Shoe compartment backpack and high quality shoe holders right now: Kitchen supplies: Save money by scrounging from camping gear or well-worn items from your local thrift shop or home kitchen (not the fine china). Bring just enough pots, pans, plates, cups and utensils so that you can cook and eat each of your planned meals. Bring a small sponge and some biodegradable soap for washing dishes (well away from camp and water sources). A tiny towel also comes in handy. No need to buy a bunch of special “hiking clothes” for your first backpacking trip. Simply go through your fitness wear and find clothing made of moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics like nylon and polyester. (Moisture-wicking fabric pulls sweat away from skin to keep you dryer.) Avoid cotton, which slurps up water and takes a long time to dry when wet—that can chill you and, in a worse-case scenario, lead to hypothermia. Read additional details at shoe holder for backpack.
The Pognae line of baby carriers is super popular in Australia and Europe, and they’ve received tons of awards for their style, versatility, and overall quality. It’s a premium baby carrier that comes at a premium price close to $200. The company itself is based in South Korea and only over the past few years have these hipseat baby carriers been available in Europe and the US. We got our hands on their number 5 version for testing late last year. And to be honest, we were super impressed with it! Starting with the basics, it supports babies from 3 months old up to 3 years old, so it’s not ideal for newborns but we prefer using a good wrap for newborns anyway. The maximum weight is 44 pounds, which is pretty high for any baby carrier, second only to the LILLEBaby. It claims to have 6 carry positions, which is a little amusing considering 3 of those positions are just the hipseat alone without the rest of the carrier: one where you lay the baby down partially on the hipseat (a good position for feeding), one where the baby is sitting on the hipseat facing outward, and one where the baby is sitting on the hipseat facing inward.
Reducing backpack weight trick : Mini bic lighters. They make mini bic lighters that are a fraction of the weight of their full-length counterpart. Remove that extra “safety” guard too. Cut down that long sleeping pad. Your sleeping pad is crucial – it not only keeps you comfortable, but insulates you from the cold ground. However, a full length pad is unnecessary. Cut your foam pad in half – just to cover your torso. See ultralight sleeping pads. Extend sleep pad with your pack. If you want a full sleeping pad, not just your torso – put your pack underneath your calves and feet. Read additional details at ilouxnei.com.
Sunglasses come in handy when I’m hiking in very bright environments that are pretty common in snow, mountains, and desert conditions. Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, is sun-burn for your eyes, and can happen without snow. I’ve had it; it makes it very hard to see in general. If you’re in bright conditions, sunglasses are a smart move, even if you don’t think you need them. I always bring extra layers in my pack. Clothing is so lightweight and compact-able these days, it’s not a hassle. An easy way to do this is to get pants that convert to shorts. Then use a long-sleeve hiking shirt where you can roll up the sleeves. Bring a fleece layer to top that, and then a lightweight rain shell to cover. If you have all that on, it’ll be like having a winter jacket. A small beanie is light, small, and keeps you warm.
