At DutchWare, our founder, Dutch, is passionate about hiking and outdoor enthusiasts. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2003 and enjoyed Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia, during his journey. This year, DutchWare Gear will celebrate Trail Days by attending the upcoming event.

In celebration of Trail Days, we want to share Dutch’s story and tips for a successful thru-hike.

Gearing up for the Journey

Before hiking the Appalachian Trail, Dutch was not a hiker — he was simply a hunter and lover of the outdoors. During one excursion, he decided to devote his life to outdoor pursuits. He began this life change by hiking the Appalachian Trail. As he prepared and hiked the 2,200-mile trail, he learned about the best gear to bring.

His biggest regret was not bringing a larger bonded tarp to provide extra dryness as he camped outdoors. He also had several recommendations for food, including packing bars like Snickers for eating while hiking. His favorite foods on the trail were cheeseburgers he bought in town and packed for the next day.

Adapting Gear for The Seasons

Dutch learned Damascus Trail Days is an excellent place to swap out gear to ease the transition between the colder Smokies and the Virginia highlands.

His top recommendations for switching out gear during this transition are:

• Switching a top cover for a bug net
• Changing out rain pants for a rain skirt
• Leaving your quilts for warmer weather alternatives

Why Choose a Hammock for Thru-Hiking?

When Dutch hiked the Appalachian Trail in the early 2000s, only a few people were using or suggesting hammocks. Everyone else on the trail with him had tents. Dutch learned that choosing a hammock brought many advantages for backpacking, including the ability to camp almost anywhere. He could also avoid snakes, mice, and the snoring that’s often prevalent at shared shelters.

 

Tips and Advice for Thru-Hikers

As an experienced thru-hiker, Dutch also offers advice to new adventurers setting off. His most important advice is to socialize with other hikers. Get pictures, contact information, and trail names to stay in touch with the friends you meet along the way. After hiking the trail, you may communicate with fellow hikers for many years.

Here are a few more of Dutch’s favorite tips:

• Start early: You’ll have the most success when you start hiking before the sun comes up. Set the goal of 10 miles by 10 in the morning to motivate yourself.
• Pack quickly: When you learn to pack up gear efficiently, you can set off earlier and get farther during the day.
• Dine at shelters: Stop for dinner at campsites or shelters to spend time with other hikers at night. Afterward, hike another mile and set up an isolated camp.
• Don’t give up: You may want to rest for a day and take a shuttle to the next part of the trail, but you’ll feel much more accomplished by hiking every mile.

Learn more about DutchWare’s Involvement at Trail Days 2023

Stop in Damascus, Virginia, to see Dutch along the Appalachian Trail. Check out our new gear at our booth or just stop by to say hi.

Find more information about Dutchware and our beginnings here. Want to learn more about Dutch’s thru-hike? Read his trail journal here!

What Is Base Weight and How to Lower it?

Backpacking is an immersive camping experience. You can explore the deep backcountry while carrying essential supplies in your backpack. These extended trips allow you to experience nature more intimately and create long-lasting memories of your exploration.

One essential aspect of backpacking is reaching an ideal base weight, which is your backpack’s total weight minus consumables like food and water. In other words, it’s the consistent load you carry during the trip. Lower base weights provide more comfort during extended hikes, allowing you to travel further with less strain on your body.

Read on to learn more about base weights and how to reach the best one for you.

Understanding Base Weight

Base weight consists of your backpack’s overall heaviness without consumables. Your consumables are items you use completely during the trip, resulting in zero weight. For instance, you begin with complete loads of food, water, and fuel. As your hike progresses, you use these items until the weight is gone. Consumables cause fluctuations in your backpack’s weight, so it’s often more beneficial to measure base weight instead.

Your base weight remains constant throughout your entire journey. It includes items like:

• Sleeping bag or top quilts
• Sleeping pad or under quilts
• Cooking utensils
• Tent or hammock
• Additional clothing
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight or headlight
• Extras like books or cameras
• Other camping gear

You can use scales to add up the total weight of all these items and calculate your backpack’s base weight. You should add the totals before placing consumables into your bag.

