Backpacking & Camping Gear Check-in

Backpacking and Camping Style

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There's nothing better than falling asleep with no city sounds, only bugs and maybe a flowing river nearby, and looking up to star-filled skies. Even if it's not an overnighter, heading out early in the morning for a few hours trudging around trails through forests and over passes is the purest form of dopamine hit. 

 

Having been fortunate to live in California (Bay Area) for 5 years, the likes of Big Sur, Lost Coast and the  Sierras are within 3 or 4 hour drive for the longer multi-day experiences. Local access for quicker day hikes offers areas like the Santa Cruz mountains (Big Basin / Sierra Azul / Portola / Soquel), Henry Coe, Sunol, and a bunch more that can be reached in 20 minutes to 2h. And with just over 6 months in Colorado on the door step of Front Range and winter wrapping up, am looking forward to delving into some Rockies back country.

 

First back-country US trip: June 2023, Barlow Flats, Big Sur

The ideal outdoor experience is a multi-day back-country backpacking trip ("Back country backpacking" is phrase I've only learnt in the last 3 or 4 years). Something with no public roads and finding a spot to spend nights that need more than a day to get out and back. Preparing for these trips include weight consideration as well as having gear to deal with the  elements, and food / hydration planning.

 

 

 

 

 

Yurt in Mt. Madonna, Sept 2020

A next-best format is sticking with an overnight option for car camping or front-country camping. There's a lot more convenience and affordability for comfort when you're not lugging a 30-40lb backpack for 8 hours for multiple days, and can afford to load up the extras for camp, or have 1 or 2 back-and-forth trips, if the car is not close to the campsite.

 

For times when just getting outdoors is enough, but not being able to spend the night, day hikes are never disappointing to get some mountain air in the lungs and some hills under the legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some gear I use is generic - it's something that I have with me for any format (a good pair of boots, trekking poles), while some is more format specific (lightweight gas burner for back-country, vs JetBoil for car-camping/front-country). The gear list indicates which of these styles it works well for.

 

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Gear for anything

• Boots: probably the most essential consideration, given that you'll be spending hours in them. I've been using Merrell Moab 3 for the past few years. I used the non-waterproof "low" profiles mostly, but found that on shallow stream crossings they'd get wet which was terrible on longer hikes. I still use the low for quicker hikes, but find the "mid" waterproof variant better for longer ones with water crossing. 
• Trekking poles: I didn't consider these essential for the first few hikes I did, and then found a long sturdy stick that helped big step ups on climbs, and much more forgiving on the knees during rocky descents. I am not a "UL" fanatic, but do find lighter options (so i can bring more stuff, rather than carry less weight). So i wanted to find a quality pair of carbon fibre poles that would stay comfortable in my hands, even if it gets hotty and muggy - so something with cork grips. After my first hike with Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Trekking Poles (Lost Coast + King Range), my perspective on poles changed from them being nice-to-have's to essential.
• Socks: I underestimated socks for the first few years of getting into hiking, and have only really appreciated a decent pair of Merino Wool socks in the last year. Better insulation and less absorbent of water keep feet a lot more comfortable than cotton.
• Hat: Either a rim hat with mesh for head breathing, or a bucket hat (both of which I brought with me from South Africa). Seldom use a peak cap, always aim for something with neck protection.
  

  
  
  
  
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