Hiking Backpack Zone

Archive for the ‘Backpacking’ Category

Have you ever wondered how it is to actually travel alone? Well, I know because I have been backpacking. I know how it feels to go to a new place and learn something new, and also make new friends. If you don’t know anything about backpacking, read this article because I am going to offer you some tips/reasons.

Backpacking is a low cost travel. Backpackers often travel to a lot of places and they budget their amount of money used for travel. So, if you think you are up for it go ahead and start packing for your trip.

I am sure some of you may find it difficult to find pals who are willing to travel with you. Some of your friends are not keen to go on an adventure like this.

One thing for sure; you won’t be alone for long. When you travel alone it does not mean it has to be a lonely trip. Here is the first tip on making friends while traveling.

From experience, I think that the easiest and most efficient way to make friends is by taking part in group activities like scuba diving or riding ATVs. If you are staying in a hostel, I am sure there are people around who travel in groups. Why don’t you just ask with a smile if you can join them?

Do you have a hectic and busy life? Well, here is a good reason you can get out of it. Take a break; go backpacking. Leave all your problems at home and travel.

If you are serious about your boy/girlfriend, you should probably take a time out with them before you leave. Another way to deal with it is to come up with some ground rules about what’s acceptable while you are apart from each other.

Backpacking on your own is a brave decision, but it’s important to know what it is you actually want to do while traveling.

Always to some read-up on your destinations and be well-prepared. You will not be bringing a lot of money so you have to learn how to manage your money well. If you learn how to manage your money well, you should be fine.

Dealing with different environments can be difficult but I assure you that while backpacking it may be hard for the first week but you will get the hang of it. Taking care of yourself and also learn from the new environment can be surprisingly easy.

If you are thinking that you need more confidence while traveling, carry a guide book with you. It helps if the guide books contain phrases that are commonly used in a country in their language.

Bringing home the different perspective of life is priceless. Some may be wondering why I say this. Simple, you have a first hand experience of different cultures and knowledge.

How? You should try to participate in as much activities as you can while you are in another country. And the last tip I can give you is that you should learn as much as you can about the culture of the people in the country.

In short, backpacking is fun. You can enrich your life just by trying out backpacking, so start preparing now!

Backpacking is fun, whether you go alone or with friends. Avoid all the newbie’s errors by reading up a couple of Backpacking Tips. Go to this website and find out more about backpacking : http://www.backpackingtips.net

The most important factor in having an enjoyable camping trip is probably having a great quality tent. While there are so many tents each offering a different type of camping experience, it is most important to be confident that your tent is the right one for your family, that it is strong, and that it will keep you dry. Two very different types of tents, the Eureka Titan Luxury Family Tent and the Eureka Timberline Outfitter, each offer excellent quality to help make your camping experience a great one. But which is the right one for you?

Talking about “luxury” and “camping” in the same sentence may sound silly, but truthfully, the Eureka Titan Luxury Family Tent really does put the luxury into camping. If you like the idea of having a lot of space and a few little “extras” to make your camping more pleasant, then you will want to take a look at this tent.

Sleeping up to 8 people, the Eureka Titan Luxury Family Tent provides 128 square feet of space, and also offers some pretty neat storage and organizational features that will be appreciated by any camper. Inside this tent you will find a corner “closet” where you can hang your clothes on hangers, some clothesline rings, and mesh storage pockets on the ceiling panels. In addition, there is a removable divider that allows you to divide the space to suite your needs. I think that in the camping world, having lots of space in your tent to set up however you like is pretty luxurious.

As for the Eureka Timberline Outfitter, well this is the complete opposite of the Titan. This is a small, simple, lightweight and easy to transport tent that can be set up in a flash. And it is these features that have made this one of the most popular tents available for years.

A classic A-frame tent, the Eureka Timberline Outfitter has a tough and sturdy frame that is built to stand up to the toughest weather conditions. And set up can be done in a matter of minutes. Available in several sizes, from 2 person to 6 person, you can easily choose the best Timberline for your needs.

Even though both the Titan and the Timberline are pretty different, they share some very important characteristics: they are designed to handle all kinds of weather, they are wind and rain resistant, and provide some pretty great ventilation for those warm days. Looking for a pleasant camping vacation? Make sure your tent can provide these things!

