@Dad_Aint_Hip  Good question - I too have had a similar dilemma. For my smaller packs (day packs, hydration) I have gone with "close enough." For my long-haul packs (65 L and up) I have gone for the precise fit. My torso is around 21 1/2, and the Osprey Atmos (65 L), Large, 20-23 inches, fits and hauls like a dream. Likewise, for bigger loads, I have used the Kelty Coyote 85 which, although not as high-end as Osprey (or other brands) has a great fit with its " Fit Pro technology," which is basically two straps that slide everything into place. Ultimately the only way you are going to know if the pack fits is to go to the shop and try it on. Have them load you down with 10 lbs or so, walk around the shop and see how it feels.   Happy trails! ... View more

@Kco  Kco, While Osprey (like the Syncro 12) and REI (like the Co-op Trail Hydro 20L) make some great day/hydration packs, if you are just starting out, I cannot recommend highly enough the Teton Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack. For around $30, this little pack is tough, and for a small frame, fits well. I own several packs, from all of the above-named companies, and I have found that for day outings, the Teton Sport works great. Happy Trails!  JBG ... View more

Dear @OldGuyot  OldGuyot, Thank you for the clarification! I have been trying to get info. from Garmin for almost three days.  Cheers, JBG ... View more

Ethan, Check out Osprey's backpacks, especially those that have IsoForm hipbelts - The XS goes down to 28' inches or smaller and can be changed out in the future.  https://www.rei.com/product/111305/osprey-isoform5-cm-custom-moldable-hipbelt-mens ... View more

Acheela, Hi right back to you! Before I would make any recommendations about base and mid layers (and BTW, shop in whatever section works for you. I have, for example, a set of women's Cuddl Duds that I sleep in. They are warm and light, just the ticket for my winter backpacking set-up), the more important Q's are; 1) What kind of physical shape are you in now, and, 2) How high is "higher elevations"? Your greatest risk in pushing where you are at now as a hiker does not come from your gear (unless you have none, or the gear you have is so poor that it is useless, that is, just like having nothing) but from how ready your body and mind are to meet the next hiking challenge. Understand that this is a value-neutral assessment, that is, asking "am I physically ready for this hiking challenge" has nothing to do with any particular weight or fitness level. For example, I am closer to sixty than fifty, I am in great physical condition, working out five to six days a week and hiking every week, and I always do a long (think 5 to 12 days) backcountry hike in the summer, typically at much higher elevations than where I live (elevation of my town - 700 feet about sea level). BUT, I am VERY careful to train for the hike, lose weight for the hike, and always have a physical before the hike. When you go out backpacking for longer days and higher elevations, you want to have that "Oh my Lord, it is so beautiful!" experience, and not the "Oh my Lord, how am I going to get out of here!" experience. The difference in that outcome starts with our most important piece of gear - ourselves. That all being said, check this REI vid on layering ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYKkfjE5GpQ ), keeping in mind that if you are on a tighter budget, you can shop the types of layers in all sorts of places, even stores like Walmart (again, my Cuddl Duds). And don't worry about which department (men's/women's) you get your stuff in, just keep moving forward - You will drop the weight that you don't want and reach the heights you are aiming for, one step at a time. See you down the trail! JBG ... View more

Tas, Let me join the chorus in suggesting that tents and heaters do not go together. True, there are winter tents that can accommodate a stove (see Youtube for videos by the dozen), but these tents and stoves are really nothing that you would backpack into an area - Think very heavy and unwieldy. Additionally, you should be VERY careful when using a stove in a tent because Carbon-monoxide (CO) is a killer. I lost a Middle School friend and his father in a camping/CO accident.  I love winter backpacking, especially in my area (Ozarks/Ouachita/Smokey Mountains) because the views are better, the ticks are gone, and the trails are all but empty. Watch this REI video on winter camping for a general overview, and then come on back with any specific Q's and we (your caring backpacking community!) will get you all set-up.     https://youtu.be/ReanLLCCKIc Cheers, JBG ... View more

@Lanzastar , How wide the pad is (unless you are literally falling off the sides) is not as important as the R-value (how insulated it is) and the length. Try to get a pad that long enough so your feet will not fall off the end. If you are winter camping, try to get a sleeping pad that has an R-value above 5. Therm-a-Rest makes some great pads (air) but they are $$$. If you are on a tight budget, you could get an air pad with a lower R-value (look at Klymit) and then add an inexpensive closed-cell pad (see again Therm-a-Rest). Cheers!    ... View more

Jen, Can you tell me a little more about the issue(s)? What do you need to do by way of fixing? Is it bent, broken, shock cord gone flat, how can we help you? JBG ... View more

@BrianW BrianW, Is this "Michigan" Michigan, or are we talking yooper hike? Formerly of Marinette, WI... JBG ... View more

@flyeaglesfly Fly, We own a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4, and for 3 people, it is like a palace: 57 square feet for the floor, peak height 50 inches, and a pack weight 5 1/2 lbs (we add some more stakes) with footprint. These are upsides to the tent. The downside is that it was $650. Having grown-up sleeping on/or under tarps in the mountains of Utah (tents were for rich kids), I still have a hard time getting past feeling guilty. If money is an issue, and there are four of you traveling together, you might be bettered served by packing two, two-person tents. There are many, many two-person options out there, both in terms of price and size. Good luck, JBG ... View more