Hiking and Backpacking Resources

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Printables

Hiking Checklist. Packing list for day hikes.

Hiker’s First Aid Kit Checklist

Hiking Itinerary. Remember to print at least 2 of these, one to leave with someone and one to leave with your vehicle at the trailhead or with the nearest ranger station.

Stores

MOOSEJAW

Moosejaw’s return policy is pretty epic. You can return most items with no time limit. They do need to be in resellable condition.  Not only that, they also price match for 2 weeks after your purchase! Bonus- The Moosejaw family is super entertaining and funny, just check out their website too see what I mean. 

They have free shipping on orders over $49. If your order is NOT $49, but contains a Moosejaw branded item over $12, you get free shipping too.

Moosejaw has an awesome free rewards program. You can earn Moosejaw Reward Dollars on everything except gift cards. You still earn the rewards if you spend the gift card, just not while purchasing it. 

Use this link to sign up for Moosejaw’s emails and get 10% off your first order!

You earn:

10% back on full priced item, and 2.5% on discounted items.

They also like to throw in bonus earnings from time to time. You have 2 whole years to spend your points before they expire. 2. Years. 

Check out Moosejaw with their witty humor and great products here

Geartrade.com

 If you’re in need of a new gear item but don’t want to empty your wallet, check out Geartrade.com. It’s a great place to get new and used gear for less. I’ve found a brand new with tags, Osprey Aura AG65 bag for $200 which was $70 below retail at the time! 

It’s free to sign up and if you’re not looking for something specific,  they make browsing easy with search buttons like “All Deals over 70% off” and “Items under $20”. 

I have not personally used gear trade as a seller, so I can not testify as to what that experience is like.

Find them here

Apps and Websites

CalTopo

Free and customizable topo maps. They offer a variety of layers and overlays that you can use to tailor your maps to your specific adventure and preference.

To read more about the options offered go here
To start mapping, go here

AllTrails

This is hands down my favorite trail finding app. You can search by area, park, or trail name and they offer a variety of filters to narrow your search to find the perfect trail for you. You can upgrade your account to get downloadable maps, off route notifications, the ability to print your own maps, and more.

AllTrails filters

Get the Android app here

Get the iPhone version here

Cairn

Allows you to create a trip plan by telling the app where you’re going and when you will return. You enter emergency contacts you’d like notified, and if you don’t return when you said you would, it emails your emergency contacts your recorded location. Even if your phone is off, Cairn will still send it!

Cairn app

Cairn also has a neat feature that allows you to see cell coverage (or no coverage) on trails, and even tells you which cell carrier. You are able to filter coverage by carrier so you can see where YOU may have service more easily. 

Cairn is now available for both Iphone and Android!

National Park Trail Guide

Your comprehensive exploration guide to our National Parks. Featuring offline use, the ability to see your active location on map, “best of” hiking trails for each park, as well as family friendly hikes.

Get it from Google Play Store or the App Store

ReLive

A super fun app for creating 3D video stories of your adventures. If you want to include pictures you’ve taken during your hike, you just take photos along your hike like you normally would!

It’s compatible with a number of apps such as Suunto, Garmin Connect, Endomondo, Polar, MapMyHike and the other “MapMy” apps

Check out this video story created with ReLive from Google Play or the App Store

Hammock Camping

Getting Started with Hammock Camping

I have an entire post dedicated to teaching you how to get started. It covers what you need, how to choose what you need, the set-up process and more. You can find it here.

Hammock Camping FAQs

Check out my Hammock Camping FAQ page to find answers to common questions others have about this topic.

Gear

Gear that I have used/tested and love.

Etekcity Ultralight Backpacking Stove

This is great little stove for the price. I’ve had mine for about 3 years and I still love it. It packs up super small and fits in my pocket. You’ll find it fits pots up to 7 inches in diameter.

Amazon Basics 55L or 65L Internal Frame Packs

These packs are great for a beginner or for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a large amount on a pack. Mine have held up for 2 years and I’m not exactly easy on them. The packs come in two color choices, this green one shown, or solid black. It’s fully adjustable and it gets the job done.

Sawyer Insect Repellent

This insect repellent can be used on gear, clothing, and your tent. It is well loved in the hiking community for tick prevention.

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

The Sawyer Mini

Nemo Disco 30 Sleeping Bag

This bag is comfy! The Nemo Disco is great for side sleepers thanks to the extra width in the hip area. The zippers on the chest area act as vents, allowing you to cool down the temp without allowing the air to actually enter your sleeping bag.

My absolute favorite sleeping bag was the Nemo Viola 20, but sadly isn’t produced anymore. This is almost identical to the Viola and is just as great!

Hiking and Backpacking Articles and Tutorials