Random Backpacking Tips

The following are some backpacking tips based on my own experience and that of others who like to keep it light, cheap, safe and comfortable.

Lighter Sleeping Bag Pad - A basic closed-cell sleeping bag pad can be cut short to reduce weight. You rally only need to cover the length from your shoulders to your knees. Your feet can rest on your empty pack, and your head will be on some kind of pillow in any case. Cut the width down too, and test the pad to see if there are more cuts you can make without sacrificing comfort.

Sitting Pad - Using one of the pieces off that sleeping bag pad, cut it to about a foot square. It will weigh less than an ounce and provide a seat for you. This is especially nice when logs and rocks are covered with rain or ice.

Long Days First - If you get more miles in on the first couple days of a backpacking trip, you'll be at less risk. Most emergencies or rough situations - like running out of food - happen ion the middle of a trip or later. Having fewer miles to hike out makes it easier to deal with these things. You have to hike all the miles anyhow if you have a destination, and in this way you can slow down and enjoy your last days if all is well.

Buy Used Gear - Never buy used shoes (and I would avoid used sleeping bags too) but things like camping pans are usually fine used. Even trekking poles and backpacks can be bought used. Just be sure to try them out so you are sure that they fit. Used gear is a great way to make backpacking cheaper.

Bring Peanut Butter -Peanut butter is a great high-protein, high-calorie backpacking food, with more than 2600 calories per pound (compared to 1760 for pure sugar or starches). Buy it in the light plastic jars. When you finish it, you can pack all your bits of food wrappers and other garbage into the jar and seal it up tight.

Avoid Evaporative Heat Loss -Evaporative heat loss is caused by evaporation of moisture from your body or clothing (this is why your body sweats to cool off). To reduce this form of heat loss, you need to stay as dry as you can. Wear your rain gear when walking through wet bushes, and don't sit directly on snow.

Keep Cooking Simple -To keep cooking simple, plan for high-water content foods only. In other words, cook just soups, or make your noodles watery. This means no burnt foods in your pan, and so no hard scrubbing required. Eat from the pan to really keep it simple.

Warm Yourself For Sleeping -To warm up before going to sleep, try doing sit-ups after you get into your sleeping bag. This is about the only large-muscle exercise you can do in a bag, and it should warm you up quickly.

Note: For more backpacking tips, check the new pages listed regularly on the home page.

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