Trekking poles are a great way to increase stability, stamina, and efficiency on trail. Instead of forcing your legs to do all the heavy lifting, you’re now incorporating your arms into the system by enabling the ability to climb hills will all four limbs working together.

For downhills, trekking poles drastically reduce the impact to your needs and joints while at the same time increasing stability when traveling over loose rocks or sloppy trail conditions.

So, do you need them? Of course not, but I never leave home without them.

P.S. They can also be used as the structured pole in some tents designs.

I don’t mess with my sleep so I will choose an insulated inflatable pad every day of the week. To me, the weight savings of a thin foam pad isn’t worth it in 99% of cases, but it’s a personal choice.

If you’re really trying to cut down your base weight, a thin pad is for sure the way to go.

P.S. A pad isn’t JUST for comfort. It’s about insulating you from the cold ground.

For sleeping bags and summer applications where weather isn’t a concern, I choose a high-quality down filler (800+ fill). It’s lighter and far more compact than the synthetic equivalent, however, if I know conditions will be extremely wet, I’ll swap my down puffer jacket out with a synthetic one and take extreme care not to get my down bag wet.

This is 75% personal choice and 25% the environment you’re in.

Pump-style filters are a great choice for areas where standing pools of water are the norm and running water is minimal. The ability to pump water out of a standing pool is where pumps come in handy.

Squeeze-style filters are best for areas with running streams or deep pools of water where you can easily fill a bottle to filter water from. Squeeze filters are compact, lightweight, simple, and quick to use, but require water to already be in some kind of container prior to filtering

My preference is a squeeze filter, specifically the Sawyer Squeeze. It’s inexpensive, light, compact, and fixes to any standard water bottle thread.

For summer and fall backpacking trips, a pack no larger than 60L is size is needed unless you’re packing for an unsupported 14-day remote wilderness trip.

I prefer a 40L pack for summer and a slightly larger one for fall hunting trips where more gear is required.

Not everyone likes the hiking part of backpacking, but the good news is there’s no minimum requirement for how many miles you have to travel for a backpacking trip.

Pick a trail that won’t require a ton of miles and go enjoy yourself. A lot of great camp sites can be found within 3 miles of a trail head and you can take all day to get there if you wanted to.

Some people like to cover lots of miles and others don’t. Do what you think sounds like fun and make it happen.

When you’re ready for more miles, work on reducing your overall pack weight. Life on the trail is much better when you aren’t thinking about your pack.

I saw a lot of ultralight umbrellas on the PCT in 2017, but never did I see one functioning in a way that made it worth the added weight. They were either along for the ride in a pack, falling over while walking, or blowing inside out because the wind was too strong to keep them in place.

I’ve never used one because they appear to be more trouble than they’re worth. They fall into the column of “useful gear you can easily do without.”

The only use-case I can see them being great for is if you’re hiking in an exposed desert-like landscape where you can use the umbrella as shade during breaks.

I personally choose non-waterproof trail runners (Altra Lone Peaks) for nearly every backpacking trip outside of hunting. If I’m going to be on a trail, I’ll be in a trail runner because they allow your feet to breathe much better and are far more comfortable than a boot throughout the day. Even when wet, they’re a better bet.

Boots I reserve for hunting or anything with more technical terrain requirements where stability is key to safety. Think climbing, crossing scree fields, or winter-type conditions.

Choose your footwear based on your trip conditions and what you’ll be doing.

To me, yes. The minute I swapped to Merino wool for my base layers and mid layers, my overall comfort and temperature regulation became SO much better. Slow to warm, slow to cool. No more major temperature swings.

The problem is either the price of Merino or the feel of Merino. It’s a more expensive material when compared to synthetic and depending on how it’s spun, could be a bit itchy.

I’d suggest only two pairs of the same style of socks so you can swap them out on breaks to keep your feet fresh and dry. While you’re wearing one pair, you can air out the other on your pack.

I wear calf-height Merino wool socks from Darn Tough. They have a great warranty and the Merino wool will reduce the funk.

They’ll get wet, but that’s okay. It’s better they get wet in a breathable shoe than a waterproof one because they’ll dry out much faster than a waterproof liner will.

Don’t be afraid of wet feet if you have a breathable shoe like a trail runner. If they get damp from snow, a creek, or rain, just swap your socks out each time you take a break. While you’re resting, take your shoes off, air your feet out, and let everything breathe. Rotate your socks out and before you know it, your shoes will be dry within a few miles.

