Temperatures can swing from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons. Pack rain gear to stay dry, and consider bringing one or two sets of clothing for hiking and one set of clothing to change into at camp. One of the best parts of backpacking is settling around a campfire and enjoying a hot dinner after a long day of hiking. You may find it helpful to make a list of meals for each day you are out on the trail to ensure that you are not over- or under-packing for your trip. Some 1-person tents will have two major spars or spines that cross for the main support structure. In the Ozark Trail tent, it has only one spar traveling down the center lengthwise with a single rib to open up the area in the middle.
I was also surprised by the amount of trail maintenance on such a ‘less talked about’ trail,” Tils said. Because it’s basically a single compartment stuff bag, I did have to make sure the items inside were distributed properly. I have used the hydration compartment for items like my iPad. My shoulders did not chafe nor rub or irritate while walking and I did not get any bruising on my hips. I only walked about a mile away on a dirt trail to the showers but it was not a flat surface and the equiptment on my back was stable. Fast and easy to adjust and all buckles and webbing are in good quality.
This was day nine of my 16-day thru-hike of the Ozark Trail (OT). Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, ozark trail backpack and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. Visit our Trail Directory for an overview of the sections.
While this pack may not be big enough to carry all the gear you need for longer treks, it offers many of the features you would want at a good price. Designed for practicality and durability, the Ozark Trail Hiking Backpack features a capacity of 40 liters, accommodating a range of outdoor essentials for your adventures. Cuts, nicks, bruises, aches and bug bites are normal issues for any backpacking adventure. Make sure you have first-aid items to deal with these common problems so they don’t derail your trip. If you’re on the trail for several days, toilet paper and a cathole shovel are necessities. When you do have to answer nature’s call, make sure to stay at least 100 yards away from a water source and bury any solid waste at least 6 inches deep.
“A cold front bringing thunderstorms was preceded by a spectacular cloud show on Stegall Mountain. A sub-freezing night brought beautiful, delicate frost flowers. Water from a full day of rain and a nighttime thunderstorm brought life to the small waterfall in Wolf Pen Hollow.
The set-up was understandably a few steps shorter, which is always nice when setting up in the dark. More than once in the dark I’ve attached a rain fly upside down and we had to restart that particular step. This tent was close to foolproof when it came to the rain fly because it was already connected. He averaged 25 miles per day, with his longest clocking in at 32 miles.
This 14L pack is designed for maximum versatility so you can focus on the great outdoors. It features two main compartments for maximum storage and organization, as well as a shove pocket with a clean, gusseted design for carrying extra items. Also included are side profile daisy chains for carrying items externally.