Do you prefer the small, easy to carry Eureka Timberline Outfitter? Or do you like the spacious and “luxurious” Eureka Titan Luxury Family Tent? Whichever is your choice, you can be confident that your tent will be sturdy and long-lasting, resistant to bad weather, and insure that your camping trips now and for years to come are great!

Family camping can be a fun experience but not having the right gear can make your trip miserable. Want to be certain to have a great camping experience? Find out more about the Eureka Timberline Outfitter and the Eureka Titan Luxury Family Tenttent, read the product reviews and see if one of them is the right tent for your family.

Camping with the family may very well be the all-American vacation. On few other trips does a family have the potential to share wonderful experiences, travel to new places, and enjoy the wonders of nature. But a successful camping experience requires the right equipment, and the right tent is at the top of that list. Two excellent tent choices for family camping are the Eureka Headquarters Tent and the Columbia Cougar Flats II.

There is probably nothing that can spoil a camping vacation quicker than a rainstorm that soaks your tent and everything in it, or sweltering on a hot summer night in a tent that has no ventilation. One of the great things about the Eureka Headquarters Tent is that it is designed to handle both of these very common situations quite well.

Two doors, each with their own windows, and two additional large windows create a great ventilation in this tent, so you will be comfortable if you enjoy summertime camping. Plus, you will stay dry if you have rainy weather, as the Eureka Headquarters Tent uses it’s “Stormshield” to increase the tent’s resistance to rain and durability, as well as a heavy-duty “bathtub floor” which repels water.

What about if you need a large tent for camping with your family? Well the Columbia Cougar Flats II may be the perfect choice for you.

Anyone who has camped, especially with kids, knows how challenging it can be to fit everyone…and everything…into a little tent. Sleeping bags, air mattresses, clothing, and supplies often leave little room for people. This is precisely what makes the Columbia Cougar Flats II such a great tent for family camping. There are several great benefits to this tent, but it’s size is awesome. With 10 ft. by 15 ft. of space, there is plenty of room to spread out. The tent allows you to divide the space into two “rooms” and they are large enough to have parents on one side and kids on the other, or have everyone on one side and use the other size for “living” space. Since it can sleep up to 8 people, this tent is a nice choice for anyone who is camping with a large family or group.

Camping can create warm and wonderful family memories like no other vacation. Choosing the right tent for your family will insure that your vacation is remembered for good experiences, and not miserable ones. The Eureka Headquarters Tent and the Columbia Cougar Flats II both are super choices for a great tent and a great family camping vacation.

Camping with your family can be a lot of fun but not having the right equipment can ruin your trip. Want to make sure that you have a wonderful camping vacation? Find out more about the Eureka Headquarters Tent and the Columbia Cougar Flats IItent, read the product reviews from those who love using theirs, and see if one is the right tent for your family.

The essence of backpacking is to take all that you need for your trip in a single bag that can be carried on your back, and therefore taking unnecessary items is not an option. Most people would agree though that a computer is an essential item these days.

Space is at a premium, so by packing a netbook something else will have to be left at home. After clothes and toiletries though, is there anything more important than a computer? In case you are still unconvinced, here are some reasons why netbooks are perfect for backpackers…

Reason #1 - Affordability

Costing between $200-400, netbooks are affordable, especially when compared to the cost of standard laptop computers. It is important to keep costs down, because the more money spent prior to traveling, the shorter the trip will probably have to be.

Even that amount may initially seem prohibitive though, however, just think of the accumulated costs of paying to use computers in Internet shops for the whole duration of a trip away. Spending even a dollar or two a day in them soon adds up.

Reason #2 - Portability

Another big selling point for netbooks is their compact size. Generally around 7″ to 10.1″ in size and weighing only a pound or so, they are easy to transport and store.

A larger laptop is not only heavier, it is also more difficult to conceal, whereas a small, discrete netbook can be hidden away from the eyes of opportunistic thieves.

Reason # 3 - Utility

Netbooks continue to pack in more and more features these days. Just a few things that backpackers can use them for include writing emails to keep family and friends up-to-date with their adventures, uploading photos to Facebook, writing a travel blog, or phoning home on Skype.

Also, thanks to the power of the Internet, a range of tools and extensive travel information are just a click away from the savvy backpacker. Backpackers can quickly get a variety of directions and information on attractions in a few short minutes.

