2700.7906341.35.1.6BDCLg&s=p

$16 instead of $60. Anyone want to give it a shot?

Look into the exemptions for US citizens living abroad. I believe that they should apply also to permanent residents. Keep in mind a few things.

The tax penalty is applied for the previous years taxes. You won't need to apply for anything until the 2017 taxes are due.

The Trump administration plans on doing something to the ACA, that might affect the tax penalties or the individual mandate. No one really knows, we will only know when and if any new legislation is passed.

https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions-tool/#/results/2016/details/citizen-abroad Read all about it.

The National Parks Service manages some exceptional trail systems in western North Carolina. If you get as excited about planning as you do the trip, you can plan a pretty great route just by using the NPS websites and Alltrails.com

https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/nc-trails.htm

https://www.alltrails.com/

Start your research with AllTrails and the National Park Service. There are lots of other resources too.

Have fun with your research.

To be honest, I went back in 201...2? Maybe? So I don't remember a lot of the finer details.

I spent 700 GBP over 6 months throughout Europe, including expensive places like Spain and Italy, so I can't have spent any more than 200 pounds in Morocco. But I am very minimalist and like to spend the least amount of money, I am also ok with haggling.

My advice is to read up on Morocco and other places of interest on WikiTravel and get some of the advice and tips about how to save money.

Glad to hear that your later return date is still possible. You're gonna have a great time.

Check out this airBnB if you're into something different. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1878826

It's in a bustling area of Kowloon, and basically this small hostel set up a tent on top of their roof for you to stay in. The bedding in there is surprisingly comfortable/warm and when I stayed it was raining outside which actually added to the really cool experience.

Besides that, being in Kowloon area is pretty good, and I'd just recommend to eat as much food as possible. Look up Tim Ho Wan for dim sum.

Here is what I'm packing

Medical Kit

• CPR Micro Shield
• Nitrile Glove
• Lip Balm
• Triangular Bandage 2x
• Rehydration Salts
• Purification tabs
• Skin Marker
• Bacitracin 3x
• 3/4" x 3" Bandage 10x
• 2" x 4" Bandage 4x
• Safety Pins
• Field Medical Card
• Quickclot
• Quickclot Bandage
• Elastic Bandage 2x
• Cotton guaze bandage 2x
• Shears
• Nasopharyngeal airway
• Adhesive Tape
• C.A.T. Tourniquet
• Eye dressing
• Moleskin
• Blister kit
• Iodine
• Betadine
• Suture kit

Everything Else (some not pictured)

• 200 yds 40lb fishing line
• 100 ft 550 cord
• 6 glow sticks
• Headlamp
• Spare AA/AAA batteries
• CAPSS
• Can Opener
• Compass
• Purification tabs
• Fire starter
• Cotton balls in petroleum
• Microfiber towel
• Canteen Cup
• Nalgene bottle
• 30oz MSR fuel bottle with MSR fuel
• Whisperlite International stove
• Close Cell foam pad
• thin fleece blanket
• Alps Mountaineering Extreme 3 tent
• Hammock
• Pillow
• Sleeping Bag
• gloves
• 4x socks
• 4x undies
• 3L Camelpak
• Cooking set
• Eating set
• Glock 27
• food

Anything that i'm missing?

You should email Robb Gaffney. I did the same a while back for the same question, and he is even more relatable to you since he is a psychiatrist. If you don't know anything about him, he is a fairly big name in the skiing world, especially in Tahoe, CA, culture, and for anyone that knows the name Shane McConkey. According to him, he just couldn't do much of anything when he was in med school. He told me that he was able to ski one or two half days a week at most. It all has a payoff, though. When he finished med school and his internship, he opened up shop right in Olympic Valley at the base of Squaw Valley. It's likely that there will be years until you can't backpack, but when those are over, you'll have opportunities to get a lot of time in.

I bought this one: Lightweight Large Burner Classic Camping and Backpacking Stove. For iso-Butane/Propane Canisters https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YLU6O6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ZVzsub0E00KC9

I cooked breakfast on it for 2 people for three mornings and barely used half my can of fuel. Folds up small and its pretty well built, especially for the price.

