I use a bag for food and tie it in a tree, but mainly to keep the little critters out. When hiking, doing gentle stretches each morning and evening can avoid problems. Using some lotion on the feet each night after cleaning also helps prevent blisters.
Future users may want to seal or waterproof the seams a little better. Your order should arrive by this date if you buy today. It’s kind of a standing joke with me and my blue bag in Peru, Europe etc… I love it and for $17 at Walmart it is still my go-to bag for the last 10 years.
The Explorer has the range for bikepacking through the mild hill country and unloaded rides through moderately steep terrain. But the approach to the Ozarks’ White Rock mountain wasn’t moderate. Feeling more sickly, I pushed the Explorer up a few miles of hills I’d ride up with most gravel bikes. The first 2 days on the trail were going to be unfair. I’d be test-riding 50 miles of an unfinished bikepacking route up a mountain. That’s a tall order for a budget bike — especially when you come down with strep throat one day in.
These are for babies and the smallest toddlers; check the manufacturer specifications for weight limits. The second kind of carrier is hard-framed backpack that kids can ride in for as long as mom or dad are willing to carry them. Ozark Trail offers various backpacks in different sizes. The sizes usually range from smaller daypacks of around 20–25 liters to larger backpacks of up to 70 liters. This variety allows customers to choose the right size for their specific needs, whether they need more storage for longer trips or just enough space for a day out in the sun.
I needed a day pack and didn’t really have lots of time to search at REI for the various styles provided having only gone to one store. This daypack ended up being the cheapest after a quick perusal. I was a little concerned with how the straps would distribute weight.
I also like the fact that for my outdoor activities, it’s designed to hold a hydration bladder. It even has a rain cover built in, which is great when I’m riding my bicycle across town on a rainy day. Determining when and where water will be available is part of route planning.
Please be aware that we make an effort to keep this information current. However, businesses and business conditions change, thus the information contained here is subject to change without the knowledge of the Ozark Trail Association. Visit our Trail Directory for an overview of the sections.
Monitoring rain in the area you’re going to hike and contacting locals can help you determine if smaller creeks might act as water sources. Last fall when hiking dry sections of the Ouachita Trail, we planted water caches for insurance, but this involved driving to pick up empty jugs after the trip. With the added height of an inflatable pillow and sleeping pad my head height was indeed close to the curvature of the tent ceiling but there was still enough room. I did have a few inches along the edge for some clothes, a water bottle, and a headlamp, but that could have been made wider with a narrower sleeping pad.
I decided to get this one for a light hike I was going to be doing while camping. I saw this pack at Wally World and figured, $19 for a 28-liter pack, I’d give it a shot. If it doesn’t suit my needs, one of my daughters would be able to use it. We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space.
My kids were toddlers the first time we went backpacking on a short, level trail where I carried everything and I knew they could do the hike with no problem. My four-year-old wanted to know when we could go again but my three-year-old was uninterested in another trip. Now he’s 12 and carries almost the same weight as I do and loves to help me plan trips with 10-mile ozark trail backpack days. All backpacks come with adjustable straps and padded shoulder straps to ensure a comfortable fit and even weight distribution. The backpacks also feature side and front pockets, as well as compartments for organizing gear and essentials. Some backpacks even include additional features such as a water bottle holder and a hydration system compatible pocket.