It’s that time of year, when you are either getting excited about using your newest gear, or you have pulled out some of your old favorites and have started to evaluate if it’s time for new gear. I myself am going through this same process after having an old pack break on me during my Benton MacKaye Trail hike.

When it comes to choosing a new backpack or any other gear, most people have their own mental checklist for what they require in their gear. I will walk through some of that checklist since I’m in the market for a new pack, but also walking down the road to ultra-light.

So for those of you new to the backpacking world you will find packs in all shape, sizes, and colors.  We at Roam will always tell you to buy the pack that fits the most comfortably to you.   Always have your outfitter measure your spine for the appropriate fit.   Some things to help narrow your search, once again at Roam we feel you will never need a pack that is over 60 liters or 3800 cubic inches.    Roam feels packs over the 60 liters or 3800 cubic inches are either over kill or should be used by guides on expeditions. Now the next step to choosing a new pack is to figure out what’s the maximum load you will carry or want to carry.   With backpack manufacturers competing for your business, most companies list actual pack weight, as well as, comfort range and/or the maximum load that can be carried. Now to help explain what the maximum load carried is:  basically this load is per what the pack’s suspension is rated to carry.   For example, the Osprey Aether75/Ariel65 is rated to carry between 30 to 50 pounds. With that said the pack will not break or fall apart at or above the max load, it’s just no longer going to carry properly.   You will find that you will be carrying the load mostly on your shoulders not where it is designed to be carried.  These pack are designed to work by carrying the majority of the weight on your hips, not the shoulders.

We now have defined the two major things in picking a pack: desired load carried and personal comfort. Your choices from here on out will be based purely on personal decisions. Now for cutting overall carried pack weight, we will start talking ultra-light philosophies. For those new to ultra-light, feel free to read the Roam blog about ultra-light backpacking.

For ultra-light hikers, you will now assess the actual weight of the pack.  When I choose a pack, I typically look for a pack that weighs less than 2.5 pounds. In the ultra-light world of backpacking, you can get packs that weigh less then a pound, with other packs weighing in at 2 pounds.  You always need to test your chosen pack to see how comfortable it is on you with your desired load.  An important thing to keep in mind, when choosing a pack (whether you are looking at an ultra light or more traditional backpack) you need to base it on the weight of the load you will be carrying.  For example, don’t have 40 pounds worth of gear that you load into an ultra light backpack and expect it to carry well, when it’s max load is 25 – 30 pounds.

So now when you go looking for that new pack, remember, have your torso length measured, know the overall load you will be carrying, and most importantly test that pack with the desired load.   If you find it comfortable walking around the store for say 30 to 45 minutes, you have a winner.

Here at Roam, we have a saying “There is no such thing as bad weather just bad gear!” Here are some tips to help you enjoy your outdoor activities wherever they take you this winter:

First rule of thumb, LAYER UP!  THINK OF YOUR CLOTHING AS A SYSTEM- in our outdoor pursuits, we want to be versatile in our ability to heat up or cool down.  Our needs will fluctuate dependent on the intensity of the activity we are engaged in as well as our own internal temperature gauge.   Some people are naturally warm while others tend to be colder.  Knowing this about yourself will help you choose appropriate layers for your activity of choice.  Focus on keeping your core (roughly from your waist to your neck) warm, this is where all our vital organs are located, so this is the last place you want to get cold.  Allowing your core to get cold can lead to a vast array of problems such as hypothermia especially when you are cold and wet.  Prevention is key.

There are so many efficient materials on the market today, avoid cotton!  Cotton will hold the moisture from your sweat like a sponge and will take forever to dry, making you cold and wet.  That is a deadly combination.  The last thing you want next to your skin is cotton if you plan on having an enjoyable and safe outdoor experience this winter.

Base Layer: To begin your layering system you will want to start with a base layer against your skin.  This should be snug fitting but not constricting, so it can wick the sweat from your body and keep you warm.  A loose fitting layer will not be close enough to your body to wick sweat efficiently.  Your base layer should be a synthetic or wool material, both materials wick well and when wet still keep you warm.  Synthetic materials are typically quick drying but lock in odor that even repeated washings will never dispel.  In the past many have steered away from wool as their base layer because of the itch factor, with modern merino wool in most cases, this is no longer a problem.  Wool’s greatest asset is the ability to keep you warm when your cold and keep you cool while you are hot, as well as it’s natural anti-odor properties.

