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The Backpacker

Choosing the Right Binoculars and Spotting Scope
Choosing the right binoculars and spotting scopes is dependent on many factors, such as your primary use for the device, your desired options, and your budget. Choosing Binoculars Binoculars come in many different types. Specialized binoculars are available for birdwatchers, hunters, and other specific applications, such as sporting events. Discount binoculars may seem attractive, but your money [...]

Great Recipes for Backpacking and Camping
Great recipes for backpacking and camping excursions can vary from the basic to the elaborate. Even simple recipes cooked on an outdoor fire can taste exquisitely if prepared properly. Knowing a few great recipes for backpacking and camping before you venture out into the wild can make your meals seem heavenly. The Basics Bisquick on a Stick Everyone loves [...]

How to Choose Cookware for Backpacking
The choices in cookware for backpacking can be overwhelming. Determining exactly what you need and choosing between options is often difficult for the new backpacker. Getting advice from seasoned hikers and researching the differences in backpacking cookware can help sort through the confusion. Getting What You Need: the Basics Every person in your party will need to [...]

Choosing Great Pocket Knives, Hunting Knives and Survival Knives
Pocket knives, hunting knives and survival knives are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some perform single functions while others are intended for multi-purpose use. Choosing a great knife begins with understanding how you will most often put the knife to use. Will you be using the knife occasionally or every day? Do you [...]

10 Great Places to Hike in the Winter
Hiking in the winter can be a very rewarding experience. During winter months, many trails transform into solitary, snow covered landscapes with breathtaking scenery, overwhelming silence and glimpses of wildlife that are not present during the warmer summer months. These ten winter hiking destinations offer the best winter has to offer. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA Be sure [...]

Winter Hunting and Fishing Safety Tips
Hunting and fishing during winter months require a whole new set of safety considerations. Hunting and fishing excursions often involve crossing bodies of water. This creates a very serious potential for accidental drowning, hypothermia and frostbite. How to Cross a River Safely Flash floods can occur at any time. Keep this in mind when traveling in unfamiliar territory. [...]

Great Gear Gifts for Skiers and Snowboarders
As the holidays approach, you may find yourself wondering what to get that snow-loving skier or snowboarder on your list. Here are a few great gift ideas that are sure to be welcomed with open arms and wide grins. THE MOTOROLA AUDEX JACKET produced by Burton is one hot gift for any snow lover. This snazzy [...]

How to Make a Winter Survival Kit
As winter months approach, we can look forward to a beautiful blanket of crisp pristine snow and crystal blue skies overhead, but the beauty of freshly fallen snow can be deceptive. Heavy snow fall can mean plummeting temperatures, impassable roads and massive power failures for those who live in the Snow Belt. Being prepared for a [...]

How to Pack your Canoe
If you are like me, and I think you are because we are both thinking about getting outside, then you will really enjoy seeing nature from a canoe or kayak. Having the cool clear water flowing by as your paddle subtly breaks the surface of the water to propel you to your next vision of [...]

Choosing Quality Carabiners for Mountaineering
Choosing a quality carabiner for mountaineering depends greatly on the type of activity you will be doing and is also largely a matter a personal taste. Let?s take a look at the different types of carabiners. To Lock or Not to Lock? Climbing carabiners are divided into two basic categories: locking and nonlocking. Locking carabiners are more [...]

Choosing the Perfect Boots for Hiking and Backpacking
Caring for your feet is one of the most important parts of any hiking or backpacking trip. Cold, wet or sore feet can make your trip miserable if not bring it to a screeching halt. Choosing new hiking boots can be an exciting experience, but it can also be frustrating, especially if you are [...]

Tips for Hiking and Camping in Winter Months
There is an old Scottish proverb that says ?There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.? This proverb is especially true when camping and hiking in the winter. Being prepared for a winter expedition can mean the difference between an enjoyable experience in nature or a trip cut short by necessity. [...]

Choosing the Best Camping Lights and lanterns
Good, reliable lighting is essential for camping safety and comfort. Good lighting is an absolute necessity that should top every camping equipment checklist (right after ‘tent’). So what type is better, and how do you choose one? First off, one is not really better than the other; for most campers, having [...]

How to Pitch a Tent - Even In the Dark!
Knowing how to pitch a tent and pitch it well is a key to successful camping. You'll be able to quickly and efficiently set up your tent under any camping circumstances if you familiarize yourself with your set-up ahead of time.

How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip
Learning how to pack for a backpacking trip is the key to a rewarding and enjoyable hike. Over pack and you risk fatigue setting in as your energy and enjoyment of the hike drains out; under pack and you may find yourself without essential items. Although experience is going to serve as your best teacher, here [...]

Ideas for Eating Great in Outdoors
If you and your family are planning a camping trip to a campground you will need to pack light to save space in the car. If your planning a backpacking trip or a longer stay in the outdoors, it becomes especially important to pay attention to how much you can haul, both in the [...]

Top Ten Tips For Choosing Good Hiking Poles
Hiking poles can help you a lot if you plan to do a lot of hiking on woods trails with unpredictable conditions. But even if you plan to hike the wide-open paved roads of your community, hiking poles can be a big asset, gaining stability and enhancing your workout. So what do you need to know [...]

Choosing The Best Sleeping Bag For You
Choosing the right sleeping bag is not unlike choosing any other type of camping equipment. There are a number of considerations to account for, including durability and construction, weight, weatherproof-ness, and what time of year you plan to camp. When choosing a sleeping bag, though, the necessary factors boil down to four points of interest. First, [...]

How to Choose a Tent for Camping
There’s more to choosing a camping tent than you might expect. Size, shape, material, cost, added features, and seasonal use all factor into the tent buying equation. In order to determine your needs, first ask yourself a few questions. When and how will you use your tent?Are you planning only to camp during the warmer spring [...]

How to Adjust a Backpack for Hiking
Backpacking is a fun and exciting adventure that the whole family can enjoy. But it can also be a very physically demanding activity, especially if you choose a challenging trek. Northwest Backpack has several tips that can help you maximize your enjoyment. Before setting out, you might want to consider picking up a set of hiking [...]

How to Pack a Backpack
When preparing your backpacking gear for a camping or hiking trip, properly loading your backpack is nearly as important as the gear you take. A well-loaded backpack improves balance and weight distribution, allowing you to carry more gear with less effort. Your body will appreciate a proprly loaded backpack, so use this handy guide whenever [...]

How to Choose a Backpack
So you’re going camping, headed to the mountains for some hiking, or planning some other kind of backpacking excursion. Sounds like fun, but first you need a backpack! If you’ve ever shopped for backpacks, then you know that choosing the right backpack isn’t always easy, especially if you’re new to the activity of hiking & backpacking. [...]

Water Filtration, Water Purification, and Water Collection
Water. It is available in supermarkets and gas stations throughout North America for no more than pocket change. We rarely give the means for obtaining water a second thought. It’s always there whenever we need it, at the corner store or from our very own faucet. Yet in times of crisis, this most basic necessity [...]

Survival Kit Checklist
This survival kit checklist outlines a number of essential items to carry with you anytime one is needed - while backpacking or hiking, on long car trips, or even just around your home in case of natural disaster. This survival kit will supply you with the items necessary to meet your physiological needs in case of [...]