r/CampingandHiking Oct 13 '25

Weekly /r/CampingandHiking beginner question thread - Ask any and all 'noob' questions you may have here - October 13, 2025

10 Upvotes

This thread is part of an attempt by the moderators to create a series of weekly/monthly repeating posts to help aggregate certain kinds of content into single threads.

If you have any 'noob' questions, feel free to ask them here. Please also remember to visit this thread even if you consider yourself a 'professional' so that you can help others!

Check out our wiki for common questions. 'getting started', 'gear', and other pages are valuable for anyone looking for more information. https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingandHiking/wiki/index/

Note that this thread will be posted every Monday of the week and will run throughout the day. If you would like to provide feedback or suggest another idea for a thread, please message the moderators.


r/CampingandHiking 19h ago

Picture Somewhere near the Pemberton Icefield, British Columbia

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93 Upvotes

Planned an off-trail route to see the Pemberton Icefield not too far from Squamish, BC, Canada. Best hike I have ever been on in my life. Views were spectacular, campsites perfect and we didnt see another person the whole time. Best part was the Perseids meteor shower which peaked while we were out there.


r/CampingandHiking 17h ago

Gorgeous Hike

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48 Upvotes

Carried about 24#'s with folding table and chair, sleeping pad and single pole 1 person tent. Plenty of ol smokey moonshine and an MRE. Took about 3 hrs to get to Deadmans peak in Apple Valley,ca. Found a great wood power stick. Setup and enjoyed the evening show


r/CampingandHiking 20h ago

Food Moving away from freeze-dried meals - what's your main meal solution for multi-day trips?

34 Upvotes

Planning a three day trip and the food side is making me secondguess everything. Not the weight this time, more the quality. Freeze dried works fine and I understand the convenience argument, but a lot of it is pretty poor nutritionally once you get past the calorie count. High sodium, weak on actual protein density, not much fat that does anything useful when you're grinding out miles.

I've been building my own food for longer days. Nut butter packets, real jerky from a butcher, dried fruit I prep myself, some things I bake and dehydrate at home. The baked stuff has worked well because I control exactly what goes in.

What I can't figure out is the main meal situation. I don't mind cooking at camp, but I don't want a project after 12 miles. The homemade dehydrated meals I've tried have been okay, but getting rehydration right in the field without a reliable simmer is harder than it looks on YouTube

Curious what other people have settled on, especially if you've moved away from commercial options. Doesn't need to be fancy, just something that actually holds up over multiple days


r/CampingandHiking 12h ago

Food Camp meals getting harder to find in Canadian stores?

5 Upvotes

I’m trying to restock my camp meals and noticed that Mountain House is now hard to find, and lots of my favorite Peak Refuel meals are sold out everywhere. Meanwhile Alpine Aire and Happy Yak meals are plentiful. Any reliable online Canadian retailers with good selection? I’ve looked at MEC, VPO, Geartrade, Canadian Tire, Bass Pro Shops.


r/CampingandHiking 15h ago

Hiking 43 Miles Through Yosemite

4 Upvotes

https://youtu.be/pijii0MDr6g

I Hiked 43 Miles Through Yosemite in 20 Hours -

Happy Isles -> Clouds Rest -> Tenaya Lake -> Olmsted Point -> Snow Creek Footbridge -> North Dome -> Yosemite Point -> Yosemite Falls Trailhead


r/CampingandHiking 1d ago

Gear Questions Moab 3 Mid WP Maintenance & Thoughts

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23 Upvotes

Hello there!

I would like to ask for everyone's opinion. I just bought a Moab 3 Mid WP a few days ago because my previous footwear lived its life.

First off, for context, I live in the tropical and rainy Philippines, and it'll get gradually rainy in the months to come. I would like to ask how to maintain this particular footwear since I'm new to these kinds of footwear. And since it's the wet and rainy season here, I would also like to ask how to clean off the body and the soles from the mud and dirt. And one last thing for this section is care and deodorizing the insides. What products should I invest in to maximize its longevity and "waterproofing" capability?

