Before the craze of “Glamping” (also known as glamorous camping for those not pop culture savvy) there was genuine roughing-it backpacking. Since the month of October will be all about Argentina and exploring the region of Patagonia, we decided we would go back to our good ol’ fashioned camping roots, and by roots we mean luxury backpacking, because we know people today couldn’t go without their espressos, warm baths and smart-phones for more than 24-hours!
Luxury backpackers, also known as flash packers, love enjoying the outdoors without having to sacrifice any of the luxury amenities they would find in a hotel. We paired up with The North Face to bring you the most stylish and practical of backpacking gear, with some extravagance thrown into the mix! This week we are putting together some of our favorite items and gadgets for the every day flash packer.
Here’s what you would need to survive Patagonia in style:
While Backpacking is fun and exciting, things can go awry which is why it is necessary to have a back-up plan. The grenade was created by Marines for the every day explorer. It comes with 45-feet of paracord, a compass, a wire saw, three wire snares, a fire starter, three pieces of tinder, 30 feet of fishing line, three fish hooks, six sinkers, two barrel swivels, a knife blade, three stormproof matches with striker, a large needle, 20 feet of black thread, and six water purification tablets, among other things. Tiny and Extensive!
One of the essential things to remember when backpacking it to keep it light. Instead of those clunky shampoo bottles, opt for the Lush’s Solid Shampoo Bar, it smells delectable. How does it work? Wet the top, scrub it again your hair to crate foam and wash it out with water.
Get instant on-the-go Colombian Coffee no matter where you are. A great alternative to that middle-of-nowhere McDonald’s. It is easy to use, you just add a cube to hot water and let it dissolve. The taste is so delicious you will think you are in your favorite coffee shop.
To cook food in a way that wont kill your back, the kettle is tiny and will fit in your backpack. It is perfect for heating water, cooking yummy soups and chili’s and charging your phone all at the same time. Or you can attach the Biolite Portable Grill and have a two-in-one kitchen set.
If you’ve ever watched Bear Grylls, you would know the most important thing when being away from civilization is fresh drinking water! is To purify your water without having to heat it up, LifeStraw is about the size of a pen and allows you to drink straight from a river, stream or even a dirty puddle of water.
start with the practical, The North Face’s Thermoball Hoodie is super-warm and lightweight. It even folds up into a convenient little ball! Pair it with some text-able North Face gloves and a classic black jacket, and you’ll be on your way in style.
To look super cool and protect your eyes from the glaring Patagonian ice, check out the vintage Ray Ban Glacier Cats Sunglasses, they’ll have you feeling like a mountaineer in no time.
Next, gear up those feet with Cabela’s perfekt hiking shoes. When German master boot maker Alfons Meindl mastered these boots, which in fact they are built so well, they’re recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association, not many boots can say that!
This watch is designed to track your elevation, distance, and location. It can pair up with your smartphone to show you the day’s trek and has GPS and can also wirelessly connect to heart rate monitors.
Download some books or movies for the solo nights ahead! If you haven’t read Into the Wild or Wild, both are perfect books for backpackers!
How will you ever keep all your gadgets charged without any outlet plugs in the wild? The waterproof backpack comes equipped with a charger that lasts several days and comes with a USB port!
And last, but definitely not least, the hot tub, which can be filled in under 10 minutes, heated instantly with its and weighs just 20 pounds (for you strong men out there). Because, why not?
BlazingBlock: Making a fire out in the wild is often times challenging, however BlazingBlock just made our lives easier, much easier. Made in the USA from Southern Yellow Pine, this portable fire lights with just a single stick of Fatwood, which you light and place in the chimney hole. The result is up to three hours of a warm, relaxing fire, making it ideal for camping.
