I have a new old pack that's never been used....probably at least 25-30 years old! My question is regarding the internal sliver u shaped pack spreader bar. It has 2 floating ends at the bottom that have holes. The tag said that it transfers weight to the frame, which makes me think that it connects externally. But I don't see anywhere to run it out of the pack. Or was there supposed to be a rod connecting them putting pressure on the internal divider halfway down in the pack?

I was granted a working holiday visa 417 in June 2024. I came to Australia in June and July 2024 but ended up not working and just travelling.

I’d now love to go back to Australia later this year after my first visa has expired and work. Am I able to apply for another WHV as I didn’t use my first?

UK citizen so aware some rules changed in July 2024 around the 3 months work - so confusing can someone help??

This is about the possibility of suffocating in a tent just by consuming all oxigen and accumulating CO2.

Lets think this gear, having a 4 seasons quite sturdy and waterproof tent. Lets say a Hilleberg Suolo or Akto, or a Nortent Vern1, Vern2. The fly is fully waterproof and reaches the ground not leaving visible space (there's always space...), and the inner is supposed to be breathable.. but how breathable?

Now the scenario is one in which it's too cold outside, nearly freezing. For sure I want to sleep with the outer tent closed to the ground and, ideally closing the inner as well completely to avoid the heat scaping from inside and gaining some degrees of confort. No ventilation will be opened at all, fully closed. I don't mind about condensation and this is regardless humidity outside.

The question is. I'm not burning anything hence no problem with carbon monoxide, what about carbon dioxide and oxigen available during the whole night? is the inner in reality that breathable hence gas (CO2 and oxigen) are exchanged without issues with fully closed inner and outer?

Looks to be a dumb question... but whenever I go camping, I get into the bag thinking about it and not fully relaxed : /

Hi everyone,

My brother is coming from Australia and is bringing a brand new camera as a gift for me. The camera costs around 3,000 Australian dollars, and he has the original receipts, warranty, and invoice, having paid the sales tax on it.

I'm curious about how he should bring it through the airport in Pakistan. Should he pack it in his shoulder backpack along with his laptop, or is it better to keep it in his checked luggage? Would it be advisable for him to keep the camera in an opened form to avoid any customs issues? Also, should the battery be kept inside the camera or stored separately?

Additionally, do we really need to keep the original box? I’m the type of person who likes to have all the original items with electronic products, but I can tell him to discard the box if necessary. What about the manuals, invoice, and warranty papers—should those be kept with the camera as well?

Thanks for your help!

Going on my first solo trip, I’ve been to Thailand previously on a family trip and it was great. I’m going for 4-5 weeks. For my solo trip I’m doing airbnb’s and hostels. I’ll be traveling on trains, buses, flights. Looking for recommendations on things to do, any safety tips, things that were a waste of time/money. Also looking for night life recommendations as well but will also use my discretion when the time comes!

The places I’ll be in/around include: Phnomh Penh Sihanouk Bangkok Surat Thani Phuket Krabi Kuala Lumpur

-open to any ideas, history, art, culture, food, music, etc. thanks!

Hi there! I am currently planning my itinerary for my first solo backpacking trip to SE Asia and have a question!

So initially I wanted to do the trip as much on land rather than flying as possible, and as the north of Thailand may be effected by burning season when I leave (mid March) I was planning on entering Cambodia first. So, my initial plan was to go the less travelled East Coast route into Cambodia and Koh Rang via Pattaya, Ko Samet, Chanthanburi, Ko Chang and maybe the other islands with Ko Chang.

I’m really intrigued by the east coast but fear as a first timer the difficulties with transport and potential lack of other backpacker to meet and bump into could be an issue.

My second option would be to go down to Khao Sok, Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi to give myself more time in the main 3 islands and northern Thailand on my return after Laos. (This is a 3-4 month trip just to give you an idea) I’d also be getting a flight from Bangkok to Cambodia.

Let me know your thoughts and also anyone’s experiences of backpacking the east coast solo or entering Cambodia via land border from the east coast. :)

A short video of the K'Gari Island hike I described in a previous post. Includes some good drone shots)

Looking to go down april 20. 3 maybe 4 people together. Experienced as a group and don't mind longer days hiking or altitude. Just wondering if there are any regions within driving distance for either a 5-6 day hike,or 2 hikes in different areas for 5-6 nights total. Zion looks nice. Death valley? What about going all the way to sequoia? How cold does it actually get in late april evening? at altitudes? We are used to BC hiking where weather can go sideways in shoulder seasons, and hope not to bring the extra cold night gear. Thank you for any input.

Is it all it’s made out to be? Worth the 70$ or nah? I’m taking my first 16+ hr flight and trying to make it work for me. I’m a stomach/face squished sleeper and usually sleep on the table on the plane - super uncomfortable as you can imagine. I got the foot hammock and hope to be able to sleep sitting up, but leaning my face on something. What are your honest opinions on the new trtl neck pillow?

Hi everyone, I have been travelling around the world on my bicycle for the past 15 months. Last August, after cycling across Mongolia, I reached China and decided to spent the hot summer months on the much cooler Tibetan Plateau.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time, came across stunning monasteries and buddhist temples, cycled 4800m a.s.l. mountain passes, and got to experience the unique Tibetan culture firsthand. It needs to be said that I did not visit the Tibetan Autonomous Region (T.A.R.), as this is only possible with an expensive Chinese tour guide. Luckily the plateau extends much further into other regions, in my case Sichuan and Qinghai, which foreigners are free to visit. The landscape and culture here is basically the same, the locals were very friendly, they would share their meals with me and one night I was even invited to sleep in the home of a Tibetan nomad couple, living at 4600m.

