Hey manybaggers,
I’m in search of a new backpack and would love some recommendations from this community. Here are my requirements:

• Primary Use: Carrying a MacBook (13/14”) and a few small items (Kindle, charger, powerbank, usual stuff). • Current Backpack: Herschel Pop Quiz – it served me well, but the leather is now cracked and looks worn out after just 2 years. • Style Preferences: Something casual but versatile enough for different settings (not strictly a city backpack but also not a hiking bag). • Budget: $200-250. • Deal Breakers: •. No dedicated laptop space (I prefer built-in protection rather than using an additional sleeve). • Long production and delivery times. I’m located in Central Europe and ideally need something available within days or a few weeks, not months. 

The closest match I’ve found is the Northseeker 20 by Greenroom136. It looks great, but unfortunately, it lacks a dedicated laptop compartment, and the production/delivery time is too long (I won’t wait 3 or 4 months, without possibility to return it) for my needs.

Hi all! First off, so glad this sub reddit exists because it was a life saver when I was making decisions on my own ACLr and knowing what to expect from surgery. I'm a 2x cancer surviver, Paramedic, Rugby player, and now have been a caregiver to my partner who just celebrated 3 months from her own ACLr. I collected a bunch of advice and tips and tricks that I have used both during cancer treatment, my own experience with ACLr, and now through care taking my partner through hers. I know there have been guides before, but mine is a bit different and aimed at caregivers so I thought I'd post it here since ya'll helped me so much instead of it just circulating the rugby community every time a teammate or friend has to have ACLr or some other reconstruction. Hope it's allowed and helps!
A Cancer Patients Guide To Knee Reconstruction Recovery
A Comprehensive Guide To Surviving and Thriving In the Pre and Post-op Period Built From The Perspective of Caretaker and Patient.
Before The Date
__/__/____

Preparation

It is important to adequately prepare for surgery in the weeks and days leading up to the procedure. A significant period of immobility and reliance on support can be expected immediately post-op and will vary by procedure and personal experience. Physical modification of living space and thorough preparation allows for the immediate post-op period to be free of emergency store runs and the small inconveniences that can add up to big frustration. Not having food and drink nearby as well as other essentials may be a small deal now, but can turn into a big deal when you can no longer get those things for yourself. While physical preparation (home modifications, adaptive tools, meal prepping, etc.) are important, mental preparation is crucial to the long term success of the repair. Making small, achievable goals in the immediate post-op period and maintaining a long sighted view of recovery will make the pain and immobility that is initially experienced more bearable. Additionally, social support through a partner, family members, or friends is an essential part of recovery, as is maintaining contact with sports teams or other social groups during rehabilitation.

General PEARLs

• Pre-surgical rehab is an essential part of recovery and can improve immediate outcome so if it is a resource available to you- use it!
• Learn the basics of your procedure such as reconstruction technique, graft type, surgeons recovery timeline, where you will do your rehab, and what you should expect going into and coming out of surgery. Knowledge is power and can give a sense of control and set reasonable expectations in a situation that is otherwise out of your control.
• Seek out positive experiences and recovery stories from other people who have had your procedure and gather as much advice as possible from resources such as ACL. Know that some people will have negative experiences, everyone is an individual, and that much of your long term recovery is in your control.
• Expect and learn to advocate for yourself or the person you are taking care of. Be vocal and honest with any needs you may have and understand that issues may come up in the immediate post-operative time that you as a patient or caregiver may have to contact your surgeon to resolve. Familiarize yourself with who to call and when *before* you leave after surgery, as well as being quick to call with any questions or problems that arise. It is better to be told that what you are experiencing is normal than to sit with the anxiety of the unknown.
• Create a folder with all relevant information: Surgeons name, procedure information, follow-up appointment dates and times, phone numbers, emergency contacts, facility of choice in an emergency situation, and any other important information. Maintain this folder throughout your recovery and add paperwork as it comes.

