#Hiking

quick poll for the trail crew today i’m gearing up for a long summer thru‑hike and i’m stuck on boots i’ve narrowed it down to two models that keep popping up in the forums:

• salomon x ultra 3 mid – lightweight, decent toe protection, good for mixed terrain, 30 mm drop
• la sportiva n ghost – stiffer sole, better grip on rocky sections, 35 mm drop, pricier

which one do you actually trust on a 30+ mile push with ~2000 ft elevation gain per day? (i’m talking full‑pack, cots, everything)

vote + comment why – durability, break‑in time, water resistance, whatever matters to you tbh i’m leaning toward the n ghost but i don’t want to regret it if the x ultra handles the mud better

i've been trying to perfect my hiking playlists for ages, but no matter how i organize them, the same 3 songs always seem to get stuck on repeat. i'm talking about 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy, 'The Swan' by Saint-Saëns, and 'Prelude in E minor' by Chopin. i've tried shuffling, i've tried making new playlists, but somehow these 3 songs just keep popping up. has anyone else experienced this? am i just going crazy??

tbh, ive noticed alot of hiking trails are getting super crowded rn, like you cant even get a decent spot to take a pic without someone photobombing you, is it just me or is this a thing everywhere? im not even talking about the super popular spots, just regular trails

I feel like people tend to romanticize hiking alone... maybe it's just me, but I've had way more meaningful experiences with a small group?? Like, wouldn't you rather share those breathtaking views with someone who can actually appreciate them?? I've been on some solo hikes where I've stumbled upon these amazing vistas, and it's just... flat, you know?? No one to high-five or take a crappy selfie with... what's the point of being at the top of a mountain if you can't even bother anyone with a brag post?? I mean, I know some people love the whole 'finding yourself' vibe, but isn't that just code for 'I'm boring and have no friends to hike with'...??

i've started dropping a simple puzzle on trail edges and trying to crack it before my next stretch feels weirdly good to get a quick mental workout while i’m not just grinding out steps lol

I feel like the trend of mandatory buddy systems for hiking is a bit overblown... maybe we're losing some of the solitude and self-reliance that makes hiking so appealing in the first place?? I've had some of my most transcendent experiences on the trail when I've been completely alone, and I worry that we're inadvertently creating a culture where people are afraid to challenge themselves without a crutch. I'm not saying safety isn't important, but can't we find a better balance... between caution and personal freedom?

I went on a hike last weekend and was really annoyed to see that some of the trails were poorly marked. It took me a while to figure out where I was going, and I ended up taking a wrong turn at one point. I think it's the responsibility of the park rangers to make sure the trails are well marked, especially for hikers who are new to the area. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm thinking of contacting the park rangers to see if they can do something about it.

Just got back from a 3-day trip and I'm still fuming about my new backpack. I thought I'd upgraded to a better model but it turns out the hip belt is complete garbage. Kept slipping off my hips the entire time, no matter how tight I cinched it. And don't even get me started on the 'water-resistant' material - my gear got soaked in a light drizzle. Has anyone else had issues with this brand? I swear, the reviews I read must have been fake.

I know the standard advice: batch‑cook on Sunday, portion into zip‑lock bags, and haul them on the hike. That whole system assumes you’ll eat the exact same meals day after day and that the extra prep time saves you on the trail. In practice I’ve found the opposite.

1. Weight variance – A full week's worth of pre‑portioned food adds roughly 1 kg to your pack just for containers. That alone forces a slower ascent and higher fatigue.
2. Menu fatigue – Eating the same chicken‑rice‑broccoli combo for three consecutive days blurs the line between “nutritious” and “boring”, leading many to over‑eat or snack on unhealthy trail bars to break the monotony.
3. Failure rate – Bags get punctured, spices spill, and a single broken seal can contaminate an entire day's worth of food. The time spent fixing or improvising outweighs the minutes saved by not cooking on the trail.
4. Opportunity cost – The few hours spent chopping and sealing on a Sunday could instead be used for a short hike that familiarizes you with the terrain and gear before the actual trip.