Wilderness related question - I just became interested in backpacking over the past weekend. Can anyone recommend a "getting started" post or other resource? I'm thinking about a 2 or 3 day trip and I'd like to get a feel for what kind of gear to purchase and what else goes in to planning a good trip. Whenever I start a new hobby, I like to purchase lightly used gear when I can. Any thoughts on what gear should be bought new or better off used. If it helps, I'm interested in hiking the Manistee River Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/the-manistee-river-trail

Thank you!!

S.E.A. for sure! It's cheap, it's fun, and if you have half a brain it's safe. I backpacked around there for a few months last year as a solo young female and had no problems.

Thailand - Bangkok is amazing. Stay on Koh San Road. Eat lots of yummy food. Google Thai islands and pick the one that sounds the most like you (party/nature/relax/hiking). Northern Thailand is really beautiful. Pai and Chiang Mai are both very backpacker friendly.

Cambodia - Dude, the Angkor Wat complex is just cray. PLEASE do yourself a favour and get on down to Siem Reap to see it. It's a fun crazy country despite all of it's semi-recent tragedies. Phnom Penh is the weirdest place I have ever been, in a good way.

Where ever you do decide to go, I've found the best online source is http://wikitravel.org/ :) Have fun!

Spent a month there a few years ago, mostly hiking in the different parts of the north (Svaneti, Kazbeki, Tusheti) and hitchhiking around.

Pretty sure most of the sights are listed on wikitravel, or any travel guide for that matter. You've just to go decide what kind of things you want to do. It's a super excellent country for hiking/trekking, and if you want to do a fairly easy 5000m peak, Kazbeki is quite cool and the view is amazing. http://wikitravel.org/en/Georgia_%28country%29

If you hitchhike, I hope you don't mind stopping for shots of vodka or chacha, and some more shots, and then your driver getting back behind the wheel after taking at least as many shots as you. With a broken speed meter, and perhaps a picture of the virgin mary in front of it. Try to find a seatbelt in the car!

Spicy Laos was allot fun but looking at some reviews some other people beg to differ...

Just make sure to go the the waterfalls \ bear park. The swing is awesome: http://media.roamthepla.net/SoutheastAsia/Luang-Prabang/Kouang-Si-Waterfall/i-KDX8RkF/0/L/DSC00154-L.jpg

And my best experience in Laos was 'the loop', 3 days across country side with a motorcycle. http://wikitravel.org/en/Thakhek

There are too many details to learn and skills to master regarding gear, safety, terrain, planning and preservation. I would stick to camping sites, at least for the first hikes. Luckily, you can find thousands of them.

If you want to try wild camping along the way for a day or two, make sure you select a location away from houses, plantations, and other property, and show utmost care to leave no trace.

All hostels are different and you should do your own research before booking. Hostelworld and TripAdvisor are my favorite resources, but I always try to book directly through the hostel if possible and it's often cheaper.

Glad I could help :) If you're wanting to eat out but not spend too much then I'd recommend eating in a restaurant at lunch time rather than for dinner. A lot of them do set menus then where you can get 2 courses and a drink for between 10-15 euros and it's normally the same food that they serve in the evening for double the price. I haven't been on those trips, sorry but I had a quick look online for Versailles and there were half day trips on offer for 30 euros and this website explains how to get there by yourself: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/05/how-to-do-a-day-trip-to-versailles-from-paris/

something to consider, though the train is very expensive, sometimes you can get a bargain if you book 12 weeks in advance. For example I've found fares from where I live way up near Durham to London for the equivalent of 21 dollars when say if I booked the same trip for tomorrow it'd be around 90 dollars. Just something to consider if you need to take a lengthy journey i.e. south to north.

oh, website here https://www.thetrainline.com/

I lived in the area and always came home at night so no direct information. Could suggest many hikes, but these links will help you quite a bit

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/canada/alberta/banff-national-park

http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/information-facilities/camping/backcountry-camping/

The Janapar Trail winds through the beautiful Caucasian landscapes of the unrecognized, but de-facto independent Republic of Mountainous Karabakh. Truly off the beaten track, with genuine old-world hospitality that is just amazing.

