The Great (low budget) Hiking Guide and Thread

[Xarpho's Return]

I would say one thing is that let someone know where you're going, either a friend or a park ranger, just in case you get REALLY lost.

 

[Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown]

I can speak from experience that I can feel a real difference when not taking my poles, more so if I have a lot of weight to carry.

I get it for very steep landscape, though would never use them myself.

Took a short hike with the dog for an hour or so on a property I'd never explored before.

Gorgeous day, warmest winter day we've had in some time at 9C/48F.

Property was a lot hillier than expected. Still about 4-8 inches of snow on the ground. The snow is really soft and slushy though with the warm temperatures.

Wore appropriate footwear, ankle high hiking boots with laces up to the top. Footwear choice is more difficult this time of year between winter boots, rubber boots (water protection but little grip on ice) and more casual slip-on shoes/runners.

I've been using a cheap pair of slipover rubber crampons over my casual outdoor shoes when it's icy but not terribly deep snow or cold.

They work great, but unfortunately only really fit my casual shoes. If I stretch them over my larger hiking boots/winter boots, I end up losing them inadvertently on the trail. I've had to backtrack on trails a few times this winter to go find them.

I wore the crampons over my casual shoes the other day on a known casual trail in similar soft snow conditions, but found there wasn't enough ice to make them worth it, so went with the hiking boots with better waterproofing and higher ankle protection today.

TL; DR - I really could've used some walking poles, especially for the slushy downhill sections.

The soft snow provides no traction, so any steep sections were harder to traverse downhill than uphill.

I ended up having to walk perpendicular to the pitch like a downhill/X-country skier at one point.

 

[Newfag14]

This thread is still going to be inactive for some time since I'm currently to busy with work and training for a veeeery long hike through europe.
The next Content drop/ rewrite will come in early September.

I can recomend the content of this guy btw.
I was browsing his stuff to refresh my memory in regards to reading maps and his other vids for correct movement are very solid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kohoA918qGg

 

[Hentai-Semitism]

Speaking of headlamps, I think that detachable L-shaped ones are the most versatile. I just got this:

https://www.armytek.com/flashlights/models/wizard/armytek-wizard-c2-wr-magnet-usb/

It's powered by a single 18650 (1 x 3200mAh included), has 2 (white/red) x 4 modes (0.6/130/410/1100lm), a strong magnet, a clip, can be USB charged and is waterproof.

It's very neat, I'd definitely recommend it. There's cheaper models (Elf, for instance) if you aren't interested in some extra features.

Nitecore also has L-shaped headlamps, so you might want to check out that brand. I heard good things about them.

 

[Bloitzhole]

The topic has only briefly been touched on so I feel it is worth adding:

Basic Crampons with strap bindings should be part of your kit if you are going into any altitude in winter or early spring. Even if an initial look at the mountain only indicates light snow at say 1500m in march/april, the shadowed side might have paths caked over with snow over a thin but dangerous layer of ice. Few things worse than navigating icey paths without crampons for a while only to get turned around because the way ahead is becoming too steep/dangerous and realizing that the way back has gotten neigh impassable due to lowering temperatures throughout the day causing previously melting snow to freeze.
High quality Snowline chainsen pro only weigh about 300g, can last multiple seasons of abuse and are around 50 bucks. Don't risk a drop that could injure or kill you when hiking in higher altitudes over 11oz and a few bucks.
In general - do not underestimate the danger of ice even in otherwise easy terrain.

 

[Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown]

Speaking of headlamps, I think that detachable L-shaped ones are the most versatile. I just got this:

Is the versatility of the L-shaped headlamps the idea that it allows you to use it as a traditional hand flashlight if needed?

I've never seen that kind, but it makes sense.

I'm much more used to the standard square button type headlamp or whatever it's called.

You seem to have got a great price as well.

I haven't been in the market for a headlamp since the aughts, but I recall them being much more expensive at the time.

I lost mine under a bed somewhere on its maiden voyage and it still stings to this day.

 

[Hentai-Semitism]

Is the versatility of the L-shaped headlamps the idea that it allows you to use it as a traditional hand flashlight if needed?

I've never seen that kind, but it makes sense.

I'm much more used to the standard square button type headlamp or whatever it's called.

You seem to have got a great price as well.

I haven't been in the market for a headlamp since the aughts, but I recall them being much more expensive at the time.

I lost mine under a bed somewhere on its maiden voyage and it still stings to this day.