Days Leading Up To Surgery

• Contact support people and confirm any arrangements that have been made including but not limited to: Who is taking you to/from surgery, child or pet care, transportation to first PT appointments, meals, etc.
• Recommended Items we found essential:
  • Ice Machine (Polarcube, etc) if at all possible
    • Recommend checking facebook marketplace or other second hand options, as they cost hundreds new but can be found for $40 or so used.
    • Studies have shown these do actually reduce pain and lend to earlier mobilisation and our experience has shown this to be essential not just immediately post-op but in the weeks and months afterwards so if you *can* obtain one you absolutely should.
  • Large sweatshirt and oversized shorts for surgery day, especially if you wear a bra, as putting clothes on after surgery can be a struggle and it’s easiest to just throw on a sweatshirt and shorts that fit over your post-op bandages and brace.
    • In particular, we found a blanket hoodie to be very useful both for going home and the first few days as it could stay on when moving around/when napping.
  • Neck Pillow
    • Helps with reading or other activities during long hours spent in bed or on the couch and really helped in the first two days to prevent neck strain and provide head positioning during napping.
  • Large pillows for body positioning and elevation of the leg
    • We found cheap, giant, dog beds from places like TJ Max or Marshalls to be more affordable than specialty products
    • A large, thin, dog bed (or blanket) rolled into a tube and secured with stretch bandage or tape around the surgical leg and brace helped significantly with comfort during sleep so that the leg was padded, comfortable, and the other leg didn’t get roughed up from the brace.
  • A shower chair
    • Can be found used at second hand stores like Goodwill, or cheap online
    • Easy substitute is a chair covered in a trash bag
    • Allowed showering the second day post-op which was a huge mental boost and relieved physical discomfort and achy muscles
  • Extra large leg cast cover
    • Can be found cheap online
    • Placed around outside of brace covering the entire leg initially, we then found it easier to place on the leg and place the brace outside of the cover for the remaining healing period for the incisions: We did this after the first PT appointment when it was safe to take off the brace for short periods while laying down. We acquired a second post op brace from a friend (you can find on eBay for cheap) and it was amazing to have, as we could let it dry after showering and immediately put her post op brace back on.
  • Foldable stool
    • Great for elevating the leg during transfers, while on the toilet, etc.
  • Lap Desk
    • Great for eating on the couch or in bed, but we also found it useful as a side table for holding drinks/meds/remotes/books that could be taken to whatever room they landed in at the time
    • A small table works as well, really just anything that can be used to set things on within arms reach
  • Assortment of sodas, water, seltzers, snacks, etc.
    • There is no way to know what you will want and when, but when you want it it’s nice to *have* it available
    • Appetite often decreases after surgery so make sure to have favourites on hand so that when you *are* hungry you have it immediately before your body changes its mind
  • A big bucket
    • We used a soft plastic beach type bucket from the dollar store, it was extremely useful to have to put small items in, a small towel, a spare water bottle, extra meds, baby wipes, etc.
    • Also doubled as an emergency puke bucket, as you never know when a sudden bout of nausea might hit in the first day or two after surgery
  • Extra reusable ice packs and bags of ice
    • Your home ice maker will not be able to keep up with the demands of constant icing the first week or so
    • Reusable ones are great for ‘hot spots’ and short trips where you can’t take the ice machine
  • Extra steri-strips and assortment of bandages
    • Sometimes there’s extra leakage, sometimes your steri-strips come off and you need to slap a new one on, sometimes you’re allergic to the ones they put on you at the hospital. Always consult a medical professional, but it’s handy to have these on hand just in case.
    • We also used a bulky padded bandaid to keep the brace off the healing incisions once the large post-op dressing was taken off which helped immensely.
  • Compression sleeves
    • Aside from helping with swelling these also provided a layer of protection under the post-op brace
    • We found cheap ones at Wal-Mart (copper brand) but also just bought a cheap pair of leggings a size down and cut off one of the legs to use before getting a more expensive one once swelling had fully subsided after a few weeks. Your leg will change so cheap works great at first, then you can get something a bit more substantial when you know what you’ll need long term. Now she wears high compression socks to sleep 3 months out.
  • Slide on shoes
    • Self explanatory, bending down to put on shoes becomes a chore after surgery. Avoid flip flops or other styles that can become a trip hazard.
  • Baby Wipes/Dude Wipes/etc.