It’s also essential to understand the difference between base and pack weight. Pack weight measurements include consumables like food, water, and fuel. In other words, your total pack weight is the sum of everything in your bag. Your pack weight varies throughout the trip as you consume food, drink water, and burn fuel.

Most backpackers believe base weight is the more valuable measurement for trip planning. Your base weight stays consistent throughout your journey, while pack weight shifts after each meal. By anticipating your base weight, you understand what you carry during the whole trip. Then, you can prep for a heaviness level that suits your physical needs.

What Is an Ideal Base Weight?

The best base weight varies by person. It depends on your size, physical abilities, and preferences. If your load is too heavy, it strains your body and makes your trip less enjoyable. In severe cases, bulky loads can cause injuries.

Experts recommend your loaded backpack shouldn’t weigh more than 20% of your body weight. For instance, a 160-pound person’s backpack should be 32 pounds or less. Heavier weights place too much stress on your body and can cause discomfort. The additional weight also impacts smaller frames more than larger ones. You should add weight in proportion to your body size to keep things safe.

Once you calculate a base weight proportionate to your size, test it and ensure it is manageable. Finding a comfortable load is crucial for an enjoyable journey.

Traveling in a backpacking group can make establishing an ideal base weight easier. With multiple people cooperating, you can share loads more evenly and reduce base weights. For example, you can divide cooking supplies among each other. In addition, your group might range in backpacking experience and physical abilities. Experienced hikers might be willing to carry more and help newcomers start with lighter loads. Or, strong and athletic backpackers might pack more essentials to lighten the weight for their companions.

In addition, a good base weight depends on factors like these.

• Trip duration: Generally, longer trips require more clothing and supplies. Depending on your plans, your backpacking trip could range from one night to 6 months. You can expect a heavier base weight for extended journeys and might find it more challenging to reduce your overall weight.
• Personal preferences: When planning for a backpacking expedition, consider your comfort levels. Some hikers prefer increased base weights to have more supplies at camp. For instance, you could pack extra blankets, books and other entertainment forms, or a hammock for relaxation. While these extras raise your base weight, you might find it worthwhile. Ultralight backpackers prefer the lightest burden possible to make their movements more enjoyable. Consider your preferences and pack accordingly.
• Expected weather conditions: It’s crucial to research the weather before embarking on your trip. Freezing temperatures or snowy conditions require heavier clothing, which can increase your backpack’s weight. You might also consider insulated sleeping bags for frigid conditions. Sunny, hot weather might cause you to sweat more and need more changes of clothes. In addition, you could need sunscreen, sunglasses, or other protective tools.

Consider your body weight and these influencing factors while planning your base weight. As you take more trips, you can adjust the heaviness according to your hiking experiences.

Benefits of Low Base Weight

Ideally, you should keep your base weight as low as possible. While the best base weight varies by person, low base weights can lead to more successful and fulfilling trips.

These are other benefits of decreased base weights.

• Reduced injuries: A low base weight ensures you stay within a safe range. Many backpacking routes require hiking several miles daily, and you must carry your pack throughout all of them. Excessive loads strain your back, shoulders, waist, knees, and feet. Lowering your weight protects you from extra stress and reduces the risk of injury.
• Longer and more enjoyable hikes: The lighter your load, the easier it is to move. Instead of straining through the heaviness, your hikes become more enjoyable as you focus on heartfelt conversations or beautiful scenery. Longer journeys also become more manageable. If your weight becomes too heavy, you might have to stop trips early or plan for shorter durations. Low base weights create the ideal flexibility for your trips.
• Simplified hikes: Less equipment can also reduce hike complexity. You can leave elaborate cooking ensembles, extra tent materials, or extraneous tools behind. You keep your load at a bare minimum and decrease stress throughout your journey. Once you reach camp, it’s easier to sort through your backpack and find essentials like your tent and clothing. You can set up and tear down camp faster, allowing you more time to enjoy nature and your companions’ company.
• Faster hikes: Smaller weights also let you move more quickly. Staying on track and reaching daily milestones is vital. If you aren’t frugal, you could run out of supplies before you return. You can trek through miles more quickly and with fewer breaks with lighter loads. Instead of struggling to keep pace, you shed unnecessary burdens and move freely.