Mid-layers (insulation):  This is the insulation in your layering system.  This is where your fleece, synthetic and down fill fits in.  Most of the time these take on the form of wool sweaters, light fleeces and/or puffy vests/jackets.  How many insulating layers you have will depend on a few factors: mainly the outside temperature, the intensity of your activity, and if you tend to be “warm or cold blooded.”  Typically you will start off with your lighter layers then build up from there.  For example- you have on a wool long sleeve base layer, then a light fleece jacket, a synthetic vest over that and a medium fill down jacket as your insulators.

Shell:  The shell’s job is to be the first defense against the elements.  This means you want it to be windproof (at the very least wind resistant) to protect from the wind.  Without debate your shell should be waterproof and breathable to protect against snow and/or rain.  A breathable garment helps you stay warm and dry, if moisture can’t pass outside of your shell from the inside you will end up drenched in sweat and start to cool down.

Tip:  Remember before buying your shell, try on all your layers to make sure you are buying the appropriate size, you will probably need to size up some of clothing.  This is also a good idea as you are buying your various layers!

With all your layers on you should be able to be comfortable at the coldest temps you will encounter.  For most people they will be wearing all their layers on breaks and in camp to help them maintain their warmth from exertion.  During activity, they may have on only a base layer and a shell or only a light fleece as their sole insulating layer and a shell over that.  Even if you aren’t cold when you stop your activity, throw on another layer as you will cool down quickly.  The best thing about layering is when you start your activity again you can take off a layer or add a layer as needed.  Knowing when to take off or add a layer is essential to keeping any outdoor activity fun during the winter.

Layering for Winter Tip:  Think of it as spectrum- you want your clothing system to be able to  accomodate the coldest temps as well as the hottest temps you will encounter!

A complete layering system may look like this:

For your Core:  Patagonia 3 Capilene Long Sleeve Base Layer, medium weight fleece, a synthetic vest, a Montbell UL Down Jacket, and a Event Rain Jacket.  These will vary person to person.

For your legs:  Patagonia 3 Capilene Base Layer Bottoms, Soft-shell Pants (wind proof and water resistant.)  These will vary person to person.  Always bring a hard shell for your bottom layering system as well- think waterproof and breathable.  Even if you don’t need it you will be thankful you have it, just in case you encounter hours of wet snow or freezing rain.

Remember:  You don’t want to be so warm that you start sweating up a storm-  even the finest base layers can only wick so much until you feel cold and clammy.  You also don’t want to be so cold when you are start your activity that your extremities are numb!

Trick of the Trade: Start your activity feeling a little chilled because the exertion will warm you up.  When you take breaks layer up as soon as you stop to maintain your body heat.

Tip for winter cyclists and dog mushers:  For these particular activities you are creating your own wind chill, so having a layer that has wind stopping properties is a must.

Now get outside!   It is a fine balancing act that is unique to each person, but easy to figure out what layering system works best for you after a few jaunts out.

www.roamthewoods.com

Roam The Woods utilizes light weight alcohol stoves on many of their backpacking courses.  Alcohol stoves can be made from a variety of aluminum cans.  Soda cans, energy drinks, and cat food cans are some of the favorites of long distance hikers.   The ease of finding fuel for alcohol stoves make them highly coveted as well.

Fuel that works in alcohol/soda can stoves:                                                                      * Denatured Alcohol                                                                                                       *HEET: Gas line anti freeze (in the yellow bottle, the red bottle has a diesel additive so it will burn sooty)                                                                                                                     *90% or above isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)                                                                   *Grain Alcohol (95% Proof, like Everclear- an expensive option for fuel but works if you are in a pinch)                                                                                                                       * Fingernail Polish/Paint Thinner (not our first option, but if it is all you can find it will work)

For our needs we carry our fuel for backpacking trips in plastic soda bottles, I always write POISON/FUEL on mine, just in case!  This makes it easy to measure fuel for your stove in capfuls, after the first few times of using your stove you will figure how much fuel you will need to boil your water.