    • Wiping down after you get home from surgery can help prevent that icky feeling and restore some sense of normalcy, then can be used over the next few days before you can shower more normally
  • Lotion and chapstick
    • Hospitals dry out your skin big time, and lips are often cracked post surgery from intubation/LMA placement
  • Small, easily labelled tupperware containers
    • Regular pill containers are too small to hold pain meds, OTC pain meds, anticoagulants such as aspirin, supplements, and edibles or other small things you take with your medication. We got small tupperware boxes with lids from the dollar store.
    • We found it very convenient to have six sets of meds set up and labelled with times which meant we never missed doses and could leave the next dose of meds at bedside, take them with us when going to appointments, and keep up with what had been given and when.
  • Small notebook to record med times and other important information
  • Two extra changes of clothes already setup and ready to go
  • Compression device
    • We are athletes so we already had leg compression sleeves but these days off brand versions can be bought online cheap. Studies have shown these lead to reduced pain, increased mobilisation, reduced the chance of blood clots, and there is even some evidence they help with bone healing.
    • We used it 3 days post op and beyond and her range of motion was significantly improved after the first time.
  • A yoga strap
    • Excellent for strapping to the brace and moving the surgical leg
• If possible, pick up post-op medications prior to surgery to prevent any unexpected delay in obtaining them. If this is not possible, verify that the prescription can be filled the day of the surgery by your selected pharmacy and that it has been filled prior to leaving after your surgery. Controlled substances cannot be transferred to another pharmacy without a new prescription sent directly from the provider. You do not want to be trying to get in contact with a physician in the hours after surgery, unable to manage pain, before the pharmacies close for the night.
• Do a thorough clean of your living area, it will make the time after surgery when you cannot independently do normal activities more bearable and a neat organised space is easier to function in when your body is not cooperating. Take special attention to removing tripping hazards and clearing a wide path from wherever you plan to spend your recovery and the bathroom.
• Plan to spend the first couple of days in one spot and on one floor and set up that area the day before surgery. If you have a downstairs bathroom a floor mattress or well setup couch can be your landing pad until you are more mobile and is the easiest during the immediate post-op period. That being said, if you don’t, it’s easier to get upstairs by sliding up on your bum immediately post-op when your pain is still well controlled than realise that you have no bathroom downstairs a few hours later when the pain has started to set in. Wherever you intend to land, plan on staying there at least a couple of days and bring all your supplies to that area. Plan to lay with your surgical leg on the outside of what you are laying on, this makes transferring easier.
• Have your recovery bed setup the day before surgery and prepared for when you return before you leave the day of, including blankets and your supply table setup.
• Meal prep, whether that means cooking or getting easy to make microwave meals is up to you. You won’t feel like cooking and neither will your caretaker the first few days. High protein, easy to eat meals are key! We had chicken and broccoli casserole, egg and sausage frittata, and lots of applesauce the first few days and it was a lifesaver not to have to think about meals.
• Spend some time mentally preparing for the long haul of recovery and make long term plans that fit within your timeline. For example, we planned to attend a rugby game five days after surgery *but* planned nothing else for that day and the next day. We also planned hiking trips the next fall, and other events appropriate for her timeline along the way that could be looked forward to and keep up morale. Remember that this is temporary and that it is okay to be recovering and resting, expect hard moments and days but keep things planned so you don’t get stuck in those down places.
• Eat your favourite meal and eat well the day before surgery. Your body needs fuel to recover and fasting the day of surgery sucks. As weird as it sounds, after multiple surgeries, the pre-surgery night meal of whatever I want is one shiny thing in a crappy situation to hold on to.
• Plan for what you want your first meal to be and consider making a playlist for the ride to and from surgery. Small things, again, help maintain a sense of control and comfort in a situation where you are largely out of control and these things can be done with friends or support people in the days leading up to reduce anxiety and pass time.
• Hit the gym, take a walk, do a hike, visit places or do things you enjoy but won’t be able to do in immediate recovery! We took my partners knee to one last tournament before her surgery, it helped pass time and kept spirits high.

