Technology on the trail

iPods, iPads, MP3 player, cell phones, tablets. We are bombarded with technology everyday and modern times seem to rely on it. With the modern advances we have and more we become reliant on technology, it has spread to backpacking. 

So, the big question is: should I take technology with me on my trek or should I leave it at home? And if so, how much is too much. This is a topic that I have 2 opinions on. I like having some of the technology with me, yet I think it can be a hindrance. 

The point of backpacking is to "get away from it all" and most technology takes away from that. Today, more and more people become obsessed with texting and it carries over to the trail. If your goal is to get away from the pleasures we have and get out where the nature is, then we should forego the technology. I personally take some electronics with me, but I set standards for myself and for those hiking with me. I am against texting and talking on the phone while out on a trek. It irks me when I'm out hiking and come across someone being obnoxious on the phone. Same with Facebook. If you're so eager to talk to your friends and get updated on everyone's social life, why are you out hiking? I also prefer to leave the tablet and game devices at home. I'm out there to enjoy being away from it all and enjoy the trees, the streams, the forests. When you take electronics, and particularly games, you may as well stay at home. Not to mention the extra weight tablets add. 

I am not 100% against having technology though. I always bring my phone hiking, but like I said, I have standards. I put my phone in airplane mode so I can't receive calls or texts and sometimes I just leave it off. However, I take pictures of my hikes with my phone so it's on for most of the hike. I am pro-camera. I think it's important to get pictures of your treks to spark our memories. When It comes to the phone, there are advantages. If you get stuck or in some kind of trouble, you can now just call someone. That is a big plus, but I don't let it tempt me into always being on it. 

iPods and MP3 players. What's my opinion on it? I personally love listening to music when hiking. I do enjoy a good hike with silence, but I hike quite a bit with music. I think this is where I compromise a little. I don't like when people rely on electronics while hiking, but I do listen to music. And being how I listen to music, I bring an iPod. If you like to listen to music while hiking or biking, get an iPod or MP3 player. I used to use the music player on my phone and it would drain the battery, making my phone unavailable to call someone if I got in trouble. 

Something else that a lot of people don't think about is beacons. There are many different brands of beacons such as ResQlink. These devices track your GPS location so if you get lost or injured, you can activate it and a park ranger or law enforcement can find you. That being said, it's important that people know where you are hiking at. And in addition to hiking beacons, there's avalanche beacons made by brands like Mammut and Backcountry that track you if you end up buried in an avalanche. The plus to these devices is the flexibility to leave your phone at home. You now have a way for people to find you so why do you need the phone?

When I hike, I prefer to navigate using maps, but GPS is a great way to navigate. I have nothing against GPS, I just like maps. GPS can make a trip so much easier to navigate, allowing you to focus on the beauty around you instead of wondering where you're at. There are even GPS downloads for topo maps so you can use it in the wilderness. And like MP3 players, try to avoid using your phone. There are some great GPS apps out there, including backpacking ones that will track your trip so you can go back and see where you went and most of these have topo maps in them. However, it will drain your battery. If you want to go with GPS, I advise just buying a good one like Garmin. 

If you are going to hike on the trail with anything electronic, the most important thing to remember is how much power it will use up. It's important to carry spare batteries for all your electronics, especially your flashlights. If your electronic isn't rechargeable, it's vital to bring extra batteries. But if your electronics can be recharged, such as a phone or iPod, you may want to consider investing in a solar charger. You can get an external battery, but if you have the solar charger, you have infinite power. Mine has a battery built into it, so it can charge in the sun while hiking, then you can charge your phone in the evening. 

Whether you chose to bring your phone, MP3 player, iPod, camera is totally up to you. My philosophy is everything is based on preference, just consider the fact that you're out there to enjoy nature and the company if fellow hikers. So enjoy it and don't waste the trip by talking on the phone, texting, or being on a social media site. Comment what you think. 

Alone vs. group backpacking

When I hike, camp, or backpack, I like to do so alone. There are great advantages to hiking alone, but there's also great downsides. Each person has his own idea of fun and relaxation and I prefer doing it alone.

Hiking alone is awesome in my opinion. You have the time to yourself to think and enjoy the outdoors, not to mention the peace and quiet. When at camp, I only have myself to cook for. When hiking alone, you only have yourself to be accountable for. This really takes the weight and responsibility off your shoulders compared to group camping.

I personally enjoy getting to camp, setting up the tent or hammock, making dinner, eating, and going off on a day hike with only myself. I enjoy the peace and quiet and not have someone bugging me. I thoroughly enjoy listening to music when I hike and its difficult to do so when you're hiking with someone else. There's just something magical about having the trail to yourself, especially for introverts like me.

On the other side, group trekking has its benefits. Even though I thoroughly enjoy hiking on my own, it's nice to have someone to enjoy the experience with. Having a few friends or the family there can really make the trip a memorable experience. A great benefit is everyone shares the load. You can split gear up among everyone to lighten the load. Even though you have to cook for more than one person, everyone usually carries his own food and cooking that additional food doesn't really add any significant time. Weight is really cut down when maybe one person carries shelter the other carries cooking equipment. This really helps when you're also climbing and have all that additional heavy climbing gear.

