Backpacking
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Whether you’re a dayhiker conquering local hills or a hardcore wilderness backpacker, your most important piece of gear is the same — and it might be the item you’ve put the least thought into buying: your boots. The wrong hiking footwear can send a backcountry adventure downhill fast. Take your first steps on your next successful adventure with these buying tips and one of these top-performing shoes and boots. SALOMON SPEEDCROSS J SHOESThe low-cut SALOMON SPEEDCROSS J SHOES ($75, salomon.com) are lightweight, comfortable and grippy. Non-waterproof mesh uppers provide exceptional breathability on the hottest days. Features like a molded midsole and one-pull lacing deliver sneaker-like fit and comfort. The toe cap protects feet from inevitable bashing on rocks and helps the shoes endure many days of playground use, and the outsole sticks to everything from steep slabs to rocky trails. While they’re not waterproof, they will dry very quickly. Best for day hiking and everyday wear. 6.3 oz. HIKING BOOTS OR HIKING SHOES? Plain sneakers or trail-running shoes are fine for an occasional hike but will not provide the support, traction, protection, durability or comfort of good hikers. If you’re planning to do multi-day hiking and backpacking, or trail activities in cold or wet weather, you’ll want sturdier hiking shoes or boots with extra ankle support and possibly waterproof protection. KEEN KIDS’ TARGHEE WATERPROOF LOW-CUT SHOESModeled on the popular adult shoes, the KEEN KIDS’ TARGHEE WATERPROOF LOW-CUT SHOES ($53, keenfootwear.com) are built for hard use. The membrane keeps feet dry. The one-pull lacing system snugs easily and tightly around your feet, and the padded tongue, collar and heel cradle your foot comfortably. Uppers made of leather and synthetic textiles with a mesh lining are durable and breathable. Bonus: These shoes use leather sourced from tanneries that minimize chemical use. 9.7 oz. HOW MUCH SHOULD HIKING BOOTS COST? How much should you spend? It depends on what features you want. The price tag rises with a waterproof-breathable membrane like Gore-Tex, leather uppers and a beefy toe bumper to improve durability, an outsole designed for good traction in varied terrain or simply a sturdier design. It’s worth it to pay for these features if you’ll be hiking frequently in wet environments or on rugged trails. Since you’re probably growing out of your shoes quickly, durability might be less important. Odds are, you’ll grow out of them long before you’ll wear them out. So cheaper entry-level shoes and boots might be good enough. Also look for clearance sales at local shops and online deals. When you see a really good sale, think about planning ahead and buying for the next size you’ll need. Some troops have a shoe/boot bin or hand-me-down program. Donate a pair of boots you’ve outgrown, and grab a pair that fits. And if your troop doesn’t have a boot bin, start one! (Remember: A new set of $20 insoles can really freshen up a pair of used boots.) ADIDAS TERREX MID GTX KID’S HIKING BOOTLooking for a light, comfortable, well-fitting boot at a good value for everything from day hikes to introductory backpacking trips? Check out the ADIDAS TERREX MID GTX KID’S HIKING BOOT ($110, adidas.com). Armored with tough nylon ripstop uppers and a molded toe cap, these mid-cuts are built for rugged trails. The Gore-Tex membrane provides top-notch waterproofing. One-pull lacing makes them easy to put on and take off. The lugged outsole grips dry and wet ground. 7.8 oz. HOW TO FIT A HIKING BOOT Fit varies greatly between brands. Buy boots at a store where they know how to measure your feet. When trying on shoes and boots, make sure you’re wearing the type of socks you’ll be hiking in. The heel should be snug with enough wiggle room for your toes up front. Kick the floor — your toes shouldn’t hit the end. Try on different brands and walk around in them in the store. Spend at least 10 minutes test driving them. It might time to get a good fit, but never as long as it takes to limp painfully for miles down a trail. If you buy online, try them inside your house, because once you’ve worn new shoes outside you usually can’t return them. If you’re planning to do winter hiking, look for extra toe room for thicker socks and better foot circulation. BREAK IN YOUR BOOTS While your new boots or shoes might feel comfortable right out of the box, it’s not a good idea to wear brand-new shoes on a long hike without breaking them in first — unless, of course, you like painful blisters! So start by wearing your new shoes to school, around the house, anywhere you can. The more time you spend in them ahead of time, the better off you’ll be on the trail. This is especially important with new leather boots. L.L. BEAN KIDS’ WATERPROOF TRAIL MODEL HIKERSThe first rule of shopping for gear at a good value: Look for a brand with a longstanding reputation. The mid-cut L.L. BEAN KIDS’ WATERPROOF TRAIL MODEL HIKERS ($59, llbean.com) have a lace-up closure for a fit that conforms to the foot, a