Backpacking basics

Backpacking Gear Basics

Thanks to today’s lightweight equipment, a backpack loaded with all your weekend supplies should weigh less than 35 pounds.

Rent a tent. Many outfitters rent shelter, packs and other gear. It cuts initial costs and lets you experiment before buying.

Pamper your feet. Prevent blisters and other foot woes by getting lightweight boots that are slightly larger than your street shoes and matching them with wool hiking socks.

Pare your threads. Pack clothes for a 24-hour period, on trail and in camp, and wear the same stuff all weekend. Throw in extra socks to keep your feet happy.

Cook like a pro. Get a lightweight canister stove and one or two standard fuel canisters for a long weekend.

Sleep like a baby. Bed down on a sleeping pad that's 1½ to 2½ inches thick, and with dimensions that don't leave your limbs dangling off the sides. Likewise your bag should match your frame – try it in the store – and should be rated at least 10 degrees warmer than the temperatures you expect.

Go a little luxe. Sneak a luxury item into your pack: a deck of cards, a Lexan bottle of vino, a good book, or camera gear.

Source: Backpacker magazine editors

Upcoming MetroParks Backpacking Programs

Volunteer: Backpacking Trail Work Days

Learn about sustainable trail building while helping maintain the Twin Valley Backpacking Trail. No experience is necessary; tools are provided. Please bring water and work gloves.

When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m.-noon

Where: Twin Creek MetroPark, 9688 Eby Road, Germantown

Cost: Free

Fundamentals of Lightweight Backpacking

Looking to lighten your load so you can backpack more easily, hike longer, or get more miles in? Then join us for this evening classroom based program as we explore a variety of ways to reduce our backpacking load.

When: Nov. 7, 6:30-8:30

Where: Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton

Cost: $5

Backcountry Gourmet Cooking

Learn to cook in the backcountry like you do in your kitchen. Discover a variety of cooking methods that include more elaborate gourmet meals using foods common at your local grocery while cooking on backpacking stoves. Ingredients provided.

When: Nov. 15, 6-9 p.m.

Where: PNC 2nd Street Market, 600 E. 2nd St., Dayton

Cost: $10

Backcountry Fast & Light Cooking

Do you have the ultra-light backpacking bug and are looking for a way to cook nutritious and lightweight meals? This course will introduce you to techniques like using a pot cozy and will showcase some of the innovative lightweight cooking equipment on the market.

When: Dec. 5, 6:30-9 p.m.

Where: PNC 2nd Street Market, 600 E. 2nd St., Dayton

Cost: $10

Fundamentals of Backcountry Knots

Do you struggle with knots and knot tying? Would you like to learn some of the best knots for use in the backcountry? Then join the Five Rivers MetroParks for a hands-on approach to knot tying.

When: Dec. 12, 6:30-8:30

Where: Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton

Cost: $5

For additional information or registration visit www.metroparks.org or call 937-277-4374

Squirrels scamper along your pathway as you hike through a colorful canopy of trees. You come across a spot — the spot — and set out to create your cozy home-away-from-home for the night.

There are no traffic jams to fight through, and you’ve left the annoying buzz of the fluorescent office lights behind you. If you want to get away from it all, backpacking is a perfect way to do just that.

But while hiking seems manageable and even camping seems do-able, backpacking can appear a bit more challenging. Avid backpackers, however, agree that it’s well worth the effort.

“You can compare it to yoga or any other activity, I’ll ask people ‘are you going to learn all the moves in the first class?’” said Andrew Schlegel, Great Miami Outfitters manager. “Of course not, but you have to start somewhere, and the same is true of backpacking.”

Getting started

Taking a class is a good way to learn some backpacking basics. The MetroParks as well as retailers such as Great Miami Outfitters in Miamisburg offer a variety of classes throughout the year to help rookie and experienced backpackers develop their skill set.

“And if there isn’t a class offered at the time, you can always ask someone who is knowledgeable,” Schlegel said. “Rent some equipment or borrow some so you can try it out.”

But don’t try to set up camp for the first time in the middle of nowhere.

“Set up your tent and try it out at home first,” said Erik Dahlstrom, Five Rivers MetroParks Outdoor Recreation Coordinator.

That way you can see if you’re warm enough, dry enough and comfortable before you hit the road.

It’s also critical to plan out your route ahead of time, know the terrain and check the weather forecast so you know what to pack.

Schlegel and his staff can assist with trip planning and Great Miami Outfitters also offers trips — the Wildcat Hollow Trail Weekend Backpacking Trip is slated for November and the “Frozen Butt Hang” Overnight Hammock Camp-Out is in December.

Other resources for trip planning include BackpackOhio.com and www.discoverytrail.org. And there are 15 different campsites within the MetroParks system, so you don’t have to go far from home to give it a try.

Gearing up

Finding the right gear is critical.

“No one backpack fits everyone,” Dahlstrom said.

Ask questions, try them on, borrow one, rent one — whatever you need to do so you can make an informed decision.

“There are a lot of different body sizes out there but the good thing is that manufacturers know that,” Schlegel said. “We encourage people to come in and pick our brains. We can help people find what works best for them.”

Dahlstrom also recommends “The Backpacker’s Handbook,” by Chris Townsend as a resource for everything from dressing for the wilderness to types of shelters and cooking in a backcountry kitchen to backpack selection.

The backpack, however, is just a part of the lengthy list of equipment and apparel backpackers need. But don’t get overwhelmed by the purchases or the process.

“You can rent or borrow gear so you don’t have to buy everything at once,” Dahlstrom said.

Comfort zone

For those who pack multiple suitcases for an overnight trip, the thought of embarking on a journey with only a backpack can be a bit overwhelming.

“I carried a ton of weight when I first started out. I needed all of those things to be comfortable,” Dahlstrom said. “My pack is probably 20 pounds lighter than it used to be.”

Schlegel suggests listing all of the gear you pack on a 3x5 notecard before your trip. When you get back, take the notecard out and jot down what you would have changed or done differently. The next time you pull out the backpack and the note card, you can fine-tune your packing strategy.

But enjoying the experience isn’t simply about what you pack.

“A big hindrance for a lot of people is going to the bathroom outside,” Dahlstrom said. “Other people aren’t comfortable treating water themselves. If that’s the case you want to be somewhere with outhouses or water.

“You need to honestly look at who you are and what you can live with and what you can’t live without and plan accordingly.”