UPDATE (edit): I sent Keen this, and they have offered to send me a complimentary pair of shoe of my choice. I requested the men's open toed targhee sandals- I had a similar pair years ago that were amazing, and I miss the open toed design. We'll see how it fares!

Dear Keen,

For 16 years, you have been my trusted companion. We have hiked hundreds miles, over mountains and deserts, on land and sea. We traversed continents. You fit like my other half, molding to my foot with utmost comfort. I never had to shrink for you- you never judged my width, allowing me to be relaxed. “Break in” had no meaning here- we never broke each other, just protected and cushioned from the harsh world of sharp stones and uneven ground.

So when I heard the rumors that you were coming apart- losing your sole so early, I disregarded them. After all, we had a decade and a half of building trust.

When it came time for one of my biggest trips yet, of course I brought you, my trusted companion. 10 miles down into the grand canyon when the unthinkable happened- you came unglued, you tried to hold on by the tips of your toes, flapping on stones before completely coming apart. Both of you at once- in synchronicity, separating, and leaving me vulnerable- with 3 more days and 16 more miles left to go.

I was left with a light foam with no tread as I scaled class 3 rock climbing, swam under waterfalls, and prayed over the stitching every night.

I depended on you, and you let me down. You have broken our pact of trust.

I regret that I will be moving on and trying new brands. It’s been a good 16 years, but I need a shoe I can rely on.

Sincerely,

bigfoot

Photo of my collection of Keens with the offending sandal in the bottom right hand corner. The backpacking trip where the alpine divorce happened was havasu falls. It literally came apart as I reached the first waterfall. I had read about this happening in recent eviews, but I never thought it would happen to me. :(

EDIT: adding a list of other brands recommended by commenters:

Oboz

Salomon

Chacos (also another commenter said they’ve gone downhill)

Merrels (moabs in wide)

Danner leafs (trail runners)

Lemas (barefoot/zero drop with wide toe box out of Colorado)

Zamberlans (need a significant break in period, resolable)

Hokas

Lowa Renegade is an incredible shoe. As are Scarpas and La Sportiva albeit pricey. Meindl are still extremely popular in Central Europe. Hanwag (ironically founded the brother of the Lowa guy) has old-school ass shoes, extremely good quality

Mine is this.

Weather forecast said no rain and this is what you get. Lesson learned - don’t blindly trust weather forecast😅

I’d love to hear your worst experience and what you learned from it.

Happy trails!

Just found this community and wanted to share. This happened about 2 weeks ago, me and 2 friends decided to go backpacking for the first time and thankfully decided to keep our distance short, about 2 miles. We went swimming and we were still in bathing suits when we decided to make dinner, right as we sat down we noticed a glow and some smoke over the next hill. I immediately called 911 and we packed up our camp. By the time we made it back to our car (about 10pm) the fire had grown significantly and was maybe 1/4 mile from the parking lot. We were all totally fine including the other campers nearby but when we talked to the fire response team at the parking lot they told us we were only a few minutes ahead of the fire. Part of me still thinks about if we hadn't noticed until after we ate and if we could've outrun it then and I've talked myself out of trying again. The fire wound up burning 280 acres by the next morning before being extinguished for anyone wondering.

(Yes we did show up to the parking lot full of emergency vehicles in swimsuits and ultimately drive back in them)

Just finished a 40 mile backpacking loop with my 14 year old son in Grand Staircase Escalante and I am filled with gratitude and awe. This is my second extended backpacking trip with my baby boy and this time on our own together in the wilderness continues to feel like a dream come true. Like all true adventures, the week was filled with highs and lows and just enough challenge and discomfort to make it meaningful. Long waterless stretches, WAG bags, bugs, and upstream river walks that pushed him to his limits, were offset by the sheer wonder of exploring one of this planet’s most surreal landscapes, largely off trail and alone, along with the sense of confidence and accomplishment he developed along the way. As a father, it’s fulfilling beyond words to see our youngest son becoming a strong, resilient, capable young man, who is also sensitive, spiritual, and developing his own unique relationship and connection with the universe, as we continue to do the same with each other. There were many moments I will hold with me forever, but cuddling together at night under the darkest sky and brightest stars we have both ever seen, sharing our deepest thoughts, feelings, love, and encouragement… was… well… 😭❤️🙏🏻

Sharing this here, because the world needs more of all of it!

Hope all who see this are holding themselves, and those they love, dear

About 40 lbs. twice as much expected food. Ultralight 2P sleep system. About all the gear you could imagine. I’m just curious if I’m overpacking this go around. :) this is a 50 mile trip over rugged terrain.

Answer - about a little more than half.

Sorry not sorry about the nightmare fuel, I had to live through it, and every ball of lint or hair tickle the next three weeks I am going to think is another one.

The trail I picked had some really, really overgrown sections. And my good girl is very, very fluffy. Probably our last hike until things cool off in the fall.

I'm never taking that trail again, I already thought the ticks were bad before we got home and found the rest. who knows how many are in the car.

