background preloader

How to choose a travel backpack

How to choose a travel backpack
Choosing the right backpack for your trip is probably the single most important travel purchase that you will make before leaving home. Your backpack will be your companion, your house, and the most important piece of gear accompanying you around the world. There are many brands and styles out there, so apart from a few important considerations, the rest is up to your style of travel and preference. Style First, you will most definitely want an internal frame travel backpack. Next, you will have to decide on the size. To get an idea of what you may be carrying, take a look at my backpacking packing list! Size 3,000-5,000 cubic inches (50-80 liters) – is the most popular size for extended budget travel trips such as gap years, but if you can get away with a smaller backpack – do it! Durability The two critical features on any backpack that are most prone to tear up are the straps and zippers. Fit Here’s how to fit a backpack properly: Side or top loading Where to buy a travel backpack?

The 10 best treks in the world These 10 classic treks are for serious walkers. All of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and a good amount of preparation. However, if you choose to go on any of these trails then you will be rewarded with experiences that last a lifetime. 1. Image by Jean-Baptiste Bellet This demanding 15- day (168km, 104mi) slog through Corsica is legendary for the diversity of landscapes it traverses. 2. Image by funkz This 33km (20mi) ancient trail was laid by the Incas and is currently traversed by thousands each year. 3. Image by Crazy Joe Devola ‘The land of the Dogon people’ is one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. 4. Image by lampertron Reaching a height of 5,545m (18,193ft) at Kala Pattar, this three-week trek is extremely popular with those who want to be able to say, ‘I’ve been to the base of the world’s highest mountain’. 5. Image by Chandramohan Burly V Fewer folk trek on the Indian side of the world’s greatest mountain range. 6. Image by brewbooks 7. Image by kiwinz 8. 9. 10.

Female Solo Travel Tips - Women Travelling Solo | y Travel Blog Are you looking for female solo travel trips? Would you like to know what countries are best for women travelling solo to get their feet wet? We put those questions to our Facebook community as we love getting insider tips from other travellers. While most of my travel around the world has been done with Craig, my first adventures saw me setting off into the untamed wilderness on my own. Female Solo Travel Tips Don’t think about the possible dangers There are a million things that can go wrong, no matter how you are travelling. But, that doesn’t stop you from getting on with your life right? Be Aware Keep your wits about yourself and your surroundings at all time. Trust your intuition It always knows best. Don’t freak yourself out by imaginary monsters, but definitely pay attention to those little messages our animal instincts give us. Walk assertively and confidently When I was in year 9 we had to do a self-defence course for sport at school. Always walk assertively and confidently.

Backpack Europe on Budget--Backpacking and travel info for budget travelers. Building Your Bugout Bag: The Complete Infographic Checklist | Survival (Before It's News) Looking for a bug out bag checklist to make sure your bug out bag isn’t lacking anything critical? Instead of another long written post about bug out bags, we thought we’d put one out there in pictorial form. Hope this gives you a few ideas on items you haven’t checked off your bug out bag checklist quite yet. We know one bug out bag isn’t right for every occasion, but this is how we are packing our bags for a TEOTWAWKI scenario. And please, let us know if you think we missed anything, or if you’ve discovered a better solution then we have for some of the challenges to bugging out. This Bug Out Back Checklist Brought To You By ThePrepperProject.com This article has been contributed by SHTF Plan. Source:

10 of the Best Places to Hike in the United States The United States is a huge country with tons of variety, so there’s no shortage of awesome places to lace up the boots, get that blood pumping, and take in some amazing views. Want to add US hikes to your trip itinerary? If you’ve been stuck indoors much of the winter and spring, here are ten great places around the country to get out and hike. Zion National Park – Utah With a wide variety of options and a multitude of landscapes, Zion National Park in Utah is a hiker’s and climber’s paradise. The park is very well organized, there’s a shuttle system that passes many of the trailheads, and there’s plenty of backpacking options for those looking for a more serious overnight adventure. Popular hikes in Zion There are a lot of challenging trails in Zion, and it’s imperative to be aware of weather and time of year, particularly when it comes to hiking in the canyon, as flash floods can happen at any time. >> Read about the best US cities for National Parks lovers. Grand Canyon Backcountry Hiking