Yeah, you can detach it very easily. You can put a clip (which is really strong) on it and attach it to your jacket or your backpack's shoulder strap. If you want to put it on your bike helmet or bike handlebar, Armytek has dedicated mounts for those in their catalog.

18650 is a popular battery standard, so you can swap an empty one for a new one in 20 seconds if you run out of juice. Watch some Youtube reviews if you're not convinced. I was very happy with my purchase. Damn, I'm starting to sound like a shill myself.

 

[The Stranger]

Any recommendations for food for multi-day hikes? Specifically food that doesn't require heat to prepare. So far I've got trail mix, tortillas w/ peanut butter, and canned sardines and crackers. What else should I get?

 

[code123]

Any recommendations for food for multi-day hikes? Specifically food that doesn't require heat to prepare. So far I've got trail mix, tortillas w/ peanut butter, and canned sardines and crackers. What else should I get?

the packs of rice that are already cooked.
tuna packs.
vienna sausages
summer sausage.
block cheese (will last a few days without refridge)
candy/ cookies.
some veggies can last a few days without refridge, eg carrots/celery

i think that a warm meal really hits the spot and would bring cooking gear for like a instant mountan house meal though.

 

[The Stranger]

i think that a warm meal really hits the spot and would bring cooking gear for like a instant mountan house meal though

I agree, but this particular hike is a bit of an oddball one. I'm basically unable to have a fire and I don't want to carry a propane burner + tank.

 

[Neodanthril]

how to deal with bugs, especially ticks and mosquitos

Any spray with deet is good for both. Also recommend buying tick pullers which are less than a dollar generally and attach to your keychain to make sure you get all of the little bugger out . A camping mirror would also be a good idea for multi day hikes to check your crevices for ticks. Dirt cheap.
I've grown some mint this year and I hear bugs don't like it. Will try carrying a sprig camping with me and see if it keeps spiders away from the tent.

wild animals

Bear bells attached to your bag to announce your presence as a passive deterrent and bear mace for a non-lethal last resort deterrent. I don't know if you can get that in euroland though.

What knife to carry

Cold steel is the go to budget grade knifemaker in the US. One of their fixed blade knifes won't do you wrong. I personally carry just some cheapo camping Axe in my camping kit for making kindling.

I want to talk more about food but I'll just say you can get dirt cheap can openers that will fit on your keyring. With this you can take canned food if you are planning to make a fire.

Any recommendations for food for multi-day hikes? Specifically food that doesn't require heat to prepare. So far I've got trail mix, tortillas w/ peanut butter, and canned sardines and crackers. What else should I get?

Dried fruit for fiber. One prune can and will lubricate you very well. Cheese is pretty shelf stable. If you plan on making a fire you can premix biscuit dough and cook it on site.
Lastly if you like to bake you can try making purpose built for hiking high calorie logan bread.
https://sectionhiker.com/logan-bread-recipe/ this is the recipe I used and like. You can sub the nuts and cherries for whatever you want.

Taking some Gatorade packets doesn't hurt. In the winter time you can heat the Gatorade and it has a flavor similar to wassail.

 

[Frostnipped Todger]

the packs of rice that are already cooked.
tuna packs

I would second these two. The precooked sachets of rice are excellent, especially if you get the flavoured ones. Add in a sachet of tuna in oil and you have a high calorie meal with minimal garbage. The sachets are best because they can slip into any voids in your pack, so they cut down on bulk, and the packaging weighs almost nothing. I carry a large zip lock bag for my rubbish to go into as well. I've done 3 and 4 day hunting trips with two of the tuna & rice meals per day as rations and had no problem. If you want extra fibre, get the brown rice, it's more filling anyway.

 

[Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown]

block cheese (will last a few days without refridge)

Cheese is pretty shelf stable.

I've done weeklong group canoe trips with cheese blocks in bear barrels in the summer.

The cheese remains edible for a few days but gets REALLY sweaty & has an unpleasant texture.

Probably wouldn't do it again beyond bringing enough for Day 1.

 

[Plus Size Polka]

The topic has only briefly been touched on so I feel it is worth adding:

Basic Crampons with strap bindings should be part of your kit if you are going into any altitude in winter or early spring. Even if an initial look at the mountain only indicates light snow at say 1500m in march/april, the shadowed side might have paths caked over with snow over a thin but dangerous layer of ice. Few things worse than navigating icey paths without crampons for a while only to get turned around because the way ahead is becoming too steep/dangerous and realizing that the way back has gotten neigh impassable due to lowering temperatures throughout the day causing previously melting snow to freeze.
High quality Snowline chainsen pro only weigh about 300g, can last multiple seasons of abuse and are around 50 bucks. Don't risk a drop that could injure or kill you when hiking in higher altitudes over 11oz and a few bucks.
In general - do not underestimate the danger of ice even in otherwise easy terrain.

