[image] Sunny days are here again and the summer backpacking weather is just about ready to kick off. Whether you’re a weekend warrior out for an overnight, or marching down the miles of a thru-hike, I’ve gathered together the essentials you’ll need to safely and enjoyably hit the trails this season. First Aid Safety first, a good first aid kit is a must all year round and that doesn’t change just because the weather is warmer. A solid kit should be able to handle the bumps, scrapes, and pains that can happen on the trail. Bandages, sterile gauze, blister treatment, personal medications, and small tools like tweezers are a must. Sunscreen is often overlooked, but critical to happy hiking in the summer. A small tube in a ziploc bag will make a big difference, especially for faces. Aloe offers refreshing relief if you do get burned, and small packets are an easy add to your kit. Sunscreen Speaking of sunscreen, the best defense against the sun is actually your clothing...

We designed the Pine Down Blanket to stand alone as an amazingly useful, versatile blanket. Additionally, I had a secondary goal of making it incredibly desirable for our members who love to customize their gear. The value of the raw goods is more than we're selling it for. I've already been working with Aaron Sorensen on ideas (he's known for modding Costco Down Throws), and I'll post our ideas here too. [image] With a little cutting or sewing, you could make: A lighter backpacking quilt with tapered legs and more snaps, straps or a zipper. Maybe add a #3 zipper and turn it into a sleeping bag. A California King size blanket by sewing two togetherl A 10F blanket or quilt by layering one quilt on the other, offsetting by 2.12" so that the peak channel of one blanket falls into the baffle of the other, thereby forming a solid 3" thick layer. Snap two together to create a hammock overquilt and underquilt. Cut it in half and make it into two underquilts for hammock camping. Turn...

[image] It is fairly easy to cut a sleeping pad to your desired length. Shortening your pad gives you a lighter, more packable item that will be faster to inflate and take up less space in your shelter (especially useful in tents that taper towards the foot area). I know a substantial number of members are going to do this to their Long Massdrop x Klymit Utralight V, so they can have a wide short pad.  Here are the super simple instructions for shortening your sleeping pad 1) Decide and mark the desired length of pad 2) Cut with scissors 3) Clear insulation inside away from the edge 4) Seal the edge with a hot iron I've checked with the experts and as far as I could find, this method works with all sleeping pads - Thermarest, Exped, Nemo, Big Agnes, Sea to Summit and so on. Warning: cutting down your pad most likely voids your warranty from any manufacturer.  Now with greater details and a few basic photos, here is how you can cut down your insulated sleeping pad. 1) MEASURE...

My wife and I have always shared a large 1-person quilt and 2 sleeping pads together. We've tried various ways to fashion the pads together. Straps or 2mm guylines work ok, but they allow air gaps which equates to cold spots. I tried glueing a strip of velcro at the edge of each of our NeoAirs, which would have eliminated gaps, but that glue was not strong enough to last more than a few trips. The best method we've found so far is to create a 40"x70" Tyvek sleeve to keep the two pads together. This is heavier and bulkier, but does what we want it to and has the added benefit of protecting our very expensive pads. [image] I'm aware of a few existing 2-person pads, with the Exped SynMat Hyperlite Duo seems to be the best rated. It is 28 oz, with an R value of 3.3 and costs a whopping $280. Klymit just came out with their Double V, but it's uninsulated and way too heavy for us. So, I'm back to trying to make a 2-person pad by combining two regular pads. I took my Massdrop x Klymit...

[image] Toothpaste The method is used for removing the residue on the new snorkeling mask and preventing fogging on a used snorkeling mask. It is commonly used by swimmers. If you are a fan of swimming, you must be familiar with the trick. Rub the toothpaste on the inside of the lens with your fingers or soft cloth evenly. Leave the mask overnight and redo the process several times to ensure the defog effect. And the simpler the toothpaste, the better the defogging effect. Please avoid using an abrasive toothpaste or rough cloth, it will scratch the mask. The minty smell can be a little sensitive to some people’s eyes. Saliva If you purchase the snorkel mask just before snorkeling or the snorkeling idea is a temporary decision, there is no time for rubbing toothpaste, and you have no other preparation. Saliva will help. Spit on the inside of the mask, and rub it evenly with your finger. Then dunk the mask in fresh water (no sea water). The method won’t work without dunking. So...

[image] Ask a group of backpackers how they pack their bags and you’ll receive a wide variety of answers. While each person has their own personal preference, there are some general rules of thumb that serve well, especially for novices just learning the art. Packed well, your load should feel balanced and stable, with little sway as you stand. Choose appropriate gear Every trip has unique demands. Choosing the appropriate pack for the outing will keep you honest on your packing list and save your shoulders unnecessary weight. Obviously, the longer the outing, the larger your pack size will be. Winter months will require more warm (and bulky) layers, as well as potentially more gear like snowshoes or traction devices. Consider trip-specific challenges or special needs and pack accordingly. If you are traveling with a group, collaborate to reduce gear duplication. Does every person need their own stove and cookset? What gear items can be shared to reduce overall weight for...

I began backpacking when I was a scout, lugging around a bargain, classic external frame pack that my parent's found on a closeout deal at a local gear shop. It wasn't pretty, or terribly comfortable, but it held my stuff, and what it didn't - easily lashed on the outside. For two years, I hoisted that thing around and when I was 16, and was working my first job, I saved and scrapped all of my money until I had enough to buy an internal frame pack. Back then, outdoor gear was beefy, made from 1000 denier, kevlar; my new backpack was made to last a lifetime! It even came with a lifetime warranty. And the weight... well, lets just say that pack alone was more than half the weight people are bragging about these days as their BASE WEIGHT. At first it was hard to justify a replacement backpack. I mean... it worked, albeit a bit heavy, and it was near bulletproof. But as my gear got smaller, and lighter... and after packing a full size pillow for a year or so, to fill the extra space...