It’s weird at first, but once you experience the benefits of a breathable trail runner, you’ll never want to go back.

Blisters are normal, but here are a few ways you can prevent them from ruining a trip.

1. Size up your footwear by 1/2 or a full size to allow room for your feet to swell and to provide space when you’re going downhill (prevents your toes from jamming forward)

2. Keep your feet dry by airing them out on breaks and rotating your socks.

3. Check-in with your feet throughout the day. If you feel any kind of hot spot coming on, stop immediately and address it. Do NOT deal with it later because by the time you get to it, the damage will be done.

4. Apply Leuko Tape to your hot spot or any other areas of your feet that are prone to blisters. If you need to, tape those areas BEFORE you start hiking.

5. Hike slower. If you’re hurrying down the trail at an unnatural pace, you’re going to put pressure on areas that are not used to it. Walk at your own personal pace and your feet will last longer and have less blisters.

I’ve swapped all my mid-layers and long-sleeved base layers out with the hooded version because they are versatile. If you lose a hat, you have one built-in, and if you need to get the sun off your head you can use a hoody for that too.

Unless it’s a T-shirt, I go hoodie 10 out of 10 times.

Fear not! Bears and other wild animals are a part of the wilderness. Unless they know you have food or you’re a threat to cubs, they want nothing to do with you. If you’re in an area where bears or troublesome, you’ll likely see signs that show a requirement for either a bear-proof canister or similar.

Follow the guidelines of the area and make good choices when you encounter a bear. Make sure to let it know you’re there by talking to it and if it has cubs, consider backtracking, going the long way around, or waiting until the bear moves along.

Bears are incredible animals and deserve respect, but don’t overthink it too much or it will take over your brain and ruin an experience. My advice is to avoid backpacking in areas with dense populations until you’re ready for it.

My go-to navigation method is Gaia GPS because it will turn your phone into a mapping and navigational tool even when you don’t have cell service. You can pre-plan your routes and waypoints, and as long as you download your digital maps to your phone BEFORE you hit the trail, it will work when you’re offline because your phone has a real GPS chip in it.

It’s always a good idea to carry paper maps with you as a backup which you can print directly from Gaia before you go.

Click HERE for a free trial of Gaia GPS

Click HERE for 20% off your membership

If you’re backpacking into a popular area, you’ll likely see established campsites along the way. These can range from space for one tent or many tents. These should be your primary camping locations in order to reduce the impact on the environment.

If no sites are available or there’s not enough room for you and your tent, then simply find a suitable location for the night and minimize the impact on the area. Avoid trampling down the foliage and leaving it better than you arrived.

Remember this formula: 1 liter of water + 500 calories = 5 miles of hiking.

1. Use this as a starting point to feed and water your body on the trail. Adjust as needed.

2. Fuel up BEFORE you start hiking and think of it as keeping the tank full rather than refilling it. Calories equal energy.

3. Hike slower for longer periods of time.

4. Take regularly timed breaks throughout the day. Every hour or every two hours you should be sitting down drinking and eating something.

5. If you’re tired, take a break.

Calories = energy.

The only thing that matters ou there is having enough energy for the trail and the only way that happens is to fuel your body with… calories. Whatever that means to you and you’re specific situation, just know that if you don’t have fuel for energy, you won’t have a good time.

Next, my advice is to bring food that you will actually eat. Don’t bring what you think you SHOULD eat, bring what you WILL eat. To me if I’m hiking long days, that means a packaged donut in the morning with coffee, a mid-morning snack of a high calorie food, some kind of tortilla sandwich wrap for lunch, a high-calorie afternoon snack, and a freeze-dried meal for dinner.

Bring snacks, not meals. High-calorie low weight food is the best.

And if you need some guidance, shop the junk food aisle at the store if you’re doing bigger miles for your trip. Junk food is rocket fuel.

If you need some specific guidance on performance diet, contact Kyle Kamp RDN, LD at Valley to Peak Nutrition. He’ll get you squared away.

Unless you’re hell-bent on the lowest base weight possible, the Jetboil Flash is by far the best stove for pretty much any kind of summer/fall backpacking under 10k in elevation.

It’s an integrated system, snaps together to remain stable, and has a built-in lighter. It’ll boil water faster than you can upload your next Tiktok and is efficient with fuel.

For those looking to save some bucks, take a look at this off-brand version that probably comes from the same exact factory… Click HERE.

