A backpacking bag is great for backpacking as it keeps your hands free for more important things like eating a snack or to hold a trekking pole. Carrying a duffel while hiking in the woods would be inconvenient and would make a man tire very fast.

Backpacks generally fall into two categories for outdoor activities like hiking. Traditionally external frame bags were commonly used but since mountaineers made it cool internal frame packs are more common.

The frame of an external frame backpack is usually made of tough and lightweight aluminum. The way the load is placed in an external frame backpack makes it difficult to keep balanced. You’ll find that it’s not easy to climb and incline or up hills but manufacturers came up with the obvious solution, the internal frame backpack, was born.

But some still choose external frame backpacks because you can carry some essentials by securing it to the external frame. Most people like to tie essentials that they may need easy access to the external frame. Be careful not to have too much hanging on the frame that it turns into something like a bus in India. It can make moving around difficult or make you lose your balance too easily.

Some still use external frame backpacks because they’re cooler. I’m not talking about “cool” in a sense that your friends would think it’s cool but because the pack is not close to the body, ventilation is good so it is cooler to wear.

In this modern day external frame hiking backpacks have almost been completely replaced by internal frame hiking backpacks. Overall they are simply much more convenient and carrying a heavy weight is so much easier because the center of gravity is much lower and since the weight is much more closer to the body, it is also more balanced.

Internal frame hiking backpacks compensates for the lack of external lashing points with a big holding capacity. Some have straps so that you can carry your other backpacking equipment like tent, mummy bag or poles on the outside. The close proximity of the pack to your back also makes it less bulky in a way, giving you more freedom to move. A higher level of comfort is achieved even when they tend to make your back sweat. Some makers are sharp enough to improve the overall ventilation of the hiking backpack by having minimal surface area in contact with the back.

Whether you choose external frame or internal frame hiking backpacks it is important that you get the right fit for you because it makes a really big difference in the comfort you feel especially if you carry a heavy weight. Also remember that expensive doesn’t always imply better quality. You can still get a cheap hiking backpack that’s of high quality.

Shop for internal frame bag at http://www.hiking-camping-world.com/

There are some things to consider before you start backpacking for the first time. Beginners need to know about backpacking equipment, supplies and essentials.

Backpacking can turn into a horrifying experience if you’re not prepared with the essentials.

Backpacking can be done in either urban areas or in the wilderness or a mixture of both and the requirements of hiking and camping gear are different as well as the planning.

Common tips for Beginners

There are some backpacking tips that apply to both the wilderness and civilization.

Here they are:

Break in your hiking boots by taking them for short hikes.

Try out your hiking back pack and clothing to check if they’ll be comfortable for you by using them on short hikes. Fully load your hiking pack with all you need for the backpacking trip and take them on short hikes to test for comfort and to find out which of the straps does a better job in distributing the load.

Test and learn how to use your backpacking equipment including camping stove, water filter, camping tents, GPS, altimeter and headlamps.

Get your body in shape because backpacking can get very nasty if you’re not fit.

Travelling light is oftentimes much more enjoyable than having too much on your hiking pack.

Backpacking in Urban Areas for Beginners

Traditionally, backpacking is a cheap way to get from one place to another. It involves more than just walking and hiking.

Historically it’s a cheap form of travel. Though it is an enjoyable experience, it’s more of an education than a vacation.

You’re likely to experience a lot more of the important stuff when you’re backpacking than when you’re just using some kind of modern transportation.

An hours’ travel by car can mean a whole day or like 2 or more if you’re backpacking but a backpacker also experiences a lot more. Backpackers see a whole lot more than the normal tourist. They mingle with local people and witness what real life is really like at a certain place. It’s like you’re living there for some time.

There is a sense of community as you stay in a backpacker’s hostel or lodge where you’ll meet other like-minded individuals sharing the rooms, kitchen, toilet, lounge are, etc.

Backpacking is about traveling with a small budget and to avoid the risk of theft backpackers don’t usually carry expensive electronic equipment.

The rising trend is backpacking with a big budget, staying in lavish accommodations and carrying expensive equipment other than their backpacking equipment such as laptops and PDAs especially for young generations to satisfy their need to stay connected.

Backpacking in Rural Areas or the Wild

In some places, having a big budget doesn’t help. Small villages and towns may not be able to offer lavish accommodations other than the backpacker’s hostel and sometimes not even that equipment such as laptops and blackberries may be rendered useless especially in you are backpacking in the wilderness.