When you hike with someone else, you have more of an accountability to each other and everyone's responsible for the other. All groups have a leader that is head of the trek which can be a good thing. When you go on a longer trip, it's always good to have a leader to keep the group together and to keep things going. In addition, you also have team members that serve their role. In larger groups, you can have your group leader along with the second leader who is in the back to help keep people from straggling behind. You can have a navigator who is responsible for directions, a timer who manages scheduled breaks, a medic to take care of injuries and medical emergencies, a scout who can go ahead to find the best route, and it goes on. The load is shared among everyone.

Another benefits is the additional people for emergencies. If something tragic happens to you on the trail and you're alone, you have to fend for yourself. When in groups, everyone looks after each other and there's always enough people to assist in emergencies. You can also just enjoy each others company and make memories that will last a lifetime.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both hiking alone and hiking in groups. I suggest try both and discover which you like best. You may be like me and enjoy both.

Finding and traveling with water

The most important thing you can bring on a trek is what will keep you alive: water. The ways to find water on the trail are well numbered as well as methods of carrying it. Questions arise such as how much do I take, how should I carry it, how do I make sure it's pure, and so on. In my opinion, you can't overdo water. However, it does get heavy and adds most of the weight to your pack. If your on a long trek, your not going to carry all the water you need, your going to collect water along the way. 

Methods of carrying it

The methods of carrying water vary greatly depending on how long your trip is, personal preference, climate, etc. If I'm only going on an overnight trek, I may bring a camelback and 2 Nalgene bottles and not even have to worry about finding water. 

I swear by camelbacks and water bladders. They take up very little room in your pack, they hold high volumes of water, and not to mention they are convenient. Most packs have a sleeve on the inside to put a water bladder in with some kind of hook to hold it in place and an access port for the tubing. I almost always use a camelback, even on day hikes. What I really like about them is I can have one in my pack for a long trek and after setting up camp, I can take the bladder out of the pack and put it in its own carrier for a day hike. If you get a brand like Camelback or Colman, you can find ones that have a fairly large carrier that work great for day hikes. 

The downside to water bladders is their susceptibility to freeze. When your bladder is in the pack, you can wrap some sort of insulation around it to keep it warm. There are also insulated sleeves that slide over the tubing. You can really insulate a water bladder for winter, but you always still have the risk of freezing. When temperatures drop below 0, it gets even harder to keep the water from freezing. The tubing is hard to insulate, even with an insulator. You can always blow the water back into he bladder after drinking, but still have some water in there that can freeze. I personally forgo the water bladder altogether in winter, but won't leave home without it in 3 seasons. 

When I hike, I like to also carry 2 Nalgene bottles and an aluminum bottle. When it comes to water bottles, there are several options to choose from. Camelback, Coleman, and Nalgene are some great brands to go with. You can also get collapsible water bottles like a Platypus. These are great; they are lightweight, roll up to small, packable size, and are great to carry when you plan to collect your own water. I am biased to Nalgene because they are durable and hold a lot of water. However, they are bulky and weighty. If you want to go on an ultralight trip or want to lighten your load, take Gatorade or Fiji bottles. They are light and more durable than a standard disposable water bottle. 

When you're hiking in winter, you want to make sure the water doesn't freeze. If it freezes, you obviously can't drink it and when it's cold, it takes more energy for your body to warm it when you drink it. When I trek in winter, I carry 2 Nalgene bottles only. I have a Nalgene bottle insulator that I have one bottle in and I wrap the other bottle in my pillow and stuff it in my pack to keep it warm. I also carry the bottles upside down. This is a nice little trick for when it's really cold out. If your water does begin to freeze, it will do so on the surface first then work it's way down. When the bottle is upside down, the ice will start to accumulate in the bottom of the bottle and you don't have to worry about messing with the ice when you go to take a drink. 

The reason I use Nalgene, especially for winter, is because of its durability. When pressure drops inside the bottle because of the cold temperature change, the bottle naturally collapses. Try putting some water in a disposable bottle and put it in the freezer. You will see what I mean. Even a Gatorade bottle will collapse. Aluminum bottles are great and lightweight, but in winter, they have the risk of collapsing and the cold metal has potential to freeze to your lips in sub-zero weather. You don't have to use Nalgene, but will want something thick and durable. 

Finding your water

Water is very important, especially in winter and summer. Winter months are dry and when you breath, you exhale water droplets that will eventually dehydrate you, not to mention if you sweat while hiking. In hot months, you will sweat a whole lot more and will require gallons of water. The amount that you initially carry largely depends on how much you regularly drink and how many water sources there are along the trail. You aren't going to carry all your water, adding 7-10 pounds to your pack, if there will be plenty of water sources on the trail. You may carry a couple empty bottles and a full, 2 liter water bladder. Likewise, you are going to carry more water if there are few water sources. For example: Yellow River State Forest. It's a 25 mile backpacking trail and if you decide to span it out 2-3 days, you will want plenty of water being how there's very few small water sources. It's vitals that you preplan your trip so you know how much to carry. 

The way you find your water will vary with climate. Obviously, if you're hiking in snow, you will be melting and boiling snow for your water. But what about the dry seasons? How do I find water? Most trails will have some form of water source such as a stream, lake, or pond. If that is the case, you want some way to filter the water. I have a Cohglan water filter that I take. Lifestraw is a great, small, lightweight brand that I highly recommend. The way your filter works largely depends on the type of filter so make sure you read the directions and know how it works. I even keep instructions for my filter in the stuff sack that the filter is stored in. The downside is most filters will freeze, so I leave it at home for my winter trips. 

