That sounds very unpleasant, Tam.

Thanks for the suggestions, Reid. The Outdoor Vitals air mattress does look both thick (for comfort) and durably made, although its weight does not place it among the lightest air mats out there. Still, I agree it’s worth a look for some people. The Ventus Hoodie does look very interesting; I might check that out.

I agree that the recommendations are expensive. I also feel that they do not represent the smaller beautiful, excellent products (also expensive) that are better quality and lighter weight. I would recommend doing a little research in the “boutique” backpacking gear wares. One example: Outdoor Vitals has a fantastic inflatable pad (that happens to be on clearance) and they have amazing apparel including the Ventus hoodie. Other companies have great gear too and more are popping into the market! These are companies that are founded by backpackers that are developing gear because they want to make it better than the mainstream products. Just a thought.

Hi Melissa,

I like the Rhamani sandals for comfort and fit; their drawback, as with Chacos and some Tevas, are the open toes, leaving toes unprotected. For creek/water crossings in the Grand Canyon, closed-toe sandals probably aren’t urgent, you just need sandals with a secure strap system, like the ones I mentioned have. I haven’t seen the Bedrock or Recon.

Good luck with your trip!

Ha! Thanks, John, and you keep those Samsquanches away.

Ah, then you do approve of having a larger knife at times! That’s good.

Hi JP,

I fully respect and understand your approach to buying gear. I do use other tools on a multi-tool or knife at times and like having them. Affiliate commissions are not based on the price of anything; I review gear and apparel that I think represents the best in its category and yes, it often costs more than gear that doesn’t perform as well.

Thanks for writing and enjoy your adventures.

I agree. I carry the Micra in my first aid kit actually. The little knife is adequate for survival purposes and the person I am usually hiking with carries something much larger if I want cut tent stakes or skin a grizzle bear. 🙂

Thanks for the compliments, Ed, and I update the links in this story as frequently as I can, but I appreciate the heads-up.

Hi Michael.
Enjoying your site from Oxon, UK, and was interested in this rei lantern.
Thought ought to let you know that, from here, the link doesn’t seem to work.
Hope all is going well; you are bookmarked pretty comprehensively here!
Thanks and every good wish.
Ed Lehmann.

Thanks for that suggestion, Simon.

I found this list impressive though I have some equivalents at lower prices. I will consider some of these items for my next trip – if I can get them in the UK.

(I looked at Sierra Designs Cloud 800 yesterday and found they are not shipping to the UK at the moment)

Brian, If you’re trying to minimize weight, you might consider acquiring an Ursack. I’ve never had a problem with bears or rodents with one. Please note that certain national parks (e.g., Yosemite) require bear canisters though.

Mice and other rodents can be the primary concern, especially in designated or heavily used campsites. For example, I just finished backpacking five days in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park (great hike). In the desert and other environments where bears aren’t really a concern, hang your food just high enough off the ground (a couple of feet is enough) that rodents can’t reach it or climb down to it and ravens (a common problem in the desert) can’t perch on a nearby branch and reach it. There may be juniper, cottonwood, or other trees for that. If not, I’ve brought it into my tent, but be careful about that because some rodents will chew through tent fabric to get it.

If no there are no bears but small critters may be around what do you tend to do/recommend the most for food storage?

Oh, sorry I misunderstood, Brian. Yes, even if the management agency doesn’t require bear canisters, they have the same pros and cons: Easier and more secure storage of food from all animals, while adding weight and bulk to your pack. I still decide based on the location and relative threat of bears getting food and ease of hanging food as an option.

Hi Michael,
Sorry, but to be more clear, is it worth carrying and storing food in he BV5000 even if the area doesn’t require it?

Hi Brian,

Yes, the BV500, with careful packing, may fit food for two people for a trip of three to four days.

….this is assuming that it is not required by the park in which you are hiking.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the comment and good question. I have read about the specific black bear known as Yellow Yellow in the Adirondacks getting into multiple BV500 bear canisters. Some experts have speculated that the bear has simply had numerous opportunities to experiment with that type of canister and decipher it. I’ve also read about documented cases of black bears getting into various models of bear canisters in Yosemite.