Day Of And Immediate Post-Surgery Phase

• Maintain fasting starting at whatever hour you are told. Some people can drink clear liquids up to a certain point, others are completely nothing by mouth. Your instructions will guide you on this.
• Before leaving home double check that everything is set up how you need it and place a blanket, pillow, drink, and snack of choice in the car. You may or may not need it but if you do it is important to have. Make sure your ice packs are in the freezer ready to go!
• Bring your own post-op snack if you are picky or have food allergies, otherwise you’re stuck with whatever graham cracker and applesauce combo the facility gives you.
• Go with the flow, or as I always say “surrender”. Feel what you feel, have a cry in the car before you go in, listen to your playlist, bring your blanket or other comfort items into pre-op, tell your support person what’s going through your mind, tell your pre-op staff how you’re doing, ask all the questions, and most importantly just do what you have to do. For some people surgery can be overwhelming and the loss of control frightening, but fighting only makes it worse, so whatever you are just be it. I’m pre-op pacer myself, but some people just snuggle up under some warm blankets and wait. Either way, just let the waves take you where they go and know you’re along for the ride. Remember that future you with a healthy joint thanks you for what you’re doing today.
• Speak frankly with your anesthesiologist and utilise any pain control or anxiety control options given to you. There is no award for least meds taken or toughest patient of the day. If a nerve block is available, know that you can request sedation for its placement, and utilise that option if at all possible.
• Caregivers should bring something to keep them entertained and be prepared for a long period without update once surgery has started. Honour your feelings as well, it can be tough to watch someone you care about go through this! Consider having someone to act as a support person for you as well through text or phone, that way you can divert your own worries or struggles to them and away from the person having surgery while still making sure you are also taken care of.
• Make sure that pain is well controlled before leaving after surgery. You have more options there than you will at home and getting things under control once pain has become unbearable can be very difficult.
• Make sure you note when the next dose of medication is due, what medication they should be taking, and write it down.
• Double check contacts from your surgeons office and add any post op paperwork to your folder in case you need the information later.
• If your post-op meal requires picking up, or your prescription, try and do that immediately after leaving surgery even if you are not hungry yet. This is the most comfortable you will be for a while and your support person will be unable to leave for at least that day and night. I have been known to peruse the big gas station after surgery in search of snacks, my partner however simply waved to the nice people at the drive through and napped the rest of the way home before eating some hours later.
• Once you get home crash wherever you plan on spending the rest of the time. Don’t have friends or family over that first day. Just go ahead and sleep through the rest of the anaesthesia and get comfortable.
• Try and keep your home cool, and consider keeping the room dim for the first few hours if not days. Sleep is precious and pain meds can make you hot, and getting hot can lead to nausea. It is better to have the home cool and the person snuggled under blankets and comfortable than be trying to cool someone down who just had surgery and got too hot and is now dizzy, nauseous, and miserable. The least stimulation for the first little while the better, and naps will happen throughout the rest of the day and over the next few days. A cool, dim place lets this happen much easier than a bright, warm place where they might be overstimulated or awakened by noise or activity.
• If allowed, try and activate the quad muscle immediately after returning home and once every few hours by having them squeeze it and feeling for contraction while in the brace. Some people will be able to begin range of motion exercises immediately and if so, make sure to do them as soon as allowed even if that means just helping them by doing gentle manual range of motion movements in the brace.
