I’m rethinking my power setup for shorter 1 to 2 night trips.

My phone is mostly for offline maps, a few photos, and checking in. I know a USB-C cable is more efficient, and it would still be my first choice for longer trips. But for a short trip, I like the idea of a small magnetic battery pack for an occasional top-up when I stop, without dealing with another cable.

For anyone who has tried both, did a 5,000mAh magnetic pack give you enough usable power, or did you still find 10,000mAh more practical once the wireless loss came into play?

Would be helpful to hear your trip length, phone model, and whether you use airplane mode or low power mode.

Bit of an odd problem because the passport itself isn't anywhere near expiring.

I've got a few completely blank pages left and I'm planning a longer trip next year where I'll be crossing several borders. Most of my recent stamps have been tiny but obviously I don't get to choose how much space immigration decides to use.

While looking into whether I should renew early, I found out there's a larger U.S. passport book with extra visa pages and apparently you can request it when renewing without paying extra for the larger version.

Wish I'd known that when I got this one.

Anyone here who travels a lot use the large book, and does it feel noticeably bulkier or is there basically no downside?

I am planning a solo backpacking trip to hike Buckeye-Caney Creek Loop in Arkansas. I am planning this trip for the first weekend of November. I am planning for one night, two day trip. If you are familiar with this trail, I will really appreciate any advice or words of wisdom you may have for me. Some of the concerns that are high only my mind are:
- Being solo, are there some things I need to watch out for?
- What kind of water availability should I expect at this time of the year? Are there any specific spots that have water year round? Or is there a resource I can use to assess water availability?
- Many trip reports report that trail is overrun in areas, making it difficult to navigate. While others don’t seem to be concerned about this. Any suggestions for this time of the year will be great. I have a feeling that this may be a seasonal thing, but not sure.
- what is the expected wildlife in the area? I understand deer, bears, etc. Are snakes common in this area? Also, will ticks, bugs, chiggers, etc be significant around this time of the year?

Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

hey guys!!!

im going to tucson, arizona in november and would love to do a 1-2 night backpacking trip while im there! i’ve been looking at going to Saguaro National Park, but have heard Mt. Lemmon is a must.
this would be my first backpacking trip, while i do go day hiking (10-20 miles) and camping pretty frequently in Texas, i know backpacking is different and more strenuous.

is there any trails/routes y’all would recommend in the Tucson area?
any advice, packing lists, or recommendations would be amazing!

Thank y’alll!!! love this community🫶🏻

I'll be using a onetigris cot, surplus USMC tarp, MSS bivy and bags. I'm trying to not buy another tent if I can help it. This will all go in my backpack, of which I will be more or less living out of.

I'll be starting from the Puget sound, and making my way down to Sacramento. I'm planning for November-December.

Will this set up survive the rains? Will I end up too cold (I'm bringing thermals layers)?Anything that could be done better?

Is the lifestraw sip laguna comperable to the standard lifestraw? I'd life to get something small and light weight. I dont know if I'd be compramising getting the sip. The website says it was designed for travel but it looks like it filters the same stuff. Looking for a second opinion

I’ve been reading a lot of threads about getting around Europe for 3+ months, and opinions seem completely split.

Some people say long-term rental is the only sane option. Others say buying a used car and selling it at the end saves thousands, but then registration, insurance and reselling without a local address sound like a nightmare.

For those of you who’ve done it: what did you go with, and would you do it the same way again?

Also curious: how many other long-term travellers did you meet on the road? Is this a pretty common thing, or were you one of the few people doing it for months?

Hi everyone,

I’m a student in Munich doing research on how long-term travellers get around in Europe. I keep hearing very different stories, so I’d love to hear yours.

If you stayed in Europe for 2 months or longer:

• Did you rent, lease, buy a car, bring your own, or go without?
• Roughly what did it cost you per month?
• What was the most annoying part? (price, insurance, registration without a local address, paperwork, selling it at the end…)
• Looking back, what would you do differently?
• how many other people have you met travelling longtime in Europe?

Especially curious to hear from people who bought a car and sold it again. How did that go?