Here’s my take on it: I don’t think these incidents are the result of a design failure of any particular type of canister—a conclusion that seems validated by the fact that other types have been accessed by bears. The reason has often been human error when sealing the canister, too. But apparently a few bears have figured out how to actually open the lid.

I think it’s simply a matter of a small number of bears in isolated backcountry areas with unusually high volumes of human/backpacker traffic getting enough opportunities to learn a skill. I’ve seen no evidence that this has been widespread.

I’ll continue to use my BV500 canisters confidently, and make sure they are sealed properly. These isolated incidents strike me as the equivalent of lightning strikes: Rare and also occasionally the result of someone increasing the risk due to their behavior (or failure to properly secure a canister).

Unless rangers at Rocky Mountain National Park specifically advise against using that type of canister there, I think you’d be fine using it—or as safe as probably with any other canister.

Hope that’s helpful. Good luck and have a fun and safe trip.

Michael

Great list of items with good suggestions!
I am planning a backpacking trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in early September. They require bear canisters. I was going to purchase a Bear Vault BV500. However, in reading other reviews, this bear canister is no longer allowed in the Adirondacks. Do you still recommend it? Is there another type you would recommend?
Thanks.
Jim

Hi William, glad you found my blog and thanks for the compliment. I hope you continue reading regularly and signed up for my free email newsletter.

I’ve used UV filters like the SteriPen, and while I can’t say I’ve tested the manufacturer claims scientifically, I can report I’ve never gotten sick using one, and I’m very confident their claims are accurate, based on their widespread use by backcountry travelers and the legal ramifications of making entirely false claims. I’m sure you’ve probably read that UV filters are 99.9 percent effective at killing viruses and bacteria (although they do not remove them from water), and they do so without affecting taste or adding chlorine to the water.

I’m not familiar with P&G tablets, but from what little I’ve read about them, they seem legit. However, they are probably overkill and unnecessarily time-consuming for use with clear backcountry water sources, and potentially more useful with backcountry water sources that are heavily silted, like desert (think: Southwest) and glaciated (think: Alaska) rivers.

I generally choose a water treatment method based on the expected water quality where I’m going and the number of people in my party. A UV filter, of course, treats one liter at a time, so it becomes quite time-consuming with more than two or three people. A gravity filter is the most efficient method for a group, but I use it only with clear water, because silted water can clog them quickly. For individual use in places where clear water sources are frequent, I like the convenience of a water filter bottle such as the Lifestraw Go. See this menu of all of my reviews of water filters.

Thanks for the good question. Keep in touch.

Good suggestion, Roque, but for a fully loaded but lightweight multi-tool, I lean toward the Leatherman Wave+. But since the Micra is simpler and much less expensive, I decided to add both to my review (above) because I really like your suggestion, so thanks!

My favorite piece of extra gear is the Leatherman Micra. I used to carry a small-ish fixed blade knife, but it was heavy and I rarely used it for anything but opening freeze dried food or cutting paracord. This little guy – with scissors – is perfect!

Thanks very much, Paul.

Hi Skip,

Nice to hear from you and congrats again on your upcoming JMT trip. I was happy to give you a custom trip planning consult for that.

Sure, I sometimes bring camp shoes on a backpacking trip, but more so when I’m backpacking in midweight/warm boots. When I’m hiking in breathable, cool, low-cut shoes—which is often when I’m also trying to keep my pack as light as possible—I forego the camp shoes and simply wear my low-cuts with the laces loosened and the tops wide open, to keep my feet cool. I find that very comfortable.

In other words, I decide on camp shoes within the context of how I approach each trip. When I thru-hiked the JMT, I wore very breathable low-cut shoes and did not need camp shoes.

Good luck with your JMT hike!

Do you find camp shoes helpful?

Great site! I’m heading out on the JMT Aug. 9!!!

Skip

Thanks for that suggestion, Beau, it does look nice. Here’s a link for anyone interested in it: rei.com.

Hi Shannon, yes, I think it’s quite durable. When empty and collapsed, it’s virtually indestructible. When there’s water inside, that gives the bottle more structure. If you drop it, the soft walls will absorb some shock. If you drop it from a height with water (thus, weight) inside, you could crack the plastic parts, of course. But it should last a long time with normal use.

Definitely a good idea, Chris. Thanks for sharing that.