Christmas gift ideas can be hard to come by. If you’re buying for a backpacker, here are a few unique backpacking gift ideas.
Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, who knows if a gift will be a hit or a dud. If you’re shopping for a backpacking enthusiast, your task is going to be much easier.
Unique Backpacking Gifts
Despite the relative simplicity of backpacking, there are lots of items you can give as gifts to backpackers. Here are a few that will be a big hit.
1. Trekking Poles – Backpackers tend to go in two directions – forward and up. Regardless of the direction, they are going to be hoofing a heavy backpack from here to there. Trekking poles are very popular with backpackers because they let them use their arms to support part of the weight. Think of Gandolf in Lord of the Rings, but with a backpack on and a smaller beard! Black Diamond and Leki are good brands, but you can expect to pay a little over $100 for them.
2. Digital Handheld GPS – Yep, even backpacking has gone digital. Who would’ve thunk it? Digital handheld GPS units are a recent phenomenon and popular with backpackers. Regardless, backpackers use the units to make sure they know where they are at all times and not get lost. The Garmin brand is solid and you can expect to pay $120 to as much as you can spend.
3. Hydration Waist Packs – Backpackers consistently face the threat of getting dehydrated while hoofing it around God’s green earth. Hydration packs help prevent this by letting the backpacker carry water comfortably. You’ll have a choice of waist, shoulder and full on backpack systems. The waist packs are the best. You can expect to spend in the $30 to $45 range and Amphipod is a good brand.
4. Nomad Backpacking Journals – A little self-promotion here. Nomad Backpacking Journals are compact writing journals that let backpackers keep notes and diaries of their hikes. They can record whom they hiked with, the route, weather conditions and funny little events occurring during the trip. You can click the link at the bottom of this article to see them and expect to pay between $10 and $25 depending on the size.
If you’re looking for gifts for backpackers, consider yourself lucky. The equipment tends to be inexpensive and last a very long time.
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Unique Backpacking Christmas Gift Ideas for Backpackers
Posted on
Jumat, 12 Agustus 2011 |
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Why ultralight backpacks? Devotees of ultralight backpacking know you reduce your packweight most by concentrating on the "big three;" backpack, shelter, and sleeping bag. Forget those 6-pound backpacks, 9-pound tents and 5-pound sleeping bags. Reduce that 20 pounds to less than 5, keep the other gear to 5 or 6 pounds, and you can chuck the hot and heavy hiking boots, put on the running shoes, and start enjoying those trails.
Four Ounce Ultralight Backpacks
No, that's not a typo. One of the ultralight backpacking suppliers recently came out with a light pack with a capacity of 1800 cubic inches, plus more in an expandable rear pocket. Designed to carry just fifteen pounds, It may be more fragile than the average pack, but it weighs just 3.7 ounces! With a pack that light you're well on your way to keeping your total packweight to fifteen pounds.
I bought a six ounce pack at Walmart. Maybe you didn't know they sold ultralight backpacks, and niether did they. I'm sure it was intended as a daypack. However, it has 1200 cubic inches and weighs only 6 ounces, so I'll use it for summer overnighters. At $4, it was light on the budget too.
It easy to imagine that a decent-sized backpack can be made at home that weighs less than 8 ounces. If it's a simple one, without extra pockets, made from light nylon material, how much could it weigh? Making your own may be the way to get the lightest backpack.
Alternatives To Ultralight Backpacks
I've used my 8-ounce duffle bag for backpacking. With no pockets, it's tough to organize things, but it has lots of room, and it is very tough. In practice, the full-length zipper makes it so easy to see everything that organization isn't very important.
I also have tied the duffle bag to an an old aluminum pack-frame, to create a full-suspension backpack. It has a hip belt, comfortable padded straps, and weighs exactly two pounds. It worked fine on a trip above timberline in the mountains of Montana. If there are any lighter exterior-frame ultralight backpacks out there, I haven't seen them.
You can also go on overnight trips with just a bivy sack, a bottle of water and a few granola bars in the pockets of your jacket. I've done this in the summer. Of course, I suppose without ultralight backpacks, this can't even be called backpacking.
Sleeping bag pads are not one of the things you should cut from your list. Backpackers want to reduce their weight, but not even ultralight backpackers want to reduce their comfort. Still, who wants to carry those monstrous old inflatables down the trail? Try some of these lightweight options instead.
