Hello, I recently got into "serious" hiking, in past years I was hiking with whatever shoes I had and did not go for a hike very often. Now, I plan on hiking much more often, so I need some shoes that will last long, since I'm low on a budget, it would be better to pay good amount if money now so I can get comfortability and durability for one GOOD HIKING SHEO. My feet are wide and flat, so I use supinators (if this needs to be mentioned idk) Thanks in advance

I’m hopefully taking my sister backcountry camping in Algonquin in early May (provided the section doesn’t flood this year). I have my sleep setup fairly figured out but will need to provide gear for her for the trip so I’m trying to make sure she’s comfortable but keep to a reasonable cost.

I’ve been looking all over for sleeping mats, trying to buy used ones but I’m not finding much. At this point I’m thinking about ordering another MEC VectAir Insulated Sleeping Pad which has an r value of 4.4 and is currently on sale.

My question is what temperature rating for a sleeping bag will be sufficient with this pad? I work at mountain warehouse and can get some sleeping bags at a great price but will a 5-10 degree Celsius bag be sufficient? I know gear from Mountain Warehouse doesn’t always hold up long term but it would just be a bag that’s used every once in a while. We’ll also take a blanket but I don’t want her to be miserable overnight.

Based on the weather last year it could be -1 at night.

Thank you for any and all advice!

I think we already established Hilleberg make some of the most durable tents availlable. This results in a big price tag tho

My question is wether its worth it or not? I am not UL and so I do not care about that little extra weight. In fact I am looking at the Nallo3GT for my gf and I as we'd like the extra room it gives us to move around a bit more comfortable and to have extra shelter during rainy days.

I currently own only a Jack Wolfskin gossamer2. It's tiny. Especially compared to the Nallo3GT. We both have fairly wide pads and they need to overlap to be able to fit in the tent.

My concern is the price is very high, and I go camping/hiking like once or twice a year. Because I am living in the Netherlands and have a fulltime job. So not many opportunities to go.

Other concern is that because of its size it'd be tough to find spots to pitch it in let's the say the mountains of Norway and Sweden.

Should I stick to my current tent? Or look for cheaper alternatives to the Nallo.

Any recommendations for tents availlable in Europe that are suitable for Scandinavian weather and conditions too?

I'm hoping to do a hike in July this year. My intent would be to rent a car, park it in Zermatt or Randa, and do a week-long hike with my dog while tent-camping along the way, and looping back to the car. The hike itself as documented here and here is not a complete loop, but from what I can tell it shouldn't be a problem to make it a loop by walking between Zermatt and Randa. Is this overall a viable plan? Appreciate any guidance from those who might know. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone :)

I had planned to walk the pre alps in Austria, but I have later found out that free camping is very much not allowed. So I am looking for tips as to where, I should go instead. Dolomites? Pyrenees? Or is it actually possible to hike with tent in Austria?

I am starting in Bratislava in the end of April and walking to Vienna along Donau. I have plenty of time and an interrail pass, so I am quite flexible. I have some experience with hiking and camping - but not combined into multiple day trekking/hiking.

EDIT: I imagine walking from campsite to campsite and free camping for 2-3 nights at a time max since it my first time.

Hey guys :)

I´m planning a hike on Gran Canaria in April. Initially I thought I would hike the popular route from Agaete to the dunes in Maspalomas but I noticed that this route includes lots of sections on roads or through villages. However I would like to be a bit more for myself and not so much on crowded routes or anything like that. Of course I would still need to be close enough to villages to get water since you can't rely on natural water resources on Gran Canaria. I was trying to make my own route on AllTrails or Komoot but to be honest I feel a bit lost with the planning of the route and also this would be my first real hike alone. So any advice or tips would be appreciated! Or if anyone ever did a hike like this on Gran Canaria.

Also it´s my first time posting on r/CampingandHiking so please let me kindly know if there´s something wrong with my post.

Thanks in advance :)

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I (37M) planned a two night backpacking trip with two friends. We solidified plans about two months ago, got the permits (each got our own) for the camp sites, planned the routes, etc. Two days before we're supposed to leave, they let me know I need to change my permits because one of them invited their other friend (who's not up for hiking high elevation gains) and they'd completely re-planned the trails and sites to accommodate them without letting me know any of this was going on. I think they made all these changes last weekend. It's morphed into something I never would have signed up for. A toddler could handle it. They're telling me I'm being an a-hole for bailing. AITA?