Tips for Lowering Your Base Weight

A low base weight can improve your backpacking experience. However, you shouldn’t leave behind essential items when decreasing your pack’s base weight. Components like first-aid kits, fire starters, and extra food are crucial for your safety while backpacking. Insufficient packing can cause discomfort or scarcity during your hike, making it challenging to find ways to decrease your base weight.

When packing, you have many opportunities to lighten your load. Here are a few tips to reach a lower base weight.

1. Buy a Lighter Sleeping Bag, Pad, or Quilt

A sleeping bag helps you sleep comfortably during camping and backpacking trips. Many backpackers also carry sleeping pads for an additional cushion at night. These items take a significant percentage of your backpack’s weight, but you can find different ways to keep your load low.

If you have a bulky sleeping bag or pad, try switching to a lightweight option. The more compact your materials are, the easier it becomes to fit them into your bag. Synthetic materials often weigh the least, making them ideal choices. Sleeping bags built for sub-zero temperatures are usually heavier. If you aren’t going to experience below-zero temperatures, consider choosing different sleeping options.

You can also find sleeping pads with lighter weights. Some hikers choose partial sleeping pads that only support the head and torso instead of their entire body.

Quilts are also a common alternative and can be used interchangeably for hammocks and ground dwellers.

These smaller options can eliminate crucial pounds or ounces from your backpack.

2. Change Clothing Materials

Your clothes also significantly affect your backpack weight. It’s vital to pack extra layers for safety, but too many clothes can make your backpack uncomfortably heavy. Luckily, the material type is usually more crucial than the number of clothes you have.

Heavier materials might provide additional warmth, but they also increase your load. Options like denim, canvas, and cotton add unnecessary weight to your bag. They can also be uncomfortable during hikes because they become saturated with sweat and take time to dry.

Instead, opt for wool and polyester blends. These materials are moisture-wicking and quick-drying, making them beneficial during prolonged exercise.

You can evaluate the typical clothes you pack for backpacking and determine which items add excess weight. If needed, you can purchase new clothing that is lighter and more comfortable for hiking.

In general, it’s best practice to have two sets of clothing, one for hiking and one for sleeping.

3. Consolidate Cooking Supplies

Filling meals are essential for backpacking, allowing you to stay energized and comfortable. Pots and pans are necessary for cooking safely over a fire, but bringing too many supplies can dramatically increase your base weight.

One way to keep equipment weights low is to meal prep for one-pot meals. For instance, you could plan for meals like:

• Oatmeal
• Macaroni and cheese
• Pancakes
• Granola
• Ramen noodles
• Rice and beans
• Pasta with pesto sauce

These recipes require only one pot to mix and cook ingredients, making them ideal for base weights. Only plan complicated meals if you feel confident you can handle the additional equipment load. While they might sound delicious and nutritious, the extra cooking work and increased load can add more discomfort to your trip overall.

Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are another great option for nutritious foods that keep your base weight low.

Consider lighter stoves and fuel options such as a wood-burning stove or alcohol stoves and measure out your fuel for the trip.

4. Repackage Items

Rearranging your items can also help reduce your base weight. Bulky packages decrease the space in your bag and might increase the weight. Consider transferring items in oversized boxes into smaller packaging.

For instance, an entire tube of toothpaste or a whole box of pasta would take up precious room in your backpack. You could use toothpaste tablets or use reusable travel containers instead. You should repackage your food into lightweight plastic bags rather than using their original packaging.

You can also leave behind extraneous packaging for your tent, hammock or sleeping bag. Most of these items have sacks or protective coverings you can remove before placing them in your backpack. Tents often come with bags for poles, stakes, and the tent itself. You could pack those components directly instead of adding the extra coverings.

5. Weigh Your Gear

A strategic way to reduce base weight is to weigh each item in your backpack individually. That way, you can identify the heaviest pieces and find ways to reduce their weight. You can use a kitchen or luggage scale to weigh each piece before placing it into your bag. Measure everything from the camp stove to your toothbrush.