• If it’s not already on, begin continuous icing as soon as you come out of surgery either by meticulously timing the replacement of ice packs or with the ice machine. Make sure to check the ice machine, replace ice as often as needed, and keep it on *continuously* for the next few days. For us this meant I checked it at every medication dose throughout the night and added ice during that time as well. We went through frozen mini water bottles and bags of ice like crazy the first week.
• Elevate the surgical leg as high as possible, placing support under the heel and calf but not directly under the knee to promote extension and prevent more headaches with gaining range of motion later on.
  • We found that icepacks directly under the knee helped tremendously with the discomfort associated with this.
• Anticipate that bathroom trips will not be fun or easy and take them extremely slow. As a caregiver allow the person to guide you on what they need and don’t need your help with and avoid grabbing or moving someone unexpectedly. Standing, acclimating to being upright, and then proceeding to the bathroom is the best way to do things and rushing will only result in frustration for both of you. A rolling chair or wheelchair can be helpful, but for some people standing up and sitting down is harder than just moving on to the bathroom. Pay attention as a caregiver and know that it is possible they may need your help getting off the toilet or back from the bathroom so be close by and available should that happen. For the first few days do not lock the bathroom door in case of an emergency.
• Place chairs or things to sit on around your path to the bathroom, kitchen, etc. And consider a small backpack or using a rolling chair to carry items around the house.
• Once you know when your next dose is, set alarms for each time your doses are due. If using the med boxes this makes doing meds and keeping track very easy, as they are each labelled with a time and all we had to do was open the box and take the meds instead of finding each bottle and dosing each med individually each time. As the days went on we were able to re-label and time the boxes as needed and remove meds as needed or adapt to what was needed when sleeping or up during the day.
  • For example day 1 would look like:
    • First post-op doses at 4pm box: 250mg tylenol, 10mg oxycodone, 5mg edible.
    • 8pm box: 250mg tylenol, 10mg oxycodone, 800mg ibuprofen, 10mg edible, 12.5mg diphenhydramine (itching and sleep), stool softener, and regular night time meds.
    • Midnight box: 250mg tylenol, 5mg oxycodone, 5mg edible.
    • 4AM: 250mg tylenol, 5mg oxycodone, 800mg ibuprofen, edible (if nauseas or restless).
    • 8AM box (preparing to get up): 250mg tylenol, 10mg oxycodone, 5mg edible, aspirin, stool softener, normal morning meds.
    • 12pm: 250mg tylenol, 10mg oxycodone, 5mg edible, 800mg ibuprofen.
    • Repeated on time, reducing pain med dose as tolerable, and refilling boxes 1x a day.
• If possible do scheduled tylenol (paracetamol) and ibuprofen (or another NSAID), alternating them on the dosing schedule, and take them religiously even through the night. This also goes for additional pain medications, which you will also need to wake to take through the night if you are prescribed for at least the first night.
• Staying on schedule might mean waking up in the night, but it’s better to be awoken to take meds than to wake up in pain and spend several hours trying to get it under control. You may find you seldom need them if your nerve block is in place, or you may just not need very much at all during your recovery. It is easier to trial run this after the first day by stretching out the time between doses from 4 to 6 to 8 and then potentially off entirely, but everyone will have their preferences.
• Eat a small snack with every med dose and keep emergency meds (extra pain med doses, nausea meds, etc.) at bedside as well as the next set of meds due so they can be taken when it is time.
• We found that edibles were a great addition to pain and nausea control after surgery. There are medication options available and having at least one option for nausea is advisable for the first few days after surgery when anaesthesia and medication can really make you want to puke.
• Expect absolutely nothing in the first few days post-op. Some people will feel well enough to move around, others will not be able to do anything but get up to use the bathroom. Expecting nothing is better than expecting more and being disappointed or frustrated. I would highly suggest not making plans until your first follow up 7 or so days after surgery.
• Be obsessive about icing, meds, any PT you have been given, and keeping track of appointments. Give yourself the best start to your recovery that you can and you will thank yourself later!