Reason # 4 - Memories

You will want to remember as much about your trip as possible, and having a netbook with you allows you to do so. You can write a journal, store your photos and record audio or visual messages.

With the large size of the hard drive there is no need to hold back at all. You can save as many details of your trip as you want to.

So, if you are going on a backpacking trip soon, and do not yet have a netbook, or you have one but are not sure whether to take it, then hopefully you will now buy one, or pack your existing one.

Now, check out this buying guide, which gives unbiased reviews on cheap netbooks and cheap laptops.

Traveling around the world doesn’t have to be a hard task - in fact, most people don’t know that a RTW trip is doable on almost any income level. No matter what you make right now, you have the ability to save up for a major trip and travel round the world for any length of your choosing.

It’s actually sad to say that one of the biggest reasons that round the world travel is out of the question for many dreamers is because of a Western obsession with materialism. As a society we buy so many products and services that it’s crazy to consider how much money is spent on material goods instead of on the memories that are created from treasured experiences. Many travelers only dream of these amazing spots all over the world because they are busy spending their cash instead of socking it away in savings.

The “gimme” syndrome is huge in children, they want all of the latest toys and gadgets, that sticks with us as adults and we buy materialistic goods instead of funneling money into our true goals and dreams. All of the materialistic goods are hindering the ability to put a consistent amount of money into your travel savings fund - stopping the constant acquisition of new products is a key part of initially prepping for round the world travel.

Downsizing your current life is also incredibly important - RTW travelers don’t own a lot of furniture, knickknacks and clothes, because they then have to pay for storage for these belongings. Instead, taking an accurate inventory of what you need to actually enjoy your lifestyle allows you to massively purge the material possessions that accumulate over time.

It would be remiss to omit the fact that it can take several years to save up for a long-term round the world trip. Although RTW travel is so much cheaper than you can imagine, most travelers save up for between two and three years. That time is spending aggressively saving while also plotting out dream travel spots, planning, packing, and prepping your life so that it can be easily put on hold for a year or two once you set out to explore.

Want to find out more about saving for round the world travel, then visit Shannon O’s site on how to effectivelybudget for RTW travel and inspiration for planning your travels.

A backpacking checklist is usually about the “stuff.” Good equipment is nice to have, but even with the best gear you can get into trouble in the wilderness. You might have matches and the latest fire starters, but still not be able to get that fire going. It takes more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable trip. Towards that end, then, this is a list of skills you should have or learn.

Navigation is an important skill in the outdoors, it is more that just reading a compass or GPS. Contrary to what many novices think, a compass doesn’t tell you where you are. For that matter, a map doesn’t either, if you don’t know how to use it. Practice close to home if you can’t yet use both of these easily. Do the same with your GPS unit.

Staying warm is an all important skill that not only requires the correct layered clothing, but also being prepared for the area you are backpacking in and the prevailing weather. There are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers as you get warm, for instance, so you don’t have sweat to chill you later. Use wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a hat. Consuming fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.

Pitching a tent is a skill that requires a proper site along with basic skills and experience to erect it properly. Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the rain will come in, or the wind will tear the seams. They need to be pitched tight, and you should be able to do it in a few minutes. Practice in the yard.

Cooking over a fire may seem easy but requires the suitable blast, correct outdoor cooking equipment, and basic cooking knowledge. Attaining soup over a small fire isn’t as easy as it seems. Cover the pan, block the wind, and keep the fire small and centralised. Time yourself when you practice. You do not have to rush normally, but speed can be significant in some situations, and it’s always possible your stove will break.

Identifying edible plants will make your trip enjoyable and nutritional. Learning to identify three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable. Learning to identify cattails and one or two other good survival food plants can be very helpful, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.

Walking at a well-fixed pace enables you to reach your destination in a reasonable time. If you pace yourself and study how to move well over rocky terrain, you will be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle. Fasten those laces, too.

Empathizing animals is an substantial skill as a Bear or mountain lion could truly destroy your outdoor experience. Constitutes the bear “bluff charging” or stalking you? The latter means you will be the bear’s supper if you play dead. A clue: making numerous noise normally means he just would like to frighten you (a “bluff charge”), but you need to read up on this one.

Weather observation is vital as a grievous storm would truly wreck your outdoor experience. Are those just clouds, or a lightning storm coming? It would be good to know when you are on a high ridge. In the rockies, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in summer. Determine the weather patterns of an area, and the basics of forecasting weather, and you will be a lot safer.