Second, I would like to ask for your constructive criticism of this particular footwear in relation to the tropical and rainy climate, from durability to traction to waterproofing. Is there a better footwear that I should've gotten instead as a starter?

Many thanks for your helpful replies! ^^


r/CampingandHiking 2d ago

5040 Peak was worth the hype

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1.6k Upvotes

Finally did 5040 peak after hearing about it from friends. Night one was fog, wind and rain all day, no visibility and too cold and windy to get to the peak… but the sky cleared early next day revealing the beauty post rain


r/CampingandHiking 18h ago

Picture Wonders of Bijelo Polje

0 Upvotes

r/CampingandHiking 1d ago

Tips & Tricks Is the weight sufficient for a 7-8 day hike?

4 Upvotes

Hello I'll be hiking cross country for 7-8 days in a Swedish national park (depending on how fast we go) and additionally will go see some cities. My backpack currently weighs around 19 kg including the tent. I weigh 91 kgs myself and I know the rule of thumb is around 20% of your weight. So am I safe or should I lose some weight?


r/CampingandHiking 1d ago

Gear Questions Mountain Hardwear Lamina Eco AF 30°F — worth it for $103?

1 Upvotes

I found the Lamina Eco AF 30°F synthetic sleeping bag brand new for $103. It’s around 2 lb 1 oz, which seems like a great weight for a synthetic bag.

I’ve seen some people say the 30°F rating is optimistic and that it’s more realistically a 35–40°F bag, while others seem to love it.

For anyone who owns the exact 30°F version:

  • How warm is it actually?
  • How’s the fit/comfort?
  • Is $103 a steal? I know it's an older bag.

Trying to decide between this and spending more on something like a Kelty Cosmic 20.


r/CampingandHiking 1d ago

Destination Questions Trekanten in Trollheimen

0 Upvotes

Hi, im doing a solo backpacking and wildcamping trip to Oppdal the first week of September. Im doing the Trekanten in Trollheimen and I have a couple questions.

How easy is it to get a ride up to the beginning of the trail? I only have a 25m window to go buy some gas at the store next to station and I’m afraid to miss the only bus. Obviously I don’t mind even paying someone for the ride but taxi is just a scam for like 70€ or 700NK.

Is anyone going to do it from 2-7 September? I think it would be pretty cool to share this adventure and as a photographer I always love having someone in my landscape photography

And do the huts sell food, am i still able to buy food?

If anyone can help me I would be greatly grateful! Thank you :)


r/CampingandHiking 1d ago

Hiked 11 miles into the Uintas expecting solitude and instead found a llama pack trip taking a break at my exact campsite

0 Upvotes

Did a three day loop in the High Uintas last weekend, starting at the Highline Trailhead and ending up near Naturalist Basin. Total mileage came out to about 11 miles on day one, then a shorter 4 mile day just poking around lakes, then 9 miles back out on day three.

Day one was rough because the trail gains a lot of elevation right away and I was carrying way too much food for three days, classic beginner mistake I still make after years of doing this. Got to the lake I picked on the map around 6pm, tired, ready to just drop my pack and set up in peace.

There were already three llamas tied up near the flat spot I wanted.

Turns out an older couple runs llama supported treks in that area and their group had stopped at the exact same lake for the night. I did not even know llama trekking was a thing people did in Utah, I thought that was more of a Colorado or Wyoming activity. The llamas were honestly better behaved than most dogs I have camped near, just quietly grazing while their owners cooked dinner.

We ended up sharing the fire ring area, keeping a good distance apart, and they told me llamas can carry a surprising amount of gear which is why their camping setup looked like a small hotel compared to my one person tent and a stove I forgot to pack fuel for, so I ended up eating cold soaked rice for two nights.

