When hydration bladders first came out(back in the 90’s) your carrying options were fairly limited. You could either buy a dedicated hydration pack or modify your daypack. Luckily in the past 10-15 years, the market has changed. All of a sudden more and more hydration packs started to hit the… Read More »Hydration Bladder Pockets in Backpacks (DIY Hydration Packs)
Whether you call it stealth camping, wild camping or guerrilla camping it’s all the same. Stealth camping is the act of quietly finding a campsite away from designated camping areas. You slip in set up camp for the night and slip out in the morning before anybody notices. Unless I’m… Read More »Stealth Camping Without Feeling Like a Homeless Person
Hike through the Northeast United States throughout the summer and you’ll have to deal with black flies. Although black flies are small, there bites pack a serious punch. Get caught in a swarm of black flies and it’s going to be painful. If you’re not careful you’ll end up with… Read More »Hiking Through Black Fly Season Without Getting Bit
Miles away from civilization you start to feel the tell-tale signs of monkey butt(aka diaper rash or butt chafing). Butt chafing comes on quickly. Before you know it your butts red, tender, swollen and downright painful. On a hike, there’s no worse feeling than chafing between your thighs and butt… Read More »How to Prevent and Cure Butt Chafing on a Backpacking Trip
Do your thighs get red and inflamed after a long hike? Don’t be embarrassed, we’ve all been there! You don’t have to suffer in silence. You can cure/prevent that painful embarrassing rash with a little bit of zinc oxide in your pack. What is Zinc Oxide Used For on a… Read More »Zinc Oxide Ointment: More Than Just a Hikers Diaper Rash Cure
So you just bought a new Camelbak hydration bladder and you’re excited to take it out on the trail. You start to think to yourself; Should I wash my hydration bladder before using it? Screw that, you fill it up with water and throw it in your pack. By the… Read More »Do I Need to Clean My Hydration Bladder Before First Use?
Take a look at the description for any of the major hydration bladder brands(Camelbak, Platypus, Hydrapak, Osprey). I can almost guarantee they label their products as 100% BPA, BPS and BPF free. Unless you’re a doctor or scientist that probably doesn’t mean all that much. Why Should I Buy a… Read More »BPA Free Hydration Bladders Explained: Are They Dangerous?
You’ve been meticulously planning this backpacking trip for weeks. You went through all your gear with a fine-tooth-comb. On the morning of your trip, you grab your hydration bladder and it’s full of mold. We’ve all been there. You’ll eventually end up with mold in your hydration bladder. Luckily, it’s… Read More »How Often Should I Clean My Hydration Bladder?
Choosing a hydration bladder seems like a fairly straightforward process. Obviously, name brands(Camelbak, Platypus, Hydrapak) are better than generic, but they all perform the same basic job. You might need to clean out the nasty plastic taste and make sure it’s BPA free, but you’re good to go. But there… Read More »What Size Hydration Bladder Should I Get?
Hydration water bladders are lightweight, efficient and affordable. Fill them up with water, strap it on your back and you’re ready to hit the trails. There is one major problem with hydration bladders. Hydration bladders just don’t taste right. They’ve always had that strange plastic taste that you just can’t… Read More »Making Hydration Bladder Taste Better: Removing Plastic Taste