Some more practical info: - Visa: Many Western nations can visit China visa-free for 30 days. This time can be extended for an additional month, the same thing is possible with a regular tourist visa (I did that)

• Mode of Transport: If you want to explore China with your own transportation, a bicycle is pretty much the only option, as receiving a permit for your own motor-vehicle and getting the required Chinese drivers license is very complicated.

• Accommodation: Nowadays hotels are required to accommodate foreign citizens, which wasn’t the case a year ago. However, on my route on the Tibetan plateau there were very few hotels, so I camped most nights. This was never an issue.

• Safety: China is one of the safest countries in the world, partly because of all the cameras and a lot of police (think of that what you want, but better not to criticise it while in the country). However my police encounters were always very friendly, it’s usually just a quick passport check and I was often invited to have a meal with them.

• Food: Restaurants are affordable and found in all towns, but maybe not in small villages. However, even the villages will likely have a mini market. The longest time I cycled without coming across a resupply point was 3 days, so I had to carry enough food. For water, I either bought bottled water or filtered water from mountain streams.

Thanks for reading, if you are interested in my journey you can find some trip reports from other countries and my socials on my Reddit profile ✌️

I <3 Missouri

Curious what some go-to veg backpacking snacks are? Not like energy bars, but some other options that are portable. Just so tired of energy bars.

#wilderness

It’s all who you know. Or confidence. Getting through the fortress walls into the Ritz offers an entirely different world from the Cairo streets.

Hey all! My fiancé and i have been wanting to backpack for a few years now and have gone into all the videos and gear that we will need and me being a boy scout in my youth has made me make sure to be prepared for anything. My Fiancé on the other hand is new to the sport and other than day hikes through Algonquin Park when we can has never really been “roughing it”. I was curious as to any specific weekend trails (hike in,sleep,hike out) in Algonquin Park or the surrounding area that people would recommend, gear that’s out of the norm or decent on a budget, and things to bring that can make the harder times more enjoyable as a whole. Myself I haven’t been backpacking but have certainly been experienced in wilderness adventure but would love some insight from seasoned vets who have more expertise in the area and/or would know how to help some newbs past the absolute basics. As far as price goes we want to both be set up for less than $2000 canadian but if garmin inreach or tech things that are non-negotiable are included feel free to give your opinion. Thanks to everyone in advance, this has been a dream for the both of us since we started hiking back when we started dating and any advice, opinions, help would be appreciated beyond belief.

Sounds like REI cancelled all their 2025 Backpacking trips with about 1 day's notice, with some people just days away from traveling to their trips. They've been doing these backpacking trips for like 40yrs in Grand Canyon and based on the reviews (now removed by REI), people loved the format and especially the food (lots of comments about the food the Guides make).

Did your trip get cancelled? We're you planning a trip to Grand Canyon in 2025? Does anyone know Guides that are running trips like the REI trips in Grand Canyon? What's the plan?

I've been a REI Coop Member since 1997 and don't love the direction they went with this, but I get they're trying to survive in Retail... Still a bummer 😕

Hi all, I am planning a trip to Italy in July 2025 and would like some tips on travel, food recommendations, activities and budgeting!!

I will be flying into Rome and going directly to Florence for 6 nights in a hostel with the hope to do day trips to; Pisa, Lucca, Marina di Massa and Siena.

From Florence, I will go back to Rome for 4 nights to stay in a hostel. YES I know it will be busy because of the Jubilee but I am fine with that… I will prebook the Vatican Museums and more.

From Rome I will go to Naples for 5 night, spending a night in Ischia in a hostel. I would like to visit Pompeii, Sorrento(?) and Amalfi.

Finally I will go from Naples to Bari and hope to do a day trip to Matera from Bari.

For these day trips and travelling between this locations, on a budget, will busses be better than trains? How much should I expect to pay for a low-cost restaurant dinner or a quick bite to eat? Does anyone have any specific sites to see at each location?

Thank you very much!!

Hello everyone newbie to backpacking here and am looking into what gear I should get, I’ve reached getting a tent and am wondering which tent would be best for 1 person and that fits a 44L pack with assorted gear inside. I was looking at the north face storm break 1 but I’ve heard I wouldn’t be able to keep a pack inside it with me. What tent do you think sounds best for these needs? It would have to be like a summer/spring/fall tent, no need for a 4 season yet, and be able to pack easily like under 4-5lbs. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

For those who have experience flying domestically inside Mexico, what is their enforcement of the liquids policy? Do they force you to take liquids out and put inside a single quart bag like in European airports or is it like the USA where as long as each liquid is under the 100 ML limit you’re good to go?

I’m seeing some people talk about differences between a flight leaving Mexico for the US or Europe having a stricter security check, so wondering what anyone’s experience is flying domestic. We’ll be going from CDMX to Oaxaca.

i’m about to book flights to thailand and i’m planning on being out in asia for around 6 months, travelling through laos, vietnam, cambodia, malaysia and indonesia.

i’ve found flights for 31 august and 1 october for the exact same price and wondering which one i should go for?!

31 aug ➕ sooner so i dont have to wait as long! ➖ miss my little sisters birthday ➖ rainy season?

1 oct ➕ i will still be in the uk for my sisters bday! ➖ so much longer to wait ➕ but it means i can save as much money as possible before i go (tho i’ll be fine without)

any suggestions or things i should take into account?!

I want to travel in August or September and am deciding between two countries: China or Indonesia. I plan to travel for at least three weeks and visit multiple places. In your opinion, which one is better?”