Posted by Patrick Moreau on October 10, 2020 in Shopping
Kids backpack? The BOBA carrier has been in the top 5 of our best baby carrier list for 3 years now, and for some great reasons. It is comfortable, stylish, durable, and very well-made and reliable. The thick waistband tends to support a lot of the baby’s weight so your shoulders don’t get too sore, with a nice even distribution around the body. We also liked that the waistband has two adjustment points, which helps quite a bit to even out the cinching around the waist. It also has the adjustments for the shoulder straps right under the armpits, helping you customize the fit even when wearing your baby. Some advantages of the BOBA over the Ergo is that it includes an infant insert, supports from 7 pounds all the way up to 45 pounds (like the LILLEBaby), and it has a small zippered pocket along the waist. Though working with an infant insert is a bit awkward relative to having it built in to the system. It also includes little foot straps (stirrups) to support tired hanging legs. Also, we found the range of strap adjustment is very wide, fitting a wider range of body shapes and sizes. So this carrier does, in fact, have a couple advantages over the Ergo.
Seek summer weather: Unless your destination is one where extreme heat or fire danger can be an issue, go in mid-summer to maximize daylight hours and your odds of comfortable conditions. Always check weather forecasts and don’t hesitate to cancel or turn back if a storm moves in. Consider “walk-in” campgrounds: Some state and national parks have campgrounds that are within a mile or so of a car campground. Staying in one of them is an excellent way to transition into backpacking. Find even more information at https://www.backpackultra.com/best-kids-backpacks/.
You can splurge on a lightweight tent shelter, but I find an inexpensive tent footprint does the job fine. The tent footprints tend to be pretty durable. I use it with cordage and sticks to create a basic lean-to. I also have an inexpensive bivy sack that I can use as a sleeping back. If you want extra warmth, you can stuff it with leaves or pine needles and wedge yourself in. Signaling for a rescue is just as important as the other items. The sooner someone knows to look for you, the better your chances of survival. I carry a lot of options here. Most of the ten hiking essentials can be used on a normal, everyday hike. For example, you’ll obviously drink water. But what happens when you are in an emergency situation?
Lowering backpack weight advice : Ultralight tent footprint/ groundcloth. Footprints and ground cloths act as a protective barrier in between the ground and the floor of your tent. They also prevent any water from seeping in from the ground through your tent floor. Use a painters tarp instead of buying the manufacturer’s footprint. You can find painter’s tarp at any hardware store. 2-3 mm thick is perfect. Cut it out to match the outline of your tent floor… and then cut off an inch border to make it slightly smaller than your tent floor. Trekking poles, not tent poles. Two trekking poles (plus your guylines) is all you need to keep your tarp supported. Many tarp systems only require one pole. See ultralight trekking poles. See even more info on https://www.backpackultra.com/.