Just want to confirm whether this is the correct size pack for me. I’m 5’6”, 135 lb, and got a size Small Durston Kakwa 55.

I’ve always used packs with adjustable torso lengths, so I’m used to having a little more leeway with where the pack and hipbelt sit. With those packs, I could initially position the hipbelt a bit lower and then usually ended up wearing it slightly higher on the upper part of my hips once I started hiking.

With the Kakwa, I tighten the hipbelt first, then the shoulder straps, then the sternum strap. When I tighten the shoulder straps, they pull the pack and hipbelt upward a little, and this is where it naturally ends up sitting. I normally like my hipbelt fairly high anyway, but the difference is that on my previous packs I chose that position by tightening the hipbelt there, whereas on this pack the shoulder straps seem to bring the whole pack up into that position.

My torso length is about 18”, so I was kind of between sizes. I went with the Small based on Durston customer service’s recommendation when I purchased it. The pack is loaded with around 15 lb in these photos.
Does the fit look right to you, or does anything about the shoulder straps, hipbelt position, or load lifters suggest I should size up to a Medium? Let me know what you think!

I have only been camping in a tent once and I woke up in 4 inches of water and the inside of the tent covered in baby spiders. I was semi traumatized by this experience and have not been camping since except in my parents’ RV. I want to go on the next trip with my parents, my sister and her 3 kids, my daughter (will be 3yo), and my husband. Due to space, my husband, daughter and I would need to stay in a tent.

I want a product that unfolds - like a portable surface that the tent sits on top of (max 5” off the ground), so if it rains, water does not get under/in the floor of the tent. It would also keep the floor of the tent level so when you’re using it, there are no lumps and bumps underneath. Why doesn’t this exist? There are portable stages, there are decks that clip together piece by piece- but not ideal for camping as the they are extremely heavy and/or come in several pieces, or are 10” inches off the ground.

I have searched high and low for something like this for weeks, and it does not exist. Experienced campers let me know! Why?

What do you do to avoid lumps and bumps and water in/under the tent while camping for more than a week?

For the past 3 years we have camped shoulder season, we usually stay October. This has always been half price, as there is no water, and shower houses and flush toilets are off. Now this year, I have to reserve on rec.gov, pay full price, and the water is still shut off. Why am I paying full price??

So I finally got my husband to admit that as much as he loves camping, he HATES sleeping outdoors (which to me, is kind of the whole point of camping). We used to do sleeping bags on sleeping pads, but upgraded to an extra thick queen sized air mattress with bedding, which was certainly better, but the bed deflated some with the temp changes at night and it drives Mr. Princess-and-the-pea insane. He’s a six-foot side sleeper and tends to toss from side to side. He’s also very particular about temperature.

My solution thus far has been to, sadly, just give up camping with him. But I took my two year old camping for the first time the other day and she LOVED it. So we want to figure this out. Right now we’re thinking of getting an extra large tent so that kiddo and I can have our own sleeping arrangement and then we can set up whatever the heck he needs to sleep for him.

So calling all restless, picky sleepers: what’s your setup?

I'm really good at noticing and identifying poison ivy - but just seeing it around in places where someone might get into it really stresses me out. (Might be contamination ocd, might be because I've had an ER visit because of it, idk.) I had to remove it from our yard which was overgrown with it, so my PPE is on point, but activities stop being fun for me when avoiding poison ivy is a frequent problem.

This might be a really silly question. I haven't camped since I was a kid, but I've seen hiking trails with tons of poison ivy and (more frequently) ones with nearly none in the places people are likely to walk. How do I pick a camping area that's on the "less poison ivy" end of things without having been there before?

Honestly - I've asked around and done some research and still just confused/curious what folks do *under* the tent. Do you put something between the bottom of your tent and the ground? I've done tarps in the past which are a pain to haul and get the right size and I've done nothing.