Make four-ounce sleeping bag pads, and sometimes carry two of them. Use the plain blue closed-cell foam pads available from any backpacking supplier. They are made larger than necessary, usually 24 by 72 inches. Just cut them down to a four-ounce size that fits your torso.
It should reach from your shoulders to your hips. You may want to cut the width a little at a time, testing for comfort as you go. The pad should be as small as you can make it, while still big enough to insulate your torso from the ground. A pillow of spare clothes can be used for your head, and your legs can be on your empty pack to insulate them.
Sleeping Bag Pads For Lightweight Fanatics
To make it really light, cut pieces out of the pad. Small holes in the pad don't seem to make it less comfortable. If you cut out a hundred little pieces of foam, you save an ounce and join the ranks of the fanatical ultralight backpackers.
Want to go even lighter? Leave the pad behind and try sleeping where the ground is soft. You can also pile up leaves or dry grass to sleep on. Do this where it won't harm the enviroment, and scatter the leaves in the morning so they don't kill the vegetation they're on. For fifteen minutes of work each night collecting materials, you can leave the sleeping pad home and actually be more comfortable. A thick pile of dried grass - now that's a nice camping mattress.
More Luxurious Sleeping Bag Pads
Want more cushioning? Inflatable sleeping pads are no longer out of the question for lightweight backpacking. The Big Agnes Air Core Pad from REI is a 3/4 length pad that weighs just 16 ounces and is an incredible 2 1/2" thick! If you've slept with Big Agnes, let me know how she is.
You can also find a few self-inflating pads that are reasonably light. The old Thermarest I sometimes use is actually only 21 ounces, but both Thermarest and others now have self-inflating sleeping pads that are under a pound. That's a lot of comfort for such lightweight sleeping bag pads.
Make four-ounce sleeping bag pads, and sometimes carry two of them. Use the plain blue closed-cell foam pads available from any backpacking supplier. They are made larger than necessary, usually 24 by 72 inches. Just cut them down to a four-ounce size that fits your torso.
It should reach from your shoulders to your hips. You may want to cut the width a little at a time, testing for comfort as you go. The pad should be as small as you can make it, while still big enough to insulate your torso from the ground. A pillow of spare clothes can be used for your head, and your legs can be on your empty pack to insulate them.
Sleeping Bag Pads For Lightweight Fanatics
To make it really light, cut pieces out of the pad. Small holes in the pad don't seem to make it less comfortable. If you cut out a hundred little pieces of foam, you save an ounce and join the ranks of the fanatical ultralight backpackers.
Want to go even lighter? Leave the pad behind and try sleeping where the ground is soft. You can also pile up leaves or dry grass to sleep on. Do this where it won't harm the enviroment, and scatter the leaves in the morning so they don't kill the vegetation they're on. For fifteen minutes of work each night collecting materials, you can leave the sleeping pad home and actually be more comfortable. A thick pile of dried grass - now that's a nice camping mattress.
More Luxurious Sleeping Bag Pads
Want more cushioning? Inflatable sleeping pads are no longer out of the question for lightweight backpacking. The Big Agnes Air Core Pad from REI is a 3/4 length pad that weighs just 16 ounces and is an incredible 2 1/2" thick! If you've slept with Big Agnes, let me know how she is.
You can also find a few self-inflating pads that are reasonably light. The old Thermarest I sometimes use is actually only 21 ounces, but both Thermarest and others now have self-inflating sleeping pads that are under a pound. That's a lot of comfort for such lightweight sleeping bag pads.
A backpacking checklist is usually about the "stuff." Good equipment is nice to have, but even with the best gear you can get into trouble in the wilderness. You might have matches and the latest fire starters, but still not be able to get that fire going. It takes more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable trip. Towards that end, then, this is a list of skills you should have or learn.
1. Navigation. Contrary to what many novices think, a compass doesn't tell you where you are. For that matter, a map doesn't either, if you don't know how to use it. Practice close to home if you can't yet use both of these easily. Do the same with your GPS unit.
2. Staying warm. There are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers as you get warm, for example, so you don't have sweat to chill you later. Use wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a hat. Eating fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.