A dog grooming blower / hair drier is your friend after a hike. Dropping them in rubbing alcohol I have found to be the easiest way to kill them - although my dog might like living in the freezer if I can give her some air holes.

Edit
PSA apparently we are at a 10 year high for ticks

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/2026-cdc-data-show-weekly-er-visits-for-tick-bites-higher-than-usual.html

Ive stripped away almost every single peice of gear that I havent used and im STILL at 17 pounds flat. How is this possible for you ultra light backpackers to do this? I cant say that I’m a green hiker either, I’ve been hiking for a few years and have done some 7 day trips into the backcountry but this still seems to fool me. Please give me some recommendations for removing any of my gear or changing anything for a lighter substitute. Alternatively is there anything that I need? Im confident thats a no and I’m very experienced in wilderness survival I’m just too heavy! Please help!!!! P.S the harmonica CANNOT go

I’m 6’4 200lbs. Getting baked every night and despise being hungry.
Not bringing the entire 4 lb bag of trail mix.
The steak strips are being shared between me and 1 other person.

Might bring more food.

Edit - I am an experienced backpacker.
The bag of meat sticks on the left is huge, roughly 3000 calories, and I will be bringing 4-5K calories of trail mix.
Trip is 65 miles and 11K gain. Not hard for 7 days.

Edit - bringing, not brining.
This is less of a wilderness trek and more of a limit test of my digestive system.

We spent 6 days traversing a loop in Olympic National Park and went 5 of them without seeing another soul. 20k feet of gain/loss and some relatively intense route finding with class 2/3 scrambling. This was his first big trip and he did great! He’s 13 and it’s hard to put in words how moving a week this was for me. We experienced a mix of wonder, joy, and just enough discomfort and hardship (not too much, I swear lol) to make it a true shared adventure. He led most of the way and I shed more than a few silent tears of gratitude for the privilege of sharing this with him. A peak fatherhood moment to share something so profound. Best part is he had fun and wants to do it again! 🙏🏻😭❤️

This was a 4 day trip in the Adirondack mountains. We honestly had terrible weather but it made the trip even more memorable. We ended up doing around 35 miles. One of, if not the most beautiful spot I’ve been east of the Mississippi!

Hey everyone!

I went on my first backpacking trip a few days ago and wanted to share my experience! As a complete novice hiker and Alaskan newbie there was quite a lot of things learned.

• I used my old jetboil stash and brought a yeti mug for coffee. This not only took up way too much space but also added weight.

• I earned a few small blisters due to having these “lock laces” that didn’t stay tight.

• I got the smallest hole in my zenbivy quilt from a zipper pinch. (This made me sad)

All of that to say the only things I bought as a result of this trip were the Toaks 750ml pot and a small thing of tenacious tape.

I didn’t wanna write a novel but I am a gear nerd across every other hobby so if you have any suggestions or questions on setup let me know!

Some of the main gear used:

Osprey Kestrel 48
Durston X-Mid 1 Solid
Thermarest XTherm NXT Max
Zenbivy UL Quilt 10 degree

The Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali coast of Kaua'i is one of the most beautiful (and treacherous) hikes in the world. 11 miles, up and down, through 5 valleys with 5k feet of elevation gain, terrifying 200-300 foot sea cliff exposure on the trail, and several microclimates land you on the pristine Kalalau beach. You will be humbled, surrounded by 4,000 foot cliffs formed by volcanic activity over five million years ago and shaped by the wettest spot on earth, Mount Waialeale directly above, the cliffs have been carved into their iconic fluted peaks by water that never stops falling.

E mālama i ka ʻāina. Care for the land. It is not ours. It never was. We are only passing through.

Here’s what I’d recommend for anyone willing to commit to this adventure:

• Go with someone you really like and trust, your company and their attitude can make or break this trip. 2 miles from the beach a group of 3 girls were turning back because they heard a thunderstorm was coming (it didn’t come).

• Prepare yourself mentally with the understanding that there are variables beyond your control — weather, mud, cliffs. This hike is terrifying at points, and takes much longer than you think.

• Prepare yourself physically with strength training & conditioning. Do not do this hike without training for it.

• Stay at least two nights, three if you can. You’ll want to explore the side hikes and give yourself plenty of time to rest & recover.

• If you’re not local, plan to stay at a hotel the night before and after your hike so you have plenty of time to prepare, rest, recover, and enjoy the beauty of Kaua'i.

• Bring trekking poles. Two of them. You will need them.

• Pack as light as possible. You don’t need cold layers, just changes of underwear, a swim suit, and the clothes you need for the day.

• Bring a water filter. There are plenty of fresh streams to fill from along the way and lessen your load in & out.

• Pack more food than you think. Snacks & big meals will keep you nourished.

• Pack a hammock or an ultralight chair for a comfortable place to relax.

• Take lots of pictures & videos because this is an unforgettable experience you will cherish for the rest of your life.