Looking for some advice and input into what you all use for backpacking stoves. I currently have a MSR pocket rocket deluxe that uses the ISO fuel canisters. I've only used it a handful of times on short trips and so far, it's worked well despite some reviews saying the ignitor is suspect to failure.

I'm planning to do some longer trips though where I'd potentially be cooking for more than just myself so I'm looking into larger stoves like the MSR whisperlite int'l that uses liquid fuel/white gas in one of those little fuel canisters that look like a water bottle.

The reviews for the fuel pump are atrocious though with many people saying that they are poorly made and break easily.

So what do you all like/dislike??? Thank you! 🥾⛺

My girlfriend and I are looking to go to crater lake this summer and the weekend following the fourth (which is a Thursday) looks like a great time to do it schedule-wise. Neither of us have been so I’m unsure if it will be a madhouse. Anyone have any insight?

Edit: thanks everyone for the input, I think I got the information I needed!

Can anyone dm me some good camp spot coordinates at Big South Fork? I normally go to Frozen Head, but they're all booked for my birthday weekend. Thanks!

Edit - we are actually open to any state park that's got a greater variety of 5 mile hikes and not too bad this time of the year. Letchworth, Glen Watkins, Alleghany, etc - would appreciate your recommendations

Guys - how bad are the trails at Letchworth State Park at the end of March typically? I know they get muddy but is that just in certain areas? We are going with kids age 6 and they are used to hiking on gravel, etc for 5-7 miles easily but not gone into muddy trails as yet. We all have winter boots

Thanks

Coming in through Bordeaux Airport, we're looking for a hike in full autonomy over the 12th-14th of April (~2.5 days, starting Friday mid day, full Saturday, full Sunday) somewhere high (above 1500m) in the Hautes-Pyrennees to enjoy some snowy mountains. We're planning on a second hike in Swiss Alps early May, but would prefer "easier terrain" to start with. Given our timeframe and potential difficult terrain, we shouldnt aim for much more than 30-35k and keep fall back routes in case of trouble.

Gear. We are rather experienced hikers and have all necessary gear for cold/bad weather. However, we are missing snowshoes and crampons at the moment. Is this even realistic? If we had to choose, should we rather go for snowshoes or crampons first? We're thinking about taking these little guys for slippery terrain, and we heard it might be an option to rent snowshoes from Decathlon?

Snowy peaks. We are looking at routes around Cauterets, maybe mix and match some of these Around Cardinquere Ouest — Over Pic des Isarderes — Short detour to Lac de Gaube or getting all the way from Cauteret. Alternatively this 20 lakes trail close to Bareges, although it stretches much further out of fall back routes. Are these realistic? Do you have an enlightened opinion? Do you know better suited, more mind-blowing routes to suggest?

Backup. We are aware that bad weather could keep us out of the mountain and are looking for a plan B at lower altitude, maybe in Pyrennees Atlantiques. Any eye-watering, absolutely amazing snowless suggestions?

Thanks!!

I’m fairly new to backpacking and needing to pick up a new sleeping bag. To be honest, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, trying to figure out which one is the best fit.

I’ll mostly be backpacking/camping in Canada (mainly Ontario) in the spring, summer and fall. So I’ll need a sleeping bag that can handle 0°C or even lower. I am also a cold sleeper.

I’m not too concerned about the summer being too hot because I feel I always have the option to layer down or unzip the sleeping bag.

I have a budget of around $200-$300

Of course, as I was doing research, most people consider the down option to be the best. I’ve narrowed down my options to around five sleeping bags and was wondering if anyone could steer me in the right direction?

1. Forclaz 0°C mt900 from Décathlon (down)

https://www.decathlon.ca/en/p/8618873/hiking-sleeping-bag-mt-900

2. Hyke and Byke Katehdin 0°F (synthetic)

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PTCRYDN/?coliid=ITQAR953Y2SAE&colid=2NQKT04BJKOZT&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

3. MEC Doradus -5°C (down)

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6020-396/doradus--5c-down-sleeping-bag-wide-long?queryID=8ecf0bc2e6662d308087126b4d4da541&colour=Zinnia

4. Marmot Trestles 15°F (synthetic)

https://www.atmosphere.ca/en/pdp/marmot-trestles-15-f-9-c-regular-sleeping-bag-cobalt-blue-13751503f.332256239.html?loc=plp&&colorCode=COLOUR_BLUE

