With so many options on the market, it’s hard to choose your first pair of trekking poles. Although they serve the same basic function there’s a major difference between fixed and adjustable length trekking poles. As with most things in life, there’s no one correct style to choose from. It… Read More »Fixed Length vs Adjustable Length Trekking Poles

Have you ever topped off your sleeping pad with a breath of fresh air? The directions recommend not blowing into your sleeping pad, but I definitely have. My sleeping pad was fine in the short term, but was there unseen longterm damage? Just how bad is the moisture my breath,… Read More »Should You Blow Into Your Sleeping Pad?

Ask 20 hikers how far they can backpack in a day and you’ll get 20 different answers. Some hikers are capable of getting extraordinary mileage when they’re willing to put in the work. Getting 30 miles per day is nothing to the average thru-hiker, but what about the rest of… Read More »How Many Miles Can You Backpack in a Day?

Hiking is a great way to get out in the outdoors and get some exercise. With a little bit of planning, almost anybody can get out onto the trail. It’s hard to get started hiking without a little bit of help. Every hiker has to start somewhere! There’s no reason… Read More »How Far Can a Beginner Hike in a Day? We Found Out!

Rain and nasty weather are inevitable in the backcountry, especially on longer trips. If you’re expecting rain you should seriously consider purchasing a backpack raincover. Do I actually need a backpack raincover, or can you shed some weight and leave your raincover at home? Can I just use a pack… Read More »Do You Need a Backpack Raincover? It Depends

If you’re anything like me you have have used white gas bottles lining your storage cabinets. It seems like I buy a new bottle every time I go camping and never use up any of the old ones. There must be 10 quarter-half filled bottles of white gas sitting in… Read More »How Long Does White Gas Last? Does White Gas Go Bad?

Dealing with human waste is always a tricky subject. Nobody likes to poop in the woods. As an adult you can just dig a cathole and go to town, but how do you deal with dirty diapers? When you add infants and young children to the mix things get a… Read More »Dealing With Dirty Diapers on a Hike Like a Pro

Long mileage hikes can be pretty demanding on the body, especially if you’re carrying a heavy pack. Personally, pain always seemed to start at the knees and branch out from there. Knee pain is by far the most common injury among endurance hikers. Even a minor injury can keep you… Read More »How to Strengthen Your Knees For Hiking

Choosing the right camping fuel is always a tricky subject. Nobody can seem to agree on the best fuel. Some fuels are just going to be easier to use than others. White gas is by far one of my favorite stove fuels, but storage can be a problem. It burns… Read More »How to Store White Gas Camp Fuel Safely

It’s always difficult to tell whether or not food is safe to eat. There’s just no easy way to figure out if food is safe to eat without a lab test. This gets even more challenging with dehydrated meals. You can play it safe by following the recommended shelf life,… Read More »Does Dehydrated Food Ever Go Bad? Expiration Dates and Spoilage