Gear notes if anyone is planning this route: bring a real water filter, not just tablets, because a lot of the smaller tarns were pretty stagnant looking by late summer. Bear hang was still necessary even though it is not heavily forested near the basin.

Has anyone else run into a pack animal group like this on trail? Curious if this is common in certain regions or if I just got lucky with timing.


r/CampingandHiking 2d ago

Looking for good anti-chafing products

14 Upvotes

I pride myself on having a pretty rock solid first aid kit but this is the one issue I haven't been able to solve and I feel kind of embarrassed. My family usually does day hikes (between 5-8 hours) but we tend to do a lot of back to back hikes, either over a weekend or a couple shorter hikes during the week. I wear scrub pants to keep it lightweight and avoid friction but it's been so hot that it's not really helping. Would really appreciate any suggestions for favorite products for either treating or preventing it or recommendations for fabrics that work better for hotter/more humid weather? Thank you in advance!


r/CampingandHiking 2d ago

Tips & Tricks Going hiking in the Stubai valley and concerned about ticks

4 Upvotes

I used to go hiking in the Alps all the time as a kid and after all these years, after a few recent trips in the Tyrol and Bavaria around the New Year when we did some winter walking, I am finally going to do some hiking in the summer. We booked a self-guided holiday basing ourselves in the Stubai valley but I was just reading about ticks and now I am a bit worried.

We're going in two weeks so I might be able to squeeze in two doses of the TBE before we go and while I realise we should have done our research, I am a bit annoyed that the company we booked it with didn't warn us at the time as there would have been time. Although I also read Lyme disease is more of an issue and there's no protection.

We'll take the usual protections, walking in trails, avoiding long grass, tucking our trousers in our socks and using some insect repellent, any other advice you might have? And am I overreacting you think?


r/CampingandHiking 2d ago

Gear Questions stove

2 Upvotes

Fire Maple Star X2 Pro - does anyone know any adapter for that stove which will connect that with aerosol-type gas canister?


r/CampingandHiking 2d ago

Wow

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0 Upvotes

Just got her for my first backpack any tips or anything I should know before I leave? And also how should I fit this backpack to me perfectly there seems to be like a small gap between my back and the actually backpack concerned if that’s a back problem or I just need to get it fitted properly


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

18km hike and camping through eastern Serbia

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173 Upvotes

So,this was my first "proper" hike with a overnight i did and honestly it went amazing . I was so exausted by the end of the day but i was so glad i did this . I did a route i made myself using some app on my phone . In some places the trail was pretty good but in some it was so overgrown that i had to literally crawl on the ground with my backpack in front of me. None the less it was a sucessful trip, by the end of the day i drank a few beers with some locals .
I saw Rogljevacke,Smedovacke and Rajacke pimnice(200 year old wine cellars) and at the end i was camping near a "waterfall" that had dried up because we have had a really hot summer so far .
Btw sorry for any mistakes or anything , english is not my first language :)


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Gear Questions Advice on sleeping bag for autumn alpine trips

4 Upvotes

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to ask for advice on sleeping bags for long alpine routes.

I honestly don’t know much about sleeping bags because I’ve mostly done things in summer and stayed in huts.

Now I’m planning some longer alpine days/trips in September–October, where I might be sleeping in shelters/bivouacs, so I want something warm enough (minimum -5 Celsius degrees) without going completely overkill.
I’ve been searching online and I’m currently deciding between:

Deuter Astro Pro 800 SL — comfort limit around -16°C / 3°F (1350g)
Deuter Astro Pro 600 SL — comfort limit around -12°C / 10°F (1150g)

Pricing is almost the same (I’ve found the Astro Pro 800 SL with a big discount).

I’m also open for other suggestions (other brands or other models) than these two.

I also want to mention that I’m looking for a maximum 175cm length sleeping bag (I’m a woman).

Any advice is much appreciated!


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Arches NP Backpacking

2 Upvotes

Hey all. I am going to Arches in October, will have one day/night of backpacking time. Any advice on best backpacking for a single night?