5. Kelty Cosmic Down 20°F. (Down)

https://www.amazon.ca/Kelty-Sleeping-Camping-Efficiency-Compression/dp/B08MJJ3KK5/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=3T87KXMMQYKM9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WCULBzWo7BTh9ESCSRNi0j_fB4MfoxwPAwtI-WSJCTQK72-E2bz47cVnUMXgrlB95k5_nIIxNFGeYfjcr3jSgLBMpERVjMmythhzvdwCSfmYJIfKOtRaghoZ9sSw7KoDoxzI7AQ1ZcWtfvqTuvP4nRg1Gp0t0OZYRp9iaqg5D6ppIELe1ZyPQvdq1Hz_8sOJZ3J8P4O7PJiLfjwLaDHMBA.eMqiWTOsdT0Zqh5eh-u8phkhPiiGXQiC_bCxq5cfPoE&dib_tag=se&keywords=kelty+cosmic+down+20&qid=1711494682&sprefix=kelty+down+%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-2

Hey all!

Solidly intermediate hiker here. I'm trying to run away from my problems for a couple days in early to mid April on the east coast and was trying to find some good 3-4 day backpacking trips to disappear into. I looked through some threads in this group already, but I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a 3-4 night loops in the area, or any shuttle services people recommend. I shaw Shenandoah has some wildfires right now, so somewhat nervous to hit it up. Appreciate any wisdom!

What is your favorite type of camping to do and why?

Has anyone used or is currently using this brand am trying to upgrade my sleeping bag but i never used one of their gear before

I'm thinking about how I can light my tent considering the logistics of it in my specific situation. I will be homeless so I won't have any reliable place to recharge. I cannot depend on public buildings because I have a rare circadian rhythm disorder that my life revolves around. It means that there will be entire weeks where I'm only up at night when all public buildings, shops, and even the transportation services to actually get there are closed and that means that I won't have any option to charge the lantern, even through solar power, but it also means that I will need to use the lantern and depend on it far more than usual since I will be up at night a lot of the time. And on top of that, my tent is designed to block out light so, even during the day, I will need to use the light leading to even more time that I need the light on. So the lantern needs to be long lasting and disposable battery powered as well as light for the hike, and then I will carry a bunch of batteries along with it and keep restocking on batteries whenever I go into town.

Do you guys know how many batteries I'll need for about two weeks? I guess it depends a lot on the lantern's specs but any information should be useful. Also, what lantern should I get? I was thinking of the Black Diamond Moji+. Is that a good choice? Are there any other lanterns I should consider for my specific circumstances?

Edit- damn, look at the hate that homeless people get. Filthy poor people, amirite?

Hello!

I'll be in Norcal in 2-3 weeks and would love to hike the Lost Coast Trail, but everything I'm seeing is a huge itinerary about backpacking the whole thing, which isn't an option.

Are there any trail heads or smaller hikes worth doing down there? I'd be driving down from the Redwoods for a day, so I could always just hike somewhere on the coast nearer to there.

Any pointers are appreciated!

My best friend and I stood at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, our excitement and anticipation bubbling like a geyser. The majestic peak, towering on the US-Canada border, had been a thorn in our side, a dream we'd always wanted to fulfill. With heavy backpacks strapped tightly to our backs, we began our ascent into the unknown.



The mountain path was a tapestry of challenges. Rugged terrain greeted us at every turn, steep slopes that seemed to stretch into infinity. Dense forests whispered secrets as we passed, and streams gurgled merrily, mocking our efforts. But we were determined. With every step, our hearts swelled with strength and courage, fueling our ascent.



We leaned on each other, literally and figuratively. When one of us stumbled, the other was there to offer a hand. When doubt crept in, we reminded each other of why we were there. Together, we conquered every obstacle, inch by inch, until the summit came into view.



Mountaineering is more than just a physical challenge; it's an emotional one too. As we climbed, the grandeur and mystery of nature unfolded before us. The sea of clouds below us swirled like a whirlpool, engulfing us in its misty embrace. The solid ground beneath our feet felt like a living thing, pulsing with energy and power. With every step, we felt a deep connection to the mountain and to each other, a resilience and perseverance that ran deeper than any trail.



At long last, we stood on the summit of Mount Saint Elias. The view was breathtaking, a panorama of nature's finest work. But it was more than just the scenery that took our breath away; it was the sense of accomplishment and pride that washed over us. All the hardships, all the sweat and tears, had been worth it. We had challenged ourselves and emerged victorious, with memories that would last a lifetime.



This trip was more than just a hike; it was a journey of self-discovery and growth. We learned that perseverance and courage are not just words but values that we embody with every step. And the bond that we forged on that mountain is stronger than any rope or harness; it's a bond of friendship that will forever tie us together.

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