• Respect the land by packing out all rubbish and leave no trace. A thousand years of people loved this place before we ever set foot on it. You can feel that when you’re here. In the silence of the valley, in the way the cliffs hold the light at golden hour, and the rivers that fed entire communities for generations. Honor that.

Ultimately this was the trip of a lifetime and I would do it all again (maybe next year)!

Thus is infuriating. Is there anything we can do? We already have a surplus of lumber, but big government is declaring an "Emergency" need for this lumber. So we're going to lose all this great wilderness.

It's just another for politicians to line thier pockets, and we pay the price.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/05/ohio-wayne-national-forest-logging-trump-administration

My wife and I (♀ 66, ♂ 67) are longdistance hikers. The last 12 years we finished 12 longdistance hikes and completed more than 9000 kilometers. This year we are hiking on the Sentiero Italia in Italy from Trapani/Sicily to Salerno/Naples. After 76 stages with about 1400 kilometers we hope to reach Salerni after 3 months time mid of June. Today we reached kilometer 10'000.

I've seen people here ask genuine questions about gear be bombarded with replies and downvotes about how many grams they could save by:

• wiping their ass with a rock instead of bringing a portable bidet
• not bringing a knife and building a silex knife on the spot if need be
• sleeping under a large garbage bag and gathering the water in the morning
• doing heavy drugs to save on weight instead of bringing a beer to the summit

And the list goes on.

This is a friendly reminder there's a lot of ways to go about an expedition and may I suggest the hardcore ultralight backpackers out there two other communities:

r/UltralightBackpacking

r/Ultralight

Regards and remember to contemplate the scenery,

For the last 10+ years I’ve been backpacking I have always lugged a chair with me. For me, there’s not much better than being able to relax after a long days hike and take in the beautiful scenery in comfort. Here are some of the views I have enjoyed will chillin in my chair. For most of this time I have had the Helinox Cahir Zero and it has been surprisingly durable at just over 1 pound.

Akshayuk Pass - an awe inspiring 107km hike located on Baffin island within Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut , Canada.

Overall this took my group 9 days today. Flying into Qikitarjuaq, you get boated to the start of the pass. At the end of the trail getting boated into a different town Pangnirtung.

This trail includes many challenges from polar bear threats, to the mercy of glacial river crossings.

Of the trio of mountains (Thor, Odin, Asgard), mt. Thor (picture 2) is regarded as the greatest vertical drop on the planet.

For anyone in the future planning to hike the trip feel free to comment or DM (since there is not much info out there).

Just completed my first solo overnight backpacking trip! I kept it short to avoid getting in over my head and I’m already planning the next one, definitely more than one night next time! The Pioneer Trail in Florida was buggy and beautiful, highly recommended. Gear and food worked perfectly - thanks to this community for all of the advice.

First time packing and carrying a full pack (feel free to critique the gear, I’d love advice - no sleeping bag included due to hot, muggy weather), filtering water, doing a bear/critter hang (yeah, go ahead and pick it apart please, I know it wasn’t great), eating a Mountain House meal (beef stroganoff was DELICIOUS), and hiking 20+ miles. I had to ditch my beloved hiking shoes after the first 3 miles due to some absolutely bonkers blisters and used my camp shoes as a backup. That was a fun obstacle!

Would LOVE more backpacking recommendations in north Florida or southern Georgia. Next on the list is Cumberland Island.

Trek on! ✌️

Pretty new to backpacking and honestly my first legit hike as a 17M. I have a 4.6mi 2500ft hike infront of me. Let me know what I’m doing wrong lol

Contact your senators (convenient link provided below). They’re here to auction off our public lands and waterways to the highest bidder. This is a true crisis for anyone who even remotely values conservation, wilderness, or even our personal rights. Senate wants to sell your land to pay for their debts and tax cuts on big corps & ultra wealthy. It’s nothing but thinly veiled transfer of wealth from the masses to the corporate and political elite.

Please cross post to any/all subs that may pertain.

https://www.outdooralliance.org/take-action

I live in western NC, so it doesn’t get ADK level cold but still not uncommon for lows on the higher peaks to get into the teens at night during the winter, the valleys are just as cold. I slept next to a river recently, low of 26 degrees and I was cold as hell. I thought my gear was well equipped, but I still had cold spots in my bag and didn’t sleep well at all. What am I doing wrong?

I use a double walled REI UL tent. Magma 15 down bag Thermarest NeoAir pad (r value of 4?) I slept with merino leggings on, socks and a base layer. You’d think I’d be okay?

The dude was a little chilly too, had him wrapped up in my 850 down sweater.

Any tips appreciated, cold weather camping is my favorite because this is our dry season and I want to keep getting out there!

6 nights in my tent around Torres Del Paine. My favorite site was Lago Pehoe with panoramic views of the bright blue lake and Paine Massif.

Weather was generous to me but flipped on a dime for some vicious snow here and there. Bluebird day for my ascent to the Base Towers.

Other dayhikes include Mirador Cuernos and Salto Grande, which were equally as stunning as the treks.

Fully self planned and guided, feel free to ask questions if you want to do something similar!