You can also carry water furification tablets. However, these tablets add that awful iodine taste. You can get tablets that you use after purifying it to take away the taste, but it does get pricey, so I only have tablets as a backup. The most efficient way to purify water is boiling for about 10 minutes. Even if you filter it, you may want to boil it. I even boil snow after I melt it. However, boiling water without filtering it will leave moss and bugs that you will have to sift out. 

If you are in worst case scenario and need a homemade filter, it can be done relatively easy. Take a CLEAN sock and fill it about 1/3 full with sand. If it's available, put ground charcoal in to about 2/3 full. Lastly, fill the rest with dirt. You can then hang it in a tree and pour water in it (just make sure to have a water bottle underneat). This will effectively filter the water even though it won't taste the best. 

In desert and in hot climates, it can become hard to find water. The trick is to find an oasis or area with healthy plants and dig near a tree, cactus, etc. You can also dig into the trunk or cactus and get water from there, however, some liquids that come from cactus can be harmful. Your best bet is to set up to collect water overnight. That's why I carry zip lock bags and trash bags. Zip lock bags work great for carrying additional water to camp from the water source.

Here's a great way to collect water. You can dig a hole in the ground (In a grassy or silty area) and put your water bottle in the center and the rim should be a little lower than the ground level. Put the trash bag over the hole and anchor it down all the way around the hole. It's best to weigh it down with dirt. Poke a small hole in the middle of the bag over the bottle and put a small rock there to weigh down the center of the bag. As dew and moisture collects around the outside of the bag, it will drain to the center and into the bottle. If you're in an area with tall grass, you can wrap towels or bandannas around your ankles and walk through the grass early in the morning and dew will collect in the cloth. You can then wring it out into the bottle.

There's always the option of collecting rain (and it doesn't work to just hold your bottle up, hoping to fill it). It's uncomfortable to hike in rain and best to plan a trip when it's not going to rain. But if a spontaneous rain comes, you can have an abundance of water. If you have a spare poncho, tarp, or ground cloth, you can set it up multiple ways. You can make it parallel to the ground and let the water collect in the center. You can angle it a little and let the rain drain into a bottle. Ideally, use the method of digging a hole in the ground as I mentioned earlier. The rain will collect in the bottle and additional water in the dirt will make its way out and onto the trash bag. There are unlimited ways to collect rain and you can experiment with it to find what works for you. If it had just recently rained, many leaves and branches retain rain that you can collect. 

A great way of finding water is the power of...wait for it...condensation. This will work best in hotter, humid climates. If you carry a zip lock bag or clear tarp, stake it down over healthy plants or grass early in the morning after the dew has settled. You can also pull up live, healthy plants and put them in the zip lock bag in the sun. When it warms up, the plastic will trap heat, causing the greenhouse effect. The dew and moisture will evaporate and collect on the plastic. If you can weigh the center of the plastic down a little, you can put a water bottle under it and the water that accumulates on the plastic will drain into the bottle. If you are in a pinch, try to follow animal tracks or animals and birds themselves. If there's animals, there's water and they will eventually lead you to water. 

There are dozens of methods for finding and collecting water. The methods I presented are what I have found work best in my area. If you have some genius, innovative ways for finding water, please share. 

Packing the pack

There are endless ways on how to pack your backpack for a trek. You will pack it differently based on type of hike, climate, type of pack, what you use more often, and what you take. As I go through this, I will show how I pack for 3 season vs. winter and hammock vs. tent. My Teton sport backpack has the main compartment, a sleeping bag compartment in the underside, a long outside pocket on one side, two short outside pockets on the other side, a netted water bottle pouch on both sides, a netting gear pouch on the back, a water bladder pouch on the inside, and a pouch on the top flap on outside and inside. 

I also have a smaller pack I use in the summer sometimes that only has a main compartment, two long pockets on the outside on the back, pouch on inside and outside of top flap , and two netted gear pockets on the side. You can see a big difference between the two. All packs are different so how you pack it will vary. I will use my Teton for example throughout this post. I'm going to show you how I pack my pack, then will give some packing principles to always abide by. 

First, I will cover the main compartment. Depending on the trip, the way I pack will change. The following are what I have in my main compartment:

Hammock, pillow, cook set, food and fuel can in stuff sack, air matress, snow shovel, backpacking chair, water filter, clothes. Of course, I don't carry the snow shovel when there's no snow or the hammock when I bring the tent. I don't pack the water filter when I'm hiking in snow. Typically when I pack for a hammock camp, I put the hammock, cook set, air matress, and clothes bag in first. On top of that, I put my food bag, water filter, and chair. Lastly, I put the pillow on top with a Nalgene bottle. In winter, I wrap the water bottle in the pillow. In snow, I take the handle off the shovel and slide both in along the back. In 3 seasons, I put my camelback bladder in the pocket on the inside and squeeze the camelback carrier in somewhere to use as a day pack. 

In the sleeping bag, compartment, I have my sleeping bag and space blanket/tarp. The compartment is rather small so if you have one and a large sleeping bag, you can take some smaller things out of the main part, like food and clothes, and put them in the sleeping bag compartment and sleeping bag in the main or on the outside. You can experiment and work with it until you find a solution. 

