Why I Don’t Take a Cell Phone Backpacking

Nowadays cellphones, or more precisely smart phones, are considered an important piece of equipment for backpackers. They are often included as one of the Ten Essentials.

If you feel one of these devices is essential then by all means carry one. It is not for me to tell someone what he or she should or should not carry with him or her on a backpacking trip.

On the other hand, cell phone users might be curious why I exclude it from my gear. Continue reading Why I Don’t Take a Cell Phone Backpacking

I Need a Decent Backpacking Drinking Cup

(L to R): Sierra Cup, Rocky Cup, MSR Titan Cup, REI Double-Walled Insulated Cup

I’ve been doing this backpacking thing for over 50 years and have never owned a cup that did what I wanted (or needed) it to do. This fact is my fault. My drinking cup choices have been focused on the wrong attributes. The main purpose of this post is to review my approach to drinking cups over the years — that is, the thought process. I might have finally found a cup that may tick off all four of these attributes. But I haven’t used it long enough to really evaluate it as a solution.  Continue reading I Need a Decent Backpacking Drinking Cup

Book Review — How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners

As the title states, this is a guide for beginners. Given this, the author accomplishes this goal in an easy to read, compact package.

In this age of Internet experts, we often are bombarded with information from dubious sources and of questionable expertise. So the first place to start with this review is the author’s credentials as a backpacker and expert. Continue reading Book Review — How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners

Thoughts on Boots and Boot Care

The main purpose of this post is to discuss how to maintain leather hiking boots.

First, I’d like to talk about boots in general. For the past eight years, ever since I started this blog, I have been an outspoken advocate of running shoes for backpacking. Not, trail running shoes in particular, but even lighter more gossamer shoes.

I am beginning to change my mind. Continue reading Thoughts on Boots and Boot Care