{"id":314,"date":"2015-09-25T16:28:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T20:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/v2.mappyhour.org\/blog\/?p=314"},"modified":"2021-05-04T20:55:18","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T00:55:18","slug":"mappy-hour-nyc-recap-backpacking-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2015\/09\/mappy-hour-nyc-recap-backpacking-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Backpacking Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"

In NYC, we were lucky to have a perfect, clear night for our outdoor Mappy Hour at Hostelling International New York. Along with BBQ, Agua Energy Water, and Brooklyn Lager, we got to meet new adventure buddies, hear stories from in\"hostelling-international-1\"ternational travelers, and learn a bit about backpacking from the Appalachian Mountain Club. Debbie M. of the AMC’s backpacking committee spoke on best practices for backpacking – below are notes from her handy handout!<\/p>\n

3-SEASON BACKPACKING GUIDELINES<\/h5>\n

Try to keep your pack as light as possible <\/strong>\u2013 aim for a total weight of 25 lbs. (or less!) with food and water for a 2 \u2013 3 day weekend.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Your 4 main items<\/strong> should weigh no more than 10 lbs. combined <\/strong>(backpack, tent (w\/optional footprint), sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Make a list and weigh every item. Try to stay in the following weight ranges:<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0 Pack: 2 \u2013 4 lbs.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0 Tent\/Hammock: 2 \u2013 3 lbs. for solo tents or 4 \u2013 5 lbs. for 2-person tents shared between 2 people.<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0 Sleeping Bag: 2 lbs. for a 25 \u2013 35 degree bag<\/p>\n

o\u00a0\u00a0 Sleeping Pad: 1 lb.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Separate items into a few categories<\/strong> (clothes, first aid\/safety, toiletries\/hygiene, cook kit, food, etc.) so they are easy to find. Use Zip-loc bags<\/strong> and compression\/stuff sacks <\/strong>to sort, organize and reduce packing size.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Use small, travel-sized items & containers<\/strong>. Put small items inside larger items (stove inside cook pot, etc.)<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Place items that are both light and bulky<\/strong> at the bottom of the pack: Sleeping bag\/pad, rain pants, rope, etc.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Put mid-weight items<\/strong> (clothes, tent \u2013 without poles, cook kit, etc.) above the bottom layer.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Put heavier<\/strong> items (food, water reservoir, etc.) in the upper middle or top layer, close to your back, so your hips bear the weight.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Put light, quick-need items like safety\/first aid kit, toilet paper\/trowel, etc. in top lid or front pocket.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Use the Side and\/or Hip Belt Pockets<\/strong> of pack for snacks, camera, bandana, sunscreen, insect repellant, etc.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Have your rain jacket\/pack cover<\/strong> handy \u2013 in the front pocket of your pack so you don\u2019t have to open the pack if it starts to rain.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Keep the pack weight balanced<\/strong> so one side is not heavier than the other.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Minimize<\/strong> the number of items strapped to the outside of your pack<\/strong> to avoid snagging on branches or tearing on rocks.<\/p>\n

\n
Clothing\/SHOES: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

(<\/strong>Bring clean clothes & shoes to leave in the car to wear after the hike.)<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Hiking Shoes\/Boots, Hiking Clothes, Socks, and Hat<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Camp Clothes\/Base Layers, Lightweight Down or Fleece Jacket, Warm Hat, Camp Shoes<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Rain Jacket (or Poncho), Rain Pants, Gaiters<\/p>\n

PACK ITEMS:\u00a0 <\/strong>Backpack, Rain Cover, Waterproof Stuff Sacks, Garbage Bag and Zip Loc bags.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

SLEEPING GEAR\/SHELTER: <\/strong>Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad & Tent\/Hammock\/Tarp (pack poles\/stakes separately)<\/p>\n

SAFETY GEAR: <\/strong>First Aid Kit, Headlamp, Small Pocket Knife or Multi Tool; Duct Tape, Insect Repellant, Sunglasses & Sunscreen, Plastic Whistle, Compass, Hiking Map<\/p>\n

PERSONAL ITEMS: <\/strong>(pack Bathroom Kit items and small trowel in a separate quart-size Zip-Loc bag)<\/p>\n

Bandanna\/Camp Towel, Toothbrush\/Toothpaste, Hygiene Items, Ear Plugs, Bathroom Kit & Digging Tool\/Trowel<\/p>\n

KITCHEN\/COOKING GEAR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Cook Pot w\/Lid, Cup\/Mug, Spork, Stove, Fuel,\u00a0Windscreen, Matches\/Lighter.<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Water Purification and Water Bottles or Hydration Reservoir<\/p>\n

\u00d8\u00a0 Food (repackage food in Zip-Loc bags to reduce bulk and weight)<\/p>\n

Eat foods that supply good healthy energy and higher calories that won’t burn off too quickly. Raw, dehydrated or freeze-dried foods don’t have a high liquid content, and are lighter to carry.<\/p>\n

\"backpacking-123\"<\/p>\n

EXTRAS: <\/strong>Hiking Poles, Seat Pad, Camera, Book\/Magazine, etc. One<\/em><\/strong> indulgent item won’t break your back!<\/p>\n

MORE RESOURCES:<\/strong>
\nJoin us at October Mappy Hour<\/a> at the Victorinox Swiss Army store in Soho<\/p>\n

Check out the Appalachian Mountain Club<\/a>‘s upcoming trips.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the HI New York<\/a> Meetup group to hear more about their community events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In NYC, we were lucky to have a perfect, clear night for our outdoor Mappy Hour at Hostelling International New York. Along with BBQ, Agua Energy Water, and Brooklyn Lager, we got to meet new adventure buddies, hear stories from international travelers, and learn a bit about backpacking from the Appalachian Mountain Club. Debbie M. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[822],"tags":[34,278,2,9],"yst_prominent_words":[539],"class_list":{"0":"post-314","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-camping","8":"tag-basics","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-new-york-city","11":"tag-recap"},"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n