I worked on creating this trail, and can answer any questions you have. The southern section of the trail, a one week hike, is well marked. The entire trail is on Everytrail, so you can follow it with just a smartphone. It's all broken into day hikes that take you to a new village each night, where you can find a homestay. So no need to bring camping gear.

As I said, if you have any questions, I'm happy to help!

Yeah it was a blast, just a short overnighter on a Wed (took off the rest of the week for my birthday) its an awesome place, I was really scouting it out for a longer trip.

On the Redbud trail in the Cache Creek wilderness, Northern California, about 2hrs North West of Sacramento. http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=211038

These are not my photos, but they are from that trail. http://songbyrd.smugmug.com/Backpacking/Cache-Creek-Redbud-Trail/4820001_ibgW8#286662458_YAtQv

I did get a lot of photos myself, I'll get them up here shortly.

BTW: The first water crossing is not passable right now, WAY fast moving water and a lot of it.

I second what was said about the towel. As Douglas Adam says, "Never forget your towel!"

Definitely don't overpack. Air on the light side and do laundry - it will make you more mobile and it will be much easier. I went to Europe for 3wks with 2 or 3 changes of clothes. The guy at the airport counter even asked "where's your checked bag?" I said, "There isn't one, this backback is all I have." He looked bewildered, and I said, "Well they do have laundry machines over there you know!"

Hostels vary greatly. You may want to do at least a little scouting before you go, because the "nicer" ones book up fast. That being said, the "less nice ones" are often cheaper, so its up to you. Part of the adventure is winging it. One note, some hostels will give you discounts if you do some work around the place (helping with meals, etc) so its not a bad idea to ask, esp if you are on a budget.

On the rail pass... do it. Since you're there for 2+months definitely get one of the unlimited passes.

So much to do in those countries it is darn near impossible to list them all. I'd google it. Also check out Wikitravel. I will say Interlaken in Switzerland, and Cinque Terre in Italy are fabulous. Also, if you're in to beer, any part of Belgium is heaven.

Capitals can be fun and cheap if you look hard enough. A lot will depend on what you are doing - clubs/partying or wandering around sightseeing?

Good luck and keep us posted!

Definitely skip Whitehorse and Winnipeg. Quebec City is beautiful but it's on the opposite side of the country to a lot of these. My recommendation:

Go to Quebec City and Montreal, then fly to Calgary and see Lake Louise and Banff.

Check out thetruesize.com to get an intuitive idea of distances.

There are tons of resources available for multi-day hikes in the Swiss alps, but unfortunately for you, most of them seem to be in German. Outdooractive.com has English information available, though! Here are their suggested Interlaken hikes. Maybe something in there could work for you?

1. I think the budget is fine especially if you're camping! I did a cross country trip back in 2013 when gas was a bit more expensive. 7 days from New York to SF in budget hotels the whole time and spent a little over 1k. So if you're camping and buying food from the grocery store that budget should be plenty.

2. I agree that 2 weeks is really tight unless you don't mind spending most of the time driving in the car. I did this for only 1 week and i was so done by the end of it. If I had the opportunity I would have definitely spread it out more or had a second driver. It is utterly exhausting driving all day.

3. I used this site https://roadtrippers.com/ it was awesome for finding fun things a bit off the road. I would HIGHLY suggest it!

If you are into craft beer there is a great place in Florence, the beer was excellent and the owners were really cool.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187895-d3400980-r137459898-Archea_Brewery_Birreria_Artigianale-Florence_Tuscany.html

Amazing photos!!!! Where was this one taken?

You probably have to have RES for the a and z buttons to work.

Subreddits sometimes have custom wrappers that the mods can create and implement that make the subreddit look different-- they can 'hide' the downvote button, insert custom images, etc. They use CSS to do this.