The top, outside pocket on the flap is where I put the things I will need the most to keep them handy. All packs have a pocket on top of the pack. The following is what I always carry in it:

Ground cloth, duct tape wrapped around a card, map case and map, compass, cotton gloves, multi tool, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, flashlight, headlamp, and bandanna. You may not put the same things in this pocket, but just make sure to have there what you will need most. 

Just on the other side of the top flap, there's another pocket that I typically keep my hygiene stuff, extra first aid supplies, medical tape, and soap. 

The long outside, side pocket I normally use to put longer, small items and things I may need before opening the main compartment. I usually carry my spare tent stakes, bear bag cord, small shovel, and folding saw. 

The top smaller pocket on the other side I typically put my fire starting and cooking equipment in. I have my stove, lighter, tinder, and back up stove and fuel. The bottom small pocket I use for survival gear. I have a dry box with extra lighter, hand warmers, fishing kit, can opener, and flint fire striker. I also have a pill fob with basic OTC medications like ibuprofen and Benadryl and have my emergency space blanket in the pocket as well. 

On the outside of the pack, I strap my foam sleeping pad on the back and the tent on top (when I use my tent rather than hammock). When I hammock camp, I have my underquilt strapped to the top and spare blanket on the back. I have a carabiner with paracord on it that I put on a shoulder strap. I also put my snacks in the outside mesh pockets. Most packs have some way of securing your trekking poles to the outside and have gear loops for ice axes. When I take snow shoes, but not using them at the time, I use lashing straps to strap them to the sides. I always keep an insulated Nalgene bottle pouch on the hip belt that I keep a water bottle in. It's nice having an insulated one because it keeps water from freezing in winter and keeps it cool in summer. 

That is how I typically pack and it may change depending on what I decide to take and what kind of hike I'm on. You will have to mess around with it and decide how your gear fits best and suits you. But regardless of how you pack, remember these principles:

Pack light

When I first started backpacking, I liked to take EVERYTHING for worst case scenario. But I quickly learned that ounces lead to pounds and pounds add to pain. Only bring the essentials and as you buy gear, get the lightest stuff possible. Do your best to minimize your gear or you will suffer on the trail and may have to dump some stuff. 

Heaviest on top

When packing, bear in mind that when the heaviest items are on the bottom, it will feel heavier than if they were on top. Try to follow this as best you can. However, some heavy things I put on the bottom if they will be the last things I need to pull out such as my hammock. Also try to put the heaviest gear closest to your body and lighter gear away from your body. This will keep your center gravity... Well... In the center. 

Accessibility

Accessibility is important. You don't want your snacks for the day on the bottom of the pack or your sleeping bag on top everything. Pack logically and based on how soon you will use the item. You want the things you will use first, more often, and more likely to be in convenient spots. That is why I put the items I use most in the pouch right above my head. They are handy and I can access them while I'm still walking. For example, when winter hiking, first thing I will want to do when I reach camp is to set my pack down, but without it getting wet in the snow, so I keep my ground cloth in the top pouch so it's the first thing I grab. I can now set it out to put my gear on before setting up camp. 

Obviously, you will also want to put items in the pouches that are more logical. I categorize my stuff when I pack it. The larger gear I put in the main compartment, the essentials I keep in the pouch above my head, the fire starting and cooking gear in one pouch, survival gear is in one pouch, etc. As you pack and hike a few times, will learn where you want your stuff packed. You can pack the same way I do or you may find a method that works best for you. I hope this was a help to you. Comment and let me know what works best for you and what you think. 

My gear list for backpacking

If you search the internet, you can find hundreds of gear lists and videos on gear lists. I recommend eventually making your own gear list and as you gain experience, you will learn what you will and won't use. This list is to get you started and I will give you the essentials that you should absolutely have. Your gear list will vary depending on the type of hike your doing, how long the hike is, the climate and weather. This post will be in conjunction with my next post on how to pack your backpack. 

Shelter

It's pretty important to have some sort of shelter. Whether it be a tent, tarp, hammock, or simply a large poncho. It's always nice to sometimes sleep under the stars with no shelter or sleep in a snow hut, but you should always have some sort of shelter to fall back on. I even carry something that can double as a backup shelter such as tarp or poncho. 

Sleep system

You always need some sort of sleeping bag or blanket. Even summer nights can get cold and it's always nice to have a little extra under you. It is vital that your sleep system is appropriate to the weather. You aren't going to use a 40 degree sleeping bag in freezing temperatures and probably don't want to use a -20 bag for summer. One of my previous posts will help you in determining your sleeping bag. 

Water

Water is the most important thing in any hike. It's always better to have too much than not enough. I personally carry 2 Nalgene bottles. In the warm weather I also carry a camelback and a smaller aluminum bottle. Water does add a lot of weight, so it's important to also have some form to purify water if you go on any extended trip. I have a Cohglan water filter and purification tablets. In winter you can melt snow and don't really need a filter. Plan your trip well. If you know there's going to be plenty of water sources, carry less water and have a filter. If water will be scarce on the trail, carry more. I will post a bit later on how to find and carry water. 

