Outdoor Backpack

I know that there’s like REI, Northface, and Any Mountain. Any more else that are are popular. Also do you know if REI and Any Mountain have gift cards?

I’d try Dick’s Sporting Goods or Gander Mountain. you could also try online shops like Cabella’s.

I need a backpack that will keep my books dry while walking through torrential rain. What features should I look for?
What specific features makes one bag more water resistant than another?

It really depends on the size and distance your looking for. The Berghaus Freeflow 2/3 is an excellent choice if your looking for a small bag. Its a day sac hiking bag and has a water proof cover but for extreme rain it has a pull out cover which is designed to cover the bag whilst on your back. As an avid mountain biker I have to use the bags which really do protect whats inside and I Can say that a bag from Camel Back, Berghaus, Karimoor or the north face will be good and be as waterproof as a bag can be.

I’m not talking about putting a plastic bag in a backpack. I’m talking about a backpack that you could throw some pieces of paper in, swim with for several hours (and then some), and open the pack later to find that the papers and the inside of the backpack are completely dry. Is there such a thing and where could I find it? (Price isn’t a concern).

Rainwalker Waterproof Internal Frame BackPack

This unique German made waterproof Class 3 roll-top backpack contains many features in common with a typical hiking backpack. This 28 liter day pack is built with an internal frame sheet supported by an aluminum stay, padded back, padded shoulder straps, sternum strap, and waist belt – which all work together to create a very comfortable backpacking experience.

Other features include side mesh pockets, an internal sleeve built for a hydration bladder (bladder not included), an 8in x 8in external pocket with a water resistant zipper and Velcro flap, and a removable PVC-FREE roll-top main compartment assured to keep all your valuables dry. Note: the internal sleeve for the hydration bladder is built into the packs back side, and not inside the waterproof main compartment, as to not interfere with the waterproof integrity of the main compartment

For my outdoor education class, I need to know basic facts about a day of backpacking. How far did you go in one day? How long did you sleep? When did you cook? That sort of thing. Thanks!

As others have mentioned how far you go in a day depends on the group, the terrain and the amount of gear you are carrying. In my experience, unless it is a very good trail over even ground, anything over 8 miles is a pretty good distance in day and anything over 15 is really pushing it. Heck, 20 miles in one day is a pretty hard day hike without a pack (basically a fast walking pace non-stop for 10 straight hours).

Typically, I aim for 6 to 12 miles a day depending on the area. Presumably you are hiking through a pretty and enjoyable place and will want to stop along the way to take pictures and enjoy it rather than troop through at full speed without stopping. Outdoor exercise experts also recommend that you stop at least once every 1-2 hours and elevate your feet for 10-15 minutes to improve circulation and clear out lactic acids that build up in the legs and feet.

A typical day goes as follows:
Get up around sunrise. Breakfast, bathroom activities and repacking at a relaxed pace usually takes about an hour and a half.

Hit the trail for about 3-4 hours, with maybe one 15 minute break along the way. Find a nice spot for lunch and just hang out and relax a bit for an hour or more. Hit the trail again for 3-4 hours, with at least one 15 minute break.

I try to reach camp a good two hours before sunset to allow plenty of time to check out the area and setup (plus it is nice to be done with everything and relax during sunset). Finding the nearest water source and filtering enough water (hand-pump filter) to last to the next camp is a high priority.

If fires are allowed at the camp, than gathering firewood is a top priority while there is day light, but I usually won’t start the fire until I need it for light or cooking. I like to do my cooking right after enjoying the sunset (or the days are long, cook right before sunset and find a good sunset spot to eat at). In the last few years, I have become a fan of the dehydrated meals (Mountain House, etc) which are light, calorie packed and not bad tasting. I don’t need to bring pots, separated ingredients, etc and can eat right out of the package. The new JetBoils are great for quickly boiling water with minimum weight and fuel.

I am normally a night owl, but after a day or two of backpacking I usually get into a natural rytheme with the daylight and find myself happily going to bed and waking up earlier than I would at home. Hitting the tent by 9PM and sleeping a good 8-9 hours is not uncommon.

