Backpacks

Finding the right backpack is the most important thing you will do and it's not an easy matter. If the backpack doesn’t fit you right you will not be very comfortable no matter how it’s packed or how light it is. A well-fitted backpack can carry a lot of weight with surprising comfort. I use and recommend an external frame backpack on the C&O canal because they are easier to load and unload. And because the frame keeps the pack off your back they are cooler on those hot days. If you only have an internal frame that's okay too. The main thing is that your backpack fits well and can carry everything you need.

Finding The right size
First, you must measure your Torso Length. Begin by tying a string or piece of yarn around your waist so that it rides on the hipbone or Iliac Crest. Locate the seventh cervical vertebrae (the prominent bone or large knuckle at the base of the neck) and measure from that point down to the where the string intersects the spine. Compare your measurement to the list below for a correct fit.

17 1/2" or less = Small

18" to 19 1/2" = Medium

20" or more = Large

Note: If your measurement comes between sizes you should try both to find the one most comfortable for you.

Getting the Right Pack
There are many different pack designs to choose from. Most will have a large top duffel with pull string, medium or large bottom pouch with zipper, several side pockets with zippers, and an area at the bottom for your sleeping roll. Your pack should also have 6 or 8 small D-rings to tie down equipment. It is very important to make sure your pack has a full rain cover that will completely cover your pack and attached sleeping bag. Most packs come with a hip strap already attached to the frame by removable pins. You should adjust the hip strap so that the weight of the pack rides on your hips and not your shoulders. If the hip strap is missing replace it before you use the pack or you may seriously hurt your back.

Binoculars
There’s a lot to see on the C&O and having good Binoculars will make it that much better.

Biodegradable soap
You should only use biodegradable soaps when camping. Many of the popular liquid dish soaps used at home are biodegradable. Read the label to see if your favorite brand is environmentally friendly.

Camera and film
There are just way too many things to photograph on the C&O not to have a camera. I've taken 10 rolls of film with me and still ran out. If you don’t have one you can buy those one-time cameras that are getting better all the time. Any camera is better then nothing at all. But a really good camera can be gotten for very little money at one of those thrift shops that are springing up all over the place or even a yard sale.

Camp chair
When I’m enjoying a warm campfire or resting on the trail, sitting on cold rocks, wet or rotten logs is not my idea of fun. A backpack chair weights under 8 oz and can be folded and hung from anywhere on your pack and you’ll never know it’s there until you need it.

Compass
I carry a small compass that clips on my watch when on the C&O canal but it’s not a required item. I use it so I can write down the direction when taking notes of photos I’ve taken. They are small and cheap to buy so there’s really no reason not to have one.

Compression sack
I use a compression sack in the winter because not only do I carry more clothes, the clothes are balkier and take up more room. With a compression sack I can squeeze the balkier clothes down to a manageable size. You can also use a compression sack to reduce the size of your sleeping bag as well.

Containers
Finding good containers for backpacking or camping can be time consuming at best. 2 and 4 oz sizes with secure screw-on lids are good for carrying drink mix, pancake mix, sugar, creamer, spices, coffee, etc, etc. Heavy-duty plastic zip-lock sandwich and storage bags work well also but you should double bag everything or you may end up with a big mess in your pack.

Cook Kit
Buying a quality personal cook kit is worth the money spent. You can buy a good kit for under $20 at most sporting supply stores. Personal cook kits will usually have 5 pieces that do multiple jobs.
The first piece is the large pot used for cooking foods, heating soups and eating from as a bowl. The lid to the large pot is used as a frying pan and plate. Inside that is the small pot with a lid used to heat water mostly but can be used to cook as well. Using the lid will reduce the heating time and save fuel. Inside the small pot is a drinking/measuring cup. I put a small hot pan holder inside the cup.

Cooking/eating utensils
You can buy utensils designed for camping that either lock together or come in a small storage bag. I’ve bought a few different kinds and to tell you the truth, I like using regular home style stainless steel utensils because they are easy to clean and fit well in my pantry bag, All you really need to eat and cook with is a Tablespoon, Teaspoon, and Fork.