Food

Food is next to water in importance. Your food is all up to you. Your preference in food choices and the length of trip will determine how much and what kinds of food you will bring. There are dehydrated foods out there that you can just add water to. You can always get MREs or carry something like rice or noodles. Just remember that the more you bring, the heavier your pack will be. If you don't pack your food right, you will take up valuable space in your pack. I have been taking ramen noodles and rice in zip lock bags. I carry my food in a stuff sack, but a lot of people prefer to put each meal in its own zip lock bag. I like everything in the stuff sack because when I go to hang my bear bag, I just need to hang my one stuff sack. I will post some recipes for over the fire in a later post. If you bring things that need cooked, you need some type of stove, whether it be an alcohol, gas, or wood. You also need a cook set. I have a larger one for hiking with multiple people and for winter, and a smaller one for hiking alone. Bear in mind, you need something to melt snow in if you're hiking in winter. 

Clothing

You should bring some kind of jacket along, no matter how warm it is outside. The nights may get chilly and you may get an unexpected rain. It's essential to bring extra socks. Depending on how hard you hike, the temperature, and weather, you may have to change socks during the day. When hiking hard in wet or hot weather, you should change your socks 1-2 times a day. Factor in additional clothing that has a potential to get wet or sweaty. It's also vital that you bring some type of hat. In the warm months, you need to keep the sun off your face and neck. In cold, you need to keep your head warm. Your head is very vascular, making most of your heat escaping through your head. When protecting from the rain, I recommend a small, spare poncho because you can keep the rain off as well as have a spare shelter. 

Navigation

I prefer to use maps, I'm a little old fashioned but whether you use maps or GPS, you need something. You never know when you might lose track of where you are and may need to regain your bearings and get back on the trail. I carry a map in a waterproof map case, protractor, pencil, and orienteering compass. Not only should you have them, you should know how to use it. Take a small course or stay tuned for a later post I will put up on how to navigate. GPS is becoming very popular. If you bring GPS, make sure to have spare batteries or a way of charging it like a solar charger. In fact, you should have spare batteries for all electronics. You should also know how to use your GPS before setting out. If you do bring GPS, bring a map as well. You never know when the GPS will quit working or die and it's always good to have a map. 

Pack

In my opinion, a backpack is important. I have never seen someone hike several days without one. The type and brand of pack you get 100% depends on what you like. I have a Teton sport explorer 4000. It's the right size for me and has plenty of room for all my gear. Every pack is different: some have lots of external pockets, some have none. There are several different sizes and styles. Do you want external or internal frame? Do you need some way to hold a water bladder? Do you want a built in pack cover or liner? Before spending a lot of money, determine what you need. 

Tools

I highly recommend a multi tool like a letherman. These can be used for just about anything. I also like to carry a pocket knife. You should consider a small shovel to dig a latrine. I also have a folding saw to cut firewood and a collapsible snow shovel if I'm hiking in deep snow. 

Light

I carry just a small LED flashlight. It fits into small places in my pack and is bright. I highly HIGHlY recommend a headlamp. If you end up setting up in the dark, it's nice to have a headlamp so you can work with both hands. 

First aid

First aid kit is essential on the trail. Being how I'm a paramedic, I tend to go overboard with medical supplies. I recently condensed it down to the essentials: gauze pads, gauze rolls, alcohol pads, bandaids, moleskin, medical gloves, and antibiotic ointment. I also carry ibuprofen and Benadryl. Benadryl is great for allergic reactions. I carry my first aid supplies in a zip lock bag because it can compress more that way. 

Everything else 

Everything else you carry is based on your preference and type of hike. I will, later on, give you a guide on packing for winter trips, desert trips, and ultralight. The following are things you may want to also bring:

Lighter or fire striker

Some kind of tinder

Cord or rope (needed for bear bag)

Duct tape

Repair kits

Sleeping pad or air matress

Camera

Pillow

Space blanket

Survival kit

Gloves 

Hand sanitizer

Backup stove

Bandanna

Carabiner

Fishing kit

Trekking poles

This will be a good start, but alter it to fit you. You may not use some stuff and you may have some stuff that you will use that I didn't mention. Feel free to comment about other things you carry. 

Gear review: Hennessy Hammock-Scout classic

So I recently started in with hammock camping and have grown to love it (as you can probably tell with my previous posts). Hammock camping is great! You're off the ground and don't have to endure the hard ground or worry about rocks or bumps. It can also keep you warmer than if you were in a tent. 

There's a wide array of hammocks out there and many different ways you can customize your hammock setup. There are many different brands and styles to choose from as hammock camping is becoming more popular. One of the leading brands is Hennessy. I have the Hennessy scout classic which I have really grown to like. Before I bought it, I searched for reviews and videos on it and didn't see a whole lot out there aside from basic description from retailers. Someone who is interested in hammock camping may want a little more to go on than that. The hammock is roughly 2.5 lbs and, when taken down into the stuff sack provided, it's about the size of a small tent. It's a dark green in color and about 63" overall when set up. 

First if all, the scout is made for a smaller person, youth size. It's rated for someone around 5'10" and max of 150 lbs according to Hennessy. I'm 5'5" and it's nice and snug for me but I wouldn't recommend someone much taller than me get this model. Hennessy does have other models, but being how this is a smaller size, it's cheaper. Cheap is always best when starting out to decide if it's something you actually like. Since Hennessy is a bigger brand, they are more expensive so if your starting out, you may want to go with an Eno or Hammock Bliss which are still good brands but cheaper. 