Pick a spot and hike between towns. It's completely do'able. You could even start by researching the Wild Atlantic Way. If you're comfortable hiking 5 hours with your backpack then you should have no problem, that's about as long as you'd need to travel between any given town.

Book AirBnB's in advance after selecting a route.

Personally I'd fly into Dublin, train to Galway, and start hiking north through the Connemara region of Ireland.

Try checking out blablacar for travel between cities. It's pretty cheap and probably safer than hitchhiking. For example, you could get a ride from Amsterdam to Utrecht for between 2-5 Euro.

Rome2rio is a good resource for budgeting. I would still add 10% to the price just to be sure.

Blablacaris like couch surfing for sharing car rides. I think there are a few other websites that do this too. Might be a good way to meet some locals if you're not shy.

To help ease your mind, consider Valery Shanin. He's been traveling around the world for years spending almost nothing.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2003/8/article/thumbing-it-in-moscow-hitchhiking-school/236625.html

We picked him up hitchhiking in Chile years ago, heard his story, and decided to help him out with food and a place to crash in our hotel room.

The way he approaches travel is not a fit for everyone, but it may serve to prove the point: if he can do it spending just about $0, what could you do with any sort of budget, a bit of patience and an open mind?

Edit: to fix spelling of his name and add link to his profile page, looks like his birthday is tomorrow! https://vk.com/id2705492

Alright everyone! Working to get the 50+ invite requests organized and sent out to everyone. Hang with me :) In the meantime, definitely check out this video to see how slack works

Yup. Tried smartwool, icebreaker and others, but DT have been the best. I am rough on gear and these hold up to their namesake.

darn tough (style #1466) hiker micro crew

1. Always buy your pack last, after you know what it’ll carry. Watch YouTube DIY vids about, and have a friend measure, your torso & waist dimensions.
2. Always buy shoes first - professionally fit your shoes + insoles + socks at REI or a running store. Spend a full hour trying on many combos.
   
3. Spend $8 on https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Second/dp/1426217846/ to learn everything in between.
4. Just go. You’ll learn more by doing than on r/

I always become irregular when I travel, including camping. So I take magnesium pills, I love these ones. When traveling or camping I take one capsule at night. (At home if I want to do a cleanse, I’ll take 3 at night.)

Magnesium causes things to relax - not just the intestines in this case, but also the nervous system (some use it for anxiety or to help with sleep), and a form of magnesium is even administered in the ER to calm the lungs during asthma attacks.

Happy pooping!

There's a deal on the Trekology pad that includes a pillow for ~$50. I'm pretty skeptical of inflatable anything but have been pleased with this pad and pillow combo.

1. Always buy your pack last, after you know what it’ll carry. Watch YouTube DIY vids about, and have a friend measure, your torso & waist dimensions.
2. Always buy shoes first - professionally fit your shoes + insoles + socks at REI or a running store. Spend a full hour trying on many combos.
   
3. Spend $8 on https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Second/dp/1426217846/ to learn everything in between.
4. Just go. You’ll learn more by doing than on r/
5. Do a couple, local, 1-2 nighter trips before biting off a big, distant trail

My husband bought one of the expensive thermarest ones. I got a nice, affordable, insulated one on AmazonECOTEK Outdoors Insulated Sleeping Pad. He’s not a fan of his. Swore he needed it. I’m very pleased with the durability and comfort of my cheapy.

Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD

• https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Classic-Pocket-Knife/dp/B00004YVB2

Small yet reliable. I use the scissors more than the blade. $17 is cheap too, so if you lose it you won't cry.

