Christopher has asked me to suggest a lightweight but functional Backpacking Toiletry Kit. Christopher will be participating in my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event in Harriman State Park hosted with Hudson Valley Hikers. All members were required to ask a question ahead of time as a prerequisite to attending. Continue reading
Tag Archives: MYOG
I Made My Own Backpacking Tarp, Part 3
In the first installment of this series, I discussed the events that led me to ditch my tent in favor of sleeping under a backpacking tarp. In Part 2 I talked about buying that first tarp, what it was like to sleep under it, and some of the advantages it had over a tent. Now its time to talk about how and why I made my custom backpacking tarp. Continue reading
Backpacking Gear List: Summer 2015

I try to keep all of my backpacking equipment organized. I lay it out like this at home before heading out, and then again each night of my hike.
When I was learning to backpack, I found it helpful when others posted their gear lists. It gave me a reference point for the kinds of things I needed, what I was doing right, and what I could be doing better. That said, there is no “one size fits all” gear list. There are a number of personal factors that go into making a gear list, such as size, weight, fitness level, and need for comfort. It also matters where and when you plan to go backpacking. One must factor in temperature, precipitation, terrain, water availability and natural shelter, among other things.