Most Hennessy hammocks have a signature entrance into the hammock. The scout classic has a Velcro strip underneath that you enter from. If you watch videos on other models on YouTube, you can see how that works. You open the Velcro, sit back in the hammock, lay back, and pick you feet up which causes the Velcro to shut. I like the way the entrance is set up, however there is a drawback. You can't really use the hammock as a chair very well because the hammock's not open and it is a little tricky with an underquilt. There's a built in bug net that is sealed all the way around the hammock which means you can't sit sideways in it and use it as chair. I do believe, though, that the way it is set up makes it slightly warmer in the winter than if it was open. 

 

All Hennessy hammocks have a top ridge line that runs the whole length of the hammock. These are great for hanging gear, wet clothes, shoes, headlamp, etc. On the ridge line, there's 2 hooks to hang gear and a small gear pouch with 2 pockets. I see this as a big plus being how you can put snacks, your phone, and other small things you may want handy. 

Hennessy hammocks also have elastic guide lines on the sides of the hammock. They can be stretched tight and staked down to keep the inside more open rather than feeling like the hammock is engulfing you. It also keeps the hammock from swinging in high winds. However, you don't have to use them. It also has it's own diamond-shaped rainfly that can be removed. The cord that suspends the hammock has a small cord tied to it by a prusik loop. The rainfly just hooks onto it and the tension can be adjusted by the prusik loop. This is also where I hook my underquilt as well. The downside to the rainfly is the size. It's a rather small rainfly and it has to be adjusted just right to keep the blowing wind and rain out. Hennessy does have additional rain flies that are bigger and hexagon shaped that provides much more coverage, but they have to be purchased separately. 

Suspension-wise, the hammock has a cord on each side that are about 4 feet in length. It has 2 webbing straps that come with it that wrap around the tree or post that the hammock is hung from. This makes it a little easier to hang the hammock. Hennessy provides instructions on how to wrap the straps around the tree and tie the cords to them, but there are more efficient ways to set up more quickly that I will cover in a later post. Setup it relatively simple and I won't go into how to set up because it's so simple, children do it. Do remember, though, that when setting up, make it about upper chest to neck height and maybe a little higher yet. When you lay in the hammock, the cords will stretch a little and the knots tighten, making the hammock hang a little lower. Generally, you want to pull it tight enough that the ridge line has some good tension to it. But in all reality, the tension depends how comfortable you are. If you prefer to lay relatively flat, pull it as tight as you can. If you want it to hang a little and have that curvature, loosen it up a little. You will have to experiment with it to see what you like. If you lay down and it seems like you're sliding towards either your head or feet, you can just adjust the straps on the tree until it's level. 

There's some additional things that can be added to the hammock to make it more comfortable and convenient. Of course, there's the additional, larger hex rainfly which many people end up going with. If you plan to winter camp or camp in the cold, I recommend an underquilt that wraps around the bottom of the hammock. I will do a gear review on my underquilt a bit later. Hennessy also has something really cool called "snakeskins". Right now, if you buy a hammock on Hennessy's website, you can get a free set. What they are is pretty much a simple stuff sack. They look almost like snake skins and are a tubular stuff sack that is pulled over the hammock. What these do are keep the hammock dry if you are setting up in wet conditions and also make it easier to set up, keeping everything from getting tangled. I highly recommend them. Although, when you put snakeskins on your hammock, it adds a little more bulk to the hammock when storing and makes it a tighter fit in the original stuff sack. They are also a little difficult to put on the first couple times. The downside to these hammocks is you will need 4-6 tent stakes which do not come with it. I bought MSR stakes which I think are very versatile and have many other uses. 

 

 

I love the Hennessy scout and hammock camping in general. It's good to change up how you camp and really is a great experience. Comment below what you think. 

Down vs. synthetic

This will be a relatively short post. A friend and I were discussing what kinds of sleeping bags we prefer and came to the topic of down or synthetic. There are real benefits to both and it kind of depends on what you want to achieve. They both serve their purposes and I personally have both. I may use a down sleeping bag on one trip, then synthetic on another. 

Warmth

When comparing the two, down is much warmer than synthetic. Being warm is vital in camping. If you can't keep warm at night, you won't be able to get a good night's rest. My philosophy is to get a sleeping bag rated lower than the temperature you expect to be in. If you are expecting 0 degrees, maybe get a -10 degree bag. It leaves some room there in case it drops a little colder in the night and it's much easier unzipped your sleeping bag than to try bundling up. If you want warm (and compressibility), down is probably the way to go. Down feathers are the undercoat of ducks and geese that keep them warm. Therefore, it has it's own warming properties. Synthetic is also warm, but it takes a thicker synthetic to reach the warmth of a down bag. If you desire warmth, then you should go with down. 

Compressibility

Another advantage I see to down is its compressibility. When it comes to backpacking, compressibility is vital next to weight, which is also an advantage to down. Down will compress very tightly and has very little weight to it, which is why it's preferred by many backpackers. My down bag fits in a small compartment in my backpack with no problems. If compressibility and saving room in your pack is your biggest concern, bear in mind that synthetic does compress down tightly as well, just not as small as down. Also remember that if size is your main concern, you can always use a compression sack to reduce the size of your bag (highly recommended). You can also put your bag in a stuff sack and strap it to the outside of your pack. If you are planning, though, to put your bag in your pack, you can compress down to about half the size of synthetic. 

