Backpacking & Blisters: A Hiking, Backpacking, and Adventure Show

Derek and Carl share tips on how to hike faster and farther, focusing on Carl's 26-year journey back to the Collegiate Loop. They tackle the importance of ultralight packing, revealing how keeping the pack under 18 pounds made a big difference. The duo debates whether to intervene when hiking partners overpack and recounts humorous trail encounters, including an unexpected lounge on a fallen tree. They also discuss resilience-building through training and share funny travel mishaps with TSA. Join the adventure for laughs and valuable insights!

What are the 3 most dangerous countries to visit for a backpacking trip? And how can you get in? Former CIA Counter-Terrorism Analyst Brent Giannotta joins the show to share his expertise. Carl and Ben also pepper him with every CIA movie reference and conspiracy theory they can muster. Please follow Brent and subscribe to his Substack! Some of the Topics Covered: -Most Dangerous Places to Backpack -Life or Death Backpacking Situations -CIA Conspiracy Theories Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Derek and Carl discuss 8 life or death situations you will encounter if you go backpacking or hiking long enough. How would you handle them? How would Derek handle them? Some of the Topics Covered: -Backpacking mistakes -Life or Death Backpacking Situations -Backpacking Gear Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. Help support our podcast at no extra cost to you by clicking on any links below if you’re in the market for some new gear! Any purchases you make will support our show at no extra cost to you! Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It took a while but Derek and Carl finally convinced a Bigfoot expert to the join the show. Owner of the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey, Colorado and cohost of the podcast "You Don't Know Squatch," Jim Myers discusses his personal experiences and fields all the questions Derek has ever wanted to ask. Derek also responds to some challenges of his own...particularly about the Osprey being a budget pack. Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Strength so you can have your best hiking season yet! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash 1.0 (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever wonder what big mistakes have been made by backpacking experts? Brad Felton from the ‘As the Crow Flies’ YouTube channel joins the show to discuss some common and horrific mistakes made by backpacking experts. Some of the Topics Covered: -Backpacking mistakes -Strange Backpacking Stories -Backpacking Gear Follow Brad on his awesome YouTube Channel As the Crow Flies Hiking! Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Strength so you can have your best hiking season yet! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash 1.0 (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you in the top 1% of backpackers? If you can reasonably answer the 10 questions posed by Derek and Carl you just might be! Some of the Topics Covered: -Backpacking Skills -Strange Backpacking Tips -Backpacking Gear Check out the App We Mentioned: Knot IQ Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Strength so you can have your best hiking season yet! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash 1.0 (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Swamp Tarzan joins the show to discuss all of the crazy animal encounters he has. How do you kiss an alligator on the mouth? How do you grab snakes? How do you move a rattler off the trail? All this and much more! Some of the Topics Covered: -Wild Animal Encounters -Getting Your Hands on Wild Animals -Animal skills and knowledge Follow Swamp Tarzan on Instagram! Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Strength so you can have your best hiking season yet! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash 1.0 (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gordon Crum, also known as Grim Granite, is a bushcraft expert and doomsday prepper who shares his adventures on YouTube. In this lively chat, he playfully faces off against Carl, trading humorous jabs about ultralight backpacking and bushcrafting. They debate the absurdities of gear choices, from Dyneema underwear to quirky survival tools, while critiquing survival personalities like Bear Grylls. Their humorous take on outdoor dine experiences and social quirks adds a delightful twist, making for a fun, insightful discussion.

Discover the wild world of ultralight backpacking strategies that spark debate! The hosts dive into calculated risks with gear, pondering if a headlamp is truly necessary. They discuss sharing gear in groups to cut down on weight, and the pros and cons of digital maps versus traditional paper. Hear about the thrill of switching to carbon trekking poles and the tug-of-war between minimalist footwear and comfort. Plus, can you really ditch water filters? Tune in for these hot topics and more!

On this Throwback Thursday episode, Derek and Carl discuss how to actually deal with trail villains. Don’t let them run, ride or plow right over you. Who are these villains and how do you stand up for yourself…B&B style? Some of the Topics Covered: -Trail Villains -Trail Social Skills -Backpacking tips Check out the Nomad Unknown YouTube Channel for the full stories: https://www.youtube.com/@nomad_unknown Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market! Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Strength so you can have your best hiking season yet! GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on… Facebook Instagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast Email: backpackingblisters@gmail.com Please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com Our Favorite Gear Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt Outdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping Bag Gregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort) Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort) Jetboil Flash 1.0 (for larger groups) MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups) Katadyn BeFree Black Diamond Spot Garmin InReach Mini 2 Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Watch Big Agnes Copper Spur Nemo Hornet Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.