Why a soda can stove?                                                                                                         *Going Green- Recycling your old cans into functioning stoves                                     *Lightweight and fits right into your pot!                                                                          *Good availability of fuel- especially nice for thru-hikers, who are constantly resupplying in new places                                                                                                                               *Easy to Use                                                                                                                      *Boils two cups of water in about eight minutes with between 4 -6 capfuls of fuel (this of course is dependent on outside variables- like your water temperature, outdoor temperature, wind, altitude etc.)                                                                                     *Reliable (no parts that can break, a couple of our stoves here have 2,000 + miles on them!)

Works best during:                                                                                                          *Early Fall, Summer, and Late Spring (avoid it for a winter use stove as it will not efficiently burn fuel once it is cold out)

Best for:                                                                                                                         *Boiling Water (there is no simmer on this lil’ fella, so true cooking in your pot is not recommended- there are a few ideas on the web though on how to create a simmer if you want to get creative)                                                                                                          * Steaming items (which means you can bake in here, muffins in the back country no problem- note: this probably won’t be worth it if you are feeding a large group this way, but for one or two it will be perfect!)

How do I get my soda can stove to burn and work efficiently?                                        *Make sure if you are making a soda can stove that you have a pot stand of sorts to keep the pot off of the true stove, this will extinguish the flame- fire likes oxygen!  Typically a gridded  mesh/chicken wire will work well as a pot stand.  The pot stand will likely die, long before your soda can stove- and is easily replaced with another piece of gridded mesh!  If you are buying one, your soda can stove will probably come with one.                                   *Wind Screen:  A piece of aluminum material works well, anything from flashing to a piece of an old turkey pan- blocks the wind and seals in the heat being produced.                          * Pot size: you’ll known when you’ve gone too large for your soda can stove- ideal for cooking for one to two people, dependent on appetite!                                                           * Fuel: Denatured Alcohol/Heet work the best.

A WORD OF CAUTION:  Always use care when lighting your soda can stove, remove debris from around your cooking area, which is always good practice no matter what stove you are using!  During the day, the alcohol stove flame burns practically invisible so ALWAYS ASSUME YOUR STOVE IS ON, to avoid burning yourself.  You should be able to feel the heat radiating off your stove.  Always let your soda can stove burn itself out, trying to put out that flame will only result in injury to yourself!  Once you get your fuel use dialed in, by the time your water is boiling your soda can stove should be dying out on its own.

Downsides:                                                                                                                          *Crushable- sure, they are made out of soda cans, but it still takes quite a bit of force to crush them- store your stove in your pot and you should have no problems!                        * Not the most efficient stove if you are cooking for large groups of people or in cold weather.

Perfect for:                                                                                                                              *Thru-hikers/Long Distance Hikers/Weekend Warriors/Beginner Backpackers

 Almost everyone can find a good use for a soda can stove- plus it is a great stocking stuffer for the outdoors person in your life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Great as an:                                                                                                                            * Emergency Stove (It can be kept in the glove box of your car with HEET and a lighter.  Now you are set for any emergency.  Light enough to go out with you on a day hike with a baby coke bottle of fuel, just in case.)

Roam The Woods is holding a lightweight alcohol stove giveaway this week on Facebook. Enter for a chance to win, all you have to do is tell us your dream adventure!  Winner will be chosen at random from all entries received.  

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roam-The-Woods/178757132202102

www.roamthewoods.com

We can all move mountains, so what are you waiting for?  With the fall leaves changing we want to encourage you to get outside and start dreaming big dreams.  What is your next adventure and what are you doing to actively pursue this dream?  Often times we forget how important the dreaming process is for pursuing our outdoor adventures, whether it is a rambling day hike, a thru-hike of  the Appalachian Trail or a summit of Everest!   So start dreaming today and sharing those dreams with others!  Who knows you might find some friends to join you in your adventures or entice you with their outdoor dreams as well.  The moral of the story?  Get outside and start roaming today!!