Cleaning

Synthetic and down clean roughly the same and should be cleaned with care. I tend to be very gentle with some of my gear and sleeping bags are one of those. You really should hand wash a sleeping bag. Cleaning by hand ensures that you don't offset the filling or ruin the outside. All sleeping bags, in my opinion, should be air dried. Most bags have loops at the feet so you can hang them to let them dry. (Just make sure it's dry before setting out on your trip). Synthetic does have the advantage over down in this area. Synthetic will dry much faster than down and won't add much weight when wet. If you are trekking in damp climate or expect rain or moisture, you may want to go with synthetic. Down will hold in moisture and will get much heavier as where synthetic won't. I much prefer synthetic in winter, even though it takes up more room in my pack, because if it gets wet or soiled, I don't have to hike back out with an additional 4 pounds. 

Comfort

I have come to believe that comfort is a personal preference. Some people are more comfortable in down and some are more comfortable in synthetic. Either way, you should try both to decide what you like. I recommend sleeping a few nights in each in your back yard or even inside to determine what you think is more comfortable. Comfort is important when camping and especially on multi-day treks. If you're not comfortable, you won't sleep well and will be miserable in the morning. Find what is more feasible for you before setting out. I personally think synthetic is more comfortable, but I have a buddy that swears by down. It's really up to you. 

Overall, I think synthetic and down sleeping bags are equal. They both have their advantages. Your bag really depends on your preference, need, and what type of trip you will be on. Just be sure you try both before deciding (you may decide you like one that you wouldn't have though you would have). Comment below and let me know what you think. 

The wonder of space blankets

Okay, so we all know what space blankets are good for: emergencies. But when it comes to backpacking, what other uses are there? Obviously if you are backpacking, you will have some sort of sleeping bag or blanket for warmth and some kind of backup shelter, so why do so many people take space blankets on their treks? As I read posts and watch YouTube videos on backpacking gear, the most common use is warmth. It's commonly known that a space blanket can be used as an under blanket or as an extra layer added to your sleep system, but that's about as far as it goes for most people. So what are some additional uses for it?

There are some survival forums out there that give great suggestions such as a spare shelter, water collector, or to secure broken bones. First of all, let's look at how they work. In summary, the metallic surface reflects heat which is why it's used as a layer to a sleep system. But if it has all that capability to reflect heat, how else can it be used to its potential? 

Space blankets and fire

My last camping trip was a snow camp. I used my Hennessy Scout hammock with an Eno underquilt. I also had a fleece blanket and a 30 degree down sleeping bag. I foresaw the temperature getting down to about 27, but not 18 as it did. So what could I do to keep warm? Sure, I could use the space blanket as another under blanket or as a top layer, but I think that's under-using it. When I hammock camp, I lay a ground cloth down underneath it where I put my gear to keep it from getting wet. This gives the opportunity to cover my gear with the space blanket and staking the blanket down. It's ideal to get a 45 degree angle and with the space blanket facing down wind. You then create a fire a safe distance from your hammock and there you have it! The heat from the fire will actually reflect off the space blanket Into the hammock. The amount of heat you get from it depends on how big and hot the fire is and how close it is to the blanket. This trick also works for tents. You want to face the door towards the fire and downwind and place a space blanket flat on the ground between the tent and fire. It will reflect just as it does for a hammock. Although I recommend staking it down to keep it from blowing away. 

When winter camping, you may want to sit around the fire and have a good time, but the colder it gets, the more miserable you get. A great way to stay warm around the fire and gain all the heat you can is to open the space blanket and hang it behind you, perpendicular to the ground. You can use trekking poles, a tree, whatever you happen to find. If you sit between the fire and space blanket, you will have the heat from fire reflect off the blanket and provide extra warmth. If you have a big enough space blanket and start to experiment with it, you can angle the space blanket just right to gain even more heat. 

Kind of a small, simple tip I have for hammock camping. Some people do use space blankets as underquilts. This is a clever idea, but I would personally prefer an underquilt because it is warmer than using a space blanket and gets more snug. You can use the space blanket as, obviously, a blanket. However, you can also line your rain fly with it and reflect your body back to you. This works for tents just as well.  If you set your hammock up right, you can angle your rain fly when it's lined with the blanket and have a fire going. This works great to reflect the heat from the fire into your hammock. The downside is the wind. The point of the rain fly is to keep the wind off of you and this method kinda opens you up to the wind. You can do this with a tent, depending on the tent you have. You can put the space blanket between the tent and rain fly. 

