Posts by Adam Hurst

Mosquitoes, ticks, triatomine (kissing bug) and other pesky insects are capable of ruining a trip, which is why everyone should know how to ward them off as completely and effectively as possible. Without proper defense, a swarm of hungry mosquitos can be more than just itch-inducing; their wrath may force you to enjoy camp entirely from the…

At Hammock Gear, we design, test, manufacture, and sell world-class hammock camping systems. But we also believe it is our job to champion the idea of hammocks; to proselytize the lifestyle of hanging out. That’s why in this article, we’ll highlight an infrequently discussed, but very important, benefit to hammock camping. That is, the hammock’s…

This is the unlikely story of how dried mandarin oranges, a preserved fruit option that most hikers have never even tried before, crushed the competition and were indisputably crowned as the most delicious dried fruit to take backpacking. While I continue to shun eating most dried fruits at home (similar to energy bars, oat meal,…

Most hikers have made their fair share of dumb mistakes in the backcountry, and I’m no exception. We all learn from experience! But some of the biggest screw ups that my friends and I made led to excessive and unnecessary danger. In the hopes of helping others to avoid similarly lethal situations, I will outline…

Hammock vs Tent is an age old conundrum, and when to choose which on any given backpacking trip is the subject we’ll be discussing today. Both have advantages and disadvantages, while also creating opportunities and limitations. So if you’re a ground-hang hybrid sleeper, please read on to help inform future decisions about when to pack…

If this is the year you want to up your backpacking game, then you’ve come to the right article! Multi-day backcountry travel can be both daunting and challenging, but mastering the art is absolutely worthwhile. Compared to a beginner, the veteran backpacker can efficiently and systematically plan and safely execute complex trips, in which they…

Bad weather is a bad excuse to miss out on a perfectly good hammock camping opportunity! With the proper kit, a hammock and tarp setup can be at least as protective as a tent. Cold, wind, rain, or snow, all of it can be thwarted with the proper equipment and camp strategies. In this article, we’ll…

Over the past 10 or so years, backpacking gear has evolved. A lot. Formerly fringe or new-to-market technologies have since proliferated and gone mainstream. Even the National Park service is offering online reservations. Hallelujah! In case you haven’t been keeping up with all of the advancements in gear, what follows is a quick overview of…

Fall is here, and that means stunning foliage colors and crisp air. What better time to go hiking and backpacking! For those looking to take full advantage of everything that autumn has to offer in the backcountry, we present these 12 tips for better, safer fall hiking: Know the weather forecast – Fall weather, especially…

Few things demoralize a backpacker more than staring into a food bag of the same old unappetizing snacks! Luckily, this often repeated mistake can easily be corrected for by making the concept of variety into a central pillar of your food packing strategy. Journey with me into the great snag bag at the end of…

Have you ever opened your backpacking food bag, and been disappointed to find the same old dinners, energy bars, trail mixes, and dried fruits day after day? Then you would benefit from adding more variety into your hiking diet! Or perhaps you already believe in the benefits of variety and are just looking for more…