The Trail’s Edge Outdoor Resource
At Trail’s Edge, we want to provide you not only with a platform for purchasing our outdoor gear, but also an enlightening, engaging resource filled with information that will add to your understanding of and passion for the outdoors. We take great pride in our knowledgeable staff, who are also outdoor enthusiasts. Our writers create articles with you in mind, and with a goal of making your next adventure as memorable as possible. Continue reading…
BackPacking: Packing For A Day-Hike
This is part one in the BackPacking series. In this and following posts we’ll show you the tips and techniques you can use to help arrange your hiking gear in your hiking backpack for optimal comfort and efficiency.
I know it sounds absurd to think that packing your daypack should be considered a science, but trust me, my back has hated me a lot because I didn’t pack my hiking gear optimally. The best way to go about packing is to first lay out all of your gear that you plan on taking with you for your day-hike. This way you can see which items are the heaviest or will take up the most room. A good rule of thumb to use is to pack all of your heaviest gear closest to your back. So if you’re taking your rain gear, water bottles, and tent (even on a day-hike it’s a great idea to always have a camping shelter with you in case something goes wrong). So, once you’ve got the heaviest gear picked out try and put your rain gear or extra hiking clothes towards the bottom of your pack, then slide your tent in arranging it so that it lines up vertically with your spine.
Next, try putting your water bottle to one side of your tent. On the other side of your camping tent try putting your food and other heavier gear you have. Packing this way keeps the heaviest items close to your back thus preserving your center-of-balance. The key to a great day of hiking is to keep your body as comfortable as possible. Staying comfortable will keep your focus on the trail and the great scenery the great outdoors has to offer you!
If you’re planning on spending a weekend out in the wild check out part two in the BackPacking series where we’ll break down the best ways to optimize your hiking and camping gear packing problems. See you on the trail!
BackPacking: Packing For A Weekend Trip
This is part two in the BackPacking series. In this post we’ll break down the best tips and techniques you can use to optimize packing your camping gear for a weekend trip. If you missed it, check out part one where we went over packing for a dayhike.
You finally got a free weekend to yourself. What better way to spend it than hitting the hiking trail and spending a quality weekend in the great outdoors? Before you head out though, you’ll want to get all of your camping gear together. Packing your hiking backpack is a fairly straightforward endeavor but you’ll want to pack your gear in a certain way to maximize comfort.
First things first: lay out all of your gear so as to be able to see what your heaviest and largest items are. These are the things that, when packed right, will keep back pain to a minimum. Things like your camping tent, water storage, and camping cooking system will be the heaviest so set them aside. First, grab your sleeping bag and extra camping clothes and stuff them in the bottom of your backpack. Next, put your tent in aligning it in the middle of the bag (vertically with your spine, too). Now get your water bottles and put them to one side of the tent. Your camp stove and camp cookware will go on the other side of the tent.
After all of that is in your bag, locate your rain gear and other miscellaneous camping equipment and arrange them on top of what’s already in there. Remember, try and keep your rain gear in an easily accessible location in case a storm rolls in quickly. Also, if you take a camera with you a good tip to remember is to wrap it in your rain gear when it’s not needed for a little bit of extra water protection.
Now get out there and enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer you! If you’re planning on a week long trip be sure to check out part three in the BackPacking series where we’ll explain the best ways to pack all of the camping gear you’ll need on such a trip. See you on the trail!
Camping Is In Tents
This is part 1 of the Camping is in Tents series, which is a six part series that identifies and briefly explains the key components of tents for your camping trip. Part 1 in this series describes the basics of camping in a tent. Parts 2 through 6 deal with specific elements of a tent in order to help you outfit your next camping trip with the best tent.
Camping. We are not talking about “in your car” camping or “RV” camping. We are talking about you, a tent, and the great outdoors. Camping is in tents let me remind you, and there are a few things you need to know about camping in tents before you set out on your next camping trip.
Ground Sheets – You will need to put a tent ground sheet down under the tent. Ground sheets often come already attached to your tent when you buy it but an additional ground sheet may prove necessary. Ground sheets offer protection from moisture and dirt as well as protecting the tent from being punctured by rocks or sticks.
Camping Tent – The easiest thing to point out is that there is a tent involved. There are many different types of camping tents such as dome tents, wedge tents, traditional tents and more. Tents are also made of a number of different materials and are designed to protect the camper from the earth’s elements.
Tent Stakes – Tent stakes are often overlooked but are a very important piece to setting up your tent and maintaining it. Tent stakes allow for your tent to be secured to the ground. These stakes come in a few types of materials. Depending on the terrain in which you are camping, your stakes will differ. No tent stake is adaptable to all terrains.
Tent Poles – Something has to hold your tent up. Tent poles are probably your best bet and come in a number of different types. A few different materials are available for the poles for your next camping trip. Because where you camp helps determine what type of poles you are going to need, you might want to start planning.
Tent Covers – Guess what? There are a number of tent covers you can choose from as well. These covers help protect your tent from severe elements that the tent by itself may not be able to withstand. Tent covers come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. Knowing the forecast and environment for your next camping trip will help in choosing the best tent cover.
Now you know all the elements that make up a tent. Most of these elements depend on the type of camping trip you are taking and where. Some camping tent elements can be expensive and heavy. Choosing the right elements for your camping trip requires a full understanding of what you are doing and where you are going.
Be prepared.