Drinking cup
The drinking/measuring cup that comes in a cook kit is usually small so I carry a second larger cup to use also. I just hang it on my pack when I’m not using it.

First-aid kit
A good First-aid kit is only as good as the items you carry in it. And the items in a first aid kit are worthless if you don’t know how to use them. I HIGHLY recommend a Red Cross certified first aid class for anyone that plans to venture out into the wilderness. Backpacking inherently carries you away from hospitals and other health services so you really need to know how to deal with emergency situations. I now recommend keeping a cell phone with GPS signal in or with you first aid kit in case you need to call for help. The following items should always be included in your first aid kit.

10 - Plastic Bandages (assorted sizes)
3 - Gauze Pads 3"x3"
1 – Roll of Tape 1/2"x2 1/2yds.
5 - Antiseptic Wipes
1 – Tube of Triple Antibiotic Ointment (DO Not Use on Burns!)
1 – Tube of Burn Gel or Cream
1 - Small Cold Pack
5 - Hand Sanitizer Towelettes
1 – roll antacid
1 – Tin Pain reliever
1 – 5”x5” Piece of Mole Skin
5 – Alcohol wipes (For cleaning first aid tools ONLY. Use only Antiseptic Wipes to clean cuts, scratches or burns.)

Other optional items you might like to have in your first aid kit would include a Cell Phone w/GPS, matches, penlight, rubber bands and a small magnifying glass.

Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries/ bulbs)
I like using a headlamp. I find handheld flashlights to be a pain in the butt when I am camping. Having both hands free makes everything so much easier when cooking or setting up camp. Make sure you carry extra batteries and bulbs so you don’t end up in the dark.

Hiking poles/stick
A good hiking stick will make the trip go much better. It is used to do an assortment of things while you walk. It provides balance and stability while walking over rough terrain, logs or through mud. You will find that you are able to cover more trails in less time using a walking stick. Mine is a piece of lemon I found in the river. Lemon is flexible yet very strong. It was already striped of its bark so all I had to do was cut it off. It’s about 2 inches taller then me and thin enough to touch thumb tip to middle finger tip.

Lantern
Your choice of lantern is dependent upon what you plan to use it for. I carry a candle lamp to use in the portable restrooms at night. I generally use my headlamp for everything else. Some people like those propane lanterns that light up the whole campsite. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of broken globes I’ve found from those things. There is some specialty lamps that have small globes with protective cage that look good. I still don’t like the idea of carrying those bottles.
Older White gas equipment should be banned. 90% of equipment related injuries are from older white gas products. Handling white gas in the field is dangerous no matter what the conditions are. Add darkness, rain, mud and snow to the equation and you have an accident waiting to happen. The newer super-gas/white gas systems have a good safety record and are designed so you don’t do tank refills in the field.

Map of area (in waterproof case)
I like having maps of the area I will be on even though it’s a little tough to get lost on the C&O Canal. I write notes about features and changes that have taken place since the last time I was there. I also mark where photos were taken during the trip. You can purchase maps of the C&O canal from many places including the Boy Scouts and the US Park Service. You may also print maps from my map collection for your personal use while visiting the park.

Matches/lighter
Having extra matches or lighters handy is never a bad idea. You can keep some in your first-aid kit, pantry bag and even in your spare socks.

Notebook and pencil
It’s a great idea to have a small notebook. The first few pages of mine usually have notes about things that I wish I had taken. I keep track of where I took photos along with reminders of places I want to come back to and notes about the trail and campsite conditions.

Pantry Bag
I bought a standard fanny bag that has one pouch on top and a small pocket in the back. I cut off the waist strap and attached two clip-on fasteners that let me connect it to D-rings just about anywhere on my pack. I then used 6 lb. Fishing line to sew an elastic strap across the front forming loops that hold 4 – 2 oz. and 2 – 4 oz. Plastic bottles for spices and dry mixes.

Pocketknife
The only knife I will ever recommend is the very same knife I have carried for over 35 years. It is a Swiss Army knife called the Tinker. It has a large blade, small blade, bottle/can opener, large & small screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, hole-punch, toothpick, tweezers and cord ring. Learn to use this knife and you will find it to be the best pocketknife you will ever carry.

