Backpacker 101

Backpacking and camping require a great amount of planning and preparation, which is one of the things I like most about them. Who has not spend endless hours preparing your gear (and buying more!), imagining how you will use your gear to make the perfect campsite.

At first, I used to just “wing it” and throw a bunch of stuff into my pack that I thought I might need. Oh boy, I had a heavy pack with 80% of the stuff I would not need and 20% of the stuff I really needed for the voyage ahead.

Well, those days (thankfully) are over, as I chose to learn my lessons from those who have worked out ideal camping strategies over the years. I have found a great eBook to get you started called:

Beginner Camping Tips: The Beginner’s Guide to Getting You Started With Comfortable Tent Camping in 12 Easy Affordable Steps.

This guide is packed with hard-earned knowledge and advice from eleven experienced campers - which will allow you to get great ideas and avoid their mistakes along the way.

Avoiding the Beginner’s Camping Blunders

I have a sizable list of mistakes that I have made during my early years of backpacking and camping…some of which are funny…others downright miserable and dangerous. Many of my blunders resulted in aborting the trip or heading for the closest town and a comfortable motel room.

What I like about the Beginner Camping Tips Book is this: If you do some homework and take some advice from the eleven experts who have compiled this book, you can expect to have a much more enjoyable, successful and safe adventure. That alone is worth far more than the measly price of the book.

I suggest you go to their site (CLICK HERE) and check out this great camping resource. Worst case…they will refund your money if you are not happy with the information. It’s a no-brainer in my mind. Happy Camping!

Just like having proper fitting boots, buying the right backpack for your needs and body is vitally important for having a pleasant backpacking experience for many years to come. Each backpack has unique fit and features, so you will have to do some testing at your local gear store.

One of the major choices you will have to make is whether to buy an external or internal frame backpack. Most of what you will see on the shelf at your local outdoor gear store will be internal frame packs. They are more prevalent now because of their light weight, comfort and advanced features.

There are advantages and disadvantages for both internal frame and external frame packs, and we will explore them in this article. You can be sure that there are different opinions on what type of pack is the best…so you will have to read the information and make your own assessment.

External Frame Packs - Old School Practicality

External frame packs are easy to spot because they have metal or plastic frames on the outside of the pack. This was how backpacks were originally design and is somewhat a relic of the past. Imagine old boy scout outings from the ’50s and you get the picture. Your grandfather probably has one stashed in the attic.

External frame backpacks do have the advantage of being able to support lots of external things tied on to the frame. If you imagine attaching the kitchen sink to your pack, the external frame may be the answer. They are usually not quite as comfortable as internal frame packs, but are usually more indestructible.

If you need to carry odd-sized items that won’t easily fit into an internal frame pack compartment, the external frame might just be the ticket. For example, the porters we used in Peru carried full stoves and 5 gallon propane tanks using external frame packs. Those guys were so strong, I think they could have strapped me on the outside of their pack frames without wincing.

Internal Frame Packs - Sleek, Modern & Comfortable

Internal frame packs embed “stays” and other support structures inside the pack. This is the preferred way of designing high-tech packs today and provide the lightest support structures. When you go the the gear store, you will mostly see internal frame packs today.

Internal frame packs may use metal or plastic “stays” - which are just rods that form the backbone of the pack - or solid plastic sheets to form the entire support structure of the pack. The stays are usually sewn into the pack bag with high-strength threads. Both types of internal frame support work equally well, so you don’t have to chose a pack based on what type of internal structure they use.

When it comes to comfort, the internal frame packs are the winner, as they are designed to follow the natural contour of your back and for better weight distribution. I personally like the internal frame packs and cant imagine using an external frame backpack for any duration.

We are going to go into more details about the fine art of selecting the right backpack for your needs in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

We are going to go out on a limb today and state that we think that the most important gear items for backpacking are your boots. Many will say that the Gore-Tex Shell wins that award, but without your feet in working order, you can’t go anywhere!

Unless you like suffering, don’t run off and buy the latest, greatest pair of boots a month before your great backpacking trip (unless you plan to hike in them many times before your big trip). Of course, if you boots are ready to fall apart, you will need to buy and break them in quickly!

The most important aspects about boots are fit and being well broken in before any serious backpacking adventure. If you neglect getting proper fitting hiking boots or fail to break them in before your trip, your feet will painfully remind you of your poor judgment while you are on your trip. This is the easiest way to ruin your day!

The Art of Buying Good Hiking Boots

I have personally spent countless hours at my favorite outdoor stores trying on boots. It is essential to get in there and try on several pairs. Don’t just get your heart set on a cool looking boot with super duper features and expect your feet to adapt to the boot. The rule of thumb is that if it feels good at the store, it is probably good. If it doesn’t feel good, put it back on the rack!

If you normally wear orthotics (custom or SuperFeet insoles) in your boots or daily shoes, I would recommend that you take them to the store and put them into the new boots for testing. Orthotics can make a boot feel completely different - as well as constricting your feet in the toe box as well.

Make sure your boots have good lug soles, are at least water-resistant (if not water-proof), and provide good structural support.

Heavy-Duty Hiking Boots Are a Must for Backpackers

If you’re already a seasoned backpacker then you can appreciate the weight trade-off in a structurally sound pair of boots. Your feet will need more support for each pound of weight you carry on your back. Don’t just go for the lightweight boots because you think you will hike better or faster…not true.

I made the mistake of falling for the lightweight boots on a Patagonian trip, where I was only carrying about 25 lbs on my back. My feet were in such excruciating pain because of the lack of support. Big mistake.

When you go the store to buy boots, make sure you bring your loaded backpack (or take one off the shelf and load it up with sand bags at the store). Walk around the store “under load” for an hour and see how they feel in a real life scenario. Also, try just standing around in them to feel that load.

These pointers should get you pointed in the right direction for shopping and buying hiking boots. I would not recommend buying anything online until you have tested them out in the store. Happy trails!