On the coffee thing, I do a pour over with this GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip for Drip Coffee While Camping and Backpacking"

Amazon.com : GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip for Drip Coffee While Camping and Backpacking : Camping Coffee And Tea Pots : Sports & Outdoors

Folds flat and is really lightweight

oaskys Camping Sleeping Bag - 3 Season Warm & Cool Weather - Summer, Spring, Fall, Lightweight, Waterproof for Adults & Kids - Camping Gear Equipment, Traveling, and Outdoors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MLZX2DX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_ih73FbNN5QS35

Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blanket - Insulated Thermal Reflective Tarp - 60" x 82". All-Weather, Reusable Emergency Blanket for Car or Camping. Thermal Barrier Blocks Infrared Signature https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H6NC8XU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_Xf73FbHE2N8KX

You have a lot of suggestions for underwear it seems. I'll throw in my suggestion, just started wearing them and they are my go to working out and when I get more my every day boxer brief. Not as restrictive as compression shorts but good moisture wicking I found.

I was just in a hiking store yesterday and they sell dedicated hiking shorts now. Made out of the same type of stuff as hiking pants. If my assumption is true, light weight and quick drying. I have a few pair of pants and I'm probably going to pick up a pair of shorts for my Switzerland trip.

And like Crappuccino said: Merino Wool socks. very thin, practically like normal socks, moisture wicking and regulate temp pretty well. I wear my Smart Wool socks pretty much any time I'm doing any amount of walking in any weather. Going to pick up some Darn Tough one in my next Amazon order to replace all my cotton socks, since I literally just learned they sell no-show socks. Plus lifetime warranty is pretty awesome

^ This guy right here. Personally I would get some high capacity SD cards and wait until I got to a proper computer to sort it all out.

You can get a 256GB SD card on Amazon (US) for $80. Using a GoPro you could record 19 hours of 1080p60 footage with a card that size.

The picture looks like it could possibly be a Naturehike envelope sleeping bag. You can get them on Amazon or Aliexpress for ~$20.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IZ74B2S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_eX3Kxb0ZDEM3Y

The website OP linked is just an Amazon referral blog. No real content there - just a front to make a cent from copy/pasted content.
I would not trust anything on that website ever, that blogger has never tried on this backpack - I guarantee it. They just find 'popular' items on Amazon and make a page for it on their blog with a referral link embedded ('linkCode' path param in the bit.ly link).

The reviews on Amazon may be valuable.
https://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-53646-0783-Parent-Loop-Backpack/dp/B01GOAJAQO

Love my 3p tungsten but it weights nearly 8 lbs. I paid ~$130 amazon for the the Naturehike 2p (just under 3 lbs) but its got a single door so perhaps not the right tent for you. Lots of positive feedback on the nemo hornet on a recent trip across Catalina island.

I just got the Klymit Insulated V Ultralite SL, this one here. It arrived yesterday.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WG9QM3/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm new to backpacking and didn't want to spend $200 on an insulated pad. We mostly camp 3 seasons too but I like to camp late fall/early spring and in the Carolinas in the mountains it can dip into the 20's (and sometimes the teens if up in higher elevations).

I took a nice nap on it yesterday, it's really comfy once you get the perfect amount of air let out after inflating. I was using with an inexpensive Teton bag I picked up also on Amazon and with the Klymit "X" pillow, which is nice.

The material on both the pillow/pad is really thin but it seems to be made out of a pretty durable woven material. The UL pad comes in at just under 1 LB and with 4.4 R Value, won't get super cold. I think the higher R-Value is great since the weight also stays low. I don't think you will get too hot at all, I would definitely get an insulated pad unless you plan to buy more than one.

Pad I listed comes in JUST under $100 ($95), comes with a patch kit, and has a limited lifetime warranty if purchased new from Klymit. Honestly I am pretty impressed with their stuff so far.

BTW what quilt did you go with? My bag is pretty cheap, bulky (synthetic fill) and weighs 4.1 lb (ouch). I just got my wife a Kelty Cosmic 22 degree womens bag which is under 3 lb sinc she wants to hike fairly light, but I really want to find a nice sub 2-3 lb insulated bag or quilt and most bags in my temp/weight desired range are $200+.

EDIT: just saw you listed your quilt, looking now :) EDIT #2: just saw they currently have a 6-7 week lead time which won't help me for my trip in 2.5 weeks :(

I found this easy on Amazon. Looks pretty useful and sturdy for a mere 40$, plus they usually have free shipping for products above 25$