You can also use the weighing process to narrow down options. You might have multiple jackets, shirts, or other pieces and can’t decide which would be best to bring. You could measure each to see which has the lowest weight.

Record each weight and keep them in a spreadsheet for quick access. Then, add them all together for an exact base weight. You can return to the document for future trips and make packing easier.

Here’s our favorite tool for monitoring pack weight.

6. Remove Unnecessary Items

Another strategy for lowering base weight is to study your packed gear once you return from a backpacking trip. You can unpack your bag and evaluate which items were workhorses and which went mostly unused. Sort them into piles to visualize the divide more clearly.

Then, you can determine whether the unused items are necessary for your next trip. You might have unworn clothes, fuel or uneaten food that you could go without next time. Or, maybe an extra pillow isn’t necessary and you can use your jacket instead. Making cuts like these helps you reach a goal base weight.

Shop Online With DutchWare Gear Today

Maintaining a safe base weight is crucial for successful backpacking. At DutchWare Gear, we aim to help customers find the best outdoor gear. We produce innovative and durable camping equipment that suits a wide range of outdoor activities. All our pieces have a limited environmental impact, from using recycled materials to minimal packaging.

We’re the one-stop shop for your next backpacking adventure. Whether you need lightweight apparel, condensed cooking supplies, or anything in between, DutchWare Gear has high-quality equipment you can count on.

To get started with DutchWare Gear, shop online today.

Bikepacking combines the best of backpacking and biking, allowing you to blaze along trails, enjoy heart-pounding excitement, and explore new terrains. Finding the best bikepacking routes is essential for your next adventure. Some trails are ideal for bikepacking for beginners while other routes are for more experienced riders. Choose a place to explore based on your experience level, interest, and what your bike can handle. Learn more about where to go bikepacking below.

Olympic Adventure Route, Washington

This 66-mile trail is 99% accessible by bike and takes about two days to complete. Olympic Adventure Route is a mostly single-track, unpaved trail with amazing views of the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan De Fuca, and Vancouver Island. Mossy old-growth trees and a 7,900-foot total ascent drive the adventure of this route, while nearby campgrounds make it accessible for beginner and moderate bikepacking enthusiasts.

Virginia Mountain Bike Trail

If you’re interested in more advanced bikepacking excursions, this 473 mile, 10-day route with a total ascent of 53,400-feet takes you along rail trails, up crags, past farms, and into wildlife. There’s a real sense of beauty and history in the scenic George Washington Jefferson National Forest. This route is not ridden often, so its overgrown and rocky path presents a challenge for explorers.

Denali National Park, Alaska

If you’re looking for bucket-list bikepacking ideas, this Alaskan park offers more than 6 million acres, much of it without trails. You can blaze through the wilderness and create your own adventure. Even with trails, you’ll need advanced biking skills and plenty of gear — layers, waterproof clothing, and waterproof boots are a must. Be sure to pack bear spray and a camera to capture lynxes, bears, and other wildlife you’ll see.

Blaze Your Own Trail

Even if you don’t live near the Olympic Adventure Route or can’t hop on a plane with your bike to see Alaska, chances are there are bikepacking routes available nearby. You can find your adventure at local parks, national parks, camping grounds, forest service roads, and hiking routes that allow bicycles. Other bikepackers in your area might also be able to show you trails you’ll enjoy.

When looking for routes to explore, consider the trail’s elevation, terrain, length, and surface. Check local regulations to ensure you can bring your bike. Some hiking trails, for example, are designated for hikers only. If you’re going on a multi-day adventure, verify camping areas and camping rules before your trip.

Explore New Routes With Confidence

Before you head out, make sure you have the right gear for the weather and the location. If you need to stock up, browse DutchWare’s bikepacking gear. Our high-quality gear is lightweight and easy to use. We have everything you need for a successful bikepacking trip.

If you love the outdoors, you’ll adore our commitment to sustainability. Contact our team to learn more!

Fun Winter Camping Activities

Has cabin fever struck your household? Are you rapidly running out of ways to keep your kids — and yourself — entertained throughout the long, cold days of winter? You should consider winter camping.