Basic first aid is an all important skill for survival in the outdoors. What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Bumbling and slurred speech are a couple of them. How do you decently treat blisters? You can use duct tape whenever you do not have moleskin. These and other fundamentals are good things to recognize.

Fire making is perfectly vital for enjoyment and survival in the woods. Try to begin that fire with one match. As well try it the next time it’s raining. Arrive the habit of collecting dry tinder before the rain comes. Discover what things burn even when wet, like pine sap and birch bark .

This last one can represent among the more significant skills in an emergency. Experts can start a open fire in almost any circumstances, simply you don’t need to be an expert in wilderness survival to delight a painless hiking trip. For a safer, more enjoyable trip, just do the best you can, and start checking the skills on this backpacking checklist.

Leather craftsman and Author Ethan O. Tanner explains the different types of backpacking the backpacking checklist forcamping for adventure.

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I always wanted to travel the world from the age of eighteen onwards. The only problem I had was gathering enough money for the trip, without a full time job and heading for college it just wasn’t really an option.

After finishing university I found myself with 4 years worth of debt and bank overdrafts. It often amazes me to think where people find the money to travel the world before university, they must have some very generous parents.

After college I went on to university where there were many distractions to stop me from traveling, although in all honesty I probably didn’t want to go enough at this stage. When I had finished I found myself with some debt to pay off.

Here are 5 reasons to consider traveling the world:

- Experience The Culture Shock - A great character building experience can come from traveling, especially if you find yourself in a situation where the culture is completely different to back home. You find challenging situations where you’ll have to think on your feet and react in ways that you wouldn’t need to in your own comfort zone back home.

- Likes and Dislikes - Traveling is a great test of what you really like or dislike. Food, music, places, sights, language, people it really can be an eye opener into who you really are as a person. If you are traveling solo you will quickly get to know just what type of people you get along with and the type of people you don’t.

- Build Confidence - Traveling can have a great effect on your confidence as you have to rely on yourself to organise where you are going and what you’re doing. Often you’ll have to think on your feet in some interesting situations when the culture shock is pretty high. Once you return home, everything will seem like a breeze.

- Taste New Food - Try snake in China or Kangaroo in Australia, traveling the world you’ll have the opportunity to throw yourself in the deep end and taste new cuisines. If you want to get the most out of this you really do have to be as open minded as possible.

- Break The Stereotypes - Get out into the world, see and experience cultures for yourself rather than just relying on stereotypes. You’ll often find that countries are very different to your original impressions before you traveled.

Paul Dow is currently recovering in London after traveling solo for 22 months through Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South America. He writes advice and tips for those that want to backpack for TravMonkey.com an online world travel magazine.

India has long been a favorite with backpackers because there’s lots to see and do, and travelling around the country is relatively inexpensive. Popular reasons for backpacking there include: to become more independent; to experience different cultures; to meet new people; to enjoy yourself.

You can backpack in India for the half a year that the majority of tourist visas allow, yet still feel as though you missed out on so much. In fact, India is so huge that you could pass a number of years in the country and still not see half of it. There are Himalayan valleys, Hindu temples, Rajasthani palaces and forts, and tropical beaches

Even though prices have risen slightly in the past few years and tourism there is increasingly aimed in favor of the domestic middle class, it’s still possible to stay in a bamboo hut on a beach for around 100 Rupees a night. It’s also possible to eat in the country for a couple of Dollars a day However, food is more expensive in places that cater for backpackers and non-Indian food is nearly always more expensive than Indian food.

India is accomodating to backpackers and although travelling around takes time, it is easy enough to explore for even first time backpackers. It’s regarded as a safe country too, so long as you use some sense and show respect for the locals. Most travelers in India travel on a route that has been used by thousands of other travelers before them, and as a result you’ll come across lots of services tailored especially towards backpackers.

Locally run travel agents are readily available on popular routes and can be used for arranging day trips, visas and flights. Overnight buses and sleeper trains are ideal for backpackers and offer an inexpensive method of covering moderate distances. Long in-country distances can be covered with domestic flights; they’re mostly low-cost, dependable and can be booked on the day.

Travelling there brings the unexpected and there’s always something to write to your friends and family about, particularly if you venture away from the backpacker hotspots and explore India outside the tourist centres.