The above is pretty typical, but no two days are exactly the same. Some days you don’t to camp until after dark and others you may only go an easy 4 or 5 miles between camps. For extended trips (over 4-5 days) I often like to find a nice spot to hold over 2 nights (a dead day) to really relax and explore a bit without having to constantly get up and go each morning.

Where you are going makes a big difference too. I do most of my backpacking in the southwest where water sources are few and far between and so you often have to carry more water (heavy!) on you than at other places. On the other hand, we have much fewer mosquitos, fleas, and ticks so I usually never have to bother with bug spray.

In the middle of June, I’m planning to go on a four week backpacking trip with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School). It will involve hiking with a 60ish pound backpack in mountains at altitudes 8,000-13,000 feet. Right now I lift weights and jog 3-5 miles as often as I can (about 3-5 days a week), and in the Spring/Fall I normally ride my bike for 30 miles once a week. Still, I’m not really sure how else I can prepare for the trip. I know it’s a long ways away, but the earlier the better. Are there any good rule-of-thumb goals I could work to (such as being able to run X distance in X time, or something else like it) or any creative ideas? I’d love to hear from somebody, because I really just don’t have a lot of experience.

It sounds like you are already in pretty good shape and are doing a good job with the cardio-vascular exercise and prepartion. It sounds like you just need to focus on things that are not covered by your current exercises.

As the poster above notes, it would be good to do some practice trips with a full pack (similar to the one that you will be carrying on the trip). Making sure that you do plenty of exercises that strengthen your lower back and stomach muscles (situps, stomach crunches) will help with carrying a large pack.

Even aside from the weight itself, running or hiking without a pack is very different than with one - it takes some getting used to the lack of agility and change in your center of gravity. You should try to at least do some long weekend backpacking trips (especially if you have not backpacked before).

Another biggie based on your current exercises, is trying to get your body used to moving over rough terrain instead of flat surfaces like roads and sidewalks. This can make a big difference since hiking over rough dirt trails requires more muscle control and more joint stress than flat surfaces. I have known people that were in good running/biking shape that have had problems with weak knees and sore joints when they go on a rough trail for the first time (also a danger of falling and tripping because your feet are not used to it).

Being at that high of an altitude will also have a big impact on you (although less if you are good cardio shape, which it sounds like you are). If you don’t live at or near that elevation, than it may be hard to train for it. Try to arrive at the area where you will be hiking a couple days before your trip begins to allow your body some time to adjust.

Lastly, make sure that you are training for long term endurance and not just exercises that involve a short burst of intense energy. With either biking or hiking, make sure you do some sessions that last for multiple hours - maintaining a good pace for a long time period is more important than speed or distance. You want a lean efficient body, not necessarily a muscle-bound one. I known some weight-lifters who have very hard times on even moderate packing trips because their big muscles add so much weight and drain so many calories that they hit the wall early (they have trained themselves for short bursts of intense muscle activity rather than very long periods of moderate activity).

Sounds like a great trip - have fun!

I want to decorate my black Outdoor Sports backpack with fabric paint or dye. I wanna know which brands are good and last long.

“Want to.” Say ‘wanna’ all you want to, but it is spelled “want to” — just like you did the first time you used it. Writing ‘wanna’ makes you sound whiny, which I’m guessing was probably not your goal.

Your backpack is black? How do you expect to be able to dye something that’s already so dark dye will not show? It won’t work. Fabric paint, on the other hand, can be made to work on black fabrics if you’re careful. Tulip brand is very good. You need to follow the directions for use and care exactly if you want the best results, of course, but if you do follow them carefully, your design will last a long time.

Tulip makes several kinds of fabric paint. The one that will work best for this is the “Soft” line. It comes in little bottles, not in writing tubes. You’ll need a small paintbrush to use with it. It says it’s opaque, but on black it still needs some helps. Get a bottle of the “cream” color (or off-white or eggshell, or whatever they’re calling it this week) and paint all your designs in that. Once that’s dry (give it time-and-a-half to be really dry so this will really work well — i.e., if it says 60 minutes, let it dry for 90) paint your designs with all the colors you were planning to use. Then let that dry for time-and-a-half, too. Let the pack cure before getting it wet at all. I think it says it needs to cure for a couple of days. Read the label so you get the best results possible. Have fun!