| Outdoor vacations require planning just like any other | | | | Take the same approach with food. If you are only |
| vacation. Depending on what you are doing and | | | | taking a short day hike, you may be fine on with no or |
| duration, you may still need to find accommodations | | | | very little food which means you will not need to haul |
| and make travel arrangements. Regardless of what | | | | around such a large backpack. Keep in mind, though, |
| details you must handle for your particular trip, every | | | | that you do need fuel while hiking as it burns a lot of |
| vacation requires proper preparation by determining | | | | calories. Keeping yourself hydrates is the most |
| what items you will need on your trip. | | | | important, but your body does need fuel and nutritional |
| Whether you will be a tourist traveling around Europe | | | | components found in food. |
| or enjoying the fresh outdoors hiking through the | | | | Another factor to consider is your overall fitness level. |
| wilderness, any trip is more enjoyable when you are | | | | If you are in good shape, you will be able to handle a |
| prepared allowing you to just enjoy the surroundings | | | | larger backpack and carry more weight. With that said, |
| whether it is a beach or the countryside. | | | | though, no one should go overboard as a heavy load |
| If you are planning a hiking trip, you will definitely want | | | | can contribute to fatigue. Experienced hikers even aim |
| to bring along a backpack but not just any backpack. | | | | to minimize the load they carry on a hike. |
| With so many choices in backpacks today, it helps to | | | | Also consider how you plan to carry the backpack |
| first get a general view of what is available. Shopping | | | | and weight. Most backpacks have many internal and |
| for a backpack could get overwhelming, especially for | | | | external flaps, pockets, buckles and loops to attach |
| the beginner hiker. | | | | add-on items. As you suspect, the weight of the |
| First, consider what you intend to carry which is usually | | | | backpack is not just what you put inside but also what |
| determined by the length of the hike, the location and | | | | you attach on the outside. However, aim to keep the |
| anticipated conditions. An overnight stay with a | | | | majority of the weight inside because it can otherwise |
| restaurant or snack bar, for instance, does not require | | | | lead to imbalance making it more difficult to carry. |
| you to carry the same items as a weeklong trip | | | | Generally, try to minimize what you need but do not |
| through the wilderness. | | | | leave out essential items. Think confined, light and |
| You will need approximately one gallon of water per | | | | definitely comfortable. You will be carrying it around for |
| day, though it varies by activity, your size and the | | | | hours or maybe even days, so be sure you have |
| weather conditions. But, one gallon is a good starting | | | | taken the time to find the right fit with the right shoulder |
| point with which to estimate how much water you | | | | and belt straps. |
| should bring and what size backpack you will need. | | | | |