Hey all,
First time getting a sling pack, would like it to be multipurpose and good quality.
I'd like a stylish, functional, organized, durable, and efficient sling pack for men which I can use for EDC on hikes, day adventures, city, and for going out and about on a trip to Europe for days I don't want to lug around a full backpack.
I'd like to be able to fit things like:

• Small mirrorless camera
• Water bottle
• External Battery/cable
• Sunscreen
• Glasses
• Passport
• Keys
• Small misc things like travel med kit (bandaids, few pills, etc.)

That would probably be the most I'd put into it, no more.
Some candidates I'm pondering are:

• Evergoods MHP 3.5L - not sure if it'd be too small, though I've seen some photos showing it fitting pretty much everything above.
• Bellroy Sling 7L - I think the 9L may be too large
• Bellroy Venture Sling 6L - Which Bellroy would be best if I go that route?
• Pacsafe X Urban Sling 5L - may not be the most stylish and have me standing out, though the travel safety features are a perk - suppose I could always lock the zippers on any sling pack with a travel lock though.
• Mystery Ranch Hip Monkey 8L - not much organization, is it too large? Not the easiest to wear without looking like a goober?
• Pakt Anywhere Sling 5L - going out of business I heard? maybe I read incorrectly...is it worth considering?

Any recommendations?

Hi everyone, one of my latest passions has become forests/mountains and summits.
I'm looking to get some professional advice on how to prepare for climbing a 2800-meter peak (around 800m elevation, 10km hike to the top).
The weather should be sunny but rain and snow should be expected near the top. I'm looking to get a general idea what to carry in the backpack and how to protect myself against rain/high wind at around 2500m+ elevation.
The hike is around 10 hours total (climbing, rest, going back). Around 3.5 hrs in hiking to the top.
Here is a video of the map and trail https://www.instagram.com/iskacuvanjetitovvrv/reel/C6tsL9loZSb/
Thanks in advance.

Hello knowledgeable people! I am in the market for a new backpack as I upgrade some of my gear for a JMT thru-hike and I am basically sold on the Kakwa 55. My conundrum is, do I buy the UltraGrid backpack now or wait until the Ultra200X gets re-stocked? My JMT permit is not until September, however, I have also planned a 110km hike in June that I would really like to have the new backpack for. I have saved up the money for either version of the bag and I like the laminated waterproof aspect of the Ultra 200X so if both were available I would go for that one. Realistically I'm not doing any bushwhacking trips so the durability of the UltraGrid is probably fine for me but living in the PNW I also want something that is not going to absorb moisture in wet weather. So, if you were in my position would you buy the UltraGrid pack now so that you could have it for the upcoming shakedown hike or do you think it's worth it to hold off for the Ultra 200X material?

There seems to be so many different options out there but nothing that fits the needs of a new england scrambling backpacker well. I've used 2 pairs of the Xcursion Fusion by zero shoes which I have enjoyed. Their issues is that the waterproof will always fail eventually and trap water inside.
I'm looking for examples of foot shaped shoes, not necessarily barefoot, that can handle backpacking on wet class 4 scrambles from cracks to slopes and will dry by the next day.
I'm used to the pain of hitting rocks in the middle of the foot and front which is the only negative with barefoot shoes. If possible some padding/guards in these areas would be nice.
The La Sportiva TX2 Evo look perfect but have poor reviews for backpacking if anyone has experience with them. Along with this altra seems to have recent negative reviews but could be good.

Hey bros 🤙🏾 27m in Seattle, WA looking for gamemovie friends, running/gym partners, jobuds, bromance, or any other vibe that fits out chemistry.
About me: Love being active and outdoors! Hobbies include bouldering, kayaking, running, cycling, hiking/backpacking, camping (roughing it, or glamping), snowsports, etc! Always trying to learn new games/sports. I'm pretty fit and athletic as a result of my active lifestyle but inside I'm a goofball and nerd 🤓 Living in a sick house with two close guy friends. We play Smash Bros, smoke, watch movies, cook good food, sing karaoke at the local bar, and chase good vibes. I used to be a musician so I'm trying to reintroduce creative hobbies like painting, woodworking, crafts, and ofc music. Worth mentioning I'm a new nudist and looking for fellow nudist bros.
You: You live in Seattle or close by. You're healthy, fit, and not awkward - in fact you're confident in yourself and enjoy your life! You have hobbies you enjoy but enjoy trying new things. You're eager to meet new people, make friends, and go on adventures. You're not a prude and you're not looking for a sexual relationship - however you embrace your masculine sexuality and admire the masculinity of others. You yearn for a deep bromance rooted in exploration and adventure, vulnerability, strength, and mutual respect!
Can't wait to meet you bro! 🤟🏾

Looking to get more into hiking/backpacking/camping.
Was wandering what people have streaming for audio?
Wich/what Music, Authobook series or podcast?

Looking to get more into hiking/backpacking/camping.
Was wandering what people have streaming for audio?
Wich/what Music, Authobook series or podcast?

Hello everyone, I have spent the past couple of months meticulously planning to hike from Sulitjelma to Hellmobotn, following the ut.no guide here. I am doing the hike solo, and have a lot of experience doing long self-supported backpacking hikes. As always though, I want to be prepared as possible. I am wondering if anyone has done this route or has experience hiking in this general area. Any advice is welcome! Thank you

Looking to do a longer day hike with my son after school gets out in mid-june. Trying to decide between a few different Loop pikes in the presidentials. (Assuming most snow and ice will be gone in a month) Planning on spending the night at Dolly Copp after the hike. Looking for something that's going to be pretty challenging and last a good part of the day. Any ideas or favorites that anyone has? After a long hiatus I am getting back into hiking and backpacking and I have the bug again. About halfway done with the 4,000 footers and looking to finish the second half with my boys. Thanks!

Hello friends, I’m seeing some tents on sale and I’m thinking ahead to snag one to prepare for next year’s winter season with the goal of hiking, backcountry skiing, and a longer term goal of mountaineering. I’ll be in the Eastern Sierras, Yosemite, Angeles forest areas.
I’m looking to get my own 4-season tent. It would be ideal if a single one fits my needs but can accept if I need more for an optimal experience. I’ve backpacked in the winter with groups and I’m used to the Black Diamond VE25 bomber style of tents and I felt protected against some intense winds and snow build up and liked its management of condensation. But it’s definitely heavy even splitting the load and wondering if it’s impractical/foolish to carry even the 2 person versions of these tents weighing 8-11 pounds or so on my own. It seems it’s feasible to backpack and mountaineer with this style of tent but not sure about backcountry skiing. My research suggests it’s not really used by the backcountry skiers.
I’m looking into the MSR access style of tents and wondering what to consider trading off the protection for lighter weight. I have no personal contacts who use this style of tent. The groups I usually go with play it safer than sorry and are happy to take the weight penalty of the expedition style tents and have the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mentality.” This seems the best choice for hiking, and skiing. Particularly it would be good to know what type of terrain I’m no longer safe to use it in as despite being a 4 season tent. I’d like to think the terrain and weather I’m going to will be matched by this style but please let me know if this is not necessarily correct.
My gut feeling suggests to get the lighter MSR access for now and consider the heavier mountaineering tent only if experience suggests it’s necessary. I still plan to take my AIAREs and hands on trainings on arresting, etc early in the season before skiing/ mountaineering so I’m open to getting hands on knowledge that way and paying full price if y’all think it’s necessary to wait.
Any input is appreciated. Thank you all.

I’m 18 weeks pregnant, in the south in the summer , and going camping and hiking. I can be clumsy and can roll my right ankle easily when walking in normal shoes frequently. Hence, trail runners are out of the question. I would go straight for those since they are more athletic and keep your feet cool.
Most boots are leather and have mesh, but aren’t breathable since they are waterproof. I’m in a bit of a pickle here because of my budget of $80 TOPS.
I need suggestions because I’m about 10 days out from my trip.

Hello all I am embarking on my first thru hike. I have hiked quite a bit through the High Sierra and northern California but never backpacked for over 5 days. So this will be my first long-distance backpacking trip and Id like for you UL experts to tear my pack apart.
-Location/temp range/specific trip description: TMB Jul 9th thru Jul 20th

• The main purpose of the shake-down is to prep for my first long-distance trek and ensure my weekend warrior kit can translate into long distances on the trail. I am mainly a 3 season Backpacker hiking anywhere in northern California. The TMB will be started Jul 9th and take me 10 days.

Goal Baseweight (BPW): I am relatively happy with a 15lb baseweight, but as I get more comfortable with long distance, I want to get towards 12-13 lbs.
Budget: no budget
Non-negotiable Items: I am not attached to much of my gear and am willing to look into better products. Although ditching perfectly good gear to save a couple of grams isn't necessarily something I will automatically do.
Solo or with another person?: TMB will be solo
Additional Information: Gear I am not too interested in are Tarps and Cold Soaking (Sorry)
Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/3fwe2x

I’m new here so understand any hesitance but have 65+ confirmed transactions on knifeswap if anyone needs vouches. Feel free to pull up my history.
Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/qdEvc4A
Storm Surge (orange): 30L, original owner, very lightly carried, minimal wear with almost no signs of use. Elasticity intact and all zippers work perfectly. SV: $175
Guidewater (blue): 29L, pigeon blue, brand new still in original plastic with tags. Never used, carried, etc… obviously. SV: $200
***No trades please, PayPal preferred. Will be shipped within 2 business days after receiving payment. Additional pics/vids available upon request. Open to offers but please comment on original post first👊🏼

I'm looking to go out to the Sierras for 3 nights, it's usually just my girlfriend and I that go out backpacking however we will be taking her father and little brother along with us this time. We are pretty experienced and though we should, we never go out with any SOS device. Her father and little brother do some hiking but not any backpacking. Just wondering if there is anything out there besides Spot, Zoleo, or Garmin. We only need service like 2 months out of the year, Spot charges 29.95+34.95+14.95 to start service not including the cost of the device. Zoleo costs $80 to start service plus the cost of the device. Garmin devices are usually over $200 plus the cost of service. The only thing I found was the Motorola Defy but can find many reviews. Does anyone know of any others?

Hey! I’m an executive at a HS based company and travel a lot for work. I’ll be in four cities and a lot of airports this week. Starting today.
Looking for some interesting people to chat with and see where it goes.
This account is new but I’m not new to Reddit. Just took a bit of a break from social media.
Other than working my hobbies include working out, reading (non-fiction and sci-fi), spending time outside (campaign, hiking, backpacking), personal travel, and hanging out with friends.
If it matters I’m 6 foot, blond l, blue eyes, muscular with a beard.
Happy to share more about me in a DM!

My question is basically just the title. I'm looking for a tough backpack that can do EDC duty to and from work, as well as hiking/camping/general travel.
I will say my primary use case for this will just be EDC the majority of the time. Is the GR2 pretty well suited to that or am I gonna look like a tortoise? (I'm 6' tall if that helps) I'm planning on getting one in black regardless of which I pick. I'd love to get one in Coyote but I'll save that for one I'm not bringing to work every day lol.
Thanks in advance!

I'd imagine you don't want to haul your larger pack around after you have set up camp, so do you pack a smaller bag for trail loops? What's the best way to approach this?

Hello everyone
I’ve been looking for a travelbackpack that fits my needs and my search was without results so far.
I’m looking for a Backpack that has the max. dimensions of 45cm x 36cm x 20cm so it counts as a handbag for easyjet which i fly the most. It should have zippers that i can lock, either per integrated lock or by a small padlock and it should be rectangular and of course it should be at least somewhat waterproof.
There are some backpacks I found on Temu or Aliexpress but I don’t trust them.
Can you guys recommend good backpacks?
Thanks in advance