Camping Equipment

The initial cost can be quite high if you are backpacking in the wild especially you are hiking and camping as backpacking equipment like mummy bag and camping tents can get quite expensive.

Backpacking, for beginners, also requires a lot more preparation and research. Care should be taken in preparing equipment and you need to test it out and learn how to use them.

The most important backpacking equipment is your hiking boots. It’s important that your hiking boots are comfortable so having a perfect fit in the first place and breaking them in later is crucial.

The best way to break in your hiking boots is to take on short hikes with a full load. At the same time it’s a good time to test your backpacking equipment including your hiking pack.

See if your clothing is too hot or too cold for you or if they pose any other problems like ‘riding up’ and rubbing against your skin.

Test your hiking pack whether they’re comfortable or not. Try all the straps and identify which ones help distribute the load better.

Take your backpacking equipment testing not just on smooth walkways but also on uneven ground going uphill and downhill to maximize testing. This will also toughen up your feet and reduce the chances of blistering when you go for the real trip and at same time improves your strength and fitness which is crucial for a good backpacking trip.

Learn and practice how to use all of your hiking and camping equipment so that you are more prepared for less than ideal situations.

Use a camping list or camping checklist and pack your backpacking equipment early so that you can make sure that you don’t miss any backpacking equipment including the first aid kit, personal medicine and safety and emergency equipment.

Pack heavier equipment close to your body so as to avoid your load from pulling away and make the hiking pack feel heavier than it is. Rain gear and a waterproof enclosure containing extra layers, gloves and hat should be kept at the top of your hiking pack where it is easily accessible.

Your clothing and down bag should also be in a waterproof enclosure so that it stays dry even when your backpack is underwater.

Other things that need to dry include electronic equipment like laptops, cameras and camcorders, personal essentials such as toilet paper and daily essentials like snacks, compass, pocket knife, maps and guidebooks, sunscreen and insect repellents. Pack these in the outer pocket of your backpack as you are likely to use them more.

Water bottles should be kept upright and should be easily accessible as well. Your camping tent can strapped to the outside of your backpack including the tent poles.

The first aid kit should be kept where the contents can be secure yet is still easily accessible.

For beginners, choosing which camping food to bring could be a problem. Unfortunately the best way to determine which kinds of food is right for you to bring camping or backpacking is by trial and error. Take some advice here and there and see if it works for you.

To be safe, base your decisions on taste, nutritional value, weight, ease of preparation and packaging. A favorite among hikers and backpackers are dehydrated food which are light, have good nutritional value and also taste good.

Hiking has been long considered as one of the most effective ways to increase your fitness and it can be grueling.

Good preparation of backpacking equipment and researching the place where you’re going to explore as well as keeping yourself in shape will help you go through the expedition with minimal problems.

At the same time backpacking can be highly satisfying so if you’re thinking of going backpacking, do it, it can be the most memorable days of your life.

Are you tired of the modern day hustle and bustle? A vacation to a tourist spot may just as well be a trip to the mall. There are too many people around you to feel relaxed. When you are ready to completely disengage from modern life, nothing is better than backpacking.

Backpacking allows you to truly get in touch with nature. There is nothing more awe inspiring than a night out in the hills with the stars and moon shinning in the sky. You can actually sleep outside have fun a lot of fun. However, you may also find terrible weather and see the need for a tent.

Not only is it a good idea to carry a tent it is also wise to choose a good quality tent. You can do with a 3 season tent that is not too heavy to carry such as the kelty teton 2. Even if you decide to carry a simple tent, you should make sure that you choose a tent that is study enough to save you from the bad weather.

After spending the whole day walking and carrying your tent, the least you can expect from it is to have adequate space. Though you wish to reduce the weight of what you carry, you also need to have a tent that is spacious enough for your tired body. Try out the tent at the store and find out how spacious it is.

We are usually tempted to buy the cheapest products we can get. The wisdom of which is tested when you are on your own in bad weather. Instead of cheap tents, you should look for a tent that gives you value for money. Kelty are a great source for value tents. Being a miser whilst choosing a tent, will probably lead to long nights and tired days in the wild.

Backpacking is fun. However, how you prepare for one and the quality of tent that you carry can let you down. Spend the right amount of time selecting a tent that is easy for you to carry, easy to set up and good for your pocket and you will have the best time you can dream of.