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Backpacking is a form of travel that has been popular for some time, but it is taking on a whole new level of interest now with the slower economy. People are trying to get creative with trips so that they can still see exotic locations, but not have to spend a lot of money on travel and accommodations. Learning about backpacking can you have right there with everyone else in no time at all.

Making sure that your pack is filled with the right things is half the battle. There are necessities and then there are necessities. At the top of that list is a map of the area that you are traveling in and a compass. You can end up going the wrong way at any time. These two items will make sure that you get back to where you need to be.

Injuries and cuts are going to happen and you need to make sure that you are ready to deal with them. You can get a decent first aid kit for travel at your local drugstore or outdoor shop. They will fit right into one of the side compartments of your pack and will have everything that you might need for a small emergency.

Extra clothing is something else to put in your pack. You are going to need this for three different purposes. If weather turns bad, you will need the extra layers. You will also be able to use it at night to create some extra warmth while you are sleeping. Finally, you never know what is going to happen on the trail and if you get covered in mud or something worse, you can at least get out of the wet clothing and put something fresh on while you clean and allow the other set to dry.

Remember, you are going to be outside and that big yellow thing in the sky can do some serious damage if you are not careful. Make sure you buy a nice pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes and bring plenty of sunscreen as well regardless of the time of the year that you are backpacking.

Food and water will obviously be packed, but when you think you have enough, put a little more in there. You can also put some energy bars and quick snacks that you can get a hold of quick when you start to run low on energy. If you really want to play it safe, get a water hydration system that you can wear so you always have water at the ready.

If you are traveling in an area that will have frigid nights or plan on eating cooked food, you are going to need a way to start a fire. Waterproof matches and firestarter will need to find its way into your backpack. If you dont want to purchase firestarter, you can just as easily make your own. Keep them in containers so that they do not get wet and ensure that when you need those flames, you can produce them.

If you are an experienced backpacker, all of this is already common knowledge for you. If you are just learning about backpacking, we have hopefully shed some light on the activity and added to the safety and enjoyment of your next trip.

If you enjoy backpacking, you should check out Rics site on backpacking. The site features the latest information on backpacking destinations, safety and much more.

It has long been a custom to build a campfire when camping, sometimes they are actually needed for warmth. You will adjust the size of the fire to the reason you are having one, whether it is being utilized for warmth, cooking, or maybe both is some cases. This article is going to discuss a very easy method for starting your campfire.

The first step to do in building a campfire is to know on whether or not it is permitted in the campsite that you have chosen. Always remember that campfires are one of the main reasons why forest fires happen. So before you do anything else, get permission from the forest ranger to build one.

Now that you have gotten permission, then you need to choose the spot for making your campfire. The experienced campers recommend that the safest area for campfires is at least 10 feet from any family tents or other things that can be caught on fire, like your clothes that are hanging outside, trees, and so on. Remember anything can happen when you are outdoors. The wind can be calm one minute and blowing the next right toward your tents!

Now that you have selected the area, you need to collect up some wood. Good size sticks, barks, and twigs are great to collect if you don’t want to have to chop the wood. But make sure the wood is dry that you are collecting so the burn easier.

Now that you have the wood to fuel the fire you are going to make, lay a tarp out on top of the area you selected. This prevents that area from having unsightly debris due to the campfire on it when you are through and you leave. Once you have laid the tarp out you need to spread a good layer of soil over it and even it out. This soil insulates the tarp from the heat of the campfire, so be sure to have a thick enough layer.

The next thing you need to do is make a teepee using your gathered wood. To do this correctly, put a good amount of dried leaves and twigs in the center of the teepee and put the bigger pieces of wood around them. The smaller pieces in the middle easily lights up and will consequently light the bigger pieces on its outsides after a few minutes.

Once the bigger pieces have caught fire, put more similarly sized pieces around them. In fact, it is always a good idea to completely cover the teepee wall with big pieces of wood. The only thing to remember though is to never cover the teepee. This area allows the oxygen in and thus be able to circulate in the tepee. As long as you allow a steady supply of oxygen into the campfire, the steadier your fire will be.

When constructing your campfire, be sure to always make it to a size, where you can maintain complete control of it. In the event you are going to be using the fire to cook with, just make the fire a bit bigger and strong by adding more wood to it. For warmth the fire can be a smaller one. The campfire should always be completely put out prior to people going to their family tents for the night.