How to Prepare for Multi-Day Backpacking Trips

I drooled over all the lightweight packs from the major manufacturers for a few years. There’s no way I can justify paying five times more for something that might carry just as well. I plan to pick up another if/when this one wears out. All told, I’ve had the pack on my back for about 50 miles.

A great pack for day hikes, hunting and weekend camping. I backpack in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada. And I do day hikes in Sequoia National Park and on the coast.

ozark trail backpack

These are for babies and the smallest toddlers; check the manufacturer specifications for weight limits. The second kind of carrier is hard-framed backpack that kids can ride in for as long as mom or dad are willing to carry them. Determining when and where water will be available is part of route planning. Monitoring rain in the area you’re going to hike and contacting locals can help you determine if smaller creeks might act as water sources. Last fall when hiking dry sections of the Ouachita Trail, we planted water caches for insurance, but this involved driving to pick up empty jugs after the trip.

But if you add another family with at least one kid in roughly the same age range, like magic the hike seems to get shorter and the climbs easier for everyone involved. I must interject a note about coffee here as I consider it essential! I sometimes use Mount Hagen instant, but you end up with a small wrapper to carry out. My tastiest morning brew involves using espresso grind coffee and leaves no trash to carry out. Many trip failures can be traced to the planning process or something overlooked in preparation.

We’ve scouted the best routes, from easy day hikes to epic overnight bike-packing.Find detailed itineraries, directions, and maps right here. While this pack won’t work for everyone, it’s a practical size for day trips, light travelers, and kids. Includes ozark trail canopy compression straps on the sides to keep your gear stable. This pack has a lot of extra storage pockets for organization of your gear. Has a hip belt to displace the load off your shoulders. Includes a place to connect your hydration bladder.

I see another poster mentioned this on the page for the pot alone. You can then fill the cup, take the stove out of its pouch, and lay it flat on top of the cup. The lid sticks up just a bit but once it’s in the bag and the gas can is on top of it, it sits snug. The Yeti has the most streamlined design of the three coolers, staying true to the original Yeti look and feel.

You can tell there is a serious seal established when you latch this shut. The Ozark Trail 45 Qt Rolling Thermocooler also comes with an internal tray, which the other two do not. The coolers in competition were the Ozark Trail 45QT Rolling Thermocooler, The Pelican 45QW Elite Wheeled Cooler, and the Yeti Tundra Haul. I chose these coolers because they were the closest among the brands when it came to internal storage. It’s a working document that I update from time to time. I never carry bear spray and only used a bear canister once in the High Sierras of California where it was required.