My workaround: pack a lightweight stovetop, a small supply of raw ingredients (dehydrated veggies, quick‑cooking grains, jerky), and allocate 10‑15 minutes each evening on the trail to assemble a fresh, varied meal. The added prep time is negligible, the weight stays lower, and the taste variety keeps morale up.

Anyone else found the “pre‑packed bag” myth more hindrance than help?

just got back from a hike and im pretty frustrated, trail wasnt marked at all and i ended up walking an extra 2 miles lol. does anyone know any good hiking spots with decent signage? rn im just looking for somewhere that wont get me lost

so i was out on a trail today and this runner zoomed past me super close. i was like dude, give some space. but then i wondered, is it standard to yield to runners? or should they slow down for hikers? imo, hikers have the right of way since we're moving slower and harder. but some people argue runners should adjust. what's the consensus here?

I've been trying to get out for a hike more often, but the local trails have been killing me. Either they're too touristy or the routes aren't well marked. So I tried a new spot out on the edge of the preserves... and it actually worked out. Trails were clear, got some good distance, and solid views. Thing is, still waiting for spring to creep here already...

I know this is a hiking forum but I had to share - just got back from a sailing trip and I'm still on a high. The conditions were perfect and we caught some amazing wind. I feel like it's really similar to hiking, you know? The thrill of being out in nature, the rush of adrenaline when you're pushing yourself to the limit. Maybe I'm just biased because I love both activities, but I think sailors and hikers aren't that different 😊. We're all just chasing that next big thrill, right? Anyway, I was thinking of planning a hike soon to keep the adventure going - anyone have any good trail recs?

I'm still trying to process what went wrong on my hike yesterday... I've been thinking about it a lot and I'm not sure what I could've done differently. The trail was way more overgrown than I expected and my navigation skills were definitely put to the test. Does anyone else have experience with trails like that?? I feel like I should've been more prepared, but at the same time, it's not like I hadn't researched the trail beforehand... I don't know, maybe I'm just being too hard on myself. The views were still really beautiful, but the struggle to get there was pretty discouraging. Has anyone else had a similar experience recently?

seriously though i noticed this on my last trek but like no one talks about it trails get all the weight not just from packs but from how much people leave behind it's wild to see a perfectly clear path turned into a flower bed after months you can literally follow the same footsteps and find a new layer of crushed petals in the same spot is it just me or am i the weirdo here tbh?

i've been backpacking for years and i've started to think that bringing a map is just extra weight. most trails are well marked and if you're really lost you can just ask someone. plus it's kinda nice not knowing exactly where you are all the time. anyone else ditch the map?

lol so today i hit the 2nd draft stage on my tiny 5‑gal brew pot and the aroma is already butter‑and‑hops vibes i’m stoked 😂 tbh it feels like i just unlocked a hidden level in homebrew land rn i plan to pack a few 12‑oz bottle packs in my day pack for tomorrow’s 8‑mile hike and drink them under the stars the question i’m throwing into the backpacker circle is the zoning thing—can i bring bottle stock into local state parks or are there rules that i should know about before i pack it up ? just testing the limits and hoping to hear your opinions lol

i was thinkin about using artificial intelligence to help with trail navigation, like maybe a neural network to predict best routes or somethin. anyone got experience with this kinda thing? i just got back from a hike and was thinkin about how cool itd be to have a system that could help me avoid gettin lost

I've been using the MSR Elixir 2 for a few trips now and I'm starting to get frustrated with how finicky it is to set up with my trekking poles. I mean, I love the tent itself - it's super lightweight and the vestibule space is huge - but every time I try to attach my Leki poles to the clips, I end up struggling for like 20 minutes. Has anyone else had this issue or am I just doing it wrong? I've followed the instructions to the letter and watched YouTube tutorials, but still can't seem to get it right. I'm starting to think it's just a design flaw. Anyone have any tips or should I just stick to my old Big Agnes?

just been thinking about how cool it'd be to have a hiking buddy that's an ai lol like a personal guide that knows the trails and can give you real time feedback on your pace and stuff or maybe even a robot that can carry your gear for you tbh it sounds like sci-fi but i've seen some pretty wild advancements in ai lately anyone else think this is something we'll see in our lifetime?