waterproof-breathable membrane and uppers that marry waterproof suede with breathable polyester mesh for durability while keeping your feet dry. L.L. Bean’s EVA midsole provides comfort while the versatile Trail Trac outsole grips just about any type of terrain you step on. 1 lb. 11 oz. WATERPROOF BOOTS? Get boots with a membrane to keep your feet dry if you often hike in wet conditions. Waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex, eVent and others usually do a good job of keeping the water out (think: stream crossings, heavy rains). If you’re a fair-weather hiker, footwear without a membrane is far more breathable, keeping your feet cool on hot days OBOZ BRIDGER MID WATERPROOFIf you’re stepping into adult sizes and need a tough, comfortable, well-fitting boot at a good value, try on the OBOZ BRIDGER MID WATERPROOF ($180, obozfootwear.com). A single-density midsole and forefoot plate deliver solid support and protection underfoot. The widely spaced multidirectional lugs give reassuring traction on rocks, packed and loose dirt, and scree. Leather uppers and a rubber toe bumper stand up to hard use. Oboz is known for its nice fit, including a roomy toe box, and the brand’s unusually well-cushioned insole. 2 lbs. 6 oz. TRACTION Often overlooked is the outsole design, which determines how well your boots grip the ground. Look for deep, widely spaced lugs for mud, scree, loose dirt and snow. Smaller multidirectional lugs are common in lighter shoes for varied terrain, while a smoother grippy patch under the toes helps shoes stick when scrambling over rocks. TIMBERLAND JUNIOR MT. MADDSEN WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTSGet the quality of an adult boot packed into a smaller package in the TIMBERLAND JUNIOR MT. MADDSEN WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS ($80, timberland.com). These rugged hikers boast many of the same features of the adult versions: good support and cushioning for full days on the trail, a waterproof-breathable membrane, secure lacing for a snug fit, premium full-grain waterproof leather uppers, and outsole lugs that bite into any surface and are aligned with the foot’s pressure points to maximize traction. 1 lb. 8 oz. LEATHER VS. SYNTHETIC HIKING BOOTS Usually less expensive and lighter, synthetic uppers vary significantly but can offer a versatile combination of durability and breathability. More expensive leather uppers are often more durable and conform to your feet, improving the fit. Either type may be paired with a membrane.

You’re ready to go backpacking, but looking at the cost of all the needed gear has you wondering: Will you even make it to the trailhead? That’s understandable. Prices can be intimidating, but there’s good news. You don’t need to drop a small fortune to outfit yourself for backpacking — in fact, you can get functional gear relatively inexpensively. Here are some tips on how to find high-quality gear at discounted prices and a few suggestions on key pieces of backpacking gear that are inexpensive all the time. KNOW WHERE AND WHEN TO BUY Follow these simple tips to find the best deals on gear: • Wait for sales. Don’t buy last minute. Whenever possible, wait for big sales, when websites and stores slash prices by up to 50% or more, which happen regularly in spring, late summer or fall, and the holidays. • Shop discount sites. REI Outlet, Sierra Trading Post, theclymb.com and others offer high-quality gear and apparel from top brands for bargain prices, because the products have been discontinued or replaced. • Buy used gear. It’s unbelievable how much slightly used gear there is for sale by people who bought something, hardly used it and are selling it at prices far below new. Find a used-gear exchange near home, a local outdoor-gear store or hiking club selling used gear. • Shop big-box stores. While much of the stuff they offer does not cut it for backcountry use, you might be surprised at the functionality of some backpacks, tents, backpacking stoves or rain jackets for sale. 10 INEXPENSIVE PIECES OF GREAT BACKPACKING GEAR BACKPACKS A backpack should fit your torso and have basic features suited to multiday backcountry hikes. The Gregory Icarus 40 ($120, gregorypacks.com) has an adjustable harness to fit torsos measuring 13 to 18 inches, as well as features found on good-quality packs like multiple external pockets and durable fabrics. 2 lbs. 4 oz. The BSA Ultralight 50L Backpack ($100, scoutshop.org) has an adjustable unisex harness that fits torsos 15 to 21 inches, an aluminum internal frame that carries 30 pounds or more comfortably, the capacity for weeklong trips, plus five exterior pockets. 3 lbs. 6 oz. TENT Tents sturdy and light enough for backpacking rarely come cheap, but the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 ($130, kelty.com) delivers performance at a relatively modest price and weight. This three-season freestanding shelter pitches fast and has a spacious interior for two people. Notably, materials like the aluminum poles and 68-denier floor and rainfly assure good durability. Downside: only one door and vestibule. 