Gear Tips
HOW TO CHOOSE A TENT
HELPFUL TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TENT PURCHASE
1 Pick a tent equipped to withstand the harshest conditions you might encounter. Example: If you’re a three-season backpacker who hikes late into the fall, you might want a four-season tent or a convertible model.
2 Four-season tents are roughly 10 to 20 percent heavier than three-season models (typically due to extra poles). Convertible tents allow you to add or omit poles and adjust ventilation as conditions dictate.
3 Freestanding tents (those that can stand without the aid of stakes) are very handy. You can move them easily or lift them to shake out debris.
4 Capacity ratings, assigned by individual manufacturers, sometimes tend to be optimistic. A two-person tent may be a tight squeeze for two large adults and their gear.
5 Use a tarp, ground cloth or footprint to extend the life of a tent’s floor.
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HOW TO CHOOSE A STOVE
HELPFUL TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAMPING STOVE PURCHASE
THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT STOVES OUT THERE AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE CAN BETRICKY. HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE STOVE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU:
A camp stove is a must-have for every outdoor enthusiast, but there are many factors to take into account when purchasing one. The first consideration when buying a camp stove is fuel type. The two most popular types of fuel available for camp stoves are butane/propane and white gas.
Butane/propane comes in disposable canisters that are both practical and relatively inexpensive. The only disadvantage of butane is that it doesn't perform well in cold weather. For summer and fall campers, this wouldn't be a problem, but if you're planning on four-season camping, you should consider a different type of camp stove.
For year-round camping, white gas, also known as naptha or Coleman fuel™, can be the perfect choice. Not only is it cheap, but it will burn in any temperature.
Access to extra fuel is important when buying a camp stove. While gas is common in the North America, butane is the preferred choice in Europe. Another option for overseas travelers is a multifuel camp stove, which runs on both gas and kerosene.
One feature few campers think about beforehand is stability. Large pots require large burners or the food will cook unevenly. The same is true of cooking on uneven surfaces, in which case a camp stove with adjustable legs is an asset.
Accessories should not be considered a luxury when choosing a camp stove. Carrying cases are now standard for many models, as they protect the knobs and hoses. Many camp stoves also come with a windshield.
HOW TO CHOOSE A BACKPACK
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE BACKPACK THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU:
It takes a backpack to get you there. Modern backpacks, unlike their shoulder-gouging ancestors that you might see hanging in your neighbour’s garage or basement, feature intelligent design concepts that provide surprising comfort and load-carrying efficiency. Such advancements have made the art of self-propelled adventure a much more agreeable pursuit. Internal-frame packs feature a narrow, tower-like profile and integrate their framework inside the pack, behind the shoulder harness. The frame usually consists of “stays,” or flat bars, about an inch wide and 1/8-inch thick. Stays are usually made of aluminum, and pre-curved to conform to your torso.
What Kind of Backpack Should I Get?
- First, determine how you plan to use your backpack:
a. Travel Abroad
b. Backpacking in North America - Unisex or Female-specific design
What Features Should I Look For?
- Hip Belt: Hip Belts should straddle your “iliac crest” -- the two prominent bones on the front of your hips. This is the area that provides the hip belt with a stable, fortified foundation. Hip belts sometimes come in different sizes, or are adjustable to fit women or men, large or small.
- Suspension System: This includes the shoulder straps (padded and contoured), load-lifting straps, a sternum strap and belt-stabilizer straps. The more fine-tuning a pack permits, the better the fit and more comfortable it will be to wear.
- Loading Options: Top loading or Panel loading.
- Other features to consider include: water bottle pockets, daisy chain gear attachment systems, hydration bladder compatible, lockable zippers, sleeping bag compartment, rain cover, removable day pack or fanny pack, compression straps, adjustable harness system.
What Capacity Do I Need? While your needs may vary, here is a general guide for internal capacity:
Up to 50L (3000 ci): = 1 day hike or 1 night
50-60L (3000-4000 ci) = 1 or 2 nights
60L or larger (4000 ci+) = 3 or more nights
Tips: The more compact and lightweight your load, the better. Buy only as large a backpack as you need. Not every manufacturer measures cubic inches the same way; so one company’s measurement of 4,000 cubic inches may differ from another company’s calculation.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SLEEPING BAG
HELPFUL TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SLEEPING BAG PURCHASE
On a cool evening in an unfamiliar place, a good sleeping bag works like magic. Slip inside one after a few post-sundown shivers have rattled your body and within minutes the chill in your bones is replaced by a warm glow. It’s a sweet sensation that assures you of a comfortable night’s sleep.
Here are some tips to help you make a smart choice when selecting your own sleeping bag:
1 Comfort Rating: Match your bag’s comfort rating with the coldest nighttime temperatures you expect to encounter. Maybe even exceed that number for added security.
2 Choose either a down insulation or synthetic-fill bag. Down insulation is light, more compact and will maintain its original insulating value longer. However, down insulated sleeping bags tend to be more expensive and they lose much of their insulating value when wet. Synthetic insulation offers greater selection because it is more common, good value and maintains most of its insulating value when wet.
3 A bag’s shape matters. Mummy-style sleeping bags insulate most effectively and are your best choice for colder, high-elevation conditions. Rectangular bags give you more room to change sleeping positions but create more space that your body must heat up.
4 Length of Bag – Long or regular depends on your height.
5 Width of Bag – specialty-width bags are available for larger people.
6 Gender Specific Bag, these are offered for women to increase insulation in core areas.
HOW TO CHOOSE HIKING FOOTWEAR
HELPFUL TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HIKING FOOTWEAR PURCHASE
Ever had the joy of a backcountry trip tainted by aching or blistered feet? The appropriate shoes or boots for your trip can make a world of difference. Hiking footwear comes in a myriad of styles from lightweight, vented shoes designed for travel, to stiff, waterproof hiking boots designed for long trips with a heavy backpack. Even within each footwear brand, many different styles can offer a unique fit.
The following are some key considerations that you should make when shopping for new hiking footwear. Keep in mind as you read, that you should make your selection based on the type of hiking you will do most of the time. Too often people buy boots based on extremes of usage. In many cases this leads to the purchase of footwear that is not suited to the daily use for which it was intended.
Often your research can lead you to make conclusions before you shop. Keep an open mind. A boot’s fit should speak for itself. Use the following information to help you select the type of shoe or boot that suits your needs. Then grab your favourite hiking socks, and come on down to the shop.