Yes. To build on this, if there are hills and snow involved, not only check the weather but also the avalanche report. There are avalanche risk apps out there for specific regions. Take an avalanche awareness class if you can; at least read a book or information site to learn how to read the terrain.

Hiking poles: will also keep your hands from swelling while on longer distance hikes.

 

[Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown]

Hiking poles: will also keep your hands from swelling while on longer distance hikes.

Interesting angle I hadn't considered.

I wonder what the mechanism of action would be.

Having your hands & arms spend more time at the level of your heart improving venous return as opposed to simply hanging by your sides?

The repetitive contraction of hand & forearm muscles promoting venous & lymphatic drainage back towards the core against gravity?

The centrifugal action of rhythmic arm swinging?

 

[Plus Size Polka]

A long time ago I went on a 12 mile hike. No poles, my arms swinging normally at my sides. At about 9 miles in or so I noticed my hands were swollen. My half-marathon runner hiking partner said to keep my hands up (above elbow height) and that would help. He was right, my hands were fine by the end.

Hiking with poles keep my hands up, and I suspect the constant gripping and releasing on the handles help too. No hand swelling at all, even with 16+ miles.

 

[Mordecai "3 Finger" Brown]

A long time ago I went on a 12 mile hike. No poles, my arms swinging normally at my sides. At about 9 miles in or so I noticed my hands were swollen. My half-marathon runner hiking partner said to keep my hands up (above elbow height) and that would help. He was right, my hands were fine by the end.

Hiking with poles keep my hands up, and I suspect the constant gripping and releasing on the handles help too. No hand swelling at all, even with 16+ miles.

I used to have cross-country skiing friends swing both arms like madmen in full concentric circles.

Though I actually think they were trying to accomplish the opposite: trying to use centripetal force to bring more warm arterial blood to their cold fingertips (ie. causing local swelling, and hence warmth) when they were out in the cold and their body had vasoconstricted the vessels in their fingers (turning them white & blue) to try to prioritize warm blood to the torso & central organs.

 

[CoolGuy1990]

planning a big trip to the inland temperate rainforest in idaho

^very neat video on them
goal date will be early fall
trip will be 3-4 days on the trail
So I wanted to ask about the kiwis about their recs for the following things
Water filtration
backpacks
sleepingbags
socks
and hiking pants preferably shit with cargo pockets
tents (plan on taking a 2 person as I'm 6'2 and want the extra space)
Hiking Boots
routines to build endurance, weighted vests higher reps if so what percentage
all weather lighweight parkas
and some nice /out/ lit for the trail
any other advice or items appreciated!

 

[The Stranger]

Hiking Boots

I use a pair of jungle boots and love them. These are the same exact boots that were made for the Vietnam war, the outsole was specifically designed to tread mud. I use the hot weather version because they breathe better and are slightly lighter but if waterproofing is a concern the full-leather version doesn't have the eyelets on the side that the hot weather version does.

 

[code123]

Water filtration

i mainly use a msr gravity filter. i also have one of the msr pumps and a msr MIOX pen.
i like the gravity filter as it lets you do something else while your water filters.
it has some issues with having to have the water bottle vent to let the air out but pair it up with a bag instead of a bottle and it works great.
i use a msr dromedary as the water bag(im starting to feel like a msr shill lol)
they slow down quite a bit even with regular backflushes but if i can be doing something else while it filters i dont care.
set it up before bed and have 6l of clean water in the morning.

sleepingbags

i would suggest a down bag if you can afford it.

socks

always had good luck with smartwool but there are lots of ones out there. pretty much any merino wool sock

and hiking pants preferably shit with cargo pockets

i use zip off fishing pants. thin light, dry quick cheep, double as swimming trunks. not very warm but my legs stay plenty warm hiking.

Hiking Boots

i always liked the merrell moabs, but i have been wearing a more trail runner shoe lately a hoka.

all weather lighweight parkas

i like a lightweight down jacket or vest. can be pricy but really nice when its chilly, couple that with a rain jacket and you have a good parka system.
some good base layers are always good also, but are harder to shed once you get started moving.