25 Wonderful Places To Visit In Your Lifetime If you like this story feel free to share... Grand Canyon: One of the beautiful places of the world, Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The powerful sources that cause an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, first is by water and second is by wind. Nearly 5 million people visit the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon every year. The best time to visit Grand Canyon is during the summer, fall and mild spring, but most locals agree that winter is the great time to visit. Great Barrier Reef: This is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. The reef supports 10,000 species which consists of 1500 types of fishes and 200 kinds of birds. Florida: This state built its entire identity with tourism. The South Island: The South Island of New Zealand is characterized by grand open landscapes. The south island has ten national parks. Cape Town: Cape Town is situated at the tip of the African Continent. Golden Temple: Las Vegas: Sydney: New York: Uluru:

mental_floss Blog & It's Complicated: 5 Puzzling International Borders Most of us think of international borders as invisible, but clear-cut, lines: stand on one side, and you’re in one country; stand on the other, you’re in another country. But here’s a list of five international borders that, for one reason or another, are not quite that simple. 1. The Indian Exclave in Bangladesh That Contains a Bangladeshi Exclave (Which Contains Another Indian Territory) The Cooch-Behar District, nestled between Bangladesh and India, is one of the most confusing border zones in the world, with 102 mini-exclaves belonging to India splattered on the Bangladeshi side of the border, and 71 exclaves belonging to Bangladesh peppering the Indian side. For example, take the Indian region of Balapara Khagrabari. So why’d the border get drawn like that? 2. Image credit: Jérôme Any border buff worth his salt will tell you about the little town of Baarle, which straddles the Dutch-Belgian border. 3. 4. 5. Image credit: World Geo Blog This story originally appeared in 2011.

Mountain UltraLight: Make Your Own Backpacking Meals! My 14 day John Muir Trail thru-hike with my son is just a few weeks away, so I've been busy preparing 28 days worth of backpacking food for us. Making your own is not that difficult, less expensive, and much lighter than buying those individually packaged meals. Are you up for the task? A healthy hot breakfast is pretty easy. My favorite is couscous, dry milk, dried cranberries, chopped almonds and cashews. 15 1/2 ounces yields 2,240 calories, or seven 320 calorie breakfasts. Add some variety by replacing the couscous with rolled oats, which is a bit heavier but also very nutritious. Now for some dinners. I may have gone a little crazy with this stuff, but did I mention that I absolutely love it? ...4 huge cans of crushed tomatoes... ...8 white onions, finely chopped... ...all in two giant pots with lots of garlic, basil, black pepper, and whatever else you love! Then into the dehydrator on parchment paper. You want it to be dry so it will break apart, not like fruit leather.

Video: Hike the 2,200-Mile Appalachian Trail in 4 Minutes | Playbook While there is no governing body, the unofficial record for completing the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail was set by trail runner Andrew Thompson in 2005, at 45 days, 13 hours, 31 minutes. Thing is, Thompson didn’t turn his record-setting trek into a slick stop-motion video the way filmmaker Kevin Gallagher did. Gallagher’s first-person short film, The Green Tunnel, allows anyone to experience his six-month hike from Georgia to Maine in less than four minutes. Back in spring 2005, the Virginia-based hiking enthusiast — who goes by the trail name “Fester” — hiked the Appalachian Trail and stopped every day to take 24 snapshots of quintessential sections of this famed route. “I went off to do other stuff like walk from Mexico to Canada” on the Pacific Crest Trail, Gallagher told Wired.com. Once Gallagher had enough money, curiosity started to get the better of him. OK, but one question: What’s up with the “Fester” nickname? Good thing that didn’t make the final cut.

26 Killer Travel Gadgets Every Geek Needs Update: For even more kick ass gadgets, check out Another 26 Travel Gadgets Every Geek Needs. I admit it: I’m a tech-head. I love gadgets and I love to travel. Put the two together and I attain a state of bliss somewhere between watching a Meredith Baxter-Birney marathon on Lifetime and that feeling you get when you think about puppies and marshmallows together at the same time. See where I’m going? Anywho, I run through my checklist of essential gear every time I travel: laptop? I started doing some digging and realized I’ve been missing out in a big way. #1: De-Pooify Your Water Supply If you’re not a big fan of drinking animal droppings with your river water while hiking or on the go, the MSR Miox water filter is all you need to de-pooify a steady, virtually unlimited, potable water supply. #2: Gorillapod The Gorillapod. #3: A Hammock for Your ‘lectronics #4: Laser Virtual Keyboard #5: A Real Global Cell Phone My cell phone can beat up your cell phone. #7: Indestructible Travel Cases Mmkay.

Related: