The Backpacking Experience

Latest Episodes:

Making Smart Decisions In The Backcountry Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

What is risk management and why is it important? This is a question that may not get asked enough, but is incredibly important in all aspects of backcountry travel and adventure. This episode takes a deep dive into how to make better decisions in the backcountry, that ultimately enhance your ability to have a successful backpacking trip. I bring in my friend, Christian Paul, to help unpack this often over looked element of trip planning and decision making for backcountry travel. Christian brings a lot of outdoor experience to the table as a professional photographer and passionate outdoorsman. As mentioned in the episode, the "When Things Don't Go As Planned" video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/P7i50voiF-w Check out Christian's photography here: https://christianpaulphotography.com/ The Backpacking Experience podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube Channel. This episode is sponsored by my friends over at Art Of The Trek. Check them out for smarter backpacking trip planning: http://www.artofthetrek.com

Custom Printed Gear With Hilltop Packs Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

Cottage companies in backpacking are popping up all over the place, creating amazing gear items that solve problems for backpackers in about every way you can imagine. Hilltop Packs is a new cottage backpacking company that specializes in printing photos and art directly to ultralight fabrics for bear bags, gadget bags and even custom frameless backpacks. Ben McMillen, who is also a professional photographer started Hilltop Packs in 2019 after seeking a better solution for a bag to carry camera bodies and lenses on the trail. What resulted was something bigger than he had anticipated.

Check out Hilltop Packs here: https://bit.ly/2FLvnJU

The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube Channel. http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

Gear Backpackers Should Ditch! Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Do you really need to bring all that stuff when you go backpacking?! This episode is meant to have a discussion about certain gear items that can be changed or left behind completely that will simplify your backpacking gear and make your backpack weight more manageable. This isn't an exhaustive list of things to change or consider, but are some simple things to do that will make an immediate impact on your experience in the backcountry with your gear.

The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube Channel!

Backcountry Exposure on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

Email me: Backcountryexposure@gmail.com

Follow me on instagram: @backcountryexposure

Thank you to all of you for listening and being part of this podcast adventure!

Tips To Lighten Your Backpack Dec 30, 2019

Show notes

It goes without saying that the lighter your backpack, the more comfortable on the trail you can be. In this episode I cover some basic tips on how you can save some weight in your backpacking system without going to the extreme. These tips don't all require money to be invested to save those pounds from your pack weight. They are things that can make a quick and simple difference in the weight, but also simplify your backpacking gear system.

The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube channel. Check out Backcountry Exposure and subscribe for more backpacking related content and gear reviews.

http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

FKT Record Setting On The Sheltowee Trace With Jason Wish Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

Jason Wish completed his self supported, fastest known time attempt of the 333 mile Sheltowee trace trail on November 11, 2019 at 11:30am after 9 days, 6 hours and 57 minutes. FKT's are becoming more popular with hiking and I had a great time talking with Jason about his self supported attempt of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. We talk about off leash dogs, preparing for the hike, the mental game and everything in between. It truly is amazing what Jason was able to accomplish given the injuries and physical pain he was dealing with through this hike. For more information on Fastest Known Times, visit: http://www.fastestknowntime.com Be sure to watch Jason's trail vlogs on his youtube channel: - Sheltowee Trace FKT Part 1: https://youtu.be/6B1zaBYjQu0 - Sheltowee Trace FKT Part 2: https://youtu.be/lNzbarxlK-c The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube Channel. Subscribe to see more backpacking and outdoor content: http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure Some of the gear items that Jason and I discuss in this episode: - Zpacks Duplex: https://zpacks.com/products/duplex-tent - Garmin InReach Mini: http://bit.ly/2s3ucCD - LiteAF Curve 35 Pack: https://bit.ly/2EOlElu

Confused?! Trip Planning, Water, and Sleeping Pads Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

For this episode I take the entire conversation to address questions and comments I asked on the community tab of my YouTube channel, Backcountry Exposure. I asked about things that have been confusing for you about backpacking. The responses were well thought out, and made for a great discussion about how to find locations to go backpacking, how to find people to go with, and also finding water sources. Then we discuss r values of sleeping pads and sleeping bag temperature ratings.

Backcountry Exposure on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

Sleeping Pad Comparison: https://youtu.be/8u4Hp8X87TA

Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Explained: https://youtu.be/wu7wlAkhUM0

Contact me: @backcountryexposure on Instragram or backcountryexposure@gmail.com

You're New To Thru Hiking... with Jeremiah Stringer Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Long distance hiking or thru hiking isn't for everyone, or at least isn't the choice of experience for every backpacker. But in this episode I spend time with Jeremiah Stringer who is fairly new to backpacking, just over a year in fact, and talk about his experience doing his first long distance hike. We cover preparation for a long distance trail, the Vermont Long Trail and more. Jeremiah runs a youtube channel called, Jeremiah Stringer Hikes and his channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7An3Lkt9Byo76gxmx65LFQ Guthook App: https://atlasguides.com/guthook-guides/ This episode is supported by Backcountry Exposure. Check out Backcountry Exposure on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

Seeking Type 2 Fun In Backpacking Dec 01, 2019

Show notes

Backpacking isn't always this flowery, amazing experience that we often see an illusion of on social media. Waking up to beautiful scenes, and posed images surrounded by inspiring landscapes. Often, backpacking more often than not involves feeling worn out, pain, and mental fatigue. Making us question whether being out there was a good choice or not. But very often these moments of feeling like giving up, and exhaustion result in the best memories on trail we have. Type 2 Fun is a state that I have found myself seeking. It's a state of mind that I never really enjoy at the moment, but the backpacking trips that involve type 2 fun, tend to be the trips I remember the most about and have the fondest memories of. As these trips have typically come with the greatest rewards. Video trip reports of the trips discussed in this episode: Sand Creek: https://youtu.be/-PMeZSSqMxw Olympic National Park: https://youtu.be/f8q4D9qCLvQ The Beehive Traverse: https://youtu.be/5QqsB-v6cCM The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by the Backcountry Exposure YouTube channel. Visit and subscribe for more video content about backpacking. http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure If you'd like to contact us with feedback, episode ideas, or to just talk backpacking, shoot us an email: Backcountryexposure@gmail.com

Introduction Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to The Backpacking Experience Podcast. Backpacking is our passion and the experiences we have out in the backcountry can be some of the best, or potentially the worst experiences we have.

This podcast is focused on sharing these experiences, how outdoor adventures can happen for everyone, and discussions around the gear that helps facilitate having a quality time in the outdoors.

You'll find personal trip reports, gear reviews, outdoor education, and interviews with fellow hikers here, so be sure to subscribe, rate and share The Backpacking Experience with all your outdoor and backpacking friends.

The Backpacking Experience Podcast is supported by Backcountry Exposure. Visit Backcountry Exposure on YouTube for additional backpacking and outdoor content. http://www.youtube.com/backcountryexposure

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Backpacking Experience

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected