We are heading towards our late 50’s and want to keep seeking adventure in the outdoors as long as we can. Carrying a lot of weight does not help the cause. The last couple of trips we have had sore feet, damaged toenails and blisters. Include a sore back into the equation. It was becoming hard work.

Checking out the Aarn website we were intrigued by the following statement:

Aarn Bodypacks are the most efficient, comfortable, stable, practical and healthy way to carry load on the human body. They challenge traditional thinking on pack design.

Backpacks significantly disturb the posture, balance and movement of the body. Backpacks create leverages on the torso that act to distort the natural curve of the spine. Backpacks are a stressful and energy wasting way to carry a load.

It was time to seek an alternative.

We headed off to Backpacking Lite in Melbourne to check them out. In our opinion, if you are purchasing something like a pack you, really need to try it on, get it fitted and understand it before you purchase it. Buying it online is not a great option.

After a thorough play around with the pack we were convinced they might be for us and purchased one each.

Sue and Hannah with their Aarn packs

A couple of weeks later,  without any pre-trip experimenting with the packs,  we loaded them up and headed off for 7 days on the Overland Track in Tasmania. Yes, the first time we wore them loaded was heading off. Crazy? Yes!

After a wonderful trip, the new Aarn packs proved to be winners.

Positives:

• light, around 1.5kg (3.3 lbs), about 1.5kg lighter than our One Planets.
• fit like a glove, very comfortable, easy to walk, little stress on our backs or feet.
• you can walk upright in a comfortable position.
• we were balanced and stable while we walked.
• it is waterproof so you don’t need to pack gear inside your pack in dry bags.

Negatives:

• you look weird compared to other walkers you meet
• you spend time explaining how the pack works
• there are many straps, fittings and adjustments. This can be very confusing at the beginning.
• we found it a fiddle to get the back length right

Things to look out for:

• try and get it fitted by a professional when you purchase it. Especially the height adjustment. Getting your head around adjusting the pack, when you have no idea how to do it, and it is fully loaded,  is a challenge.
• be careful packing sharp items as each compartment is lined with a dry bag. Once perforated you need to replace it or accept the pack is not waterproof.
• The Aarn website has a STACK of information and video’s on how to adjust and fit a variety of their packs. The site can be confusing as there seems to be a several videos for each pack and the different adjustments for the pack

This video is a basic comparison between our old One Planet Strezlecki packs and our new Aarn Featherlite packs.

Hope it helps explain the differences and gives you some good information if you are in the market for a new pack.

Have you tried an Aarn backpack?
Do you love or hate your existing pack?
Do you have any recommendations for our readers?

Shoot us a comment below, we would love your feedback and ideas.

We  love a degree of comfort.

We love the gear we have carefully collected (and spend a lot of money on) over many years.

Our One Planet packs, down cocoon sleeping bags and all the other miscellaneous bits and pieces that make our trips comfortable and, well, like home.

We do hate sore feet, sore backs, the dread of throwing on a heavy pack after a lunch break. We also hate feeling exhausted at the end of a days walking.

Is your pack like this?

Image – Annie and John via Flickr

Ok, where are we heading with this?

We suggest you head over to Backpacking North, more specifically to the page: Ultralight makeover.

Why? Because it contains the most comprehensive and detailed suggestions and ideas for all of us to transition to lighter weight gear that we have come across. Yep, it is thorough work.

Packs were even weighed in the good old days

Image: Forest History Society – via Flickr

Lighter weight gear you say?

Yes. Well, maybe not as light weight and evangelistic about everything as Mark Roberts the author  but it is well worth considering. Well worth a read, well worth thinking about.

We will be and many thanks to Mark for all the hard yakka researching and presenting the very detailed information.

Have you gone ultralight or even light? Share your ideas below, we would love to hear what you have achieved in reducing your pack weight.

Clare with her old Mountain Designs pack – Overland Track Tasmania

On a work hike on a small part of the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, I met this couple who swore by the Osprey Atmos, it was a light weight, full sized pack. So I bought one. When it arrived I was super excited and we headed off to The Overland Track in Tasmania. Within the first 2 hours I was crying in pain. It was horrible!

When we arrived home I promptly sold it and started researching another. I can’t live without a pack!

I went to the lightweight camping store (Backpacking Light) just off Little Bourke St in Melbourne and tried on a couple of different ones, finally settling on an Aarn pack.

I was pretty nervous about the hike, as I wasn’t sure how the pack was going to go, but from the very first day I knew I was in love.

The many straps and clips shouldn’t deter you. The waist straps itself is genius! Firstly, it has two straps going through the buckle, so that it can be tightened to fit perfectly! Then a further 3 buckles across the chest, to secure the balance pockets in the front.

The balance pockets help to even out your center of gravity, causing your posture to be correct and to walk upright, instead of leaning forward that I have become so accustomed to whilst hiking. They also have mini dry bags, which meant my phone and head torch could live safely in there. I wasn’t sure how these pockets would work out for me, but it turned out that they worked like a charm! I had a drink bottle in each one, then anything I would have put in a top or front pocket went in there, my scroggin, muesli bars, spoon etc. everything was very easy to find.

The main backpack is divided into two, but open across the bottom. I though this would be difficult to pack, but once I’d slipped my sleeping bag across the bottom, then everything seemed to fit so well. This was also a dry bag, which meant I didn’t have to use a pack liner.

It is a great pack! Cost a little more than I’d expected, or wanted to pay but it was worth it!

Clare Reilly is an Outdoor Educator, experienced multiday walker, guide and gear junkie.  She just happens to be our eldest daughter who is taking time out to start her family.  She writes over at The Life of Clare about living simply, food and life. 

We did have a funny, if not weird, experience at the end of the walk.

Arriving back at the Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre we were approached by a rather frantic fellow enquiring if we would sell him our Helinox walking poles.

After a quick chat we discovered that Cathy and Geoff were about the start hiking the Overland Track. They had travelled to Cradle Mountain via a local busline and someone…..had left Cathy’s walking poles in the bus.  It, and the poles, were now on the way to Hobart via Strahan. Basically they were gone, not to be retrieved until the end of the walk.

This was ok, except, the walking poles were also their tent poles……..

Six Moons Lunar duo single skin tent – note the “tent poles”

It is a bit of a weird story but Cathy and Geoff had bought our Overland Track guide and the walking poles on our recommendation as they were regular readers of this site.

We got to meet some readers face to face! It was fantastic!

Over to Geoff from an email he sent on their return home:

Cathy and I have not stopped talking about our chance meeting with you in the visitors centre carpark at Cradle Mountain on the 3rd of Jan, the timing of your return to your car and the fact that the poles were identical to Cath’s felt like a minor miracle to us.  You can see how critical the poles were by having  a look at the attached shot of our tent !!

We had the most fantastic time on the OT (attached is also a pic of us on the summit of Ossa) with too many highlights to mention, what a beautiful place it is, our expectations were far exceeded and the highlight that we hadn’t anticipated was the people we met along the way and the friends we have now made.

Geoff and Cathy on Mt Ossa – Tasmania

Thankyou sooooooo much for your kindness which gave us the ability to get started straight away.  We were touched by your desire to see us get going and the excitement for the track that you briefly shared with us.  We had a fantastic late afternoon walk through the alpine heath past Kitchen Hut with the sun lowering and the landscape turning to a burnt orange colour. We made it to Waterfall Valley at last light with enough time to put up the tent and have some dinner.

We tented every night and took the walks each day slow and easy, admiring the big and the small beauty along the way.

Just by way of information, the last night we camped at Narcissus hut to catch the ferry the next morning at 9.30am to connect with a 10.30 shuttle but were finally advised at 10.30 am by uhf that the ferry service had been cancelled for the day (due to weather) so we missed our shuttle and walked the final leg to Cynthia bay and spent the night there (in a spa cabin !!) and got the shuttle to Launceston the following day (Paul Grigg was very helpful in this regard).  We found by talking to various people that there is a growing dis-satisfaction with the hotel / ferry operators at Cynthia bay and that there is an increasing chance that the ferry cannot be relied upon.

None of this bothered us at all as we had some flexibility at that end and nothing could detracted from the walk we had had, we enjoyed the lakeside walk actually and found it quite spectacular and beautiful.  If advising people I would suggest that you allow enough time to walk out (it took us 4.5 hrs) and catch the ferry if it turns up.

Negatives always turn into positives and because of ours and others delays we all had a great meal together in the resturant (about 10 of us) with others we had met on the track which was a great way to finish.

Next day we returned to Cradle Mountain Lodge for 3 nights to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary which was “luxury plus”!

Our little exchange in the carpark is now a rich memory and a fun part of the story as we tell family and friends about our trip.

Geoff and Cathy with the poles and our card!