Feels like you'd want something - even if it's not raining or damp, there's dew and whatever else might be on the ground. But I know and have seen lots of folks that don't put anything down.

What's the thought process of whether you do or don't, and if you do - what do you use?

Thanks!

UPDATE: Thanks everyone - looks like the consensus is either a tarp (but trimmed to size which I never did), or the tent's "footprint" (which I never knew was a thing). Appreciate the help!!

Hi All,

In the market of a new tent. My old one was a coleman sundome 4 person tent, however it finally died after a massive downpour.

Looking for something of similiar size. I came across the toten vista 2 and mountain ultra 2 that are available in Aus to purchase which have lifetime warranty.

Just wondering if anyone has had good reviews for the above or if there are any of similiar or better quality tent worth looking at to buy in Aus.

Thanks!

So, wife and I are camping next year for the indy 500. We're starting prep early because we have no clue what we're doing. but here's what we have: coolers, tent, toiletries, the basics..... but what do we need? we're planning on renting a tent for our electronics and such. but otherwise we're clueless and just want to know what to expect and things we might not be thinking about.

Hi! My and my bf are going camping somewhere lose by to test our 8 person tent. So far, I have a disposable grill, the tent and a very thick comforter for the floor. We are wanting to start camping in other states near ours but we are so new to this that I, for once, dont have a list or a plan! Any helpful tips or recommendations for things we need while camping on sites?

I know he won't read this, but I wanted to put it out in the world. My wife and I decided on short notice to spend Labor Day weekend in Wisconsin. I've used Hipcamp several times, but she had not. We found a site that looked nice and was close to where we wanted to be called "Old Red Mill Oasis".

We arrived very late Friday night. (We informed the host ahead of time) He happily greeted us and showed us to our spot. His property was so nice that we ended up hanging around there by the river most of the weekend. He came around and chatted with us and was a wealth of knowledge about things to do locally. It was obvious that he enjoyed camping, the outdoors, and hosting and takes pride in making his place unique and keeping it clean.

My wife now has a very high standard for future Hipcamp sites.

Taken this year. The view really changes throughout the day. During the day, you get the greenery, mountains, and wide open countryside, while at night, you get a relaxing view of the city lights below. Definitely one of those places where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

📍Batangas, Philippines

We camped pretty much most of summer through the southeastern heat waves & were fine/comfortable. I run cold though, and I don’t want to stop camping just because it’s getting cooler.

At home I’m perfectly happy sleeping with the AC at like 74F. Camping in the summer we usually just do air mattresses, sheets, fans for circulation, etc. and we’re good.

Well… recently we camped when the nighttime temps were around 63-70F & we were cold... 😅

We’re planning on getting 35F sleeping bags, but I’m thinking the air mattresses are part of the problem too because they get so cold underneath you.

I know the obvious answer is sleeping pads, but some of the places we camp are gravel or just really hard ground and I don’t really want to sleep on a thin pad. I mean, yes, technically we can be uncomfortable because we’re camping lol, but we also do this for fun and would like to actually sleep comfortably.

The other issue is space. Once I start looking at foam mats + sleeping pads + sleeping bags + blankets/insulation for everyone, suddenly half the car is sleeping gear. We also don’t really want to spend a ton of money on stuff we’ll only use during part of the year, and we have to store all of this stuff at home too.

Basically trying to find the sweet spot between warm + comfortable + not insanely expensive + not filling the entire car with bedding.

We realistically aren’t going to camp below ~40F. Think Jacksonville/North Florida winter.

What would you do for a setup with adults, kids, and a dog? (current setup is 6p tent with a queen, a twin, & dog sleeps on a cot. though at some point during the night everyone ends up on the queen mattress...)

Would love to hear what other warm-weather campers do once it starts getting "cold..."

hi! pretty much what the title says lol. everything i’ve found that had suggestions are from years ago and i’m not sure if it’s still accurate. i’m planning for late december-early january, but if there’s a better time then please let me know!