Roam The Woods had an exciting opportunity to join the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B.O.W.) Program in Alabama this past weekend as guest instructors for their backpacking/hiking sessions.  B.O.W.  is a program through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that offers three day workshops for women 18 or older, twice a year.  ”The workshop offers hands-on instruction in a fun and non-threatening learning environment.  Participants can choose from over 50 courses.” (an excerpt from B.O.W. Alabama’s brochure)  Some of these courses include Archery, Water fowling, Pistol 1 & 2,  Deer Hunting, Introduction to Fly Fishing, Nature Crafts, Outdoor Photography- in a sense something for everyone- even if you don’t think of yourself as a die-hard outdoors woman!! There are quite a few states with B.O.W. programs so even if you aren’t in Alabama or nearby, there may be a program in your state. Here is the link for Alabama’s B.O.W. Program:  http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/events_for_women/bow/

The best part of the weekend was meeting some awesome ladies and sharing in the group camaraderie of this exciting weekend!  Roam learned some new things and we hope that we were able to share the passion we have for the woods with others.   We want to get people excited about exploring their backyard!  The state of Alabama is blessed to have state parks literally 60 minutes from anywhere in Alabama!  Now is the perfect time to ramble, roam, and saunter outdoors with the cooler weather and gorgeous fall foliage, it can’t be beat!

We here at Roam, know that buying gear is a huge investment!   Not only for your comfort and many years of outdoor adventures ahead but also on that dreaded pocketbook.  Those extended hours on the trail turn your backpack into your buddy and your true roaming partner–  soon you have pet names for your backpack maybe Blueberry, Silverback, Big Red, and we all know sometimes on those bad days you day dream about leaving that beast on a corner somewhere, with a not so loving sign that says “Take Me, Please!”, but most days your pack is your confidant and knows you most intimate secrets.

For a friend  like this and all other essential gear, you need to do your research before you enter an outfitter.   As the consumer, and especially as a beginner outdoors woman or man we go to the outfitter and expect them to be the “expert” on gear.   Worst case scenario this leaves us with sub-par gear for our newest back country adventure and us dropping another check in a few more months, once we figure it all out through trial and error what gear we really do need!

Before heading over to your outfitter, do the research before you step into the store on the specific gear you are going to buy.  For example with your backpack, know how to be appropriately fitted (they will measure your torso length from C7 to the top of your hip bones, your iliac crest)- if they try to size you just by looking, you can ask to be fitted or better yet find an outfitter that is more knowledgeable on the subject matter to help you achieve the appropriate fit!  There are a lot of nuances when it comes to pack fitting.  Being knowledgeable about the gear you need also allows you to pick the sales associates brain.  Which in the worst case scenario, it may become apparent that you know more then the associate, which is a red flag!

With all this being said,  most true outfitters, are experienced and informed with the products they sell and deliver quality customer service that acts only as an asset in your gear buying adventure.  Take your time buying your gear, do the research, talk to your outfitter,  try gear out in the store if you can (walk around in that backpack!) and once you feel comfortable with your research and what you are getting for your well earned money, put your newly purchased gear to the test and get outside! 

Roam continues to serve as a resource for the outdoor community and encourages you to pick our brains as well before buying your gear!

Roam The Woods completed their seminar series in Savannah, GA on September 22nd. We closed out the free series with the topics of food, health, and hygiene!  We did an overview of stoves and cooking systems, food choices, and styles of backcountry cooking, then dived into general health and hygiene concerns.  We finished off the night with separate gender specific talks to address concerns that attendees might have on the topic.   An alcohol stove demo and door prizes ended the night.

We are sad to see the Seminar Series end but hope we got people excited about the prospect of getting outside!  As always, Roam is happy to be a continuing resource for the outdoor community.  Now get outside and enjoy the nice weather!

Roam The Woods is kicking this Fall off with a free seminar series focused on the main aspects of backpacking for our local community of Savannah, GA.  Our first seminar, on September 8th focused on Wilderness Stewardship through Leave No Trace Ethics and Trip Planning.  Attendees were introduced to the principles of LNT as well as given a basic foundation for effective trip preparation for any outdoor adventure, be it backpacking, hiking, or cycling!

The second seminar in our series was held on September 15th and focused on Gear Choices building off of last week’s topic of Trip Planning.  We were fortunate enough to be in the Rebel Room of Johnnie Gaenam’s Package Shop, not the typical venue for an outdoor seminar, but perfect for us creating a makeshift “gear expo”!  Attendees got to see gear in action through a tent city and an impromptu “after hours” soda can stove lighting.  All aspects of gear choices were touched upon to give participants an idea of what is out there.  We only wished we had more time to do all the gear justice in our talks.

The final seminar in our series will be on Thursday, September 22nd.  This seminar will focus on food choices, health, and general hygiene in the woods.  We are hoping to have a good turn out again.  We love getting others excited about the outdoors and now is the perfect time to roam the woods on the East Coast!