Thanks Guys, it was a pleasure to meet you and fantastic you had a great trip!

By the way, we gave Geoff and Cathy the poles, Mox from Helinox had given them to Frank as a sample. He kindly replaced them on our return because we love them and don’t go anywhere without them!

Oh, and if you want to read more about the Six Moons Lunar duo single skin tent , Geoff posted an article over on the Bushwalk Australia site, great information.

Finally, if you love hiking but you’re not into camping, visit the Quickbeds website to find a great deal on your accommodation – no matter where you are!

Recently we were contacted by Natureshop.com, who loved Our Hiking Blog and when we perused their website,  we found we loved them.

Nature shop is a carbon neutral online retailer selling products with a strong environmental and social ethos. A quick glance at their about us page will make you aware of how committed they are.  They specialise in a variety of  footwear and gear such as
Merrell footwear or Teva sandals and shoes

Johanna Beach - Great Ocean Walk - Frank used Teva walking shoes for a few trips here guiding, they were excellent

They did offer us a product each from their extensive range and we are both very excited now that our parcels have arrived. I am looking forward to trying out my new Merrell Siren’s while Frank opted for a pair of Teva Event M’s. We will let you know how these styles go, with consideration to comfortable and durability, two of the essentials of good footwear.

In the meantime we suggest you have a look at Nature shop . It great that they have done all the research about how the products are made and that everything availabIe has been produced in an environmentally responsible manner. It’s also good to know in this age of consumerism that when we go shopping the some profits are use for good.

Oh, and they offer free return shipping and a long return policy.  Quite a positive approach.

Do you buy much gear online? How has your experience been?

We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Sue

Devastation.

Is it ruined for ever?
Can a tear be repaired?
Will the result be any good?

Luckily a simple tear or rip to a tent floor or fly can be repaired quite easily, and the result is great!

Our future son in law, Jay Reilly,  recently stayed for a few days. He is an experienced outdoor educator and mountain guide with many years experience in repairing tents. He “volunteered” to repair a torn tent one day and we captured the process on video.

Top tips from Jay:

• Use good quality sealant designed for outdoor gear repair – Silnet or Seam Grip.
• Take your time with the repair and allow at least 10-12 hours for drying, but the more the merrier!
• Talcum powder can take care of the initial “tackyness” when the repair is new.

Jay has spent a lot of time in the Himalaya’s guiding climbing trips.  There are a few video’s around of him, this one of him crossing a crevase at 6500m on Mt Pumori is worth a look.

Have you ever damaged a tent floor of fly?
Did you repair it?
Did it work out ok?

Share your experiences below, we all love to learn from other people’s experiences.

For a few years we have been happily using Thermarest Prolite 4’s – the 3/4 length ones.

The main issue with these is, on a trip into cold climates, our legs were getting a bit cold and the insulation between the ground and our bodies was really only 2.5. cm (1″). They were  loyal companions for several years but it was time to upgrade.

Sue did a lot or research (in conjunction with her mate Anne – Overland Track March 2011) and came up with the Exped Synmat 7 UL (S) Sleeping Mat. It is marketed as light, warm and comfortable.  Definitely worth checking out.

The best deal she could find  in Australia was via Mountain Equipment.  We did not have time to get it from overseas, but in reality the price was very competitive when freight was taken into consideration.

The mat  arrived almost overnight with some additional instructions regarding care handwritten with a note. This was most appreciated.

Rather than write up a long and complex review we decided to film it from opening the packet for the first time through to a follow up after using them in the Western Arthurs.

If you don’t have time to watch the video, the short summary is we loved them.

If you would like to read the full product specification check it out on the Mountain Equipment site.

Have you tried out the Exped Synmat 7 UL ?

What do you think of them?

You know the times, there may be an additional member join your party, something breaks at the last minute or you just don’t trust that backpack to survive another five day trip without disintegrating.

Hiring also gives you the chance to try out different gear at a fraction of the cost of buying an untried piece.

Ian Ferrier from Mountain Bike Tasmania in Launceston hires out hiking gear. After selling Mountain Designs in Launceston back to the company, Ian is now concentrating on his tourism business and has continued the hire gear service once offered through the shop in Launceston.

Gear can be delivered to your Launceston accommodation the night before you depart, including Gas if you are flying in and can’t bring this with you. It can also be arranged for this gear to be returned in Hobart after your walk if required.

What Gear is Available?