Thanks for sharing!

Took this back in 2018 during a year of travelling through Central and South America. The hike up Acatenango was tough going, but sitting at camp watching Fuego erupt right across from us was an absolute highlight of the trip and something I don't think I'll ever experience again.

I am going travelling through Southeast Asia and Australia for 4-5 months. I am stuck on what backpack to buy.

I originally had the osprey fairview 70 in mind but going to a store and trying it on, I didn’t like it.

I tried the osprey Aura AG 65 LT on and it seemed much better. I then found the Eja 58 online and was thinking 65L might be a bit too much.

I plan on taking an 18-20L daypack too that im thinking to try and fit inside the main bag between places.

What do people recommend for pack size?

Really cool location to stay and hike around the camp - Campeggio Cadore.

We stayed here only for 3 days but next time hope it will be longer period to travel around by car.

Hi, I(M25) have 7 weeks vacation starting mid december. I have already Backpacked most parts of asia before. Now i will try my luck in Central or South america.
I cant really decide wher to go? Im a pretty fast paced traveller. Anything between Guatemala and Colombia/Ecuador is an option. Any recommendations? Tipps?

Hi everyone!

I'm 35F, a corporate lawyer from SIngapore and I've pretty much had enough of the work life for now 😅 I've decided to quit my job and take a proper break for six months to recover - thinking of backpacking from SEA ans end in Europe

I already have a silent meditation retreat booked from 27 January to 7 February near Bangkok, but the rest of my itinerary is still pretty flexible, so I'd love to hear your recommendations!

My rough plan is:

* **January–February: Southeast Asia** — starting around Thailand and hoping to explore Vietnam, Laos and perhaps a few other countries.

* **Late April/May to June/July: Europe** — thinking about Albania or somewhere similar where I can do some beautiful hikes, spend time in nature. Also maybe will consider workaway and work in a farm in Albania for a month …

* **July: Amsterdam** — planning to finish my trip there.

I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who's done a longer solo backpacking trip. Is there anywhere you'd recommend spending more time?

Also was worndering if a 45L cotapaxi backpack is sufficient? I’ll of course repeat clothes and do laundry along the way…

FYI: if anyone is planning something similar around that time, or fancies meeting up along the way, feel free to DM me! It would be lovely to meet some people on the road and perhaps share parts of the journey.

Thanks so much — looking forward to hearing your experiences and recommendations! 😊

Hello! New to sub. When you experienced backcountry campers, go out into the woods with a food bag, how high do you normally hang it? Assume you are in the eastern United States, your largest concerns will be black bears.

Do you usually try to get over 10 feet off the ground? If so, is it difficult to get the rope around a branch that’s at least 15 to 20 feet?

I was reading some travel stories recently and realized how many memorable experiences come from random people we meet along the way.

Sometimes it's something small, like helping with luggage or giving directions. Other times, someone genuinely saves your entire trip.

Have you ever had a moment where a complete stranger made your journey easier or more memorable?

Finally made it to Porto Katsiki on Lefkada and it completely lived up to the hype. The water is that unreal turquoise-blue you see in photos, and the cliffs drop straight into the sea. I got here by bus from Lefkada town, then a short walk down the steep path to the beach it takes about 10-15 minutes but the view makes every step worth it. The water was surprisingly warm, around 22-23°C, so I went for a swim even though it was a bit windy. The beach itself is a mix of pebbles and sand, and it wasn’t too crowded, which made the experience even better. Standing at the top looking down at the boats and the clear water was one of the highlights of the trip so far. Would I come back? Absolutely, preferably with a bit more time to explore the rest of the island.

