Almost a year ago, I switched employers- but I still remain in contact with some of the friends I made while at my former employer. Last week (shortly after Thanksgiving), we were talking and decided we should take a group backpacking trip. After some short exchanges, I think we opted to hike the Ouachita Trail from Talimena State Park to Queen Wilhelmena State Park- a distance of 51 miles by trail- and we'll go in the spring.
To be entirely candid, I am in the worst physical shape of all of us, but I really want to get into better shape again, and preparing for this trip will FORCE me to do so. My friends, while in much better physical shape than me, don't have as much outdoor experience and wanted me to join them to help ensure a positive and enjoyable experience. It was a win-win scenario so I'm excited about the idea. In fact, they have me so excited now, I'm going to make this trip in the spring even if I have to go solo (which I'm certain I won't).
So this entry, and some of the future entries to come, will be to help my friends prepare for the trip so we have the best possible experience. For this first entry, with Christmas coming, I want to make a list of gear they should ask for Christmas.
BACKPACK
The first thing you'll need for a backpacking trip is... a backpack! No surprise there. You'll have an overwhelming sense of choices. Here are some things to consider:
- Internal vs External - what type of frame to get
- Internals are going to ride closer to your body and move with you easier. You are less likely to get off balance with an internal frame. That said, internal frames ride closer to your body and are therefore hotter because there is less air circulation between you and the backpack. Additionally, internal packs generally tend to want nearly everything on the inside of the pack... great for protecting stuff, but it's a pain when you want to get to it later.
- External frames are better suited for heavier loads. They work fine for established trails. Because the design of external frames transfers weight through the frame, more weight is transferred to your hips (instead of your shoulders like an internal frame)- this means you're likely going to have a more comfortable experience with the external frame.
- Size - Is there such a thing as too big?
- For a 1 week trip, I would almost definately take nothing smaller than a 40L backpack. Personally, I'll probably be taking my 55L backpack.
- However- the bigger the pack, the heavier it is going to be... and that weight gets REALLY heavy after a week on the trail!
- Bigger backpacks allow you to pack more. Packing more means more weight. You are going to have to be intentional about not overpacking with a larger pack. A smaller pack FORCES you to be selective.
- Other factors to look at when picking a pack
- Pockets and access - Packs with more pockets and more access makes for a better experience. It gets old really fast if you are always unpacking to get to something at the bottom of your pack because there isn't accss. Murphy's law of backpacking says that the thing you need will always be in the most difficult place to get to.
- Adjustable - More expensive packs are adjustable to fit your torso. A properly fitted pack packs a big difference in how your week is going to end. If nothing else, make a trip to REI and ask the staff their to help you find a pack that fits. Not saying you should buy at REI- but they do have knowledgable helpful staff.
- Hip belt - perhaps more than any other attribute on the pack, get a great hip belt! A properly fitted backpack puts most of the weight on your hips. Don't shortcut getting a great hipbelt- even if it means you buy one aftermarket.
CAMPING HAMMOCK
- For years and years, I slept in tents- but as i've done more trips, i've grown to be a huge fan of camping hammocks instead.
- A hammock arrangement is going to be about as light if not lighter than most tents- especially because you don't have poles to carry.
- A hammock arrangement is going to be more comfortable- even my $150 self inflating air mattress doesn't compare the comfort of sleeping in a hammock- plus now i just dropped the weight and space required for an air mattress too.
- Generally speaking, the cost of a camping hammock is going to be less than the cost of a backpacking tent and a good sleeping pad.
- A camping hammock is going to take less space than a tent, poles, and sleeping pad.
- So what is a camping hammock?
- Look for a system that contains the hammock, a bug net, and a tarp. You can buy these as a set or piece meal it.
- The original that started it is something called a "Hennessy Hammock"- Hennessy is to hammocks what Harley Davidson is to motorcycles.
- You can get imported knock-offs on Amazon for a small fraction of the cost of a Hennessy system.
HIKING BOOTS
- I don't have a lot to say about hiking boots other than to encourage you to get them sooner rather than later.
- You'll want to start wearing them now to break them in before our trip this spring.
- You want boots that go over your ankles- some of the ground we'll be covering is going to be somewhat rugged. You don't want a twisted ankle when you're 12 miles to the closest road.
- Look for boots that are waterproof yet breathable- backpacking is hard on your feet and you want to give them every advantage possible. I personally wear and recommend boots that are made from Gore-Tex. There might be better/newer materials- maybe... but Gore-Tex boots are crazy good.
There are several other things you'll need before our trip, but these are the majors items. You can spend $300 before you know it... and to get top-of-the line gear, you're looking at closer to $600~$700... so Christmas is a good time to get a head start on these.