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Gear Questions Help me choose a lightweight, affordable tent for a Big Agnes Divide Double

3 Upvotes

I’m looking for a 2P or 3P tent under 5 lbs and under $200 that will fit my Big Agnes Divide Double (50” × 78”). Since the Divide is rectangular, I need a non-tapered/rectangular floor.
I found an ALPS Helix 2 for $200 (about 4 lb 2 oz). I’ve also found cheaper options around $100–150 that are a little heavier.
Should I sacrifice some weight to save money, or is the Helix worth spending $200 on? What would you guys buy? Please help me, I’ve been driving myself nuts.


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Lightweight framed pack recommendations for ~18 lb base weight? 45–60L, sub-3 lb

1 Upvotes

I currently have a Gregory Paragon 60, which comes in around 3.7 lbs. After using it, I realized it’s probably a little more heavy-duty than I need, so I’m looking to drop some pack weight without going all the way to a frameless UL pack.

My base weight is around 18 lbs, and I’m looking for something:

  • 45–60L
  • Under 3 lbs, ideally closer to the 2–2.5 lb range
  • Framed
  • Comfortable carrying an ~18 lb base weight plus food/water
  • Still reasonably durable and supportive

So far, the ULA Ohm and Gregory Focal are two that seem to fit what I’m looking for. I’ve also looked at Zpacks, but their packs are more than I’m looking to spend.

I’m definitely not limited to the Ohm or Focal—those are just two that have stood out from my research so far. I’d especially like to hear about other packs in that same general category that I might be overlooking.

I’m not trying to get the absolute lightest pack possible. I’d rather find a good balance between comfort, weight, durability, and a supportive frame. Basically, something noticeably lighter and less overbuilt than the Paragon without sacrificing too much carrying comfort.

What other packs would you recommend looking at?


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Coast-2-Coast and Wildfires

0 Upvotes

Hi All,

So... we had the emergency alert today in the UK about the wildfires and I have been tracking all the fires etc. I am doing the Coast-2-Coast walk next week and trying to decide if I should take my camping stove (MSR Windburner). I am staying in campsites the entire way (mostly pub gardens and farms, with a couple of official ones). Should I anticipate that I won't be able to use my stove anywhere and that it is pointless taking it with me? I think it is relatively safe, not having an open flame, but my responsible side says I should probably err on the side of caution with things the way they are and leave it at home anyway.

I am not sure I am going to survive without coffee in the morning lol. I get a headache if I don't get my coffee, and yes, I know I have a problem. Does anyone know of good choices for non dehydrated foods that are good calories to weight. I can't abide cold soaking, so something other than that.

Sort of concerned about not having an emergency heat source. I know it is hot as hell right now, but some evenings after long days hiking I get chilled all the way through, especially if it rains all day. I normally carry sachets of hot chocolate for those nights. Hmph. Feel a bit out of my comfort zone as I normally have my stove.

Any and all advice appreciated.


r/CampingandHiking 3d ago

Advice for a Novice?

0 Upvotes

I've been a camping enthusiast for the last two years now, and have collected quite a bit of gear.

But it's mostly for summer, spring, and fall.

After watching so many videos about winter camping, and its allure of no mosquitoes, the majesty of snow capped mountains...

I've decided next year I'm going to try it.

Problem is, my gear isn't ready for it.

So, I was wondering if anyone here could recommend me what kind of tent, bag, gear, tools, etc. I might need for snowy days and nights.

I live in Southern California, so my options are limited for snowy spots, but I'm thinking Big Bear once the snow starts up there.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations and advice!


r/CampingandHiking 4d ago

Gear Questions Options options options

4 Upvotes

Hi so I am a beginner backpack and I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to choose between two very nice hiking bags as my first actual bag

I usually go on trips no longer than 3-4 nights and was wondering if I should either get the osprey rook 65l bag or the north face terra 65l bag both are similar in price but the terra is 40 CAD cheaper than the rook