In Australia we call them hiking mats, in the USA they are hiking pads, but they are the same thing. There are plenty of different brands and styles, but basically, they are all light-weight, nylon air mattresses.
Aside from keeping your bones off the rocks, air mats also create a thermal insulation zone, so the cold ground doesn’t leach away your body heat…
I’ve experimented with all kinds of different ways to pack my bag. The key to getting everything in easily, and quickly, is to have your stuff organised the right way…
I’ve experimented with a few different types of low-budget mobile accommodation. At the end of the day, home is where I park my butt! Back in 2006, I got around in my old poo-brown station wagon quite a bit (top pic). It wasn’t pretty, but it was comfy. The fuel was too expensive to go…
…My left knee jams under the accelerator grip, and the next thing I know, I’ve lost power, lost my balance and I’m toppling, slowly and gracelessly toward the ground. A group of monks are laughing at me uproariously. I pick myself up with Buddhist humility, and ride slowly and carefully out the temple gate… Flashback:…
Backpacking is awesome fun, but what if you have a health issue that makes carrying a bag painful and difficult? Stefanie wrote to me on Facebook with some health related questions, about pack weight and diet. Stefanie: “Hi mentor! I really like your blog and after I read the ‘Go Now‘ page I…
Jonah falls quiet for a while. Dad?
Yes, mate? I know I got myself here, and I’m really proud of myself for hitchhiking and everything, but I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t told me about it, and encouraged me to give hitching a go. Thanks dad. You’re very welcome, mate. I’m so glad you’re here…
>> This article has been updated. Read the latest version here. …The main reason for camping when you travel, is saving money… every time I fork out money for a hotel room, I’m thinking of the places I could go, the exotic food I could eat, and the exciting things I could do with…
…Mohamed climbs out and walks around the car. He squints at the sand around the door sills and kicks at the tires. Bill and I look at each other, and feel grateful we brought plenty of water. “Now we push”, says Mohammed… It’s 06:45. The sun’s coming up. I untangle myself from my sleeping…