• Sleeping Bags
• Sleep Mats
• Fuel Stoves
• Tents – 1 person
• Tents – 2 person
• Tents – 4 person
• Packs
• Child carrier
• Walking Poles – Pair
• Yowie Snow Shoes
• Epirb
• Waterpoof Jackets
• Overpants – Nylon
• Gaiters – pair
• Mountain Bikes

For a complete list, including current prices, head over to the hire hiking equipment page on the site.

Most of the gear is current model spec and allows you to try out the different pack harness options as well as the various waterproof/breathable fabrics available.

To arrange gear hire or just have a chat about what is available, call 0447 712 639 or email  admin@mountainbiketasmania.com.au.

Ian is also happy to offer Overland Track advice. As a former guide on the track he has traversed the route around 60 times and at all times of the year, so if you are after some tips as to what side trips to do, or how deep the snow may be, he should be able to point you in the right direction.

Image – Steve and Jemma Copley via Flickr

Disclaimer: Mountain Bike Tasmania have a paid advertisement on Our Hiking Blog.

Tashi, the young Sherpa boy handing me my Helinox walking poles

If you are looking for some great (free)  information about walking poles or just to read what a local champion  has to say about them, let us introduce Mox.

Norman (“Mox”) Moxey is a mechanical design engineer and bushwalker who is involved in the design and development of outdoor adventure equipment.

“Mox” is associated with the ultra lightweight specialist firm, DAC Featherlite, who produce Helinox brand walking poles. He makes presentations to bushwalking clubs and other groups to explain the techniques of walking with poles that produce most benefit for the bushwalker.

We think he has a very important message and invited him to share his thoughts.

Over to Mox:

I was good at school and my mum wanted me to be a doctor. I hated the sight of blood and became an engineer. I’m now involved in advanced lightweight design with Helinox and I help people by explaining how to use poles to get more health and fitness benefit from their bushwalking. I’m not a doctor, but my mum would still be very happy.

Australian bushwalkers are realizing that there’s a lot more to using poles than just avoiding a fall at that creek crossing.

For most of us, walking is an important part of our exercise. We know that walking increases blood flow to help prevent heart disease, and most of the other things we’d like to avoid. Attitudes to trekking poles changed dramatically when the Cooper Institute found that using poles when walking boosts blood flow by a further 20%.

Research also indicated that the extra blood flow doesn’t require greater exertion, in fact using poles makes it seem easier. Suddenly 10 million Europeans are using poles and sales are soaring in the US.

But the benefits go beyond engaging the upper body muscles to increase blood flow and make walking easier. Keeping our ” wearing parts” in working condition has become a big issue. I meet too many people (many young and otherwise very fit) who are concerned that their bushwalking might soon end because of knee, feet, ankle or hip wear and damage. A nice part of my job is helping them ease the pain by explaining how to use poles to reduce stress loads.

It doesn’t take much thinking to work out that those same stress loads are what caused the wear and damage to the joints in the first place! The best part of my job is helping bushwalkers avoid premature joint wear and injury.

Walking with poles to reduce stress loads on the lower joints is the key, but the important part is technique. It’s simple. It becomes obvious once shown, but it’s NOT instinctive and it needs a little explanation. That’s why we produced an illustrated booklet to explain how to use poles for maximum benefit. It was only intended to be supplied with our poles but we’ve been asked for spare copies and now we make it freely available to everyone.

You can order the free booklet or download it  now by visiting this page on the Helinox site

I sincerely hope the information is helpful to you . . . and so would my mum”.

Best wishes ” mox”

Disclaimer: Mox contacted us to discuss advertising on Our Hiking Blog. We  read the guide and think it is a fantastic resource. Following a long phone chat he offered us a couple of pairs of Helinox walking poles to try out. They have arrived and at first sight look the goods. The plan is to try them out and get back to you with a review.  We feel another video coming on, look out!

A few days ago, Frank had an overnight camping trip at Lake Elizabeth in the Otway National Park , and created a “pre-trip” video checking out the liner.

He used it that night with success (he was warm) but it was a mild night.  We will feedback how they perform once we return from Lake Oberon. Overnight temperatures should be well below zero degrees c.

More techo details from Sea to Summit:

The liner increases sleeping bag performance by up to 8°C (14°F) with 80g/m² Thermolite® fabric. Ideal as part of a cold climate sleep system, or as a standalone bag in warm weather. The Reactor is made from the lightest weight Thermolite® fibre.

