How to pack your backpack properly?
Multi-day hiking is, above all, an experience of freedom. Yes, but sometimes… Your backpack pulls on your shoulders, a weight that seemed acceptable becomes increasingly burdensome, and you are annoyed because you cannot remember where you put your snacks or have to dig your first aid kit out from the bottom.
These discomforts are largely related to how your backpack is packed.
A well-packed backpack means:
- A load that respects your centre of gravity to maintain balance and comfort.
- Sensible organisation so you can easily reach what you need during the day.
Centre of gravity, internal and external packing, accessibility: RayonRando shares principles and tips for packing your backpack properly.
How to choose your hiking mat?
How do you get the best sleeping comfort when carrying your bed in your backpack? This is important when trekking, as restorative sleep is needed to enjoy this endurance activity fully.
RayonRando shares the main factors for choosing the right hiking mat. Thermal comfort, support that is both firm and soft, stability: these are the ingredients for a good night's sleep. Fortunately, recent technological advances have achieved exceptional combinations of weight, comfort and insulation!
To choose a hiking mat, you need to answer several questions:
- Inflatable or self-inflating mat?
- What dimensions?
- What insulation?
- What weight and packed size?
What food for a self-sufficient hike?
When setting off on a multi-day self-sufficient trek, food is essential and sometimes tricky. Planning hiking meals involves several constraints.
Here is an overview of what to consider, together with a first-hand account of the food the RayonRando team takes on a self-sufficient trek.
This is not an exhaustive dietitian's article, but a hiker's perspective.
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