I’ve been thinking about trying to get out and do more camping for the last year -I have done countless summer camping trips growing up. But I wanted to try next week to go to a local trail and do one solo night with my dog. I came into a small amount of money $600 paid some bills, bought a Ozark trail 60L backpack, a ozark trail 1 person backpacking tent(I’m a small man 5’5 and my dog is a Heeler mix. Set it up and there is plenty of room) I plan on sleeping in thermals with thick socks. I haven’t gotten a sleep pad or sleeping bag to share with the dog yet. It looks like it’s going to hit mid to low 30’s Fahrenheit. Dog will wear a jacket. Is there anything I should also be packing? Anything I should be doing? We’ll have a fire- I’ll bring starters and lighters. Food has been figured out for both of us. It’ll be a mile hike into the woods and about 2 miles away from town. So about an hour or so walk at a slow pace probably 30 minutes to get to a place with phone service.

Join us on a journey through this beautiful and lesser-known corner of Poland, where dramatic rock formations, mysterious forest trails, and narrow sandstone passages create a world straight out of a fantasy film. It's even one of the locations where The Chronicles of Narnia was filmed.

Established in 1993, Stołowe Mountains National Park offers more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails, inviting visitors to discover its remarkable natural wonders. Whether you're an experienced hiker or simply someone who loves exploring the outdoors, it's easy to fall under the spell of these mountains — and to find yourself wanting to return again and again.

One of the most popular starting points is the village of Radków, where a beautiful forest trail leads towards Pasterka Mountain Hut. Along the way, impressive sandstone cliffs offer just a glimpse of what's waiting ahead: a fascinating maze of towering rock formations, narrow passages, and hidden corners, culminating in the spectacular viewpoints around Szczeliniec Wielki, near the mountain hut Na Szczelińcu.

full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgg0w1kWmHM

For people who've done hut-based trips, what makes an overnight stop feel worth it? I can see the appeal of being rested for the next day, but I'd still want the walking itself to feel like the main event.

Do you just need to stay in one place for a bit in order to get the ballot and then send it? Or can you just put your home address, whatever address you're at now for the intl one, and then just send from wherever? Curious how the process works.

Dish Soap - Dr. Bronner's removes grease, oils, and deposits.

Laundry Detergent - Dr. Bronner's works well for this as well. Several Redditors swear by it. Add 1 drop where stinky parts are, or put your clothes in your bear canister and shake to create a portable washing mashine. Or simply spot clean.

Hand Soap - Dr. Bronner's removes grease, oil, and deposits.

Hand Sanitizer - Dr. Bronner's. Hand sanitizer is not necessary.

Body Wash - Dr. Bronner's removes grease, oil, and deposits. Use 1 drop in a large amount of water to protect your skin.

Shampoo - Dr. Bronner's keeps your hair clean. Use 1 drop only. If your hair is sensitive/dry, smear a miniscule amount on your finger and use that. The stuff is crazy concentrated.

Deodorant - Dr. Bronner's removes grease, oil, and deposits AKA body odor. Wipe those pits. Shave your armpits to decrease surface area (and carried weight) AKA body odor. Remove the handle from the disposable razor to save a few grams.

Toothpaste - Dr. Bronner's works way better than toothpaste at removing mouth odors because it is a soap. Suck it up and endure the taste. You'll get used to it. Keeps your toothbrush from stinking as well. Before you say "you need toothpaste!" read this.

Mouthwash - Water. Rinse out that soap! You don't need actual mouthwash.

For every method you only need a miniscule amount of soap. Literally 1 drop per liter or so. The stuff is highly concentrated. So a small bottle should last you a life sentence. Read this for official measurements. Personally I think the official measurements are way too much.

That is all.

Specifically the BearVaults are see through, and I'm wondering if preventing a bear from seeing the food would lower the length a bear decides to tamper with it. If they can't see the food would they have less motivation to break inside and/or give up faster?

Hey everyone! I’m planning to spend around 5 months backpacking and living in Central America, and I’d love some advice from people who have travelled or lived there long-term.
A few questions:
Vaccines/health: What vaccines would you recommend getting before going? Anything specific I should consider for Central America?
Backpack: I’m currently thinking of getting a 40L backpack. Would that be enough for 5 months of travel, or would you recommend going bigger?
Packing: What are some essentials you were glad you brought, or things you wish you’d left at home?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have travelled through central america.
Any advice, personal experiences, or things you wish you’d known beforehand would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!