3. Pitching a tent. Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the rain will come in, or the wind will tear the seams. They need to be pitched tight, and you should be able to do it in a few minutes. Practice in the yard.
4. Cooking over a fire. Making soup over a small fire is not as easy as it seems. Cover the pan, block the wind, and keep the fire small and concentrated. Time yourself when you practice. You don't have to rush normally, but speed can be important in some situations, and it's always possible your stove will break.
5. Identifying edible plants. Learning to identify three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable. Learning to identify cattails and one or two other good survival food plants can be very helpful, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.
6. Walking. If you pace yourself and learn how to move comfortably over rocky terrain, you'll be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle. Tighten those laces, too.
7. Understanding animals. Is the bear "bluff charging" or stalking you? The latter means you'll be the bear's supper if you play dead. A clue: making a lot of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you (a "bluff charge"), but you need to read up on this one.
8. Sky reading. Are those just clouds, or a lightning storm coming? It would be good to know when you're on a high ridge. In the rockies, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in summer. Learn about the weather patterns of an area, and the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.
9. Basic first aid. What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Stumbling and slurred speech are a couple of them. How do you properly treat blisters? You can use duct tape if you don't have moleskin. These and other basics are good things to know.
10. Firemaking. Start practicing in your yard. Try to start that fire with one match. Also try it the next time it's raining. Get in the habit of collecting dry tinder before the rain comes. Learn what things burn even when wet, like birch bark and pine sap.
This last one can be one of the more important skills in an emergency. Experts can start a fire in almost any circumstances, but you don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. For a safer, more enjoyable trip, just do the best you can, and start checking off the skills on this backpacking checklist.
1. Navigation. Contrary to what many novices think, a compass doesn't tell you where you are. For that matter, a map doesn't either, if you don't know how to use it. Practice close to home if you can't yet use both of these easily. Do the same with your GPS unit.
2. Staying warm. There are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers as you get warm, for example, so you don't have sweat to chill you later. Use wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a hat. Eating fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.
3. Pitching a tent. Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the rain will come in, or the wind will tear the seams. They need to be pitched tight, and you should be able to do it in a few minutes. Practice in the yard.
4. Cooking over a fire. Making soup over a small fire is not as easy as it seems. Cover the pan, block the wind, and keep the fire small and concentrated. Time yourself when you practice. You don't have to rush normally, but speed can be important in some situations, and it's always possible your stove will break.
5. Identifying edible plants. Learning to identify three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable. Learning to identify cattails and one or two other good survival food plants can be very helpful, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.
6. Walking. If you pace yourself and learn how to move comfortably over rocky terrain, you'll be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle. Tighten those laces, too.
7. Understanding animals. Is the bear "bluff charging" or stalking you? The latter means you'll be the bear's supper if you play dead. A clue: making a lot of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you (a "bluff charge"), but you need to read up on this one.
8. Sky reading. Are those just clouds, or a lightning storm coming? It would be good to know when you're on a high ridge. In the rockies, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in summer. Learn about the weather patterns of an area, and the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.
9. Basic first aid. What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Stumbling and slurred speech are a couple of them. How do you properly treat blisters? You can use duct tape if you don't have moleskin. These and other basics are good things to know.
10. Firemaking. Start practicing in your yard. Try to start that fire with one match. Also try it the next time it's raining. Get in the habit of collecting dry tinder before the rain comes. Learn what things burn even when wet, like birch bark and pine sap.
This last one can be one of the more important skills in an emergency. Experts can start a fire in almost any circumstances, but you don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. For a safer, more enjoyable trip, just do the best you can, and start checking off the skills on this backpacking checklist.
Backpacking boots or any of the traditional hiking boots may have their place. That place just isn't on my feet. If you don't have specific problems with your ankles, there isn't snow on the ground, and you don't carry more than thirty pounds on your back, try running shoes. You'll be so happy that you did.
Backpacking or hiking boots are heavy, hot, stinky, and stay wet forever. Decent running shoes can be as light as one pound per pair, while most hiking boots top three pounds. Army research showed that a pound on your feet is like five on your back (some say six), so three-pound boots naturally leave you more tired at the end of the day.