Pot grabber
Used to remove hot pots and pans from the campfire. This will save you many burnt fingertips. I use small channel-lock type plyers to pull stuff off the fire. They come in handy for a lot of other jobs around camp as well.

Pot scrubber/dish towel
If you have an aluminum cook kit, you can use sand to scrub out any burnt on food from your pots and pans and then wash normally with any biodegradable dish soap. One of those thin green plastic scrubber pads does a great job on stainless steel and copper cook kits. Don’t use any soaped steel wool pads like SOS or Brillo because the soaps are not biodegradable.

Repair kit
This is a very important thing to think about. Your repair kit will not be the same as the next camper but you should get the idea without any problems. Universal items you should have in your kit include:
Tent repair kit for your type of tent.
Duct tape for when all else fails.
Sewing kit with threads matching your clothes, tent and sleeping bag.
Accessory/parachute cord. Can be used for many things including a clothesline, tying out a canopy or tying stuff to your pack.
Safety pins can be a lifesaver if you bust a zipper or tie strap on you pack.
Matches in a waterproof box.
You should also carry anything else you think you may need to make field repairs to your equipment and clothes.

Resealable plastic bags
You can buy a verity of sizes that are good for holding everything from food to clothes. They even have the super size that can hold a sleeping bag!

Shelter
The type of shelter you use depends on the time of year and type of weather you may experience while on the trail. During the summer I use a Bivy tent to keep the biting insects off of me while I sleep. Most other times I only carry an 8’x10’ tarp to use if it rains or snows. Some tents require stakes to set up so be sure you pack them with your tent.

Sleeping bag (in waterproof stuff sack)
You can use any type of sleeping bag or roll you prefer on the C&O Canal. I use a thin fleece bag when it’s warm and a down filled bag in winter. Most quality sleeping bags come with a stuff sack but not all stuff sacks are waterproof. It’s always a good idea to put your sleeping bag and stuff sack into a plastic waterproof bag just to be on the safe side.

Sleeping pad
Sleeping pads come in many designs and can cost you anywhere from $5.00 for one of those 1” thick neoprene pads to over $100.00 for a Therm-a-Rest self-inflating pad. I personally think the best pad for the money is one of those $20 air mats. It’s easily filled in about 5 minutes using one of those small bike tire pumps and even with the pump they weight less then most of the others.

Stove and fuel
Unless you are really good at lighting a campfire in rain on a dark night, you might want to invest in a good backpacker stove. A backpackers stove is not the same as a regular camping stove. It’s very light and either folds up or can be dismantled into a small pouch for storage in your pack. Whatever kind you buy, remember to always carry the manual with it until you have it figured out. By “figured out” I mean you can assemble and dismantle it in the dark.

Sunglasses (with retaining strap)
I recommend polarized sunglasses because of the glare off the water in the canal. They should be the type that either wrap around your eyes or have side shields for added protection from side glare.

Watch/alarm clock
Do you really want to know what time it is? If you want to keep to your plan, then it’s a good idea.

Water bottle(s)
I’ve tried a lot of different bottles while camping. Best system I have come up with is the green plastic military canteens. Each one carries a quart of water that allows you to carry as much or as little as you want. They don’t get stained by Kool-Aid, juice, or tea like the aluminum ones do. I usually have 3 attached to my pack and one on my side to use while I walk.
Those plastic soda bottles work just as well and hey, they’re free! Just tie a piece of parachute cord around the neck and you can hang them anywhere.

Weather radio
Small, cheap, recommended.

Wood Saw
The wire saw is about the best pack saw I’ve ever used. It has 2 loops with a flexible toothed wire that cuts like a chainsaw. It’s very fast and easy to use. Those small folding pruning saws work well as do the smaller brush saws. Make sure your saw has a strong sheath that protects your pack from its blade when stowed.

3mm Plastic Contractor Bags
Heavy-duty trash bags are great for protecting backpacks and sleeping bags from rain. Don’t buy the 4mm bags because they tend to crack in cold weather.