While winter camping has some big differences from summer camping, you can make it a memorable trip for you and your family with some advanced preparation. Make sure you pack enough gear to keep yourself and your children safe and comfortable. Let your imagination run wild as you plan fun winter activities for the entire family.

Winter Camping Activities for the Whole Family

Camping during the winter creates unique opportunities for lasting family memories. Check out these ideas for fun winter camping activities:

 

• Make snow angels: Making snow angels is an easy and fun activity for kids and adults of all ages.
• Build a snow fort: Pack the snow into walls or other shapes to make a snow fort or igloo. Help your children design a safe snow fort that won’t collapse.
• Sit around a campfire: Warm up around a campfire after playing in the snow all day. Drink hot chocolate, roast marshmallows, hotdogs, or another warm treat, and share your favorite winter memories.
• Go on a snowmobiling trip: Whether you own a snowmobile or you’re renting one for the day, snowmobiling is a fun activity for a whole family. Many state parks have designated snowmobile trails, or you can attach a sled or tube to your snowmobile and pull your kids behind you in an open field.
• Try sledding: Find a safe, snow-covered hill and use your favorite sled, tube, or saucer for a fun downhill thrill. Ensure the hill is free of rocks, trees, and other obstacles to stay safe.
• Go ice fishing: If you’re camping near a frozen lake, you may be able to find an ice fishing outrigger that supplies the tools you need to catch a fish of epic proportions.
• Have fun ice skating or playing hockey: If ice fishing isn’t your family’s thing, you can try your hand at ice skating or a game of hockey. Skating or playing hockey outdoors will be a different experience from a rink and may spark a lifelong interest.

 

Learn More About DutchWare Today

Whether you’re going on your first camping trip or one of many, you want your gear to keep you safe and warm throughout your adventure. At DutchWare, we have a wide selection of camping gear for all seasons to ensure you stay warm, dry, and comfortable. Shop our selection today or fill out our contact form to learn more about our products!

6 Reasons Why You Should Go Camping in the Fall

Have you been considering a fall camping trip? Cool-weather camping offers more than just a chance to see how warm your sleeping bag is. You’ll also enjoy a range of fall camping activities you can’t experience at any other time.

Check out these six reasons why you should head on a fall camping trip this season.

1. Cooler Weather Is Better

Camping in the summer is fun — except for the heat. You rarely find relief from the soaring temperatures unless you take a dip in the lake. However, during a fall camping trip, the weather is your friend. It’s cool enough in the daytime for challenging hikes, and at night it’s frigid enough to justify a mug of hot chocolate. We welcome any camping weather that calls for warm beverages!

2. Fewer Bugs Bugging You

Another drawback of summer camping? The pesky bugs flying around you morning, noon, and night. In the fall, mosquitos and gnats have gone away, and you can enjoy your camping trip free of buzzing and bites.

3. Fun Fall Activities

When you set off in search of adventure in the autumn, look for camping sites that have fall fun on tap, such as:

• Apple or pumpkin picking.
• Hayrides.
• Cider making.
• Halloween costume contests.

4. Fewer People on the Trails

In the summer, campsites are often crowded with people. Once fall hits, the crowds have thinned. You’ll find you have more space to yourself on the trails, down at the fishing site and in the camp bathrooms.

5. Different Food Options

Summer camping fare tends to be lighter. When fall comes around, you can bust out the best hearty recipes, such as tasty chilis or pumpkin-flavored anything.

6. The Scenery Looks Different

Fall is the most scenic of seasons. When the leaves change colors, the landscape transforms, and you’ll love the different ways autumn touches everything around you. From the leaf carpet on the ground to the dazzling golds and maroons on the trees, fall scenery brings a kaleidoscope of colors you can appreciate close up when you’re camping.

Get Ready for Fall Camping With DutchWare Today

If you go fall camping, you’ll need the right gear to keep you toasty and comfortable during your outdoor activities. DutchWare has all the fall camping gear and accessories for a fun trip. Check out our inventory and get in touch to learn more or make a purchase today!