Backpacking Boots And Ankle Support
Some backpackers argue for the necessity of ankle support, but throughout history people managed without stiff ankle-supporting boots. Even if you are carrying thirty pounds on your back, consider the fact that there are people walking around that weigh 60 pounds more than you, and without problems. It is an issue of weak ankles, not a lack of support. To solve this problem, try walking a little each week on uneven ground (not in the mall).
While some may really need hiking boots, why not be sure your ankle problems are not just due to a lack of exercise before you settle for backpacking in heavy boots. It is true you may need hiking boots if you carry more than thirty pounds when you backpack. The solution to that is to cut the weight down.
Why Running Shoes?
Your feet will stay cooler in a good running shoes than in hiking boots, and this means fewer blisters. Once I switched to running shoes and lightweight socks years ago, I stopped getting blisters, and I don't mean fewer blisters. I mean no blisters. I haven't had one blister since I switched, not even after a 110-mile 7-day trek in the Rockies, for example.
For socks, I have used nothing but thin nylon dress socks for years. They are cheap, and they weigh less than an ounce per pair. That makes it easy to carry enough fresh socks. They also can be easily rinsed out and dried quickly. My feet won't tolerate hotter socks now, although I do bring a warmer pair for sleeping or for cold weather.
Unless you have size 13 feet, you should be able to find good running or hiking shoes that are under two pounds per pair. Carry a kitchen scale to the shoe store if you have to. Unfortunately, catalogs sometimes don't show weights, so you'll have to guess which hiking shoes are lighter based on the description and photo.
The higher quality shoes have soles stitched to the uppers. Look under the insoles to check this. A removable insole is another sign of quality shoes. Usually you can find a good pair of running shoes under 28 ounces and under $80, or half of that on closeouts.
Until you try it, you won't know how liberating it is to ditch the heavy pack and heavy boots and hit the trail in running shoes. Go more miles more comfortably. Run up a hill just to see what's there. I haven't yet met a person who has tried backpacking in hiking shoes or running shoes - and then returned to backpacking boots.
Backpacking or hiking boots are heavy, hot, stinky, and stay wet forever. Decent running shoes can be as light as one pound per pair, while most hiking boots top three pounds. Army research showed that a pound on your feet is like five on your back (some say six), so three-pound boots naturally leave you more tired at the end of the day.
Backpacking Boots And Ankle Support
Some backpackers argue for the necessity of ankle support, but throughout history people managed without stiff ankle-supporting boots. Even if you are carrying thirty pounds on your back, consider the fact that there are people walking around that weigh 60 pounds more than you, and without problems. It is an issue of weak ankles, not a lack of support. To solve this problem, try walking a little each week on uneven ground (not in the mall).
While some may really need hiking boots, why not be sure your ankle problems are not just due to a lack of exercise before you settle for backpacking in heavy boots. It is true you may need hiking boots if you carry more than thirty pounds when you backpack. The solution to that is to cut the weight down.
Why Running Shoes?
Your feet will stay cooler in a good running shoes than in hiking boots, and this means fewer blisters. Once I switched to running shoes and lightweight socks years ago, I stopped getting blisters, and I don't mean fewer blisters. I mean no blisters. I haven't had one blister since I switched, not even after a 110-mile 7-day trek in the Rockies, for example.
For socks, I have used nothing but thin nylon dress socks for years. They are cheap, and they weigh less than an ounce per pair. That makes it easy to carry enough fresh socks. They also can be easily rinsed out and dried quickly. My feet won't tolerate hotter socks now, although I do bring a warmer pair for sleeping or for cold weather.
Unless you have size 13 feet, you should be able to find good running or hiking shoes that are under two pounds per pair. Carry a kitchen scale to the shoe store if you have to. Unfortunately, catalogs sometimes don't show weights, so you'll have to guess which hiking shoes are lighter based on the description and photo.
The higher quality shoes have soles stitched to the uppers. Look under the insoles to check this. A removable insole is another sign of quality shoes. Usually you can find a good pair of running shoes under 28 ounces and under $80, or half of that on closeouts.
Until you try it, you won't know how liberating it is to ditch the heavy pack and heavy boots and hit the trail in running shoes. Go more miles more comfortably. Run up a hill just to see what's there. I haven't yet met a person who has tried backpacking in hiking shoes or running shoes - and then returned to backpacking boots.
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