Need Backpacking Tips and Suggestions

hiddensecant

It's a 16 mile round trip and the summit to Half Dome is approximately 5000 ft above Yosemite Valley. On average, hikers will spend 12-14 hours on this journey and I'm hoping to be one of them in a few months.

I'm just doing some advanced planning and I was wondering what your suggestions are for:

hiking boots: brands for men and women since hubby is coming with me
climbing gear (for the cables at the end)
other equipment?
and anything else you might think of

I will be planning other hiking/climbing adventures so I don't mind investing in the more sturdy equipment. I just need to know which ones are worth the investment.

Thanks in advance!

arsec4

Personally, I'm really big on KEEN brand shoes. Love my boots! And getting something with GoreTex in it (water repellant outside) is definitely worth the investment. I would suggest GoreTex in my boots and a GoreTex outer shell or lightweight jacket, just in case.

Check out Campmor.com for great deals. A LOT cheaper than the stores.....

Hope that helps and have fun!

junebug523

Cabelas is another great place to look for the gear you need. With boots, I would suggest you get them .5 size bigger than your normal shoe size...it's miserable to get blisters when you're in the middle of nowhere and still have miles to go. When I got my boots, I also took several walks/mini hikes to break them in. I think I put 20-30 miles on them before the trip even started.

junebug523

Oh, and I'm sure you already know this--but drink water, water, water. Tons of it. More than you think you'll need. When my husband and I last went backpacking, he forgot to drink enough water on our last day (a 10 mile day), and he was sick for about 24 hours (headache, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).

rman222

LL BEan Cresta boots are very good.. Asolo boots are another good brand. LL bean has a lot of good advice here:
http://www.llbean.com/outdoorsOnline/outdoorSports/hiking/tips/choose_boots.html
I second Campmor as a great bargain resource for equipment.... but do you homework first so you know what you want
and don't get a bargain on something that does not work for you.
Backpacking can be a great time... (be sure to wear liner socks...with hiking socks... and have extra dry pairs... blisters are NO fun!!)
You will have a great time!
Joe

jenniferdtidwell

I'm doing a 3 day hike in Havasupai Grand Canyon next week and have been training for it since January. I wear Lowa Renegade (they make them for both men and women and they have good reviews from my fellow hikers, too). They have great traction and very little time is needed to be broken in. Make sure to go to a store that will properly fit you in your boots and get hooked up with a personalized orthopedic sole to help with comfort and fit (something that will customize your boot if you have high or low arches, etc.). I suggest heavy duty hiking socks with lots of cushion -- Smart Wool, Fox River, and Thurllo (spelling?) are my favorites. I've also been wearing sock liners (Fox River XStatic are my favorite) which help regulate temperature and help prevent blisters. When you go to try boots on, have the hiking socks with you. Your foot should not piston at the heel or bump the toe box. The boots should be snug, but not tight. I also suggest getting a good pair of hiking poles. They reduce the amount of stress you put on your knees significantly and can help with balance when you're going down. Leki are probably some of the best and most light-weight, though I have a pair from New Balance that are suitable enough for my purposes. Get yourself a good pack with a hydration bladdar (like camelbak). My pack is for day trips and is made by Magellan. It's got TONS of pockets and lots of space. For a 12-14 hour hike, you want 200 oz at the bare minimum (that's 6 liters), especially if it is hot or very dry air when you go. Also, make sure to get some powerade zero or electrolyte tablets. If you need water shoes, I suggest Teva with spider rubber on the bottom. They'll help you stay on your feet at the slippery sections. They're comfortable enough to go a few miles in, but I don't recommend any really major hiking with those shoes, especially when they're wet. A big floppy hat and sunscreen will protect you from the sun, and a bandana is always nice to have to wipe up sweat. I also wear the columbia (or magellan) convertable pants. They are made with a fabric that dries really fast when it gets wet, and you can unzip the legs to make them into shorts. A dry-weave/wicking shirt is also important. Make sure to have a light waterproof jacket -- one that is breathable -- in case it rains (because it doesn't do you any good if you're sweating so much inside the jacket that you're soaked anyway), and if there is any chance at all that it will get cold, have gloves and a wool or fleece hat that covers your ears. This stuff is small enough to jam in the bottom of your pack. If it's cold, you may also want a fleece sweater underneath the lightweight jacket. You can always take clothes off, but once you get out there, if you don't have this stuff in your pack and discover you need it, you're SOL. Always have a trail map -- even if you have a guide! Campmor.com IS an awesome site! And don't forget the biggest hiking rule -- Leave No Trace. What you take in with you, needs to come out with you, and you should always stay on the trails to help prevent adding to existing erosion and damage to the ecosystems. Feel free to message me if you need anymore info, or go to the website for the American Hiking Society (www.americanhiking.org). They have a lot of great information and suggestions.

Good luck!! You'll have a blast! :happy:

hiddensecant

I expect to be eating a meal about an hour beforehand and dinner afterward, but how often should I plan to snack along the way? And what types of food should I bring?

For boots, I need something that can grip granite. I'm thinking all hiking boots should be able to do it but if there's anything more suitable, let me know. I don't need water shoes. The mist trail can get slippery but that part is carved with guard rails and I've been up that part in sneakers, hehe.

LifesPilgrim

I have had great success purchasing from Campmor, even returns have been very easy.

jenniferdtidwell

When you go to the store to get fitted for boots, they should be able to recommend the best type of boot for your purposes.

I think we usually snack every 1-2 hours. I bring trail mix (Archer Farms from Target is yummy and inexpensive!), dried fruit, and jerky on a typical hike. You want to make sure to bring something for lunch, too. A couple of peanut butter sandwiches keep well and the protein and simple sugars keep me going. I suggest taking an apple (or apple slices), too. When you finish, have a pint of chocolate milk in a cooler waiting for you, or run to a convenience store. Chocolate milk is the best recovery drink out there!

hiddensecant

Campmore didn't have any chest harnesses; I guess those are less popular. But the waist harness should work fine ... I also opted for the 2ft sewn runner rather than the 4ft since I don't plan to hang much (on purpose).

Chocolate milk is the best recovery drink out there!

Oh I plan to take some on the hike with me! The Platypus Softbottle looked like the perfect container for it.