Posts by Adam Hurst

It’s easy enough to pick up some freeze dried backpacking meals and call it day. But why not save weight, bulk, and money by making your own supper? Welcome to Homemade Backpacking Dinner 101! In this article, we’ll cover some dinner bases, seasoning strategies, fat, protein, vegetable additives, and ways to package it all up…

Imagine this scenario: you plop into your hammock for a restful night of sleep, only to realize that you’re lying uncomfortably on your headlamp, you have nowhere to put your phone, and the warm clothing layers you stashed at your feet are now cascading down onto your top quilt, causing minor overheating issues. Intolerable! But…

There are many advantages to backcountry hammock camping. It’s ultralight. It’s ultra comfortable. And it doesn’t require flat ground. But one of the more surprising bonuses is that hammock camping is also great in wet weather! I just got back from a wet weekend of coastal backpacking in Olympic National Park, in January, and was…

When it comes to ultralight hiking, no other gear has the potential to reduce your kit’s weight as much as a backpacking tarp shelter. These sturdy, minimalist, versatile shelters are an excellent piece for every backpacker to have in their quiver. No matter if you’re looking to carry less weight, move faster, sleep in a hammock, or…

I just got home from my first ever backcountry hammock camping trip, having never slept in a hammock before, and I’m stoked to report that it was a huge success! However, I must admit that I was very skeptical at first. Will I be able to get comfortable? Can I actually fall asleep in a…

When it comes to the age old, backcountry gear rivalry of down vs. synthetic insulation for sleeping bags and quilts, there is a clear winner: down. But give it a Google Search and you’ll find articles that present the two insulation types as if they’re equal performers, deserving the same amount of your consideration, and…

Looking to carry less weight in your pack? Then it’s time to upgrade to a down backpacking quilt! The bottom line is that, compared to sleeping bags, quilts have a better warmth-to-weight ratio. A 20 oz quilt is warmer than a 20 oz sleeping bag, and a 20 degree quilt weighs less than a 20…

Lost in the mountains and sandwiched for warmth between three friends in a two-person tent, Jaeger thought to himself, “I need better gear.” His tent leaked. His rain jacket was rubber. And his pack weighed 60 pounds. But no longer! Since that fateful trip, Jaeger has overhauled his entire kit, and now considers himself to…