Space blankets as spare shelter

I believe that you should not rely on an emergency space blanket as a spare shelter. You should always have a reliable backup and emergency space blankets are not durable enough to rely on. They will tear and can't hold up to wind very well. That being said, I do carry a heavy duty space blanket that is almost like a tarp, very rugged, with grommets. These do make great backup shelters and can also be used to reflect fire heat into your tent or hammock. You can pretty much set up a durable space blanket as you would with tarp camping, simple. The benefit to doing this is heat by fire reflecting off the inside of your make shift tent and keeping you nice and warm. To utilize this to it's maximum potential, make a lean-to with the opening towards the fire. Just make make sure that the fire and opening to the lean-to are facing downwind. This will not only keep the fire from potentially igniting you, but will also help to keep the wind off. However, if wind is an issue, you would be better off making an A-frame. You won't get all the heat you could get with a lean-to, but will still benefit from the heat reflecting as well as staying out of the wind. The downfall to these rugged space blankets is size and weight. They are about the same size as a tarp so I takes up valuable space in your pack. It is also heavier than an emergency space blanket, so if you are weight conscious, it's probably not for you. 

Space blankets as gear insulation

When camping or trekking in the cold, it's important to keep certain things warm. When it comes to gear, some things can be ruined by cold such as water filters, electronics, and not mention that water freezes. If you are going to be in an arctic situation, you can line your pack with the thin emergency space blanket. This won't be ideal for keeping your gear warm, but it's better than nothing. If you carry a rugged one like I do, you carry a spare emergency space blanket as well to wrap around your pack at night. In my case with hammock camping and having my gear on the ground, it's essential to find a way to keep your stuff from freezing. If you do not have a water bottle insulator, space blankets work great in keeping water from completely freezing. 

Altogether, I think space blankets are great! I do believe that a lot people don't know how to properly use them or the potential that they hold. Always remember that a space blanket is great in an emergency, but does not replace your spare shelter or sleep system. Use it as a tool, not a substitute. If you have any other great uses for space blankets, please comment below. 

Hiking, biking, or canoeing

Backpacking is an unlimited sport with unlimited possibilities. From gear, to location, to even method of travel. Many people such as myself enjoy a good, long hike. Others enjoy a nice, easy bike ride and some enjoy an adventure down a river in a canoe. But is there a method of travel that is better than the other? I don't believe so. 

Everyone enjoys things differently and my philosophy on backpacking is that it's all relative and based on preference. There are many advantages to each mode of getting around and there are also drawbacks to each one. Let's look at hiking. Hiking is a great way to stay in shape. When you go out on a long day hike or thru hike, you expend lots of energy and work muscles you never knew that you had. You can really lose that weight or gain that stamina, but that is also the drawback to hiking. Hiking uses lots of energy making you more tired and requiring a great deal of conditioning as with any other sport. You have to continuously drink fluids and consume calories to keep up with the energy that is burned which is why hiking is a great way to lose weight. 

Hiking allows you to enjoy nature on a more intimate scale. You experience things physically and can touch that which is around you. You can hike through a trail or along a road or near a cliff and experience things first hand. Hiking also allows to to explore places that are unexplored or gain access to a place that you would not be able to with biking or canoeing. On the flip side, hiking is rather slow and the distance travelled is much less than biking or canoeing. Your trip may not be as long and there is a possibility of not reaching your destination before nightfall. But there is a mode that does gain speed and can bring you to your destination quicker. 

Biking is a very popular sport and is growing. I am personally not very experienced with biking, but do know the benefits of it as well as the downfalls. I have a buddy who is well experienced in biking who may post some entries later about biking. Unlike hiking though, biking is quite a bit faster and allows you the option to cover more ground. You can now travel at say 20 mph rather than 3. Your cross country trip is now 3 weeks rather than 7. However, you don't have the experience of hiking, the feel of nature and the trails. Most biking trips are along roads and steady surface. You won't go into trails and difficult terrain as you would hiking. Granted, you can park the bike and follow trails on foot, but that is called hiking. 

Biking does have many advantages though. When hiking, you carry all your gear on your shoulders and hips. Depending on the weight, this can really take a toll on your body and wear you out faster. When biking or canoeing, you can carry your gear on racks, in the bottom of the canoe, or even in a trailer, and even though you still need to condition yourself, you don't have to acclimate to the weight as much except for climbing hills. 

Although, biking does offer the situation of failing parts. When on a long trip, you have the added weight of a tool kit and spare parts. You may carry repair kits while hiking, but it won't add up to the weight of a bike repair kit. If you want a trip with minimal spare parts or repair kits, go with canoeing. 

Canoeing has so many advantages. Every young boy dreams of a canoe trip. Why? Because of the adventure! Theres just something about canoeing that adds that spark. It really takes you on an adventure. And like biking, you don't have to worry about carrying your gear on your back. You just sit it in the bottom of the canoe and off you go! But like biking and hiking, there is a degree of conditioning required. Not so such in your legs, but in your arms and back. You may have the difficulty of paddling upstream or fighting rapids. On the other side, you may floats downstream and only use paddles to keep yourself in the channel. You can add speed by paddling vigorously downstream and cut your travel time greatly. 

However, canoeing does have its limitations. You obviously are limited to water: lakes, streams, rivers, etc. And that reduces your experience that you have with hiking. But you do gain the experience of the feel of the water: the flow, the current, the waves. You have a different kind of experience altogether. Then again, there's also the risk of capsizing and soaking, or possibly losing, your gear. 

Each mode of travel in backpacking has it's benefits and flaws, but I believe that they are all equally enjoyable and you can gain from each. When selecting which you will pursue, determine your interest and what you want out of it. Each person has his own preference and that is what it's all about: enjoying your time experiencing God's green earth.