Sometimes packs and people don’t go together very well. While it’s true that in some cases, the pack you’re using may not be the best fit for you, there higher probability is that you’re not using the pack correctly. Follow these steps to correct the fit. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out.

1. Check Sizing: Make sure your pack is the correct size for your waist and torso. Some packs are fixed sizes while others are adjustable. If a waistbelt is too small or too large, it won’t hold the weight correctly. The same goes for the suspension, some are fixed and some are not. Wearing a pack with the wrong size torso size will result in an uncomfortable time on trail.

2. Proper Loading: Once you know your pack is the correct size, you need to load it properly. Make sure the heaviest items are located toward the upper portion of the pack to that when you’re wearing it, it would be located roughly between your shoulder blades. Those heavies items need to be as close to the frame as possible so the pack won’t pull you backward. Next, ensure your load is balanced left to right as much as possible. This will keep the pack balanced on your body and prevent leaning too far to one side.

3. Wear it Right: You can do all of the above the right way, but if you wear it wrong, you’ll still have issues.

   1. Loosen the belt, shoulder straps, and load lifters.

   2. While wearing the pack, lean over and tighten the belt so it’s as snug as possible and located on your lower back/lumbar area.

   3. Stand up, and gently pull the shoulder straps snug, but not tight. The load should be resting on your hips, not your shoulders.

   4. Pull the load lifters snug to about a 45-degree angle.

   5. Buckle the sternum strap.

If you’re still having issues, shoot me a note and let me know what’s going on. I’ll do my best to help out!

If you know your campsite will still be buried in feet of snow, plan ahead by carrying tent stakes made for snow camping (like these). They will provide better stability for your tent and won’t pull out as easily.

If the snow is only a few inches deep, clear a spot for your tent, drive your stakes in as you usually would, and call it a day.

I proposed to my wife a few weeks before leaving for 5 months to hike the PCT. It was hard, but we did it and we actually grew together while I was gone. She visited me on trail twice and we spoke as often as possible.

Each relationship is unique so mileage may vary, but I think there are foundational actions both people can do to make the experience a positive one.

1. The hiker needs to fully bear the weight of managing communications. It’s not going to be easy, but if you’re in a committed relationship, it’s the right thing to do. Do your best to stay in touch, let your person know what your situation is, and what phase of hike you’re moving into. You might be hiking, but you can’t just go dark on someone.

2. As the person on the homefront, life is going to be weird. You’re going to constantly wonder what your hiker is doing, if they’re safe, and when you’ll hear from them again. Trust that your person will communicate as often as possible, but also remember they’re hiking and going through something that’s both mentally and physically taxing. Be patient, be supportive, but still have expectations for the relationship.

Episode 100 of my podcast is a conversation with my wife about our PCT experience. It’s been helpful to a number of people going through the same experience so I highly encourage anyone in this boat to listen in. If you want to connect one on one, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly (emory@byland.co).

If the idea of hiking thousands of miles in a single summer sounds crazy to you, you’re not alone. I thought the same thing once, but once the idea grabbed ahold of me, it never let go. I never thought in a million years I could successfully hike up to 25 miles per day for days and weeks on end, but it turns out I could.

Thru-Hiking is more of a pilgrimage than it is a hike. The longer you stay on trail, the more you learn about yourself and the world around you. You spend months fully immersed in a wilderness experience struggling both physically and mentally. By the end of it, you’ve learned more in a handful of months than you could in a lifetime.

So why thru-hiking? That’s on you to figure out, but for me, it was an itch I needed to scratch. I felt pulled to do it because I needed to find out if I could. What I received in return was far more than I expected.

I’ve been there before myself. The adventure bug bit, but can’t find anyone to go with.

First, here’s what NOT to do… Do NOT try to coerce your friends into backpacking unless they’re into it like you are. I know it sounds like the easy button, but trust me when I say it will only leave you disappointed and frustrated when they cancel, bail, or don’t care about it as much as you do. And do NOT buy extra gear to accommodate your non0-interested friends.

Do this instead…

First, search for local hiking clubs or online groups like Facebook Groups. Join them, meet people, make friends, and go backpacking. It’s going to be weird the first time, but I promise you it’s worth the trouble. You’ll find people who are more like you than you’d expect AND they WANT to go backpacking. You won’t have to beg or convince them to do it.

Secondly, learn to go alone. Start slow by hiking alone and slowly build up to solo overnight trips. Before long, you’ll be off and running by yourself and when you are, the doors of adventure will be blown wide open.