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![Heavy cases commonly carried while backpacking: headlamp case, Sun Glasses case, and MSR case all open on a desk]()
3 Heavy Cases to Swap Out Before Your Thru-Hike
If you’re not careful, you may end up carrying an unnecessary heavy case while backpacking. Find out which cases you should leave at home!
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![A phone with with the calculator open above a hiking backpack]()
Thru-Hiking 101: Backpacking Base Weight Calculator
Reducing your pack weight is very important for thru-hikers and long-distance backpackers. To help reduce the total pack weight it’s important to focus on the pack’s base weight.
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![A man packing up a green light weight sleeping bag on a hill side]()
10 Weight Saving Tips for Backpacking
Lightweight backpacking or thru-hiking doesn’t need to be expensive. Following these ten tips will help you along the way to packing a lighter pack.
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![an assortment of blade sharpeners]()
How to Keep Your Knife Sharp
A dull knife can become more dangerous than a sharp knife so it’s important to know how to keep your knife sharp to maintain its full utility.
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![TSA holding a swiss army knife found in luggage. A violation of TSA rules.]()
Plane Restrictions (TSA Rules) to Consider Before Leaving for Your Thru-Hike
It’s always important to check the most current TSA rules before traveling to your thru-hiking or backpacking destination by plane.
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![Spray Painting Tent Stakes]()
Why You May Want to Paint Your Tent Stakes
If you have tent stakes that are silver and are not colored at the top, they will likely be hard to see when you put them in the ground. Try this easy hack!
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![a checklist of thru-hiking maintenance on top of some backpacks]()
Thru-Hiker Maintenance Checklist
Before every hike you should carefully inspect all your backpacking equipment to make sure everything is in good working order. For thru-hikers, gear should be thoroughly inspected and maintained at every town stop along their hike.
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![A backpack with an ice axe and hiking poles on the snow]()
How to Attach an Ice Axe to a Backpack
If you are hiking the entire PCT or CDT, you will likely need an ice axe at some point. Learn how to securely attach one to your backpack.
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![Miscellaneous items such as toilet paper, Nalgene bottle, oatmeal etc. in a hiker box]()
What is a Hiker Box?
A hiker box is a box or area where hikers, trail angels, or others leave items for other hikers. They can be filled with all types of things.
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![dirty socks or laundry, platypus water bottle, hiking detergent, plastic Ziploc bag, assorted on grass]()
How To Do Your Laundry While Thru-Hiking
It’s important to know how to safely do laundry in the outdoors. If you’re a thru-hiker keeping your socks clean should be a top priority.