• Packs into its own Ultra-Sil™ stuff sack
• Lighter weight, more packable than fleece
• Adds warmth to a sleeping bag
• Mummy shape with a box foot
• Draw cord hood with mini cord lock
• Colour of liner is black
• Weighs 248g (8.7oz)

Have you tried out one of the Sea to Summit liners?

Did it provide additional insulation?

Have you tried a different method or brand to increase your sleeping bag rating?

We would love to hear what you have to say.

Shoot us a comment below and share your experiences or ideas.

Non Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. It has been created to share our experiences. We paid full price for the liners from Mountain Design’s, Geelong (well, less our member discount).

If you are interested in providing products or services for review, please contact us via our advertise with us page.

Over to Georgie:

Hopefully, reading the good news that walking poles are good for your knees inspired you.

If you bought new poles, or dragged your old ones out from the back of the cupboard, the next step is to follow a few simple rules, take a few measurements and make some easy adjustments.

Using your poles the right way will reward you with easier and speedier walking – something that appeals to all of us, especially on multi day walks – so it is worth spending a few minutes reading the How To’s.

But first – how not to use your poles !

I met a lady who had walked the whole length of the OT with her poles strapped to her backpack because they ‘kept tripping me up’. She carried them as extra weight and with no benefit to her walking just because she did not know how to adjust or use them properly.

3 section poles with two locking places

Image: Kathrin and Stephan via Flickr

Pole Length
You can get an expert or trusted salesperson to adjust the length of your new poles, or do it yourself using this simple formula. Unless you are venturing into billy goat country, you probably won’t need to change this setting, but always re-check your poles every day before heading off down the track.

These steps are for 3 section poles with two locking places. It may read a bit complicated, but it is really easy to do and do properly – I got it right first time and in about 10 seconds.

• undo both locks on each pole.
• pull each part out to just before the maximum line. Lock the lowest lock.
• without your backpack on, stand up and relax your shoulders.
• hold one pole by its handle and slide your elbow into and past your waist until your hand is just in front of your arm pit.. gently push the pole down into itself until the top of the handle is about 75cm / 3 inches below the level of your armpit.
• slide your elbow forward to level with your waist.
• look down your arm. Your elbow must be at a 90º angle.
• if it is, lock the top lock – if it isn’t, adjust the top part of the pole, then lock.
  do the same with the other pole.
• hold both poles and position your elbows loosely at your waist. Move your hands straight out from your body, gently plant the pole tips. Check that your elbows are at 90º . Keep adjusting the top section of the poles until you get that critical, sweet angle.
• when you walk with poles, you slide your elbows out from your waist to swing the poles – which is surprisingly easy to do.

Like me, you might be saying ‘Wow, that is a very long pole!’, and it may well be when compared to the length you currently use. The experts say this is how we should have them, so if your poles are not long enough to get that 90º elbow angle, it might be time to invest in new ones.

Wrist Straps

It is the downward pressure the wrist straps put on the pole that gives you the reward when walking with poles.

Straps need to be well fitting, as you put your weight through the strap, rather than directly through the pole. So take the time to get this bit right.

• hold out the strap loop with one hand and put the other hand through it from underneath
• lightly grab the handle on each side of where the strap is attached to the handle – so the attachment is between your thumb and forefinger
• tighten the strap so the loop will not come off your hand when you swing the pole forward

This may sound awkward, but the idea is that you place downward pressure on the strap where it comes out of the handle to swing the poles in front of you.

After about 10 minutes of uncoordinated flinging and crashing my poles around I suddenly ‘got it’, and was soon twirling my poles like a pro.

Walking

The ideal way to walk with poles is to swing them to opposing legs, that is, swing the right pole forward on your left leg stride and left pole on your right leg stride. Some people use some side swing, that is, swing right pole on right stride, left on left, but it looks awkward and seems to take a lot more concentration. Have a go at both, and see which one is most comfortable and beneficial for you.

There are a lot of web sites with very good video instructions on how to use walking and trekking poles. If you do have a look, make sure you don’t click on to a Nordic Walking pole site, as that technique is very different to hiking and bushwalking, and is primarily a fitness workout.

Next week we look at Nordic Walking, as a great way to improve walking fitness.

Till then, good luck with getting to know your poles.

Regards.

Georgie

Do you keep your arm at 90 degrees to your body when using poles?

Do you change the length depending on conditions? Shorter going up hill? Longer down?

Do you always use the wrist strap correctly or just hang on to the pole?

Shoot us a comment below, we would love to hear your feedback.