Category: hiking

Camping and hiking are two activities that are almost always available no matter where a person might live. There are usually state parks, rivers, open plains, mountains, forests or other natural environments that are located just outside of cities and towns where an individual can get away from it all and enjoy nature, whether it is for an afternoon, for a weekend, or even a week long excursion. Planning for a hiking versus a camping trip is much simpler, only requiring the right sort of clothing and shoes are chosen according to the weather and terrain. Camping trips require more planning, including the decision to use an RV, camp out of the back of a car, or to hike into the campsite carrying everything in the backpack.

Things to Bring

Camping and hiking gear have many similar requirements, since hiking is a part of backpacking types of camping trips. Camping and hiking clothing should match the time of year and also the terrain where the trip will be taken, since going up into the mountains will make the weather cooler, requiring additional clothing needs. Clothing should always be comfortable with soft materials that will not cause chaffing. In addition, the material should wick the water away from the skin which helps to keep the individual warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It is always important to keep the feet dry, so extra socks are essential to camping and hiking gear.

Tent and sleeping gear are also important for camping hiking trips. The choice in this gear determines the weight that will be carried in the backpack, so special attention should be paid to this equipment. Backpackers usually choose two man tents even if they are going alone since they provide more room for gear to be stored in the tent while sleeping comfortably as well. Sleeping bags should be chosen according to the coldest weather that the backpacker thinks he will experience, since they are rated for those temperatures.

Camping and hiking gear, whether or not the person is going to stay overnight, will also require some cooking gear, even if it is as simple as packing a lunch. There are many different types of cook stoves on the market that use different types of fuel and work in all temperatures. The choice in stove depends on the climate for the hiking and camping trip as well as the weight and size limitations of the pack. The cooking utensils should all nest within each other so that packing is more efficient. Water purifiers should be bought so that water does not have to be packed in, adding too much weight to the pack.

As women have gotten more involved in the camping and hiking world, backpacks have become more specialized so that they are not longer only made for men, causing women to have to find the smallest men’s pack possible. Today, backpacks are sized so that women’s hiking backpacks are readily available, having a smaller frame so that it can fit a woman’s torso more readily. Women’s hiking backpacks should be fit to each individual so that it forms properly to the spine and distributes the weight properly to the hip area rather than the back. There should also be a chest strap for packs that are made to carry heavier loads so that the shoulders are not pulled back and the pack stays in the correct position.

Types of Packs

There are different types of women’s hiking backpacks that are made to fit various hiking situations, weather, and supplies. For instance, there are women’s hiking backpacks that are water resistant or water proof. Class one women’s hiking backpacks are water resistant and can protect the contents from splashes of water and light rain. At the other end of the spectrum there are the class five women’s hiking backpacks which can withstand being submerged up to twelve feet without allowing any water into the pack, thus being a useful tool for scuba divers and search and rescue teams.

Besides waterproof packs, women’s hiking backpacks come in varying sizes, from holding only a few small items, to holding everything she would need for a long expedition. There are hip packs that hold up to ten liters. These packs do not have shoulder straps and are only designed to carry small items and water bottles. The next size of pack is a day pack which carries ten to thirty-five liters. This type of pack is designed to go on short day hikes where there are not many supplies needed and do not have many pockets or ties to help with supplies.

The average women’s hiking backpack is one that holds between thirty-five to sixty liters and has many different pockets and straps so that supplies can be placed in many convenient locations for camping trips. These women’s hiking backpacks usually come in extra small, small, medium and large so that every size of woman can be fitted to the length of her torso. This ensures that she will be comfortable while hiking and carrying anywhere from twenty to forty pounds, since the weight will be placed mainly on her hips.