4 lbs. 1 oz. SHOES Finding affordable hiking shoes means getting low- or mid-cut shoes with comfort, support and construction that punch above their price, and few match the classic Keen Big Kids’ Targhee Waterproof Hiking Shoe ($70, keenfootwear.com). The shoes’ waterproof-breathable membrane keeps water out and prevents overheating, and the textile and leather uppers ensure durability and a good fit. 1 lb. 2 oz. RAIN JACKET The best values in rain jackets are those made with a brand’s proprietary waterproof-breathable technology, and the Columbia Watertight Jacket ($50-$75, columbia.com), with Columbia’s Omni-Tech waterproof fabric, delivers high-value performance at a surprisingly low cost. It has the features of a pricier shell, like an adjustable hood and hem and zippered pockets, and packs into a pocket. SLEEPING PADS How minimalist are you willing to go? How about really cheap but functional and durable? The classic Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic Sleeping Pad ($20, scoutshop.org) provides basic padding and insulation against the ground, will never spring a leak (it’s a foam pad, not an air mattress) and will last as long as you want. 14 oz. If you’d prefer a bit more cushion against the hard ground, the Klymit Static V inflatable air mattress ($55, scoutshop.org) measures 72 inches long and 23 inches wide and boasts 2.5 inches of thickness. The R-value — a measure of insulating properties — is just 1.3, not enough for cold ground but fine on mild nights, and it’s light and packable enough for backpacking. 1 lb. 2 oz.

Boots are one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll take on the trail. A worn-out pair can make you miserable. So take care of your footwear, and it’ll take care of you. Always clean your boots after every hike. If you have leather hiking boots, apply a leather treatment like Nikwax every once in a while to keep them waterproof and prevent cracking and drying out. Never dry wet boots by the campfire. The heat will damage the soles and weaken the glue that holds them together. To dry them out, just remove the insoles and stuff your boots with newspaper. It’s OK to fill your shoes with water and rinse them out. This will get rid of salts from your body’s sweat.

Someday, you’ll be able to think big when it comes to backpacking. Maybe you’ll go to Philmont Scout Ranch and backpack 100 miles in the New Mexico backcountry. Or maybe you’ll walk the entire length of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. Until that day, it’s OK to think … not so big. Venturing Crew 413 from Elburn, Illinois, has some veteran backpackers who could probably handle Philmont. But they also have plenty of inexperienced guys and girls who aren’t ready for such a massive trip. On their outing to the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, the veterans in the group backpacked the entire Berryman Trail, a 24-mile loop that ends right where it begins. It’s a good, solid three-day trip for experienced hikers. In the meantime, the less experienced members hiked part of the way on the trail, and then rode back to base camp to spend the night. That way, they avoided the stress of setting up camp in a different spot each evening, while still getting enough experience to learn about the basics of backpacking. They started small, so that someday they’ll be able to think big. First-Time Backpackers For Megan Steffey, 14, the Berryman Trail would be her first backpacking experience. She had joined the crew a few months earlier for just this kind of trip. Megan knew that Crew 413 had the perfect plan: 10 miles on each of the first two days, followed by a short third day. That way, they’d have time to visit Elephant Rocks State Park and St. Louis’ famous Gateway Arch before the six-hour drive home. And she was ready. She had the right gear. She had completed a 5-mile practice hike with a full pack to get the feel of backpacking. And, most important, she had the right attitude. “I was nervous because I had never done it before,” she says, “and I was excited to see everything that was going to happen.” It wasn’t long before Megan and the rest of the crew learned something else: It’s easy to make a wrong turn, even on a trail for beginners. No worries, though. The veteran backpackers teamed up with the adults to solve the problem. They realized where they had made the mistake, and in no time the group was back on track. A good lesson for everyone, beginners and experts alike. “Everybody was working together to figure out where to go,” Megan says. “We ended up getting lost, but it was fun. We worked together to get through that to get back on track.” Good Advice for All Backpackers For Kyle Roethemeier, the 16-year-old president of Crew 413, the Berryman Trail would be pretty similar to the handful of backpacking trips he had already experienced. As the youth leader of the crew, one of his jobs was to keep an eye on his fellow backpackers, especially the ones with less experience. “For some of the time, we were setting the pace,” Kyle says. “We always tried to make sure we could see everyone. There were times when I couldn’t see everyone, so we’d stop and wait for them to catch up.” Kyle and the other experienced crew members also provided advice when needed, carried extra gear when required and overall made sure everyone was having fun. One of the biggest challenges of backpacking, Kyle has learned, is how you approach it with your mind. “On my second backpacking trip, I remember we had an older Scout with us who always said, ‘The camp is just around the corner.’ ” Kyle says. “And if you think of it like that, it tends to go a lot easier than if you think, ‘This has been going on forever, and we’re never going to get there.’ ” Make Backpacking Fun For Tim Bohanek, 16, the Berryman Trail was supposed be his eighth backpacking trip. That was, until his doctor advised him that it wasn’t a good idea to go backpacking with an injured knee. Still, he was happy to provide advice to the rookies when needed. “Make sure you have good, broken-in hiking boots,” he says. “And make sure your backpack is fitted right. “After my first two trips, I finally figured out how to do it right. Some of the older Scouts let me know what worked for them in the past.” For Brianna Stiles, 20, the Berryman trek was an opportunity to experience more than a one-night campout. “It was totally new to me,” she says. “I’d been camping before, but never for that long.” The forecast called for pleasant weather, but Brianna saw how fast that can change when the crew was met with light rain and chilly temperatures, especially at night. She also learned how awkward it can be to walk on an uneven trail with a 30-pound pack on your back. “It was a lot of switchbacks going up and down hills,” she says. “If you looked up from the trail for a moment, you could have tripped on a rock and fallen.” And these hardships don’t even cover the mediocre freeze-dried food. In the end, though, Brianna learned the most important backpacking lesson of all. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” she says. “You’re gonna make it. It’s not that difficult. You’ll have a good time. “The last night we were there, we all got together and had dinner around the campfire and talked about the entire trip. It was a lot of fun.” Know Before You Go The Berryman Trail is listed by the U.S. Forest Service as having a difficulty level of “moderate.” Motor vehicles aren’t allowed, but hikers must yield to bikes and horses. Unless you’re an expert, plan on three days to hike the entire loop. You can camp anywhere along the trail, but remember to dispose of human waste at least 100 feet away from the trail and campsite. Learn more about Mark Twain National Forest. Boots and Packing Tips Don’t buy a fancy new pair of hiking boots the day before your backpacking trek. Instead, break them in by wearing them for several weeks in advance. When packing your pack, make sure the weight is on your hips and not your back. It’s easier for your bones than your muscles to support the weight of the pack. For more backpacking tips, check out our other backpacking articles.

On long backcountry treks, you’ll want a hydration plan other than to lug around multiple gallons of water. When you encounter a freshwater source, such as a river or a lake, you have a few options to make that water potable: boil, filter or treat with tablets. You’ll want to treat the water, no matter how clean it looks. It could have bacteria, viruses and parasites that can make you sick. Boiling the water for a full minute at a rolling boil should kill most of those nasty organisms. At elevations of 6,500 feet and above, boil for three minutes. If you’re on the go, though, you can drop water treatment tablets into your bottle and wait a half-hour for clean water. Or you could filter your H2O — but what kind of filter should you use? There are straws, pumps, bags and bottles. Some contain chemicals or carbon to further treat the water. Many companies tout how small their filter pores are, using a measurement called microns. So, what is a micron? Micron is short for micrometer, which is one-millionth of a meter. For those of us not too familiar with the metric system, especially the minuscule end of it, a micron equals .00003937 inches. Seems like that should be small enough to stop most contaminants, right? Well, yes, for sand, dirt, protozoan cysts, most bacteria and the diarrhea-inducing parasite Cryptosporidium, which measures at about 5 microns. However, some viruses can be as small as .0004 microns in size. Viruses likely won’t be much of a risk when traveling in the backcountry, so a filter with pores 1 micron or less should provide sufficient protection. Most microfilters measure at .2 microns. Consider investing in a water purifier instead if you’re traveling in places where people are being unhygienic around water sources. Or again, go with the tablets or boiling your water. Another label to take notice of is “absolute pore size” and “mean pore size.” “Absolute” refers to the largest pore in the filter, while “mean” is the average, meaning there are pore sizes bigger and smaller.