Hiking bear/food bags buyer tips and backpacking guides. Your backpacking clothing should be grouped into layers: Next-to-skin base layers (aka long underwear): Important because even warm days can end with cold nights. Hiking layers: Nylon pants (may be rollup or zip-off), T-shirts, sun shirt, sun hat. Insulation: Puffy vest or jacket, lightweight fleece pullover, warm hat and gloves. Rainwear: Definitely bring a waterproof/breathable jacket; whether you also bring rain pants depends on the weather forecast (rainwear is also good at preventing mosquito bites). The beauty of layering is that it lets you quickly adapt to changing conditions. It also lets you put together a robust clothing defense against storms that move in suddenly, bringing cold and rainy weather.

Reducing backpack weight tip : Trash compactor bag for backpack liner. Pack covers are bulky, heavy and, sometimes, ineffective. Instead of covering the outside of your pack, line the inside of it with a trash compactor bag and keep all gear inside. Trash compactor bags are super waterproof, replaceable, affordable and weigh a fraction as much as a pack cover. Rocks vs stakes. Tie your shelter down to some nearby rocks. If necessary, make a pile to keep it more stable. Rocks can also be used on hard surfaces where stakes are unable to penetrate the ground. Find more details at Hiking Backpacks Online Store.

You can splurge on a lightweight tent shelter, but I find an inexpensive tent footprint does the job fine. The tent footprints tend to be pretty durable. I use it with cordage and sticks to create a basic lean-to. I also have an inexpensive bivy sack that I can use as a sleeping back. If you want extra warmth, you can stuff it with leaves or pine needles and wedge yourself in. Signaling for a rescue is just as important as the other items. The sooner someone knows to look for you, the better your chances of survival. I carry a lot of options here. Most of the ten hiking essentials can be used on a normal, everyday hike. For example, you’ll obviously drink water. But what happens when you are in an emergency situation?

I (Ben) have been a professional full-time photographer for almost 16 years. In that time I developed a strong passion for hiking and backpacking. Like most landscape photographers carrying camera gear efficiently has always been a struggle and solving that problem involved dragging out my old sewing machine. Once I made a few camera bags I moved on to stuff sacks, dry bags and of course Backpacks. Boom! Hilltop Packs was born. Read extra info on www.hilltoppacks.com.