When you think of camping out for one or more nights, then most people think of snuggling up in a sleeping bag inside a camping tent.

Few people think who have actually gone camping outdoors seriously imagine camping out without a tent. But those who have never tried it may daydream about it. Certainly we have Hollywood to thank for hundreds of romanticized Westerns and adventure movies where the heroes lie down next to a camp fire and pull a blanket over themselves.

The reality is that one blanket wouldn’t be anywhere near enough, and with nothing underneath them as a barrier to the cold and damp from below, they’d be lucky to get any sleep at all.

John Wayne only had to lie down for the cameras. But you need to get a proper eight hours of shut-eye… warm and dry.

So yes, you can enjoy camping without having to carry a tent along with you… As long as you know what you’re doing.

You have to take care of several things that a camping tent would have normally done for you…

(1) Shelter. Mainly this is keeping off the rain from above, and in windy weather, from the side as well.

(2) Insect Proofing. This can be by having a mosquito net of some kind, or else smearing yourself with insect repellent. (Better than nothing, but not particularly effective.)

(3) Keep your Sleeping Bag Dry. Even if it isn’t raining overnight. Your sleeping bag can be soaked from above with dew and with moisture sucked up from below by your body heat. The cold ground also leaches away your body’s warmth, which is why experienced campers like to have more insulation beneath them than above them! (A mattress or foam sleeping pad normally provides this.)

Three popular ways of camping without a tent are to make use of a camping tarp, a camping hammock or a bivvies. All of these have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. But most of them are lighter and quicker to set up than a camping tent. And that’s just what the hiker or lightweight camper needs.

A camping tarp won’t keep away any insects, but it will keep the rain and dew off you overnight. It doesn’t weigh as much as most tents but it does take some skill to set up right.

A camping hammock is a bit like a one-man tent without poles. String it between two stout trees or supports and you’ve got it made - in the shade. These babies even have rain protection and insect mesh. So no mosquitoes.

A bivvies is the smallest, lightest system of keeping your sleep sack dry, you warm and the insects away from your skin. It’s also very low-profile and works as an emergency survival bag for hikers out in the wild as well.

David Harvey has enjoyed recreational camping for more than 40 years, sleeping alone or with friends in tents large and small, summer and winter. He has been both a Boy Scout and a Scout Leader, and still makes use of his camping gear whenever he needs a break from his Internet Publishing pursuits. David is a the publisher of several web sites, including http://www.1campingtent.com/camping-without-a-tent.htm

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Alaska is full of surprises and there are many places you can go camping in “The Last Frontier”. During the summer many people call this the land of the midnight sun. The vastness of this state is enough to overwhelm you.

So now the question is where do you go in Alaska. There is the far north with the arctic beaches, the reindeer herds or maybe the thick dense forests and waterways of Southeast Alaska. There is also the realm of the Aleutian Islands. These island are rarely visited and some are over a thousand miles west of Anchorage and still part of the same state. Then there are glaciers and white water rafting that can be accomplished and both at the same time. You can raft down the freezing muddy waters of many a glacial feed river.

Southeast Alaska provides many opportunities for camping. You can go flight seeing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, whale watching or just relax and watch the natural world around your camp.

Throughout Southeast Alaska you will find many National Forest Service cabins located in some very nice places. These are setup for you to enjoy, just plan ahead as they can be booked out in advance. There is often lots of rain here you can read a Kelty Green River 6 review and discover how this tent just might be the one to use so you can stay dry. Most of the campgrounds in this part of the state are near towns like Wrangell, Juneau and Ketchikan.

How about heading up north for some beach camping? Ever considered camping out on the edge of the Arctic Ocean? Probably not but it is an option. North of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies the town of Kaktovik, near here you are allowed to camp on the beach. It should be noted that it is wise to check with the locals regarding where the safest locations for camping are. Also stay on the lookout for polar bears as they might pay you a visit. Humm, how thick are those walls on the tent?

You have other options up north like along the Dalton Highway. There are several campgrounds along this northern highway that are great places to up a tent or park your RV. You will find camps like Galbraith Camp which is located north of the Brooks Range or at Yukon crossing and the Arctic Circle camp.

Where ever you camp in Alaska you need to be prepared for the climate, the animals and the extreme wilderness. Plan ahead and bring your survival gear. You will need all the basics as well as mosquito netting and repellent. The mosquitoes and noseems can get thick on a warm calm day and they can drive you insane if you do not have protection against them.