📸 Quick Look (Images)
🇺🇸 USA Buyer Note: Comparing hiking gear helps beginners avoid wasting money. Below is a simple, fast comparison so you can pick what fits your needs.
💰 Current Amazon Price
Price: $19.95 - $11.75
(as of Dec 15, 2025 07:59:52 UTC –
Details
)
⚖️ Quick Comparison
| Best For | Beginner hikers, day hikes, weekend trips (USA) |
| Value | Great value vs. similar Amazon options |
| Comfort | Designed for long walks and trail use |
| Durability | Suitable for common U.S. hiking conditions |
| Ideal Use | Parks, local trails, national parks, travel hikes |
🆚 How It Compares
- Vs. cheaper options: often better comfort + longer lifespan.
- Vs. premium options: similar core features, usually lower cost.
- For beginners: easier setup and fewer “extra” features you don’t need.
📝 Product Details
Supreme long-distance hiker Andrew Skurka shares his hard-earned knowledge in this essential guide to backpacking gear and skills. Described by National Geographic as “one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet,” and named “Adventurer of the Year” by Outside and “Person of the Year” by Backpacker, Skurka recounts what he’s learned from more than 30,000 miles of long-distance adventures, most recently a 4,700-mile 6-month loop around Alaska and Canada’s Yukon.
Whether you’re a first-time backpacker, an occasional weekend warrior or a seasoned long-distance trekker, you’ll love this guide. Learn exactly what you need to carry – both on your back and between your ears – for all seasons and circumstances through a show-and-tell of clothing, footwear, backpacks, shelter and sleep systems, and more, as well as through detailed articles on foot care, campsite selection and hiking efficiency. Skurka’s practical and priceless recommendations give you all the tools and techniques you’ll need to hit the trail.
Publisher : National Geographic
Publication date : February 21, 2012
Edition : unknown
Language : English
Print length : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 1426209207
ISBN-13 : 978-1426209208
Item Weight : 12 ounces
Dimensions : 5.24 x 0.5 x 8.37 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1,551 in Hiking & Camping Instructional Guides #3,188 in Hiking & Camping Excursion Guides (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (458) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
⭐ Summary (Why We Recommend It)
Customers say
Customers find this hiking guide highly informative, particularly for beginners, with vast amounts of gear knowledge and practical experience-based references. The book provides fantastic advice on backpacking essentials and is suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experts. Customers appreciate its readability, well-written content, and straightforward approach, with one customer noting its comprehensive product lists.
- ✔ Beginner-friendly (no learning curve)
- ✔ Strong value for money (Amazon USA)
- ✔ Comfortable for day hikes & weekend trips
- ✔ Good choice for most U.S. trail conditions
👉 Check Today’s Price on Amazon
❓ Quick FAQ
Is this good for beginners?
Yes. It’s a practical pick for first-time hikers who want dependable gear without overspending.
Who should buy this?
- • New hikers building a starter kit
- • Budget-focused shoppers in the USA
- • Anyone wanting reliable gear for trails and parks
Affiliate Disclosure: hikingdeal.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Prices and availability are subject to change.
