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

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

Are you looking for adventure? We've got the best guests in the outdoor world, gear expertise, unbelievable stories...all lined with a sense of humor.

Episodes

April 28, 2025 39 mins

Derek and Carl discuss 6 things that “every” backpacker does wrong…all the time. Or at least most of the time. Are there any strategies to minimize the impact of these mistakes? Are there any ways around them? Or should we simply suffer and cope? What do you think?

Some of the Topics Covered:

-Backpacking Gear

-Backpacking Food

-Backpacking Blunders

Check out the latest shoe inserts from Superfeet!

Enlightened Equipment: Check out ...

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Derek and Carl share their best tips for you to shave pack weight and get rid of unnecessary items. But, over the years, the B&B community has pushed back on many of these tips – seemingly with little reason. If you want to lighten your load, this is the way.

Some of the Topics Covered:

-Tips to lighten your backpacking weight

-Backpacking gear

-Ultralight backpacking

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts ...

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The 72 Year Old Thru Hiker – Hiking Rev – joins the show to discuss some strange stories from the trail as well as tips and advice for older, weaker, newer and scared hikers. Also, how did he handle a very creepy encounter while hitchhiking?

Some of the Topics Covered:

-Tips for older, weaker, newer, scared hikers and backpackers.

-Hitchhiking techniques

-When to call 911

Check out The Hiking Rev on YouTube!

Strava: Search

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Derek and Carl recap their Desolation Wilderness trip and all of the mistakes they made along the way. From missing car windows, to strange outfits, to ranger encounters, to failed pranks, there’s a lot going on with this trip. And what did they finally decide regarding punishments for the next trip for their trivia failures?

Topics Covered:

-Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, California

-Backpacking Gear

-Trail antics

Enlighten...

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Hiking Guy Cris Hazzard joins the show as our tech guru. What are the top 3 tech devices or gadgets he recommends? And what are the top 3 pieces of tech Carl suggests that you ditch immediately. Also, when can we stop bringing locator beacons in lieu of our phones?

Some of the Tech Gear Covered:

-Garmin InReach Mini 2

-Garmin Enduro GPS Watch

-LcFun USB Electric Lighter

Check out the latest trail tech on the Hiking Guy YouTube Chan...

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Derek and Carl choose the BEST backpacking tips, hacks and advice that the ultralight backpacking community has to offer. Does that mean they’re all good? Probably not. But there should be at least a couple of takeaways from the collective ‘wisdom’ of backpackers across the world.

Topics Covered:

-Backpacking hacks, tips and tricks

-Backpacking Gear

-Controversial backpacking ideas

Oboz Katabatic Wind Trail Shoe Was Reviewed by Der...

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Derek and Carl discuss the first 5 things you need to do when arriving to camp…in order. They suggest that you do these things or you’ll pay the price (one way or another). Of course, their lists are entirely different. Which one do you trust?

Topics Covered:

-Backpacking Tips and tricks

-Camping strategies

-Inappropriate camp behaviors

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Get in prime time hik...

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On this 'Throwback Thursday' episode Kyle O'Grady joins the show to discuss a variety of topics that include common, beginner backpacking mistakes, cults on the trail and trivia!

Check out Kyle's popular YouTube Channel!

Topics Covered:

-Beginner Backpacking mistakes

-Backpacking gear

-Weird Backpacking Stories

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from ...

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Epic film-maker Kraig Adams joins the show. He might be the #1 backpacking film-maker (or film-maker who backpacks) out there. What are 3 big and unexpected challenges Kraig has encountered while traveling all over the world? People hiding in strange places, taking a ‘short cut’ down a mountain, and some odd food choices are just scratching the surface.

Topics Covered:

-Epic backpacking locations

-Backpacking mistakes

-Creative bac...

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Derek and Carl discuss there single toughest day backpacking...and what you can do to avoid their mistakes. Also we have breaking news! A new backpacking stove was just released this week! Details on that and more!

Topics Covered:

-New backpacking stove

-Overcoming a tough backpacking day

-Bear attack

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Get in prime time hiking shape with Rowan from Summit Str...

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New 2025 Backpacking Gear is here! Backpacks, sleeping pads, tents, gadgets, chairs…you name it. Gear expert Devin Ashby from Backcountry Exposure joins the show to weigh in (and disagree) about all of the gear presented.

Some of the Gear Covered:

-Therm-a-rest Boost 650

-Danner N45

-Gregory Paragon/Maven

-Cumulus Climalite Jacket

-Crazy Creek Air Lounger

-Big Agnes Copper Spur XL Tent

-New Mountain House Meals

-Trail Goods Co

-The...

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March 10, 2025 50 mins

What are the backpacking trends, fads or whatever you want to call them – that are really lame? Derek and Carl weigh in on this topic and come out firing! Also, Derek catches Carl in a major error from a previous episode.

Topics Covered:

-Ultralight backpacking

-Ultralight Gear

-Backpacking trends and fads

-Trail Name nonsense

Check Out ‘Ian the Outdoor Guy’

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

...

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March 3, 2025 26 mins

Are you or is somebody you know an ultralight nerd? Derek and Carl have the criteria. If any of their descriptions resonate with you…then you might be an ultralight nerd. Also what ripoff gear company Carl get significant pushback about?

Topics Covered:

-Ultralight backpacking

-Ultralight Gear

-A Ripoff Gear Company

-Leave No Trace Lies

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Get in prime time hik...

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Ryan Van Duzer (Bikepacker, Ultra Marathon Runner, Adventurer, Youtuber) joins the show to discuss the secret to your adventure success. He also shares some of the crazy things he tends to bring into the backcountry.

Topics Covered:

-Strange backpacking luxury items

-Bikepacking adventures

-The secret to your adventure success

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Get in prime time ...

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February 24, 2025 49 mins

What is the best tent or hammock option for you? Top hammock expert, Shug, joins the show to drop some hammock knowledge on us. Various tent categories and tent options are discussed as well.

Check out Shug’s awesome YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@shugemery/featured

Topics Covered:

-Best backpacking hammocks

-Best backpacking tents

-Best ultralight, budget, user-friendly backpacking gear

Enlightened Equipment: Check out ...

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February 17, 2025 40 mins

Derek and Carl discuss the worst national parks for backpacking. Scenery, over-regulations, bear canisters, crowding and many more factors are considered. Some of the parks that make the list may surprise you. Also, Rocky calls Derek out for unreasonable texting expectations.

B&B Documentary is out!

Topics Covered:

-Terrible National Parks for Backpacking

-Alternative National Park Backpacking Options

-Backpacking Gear

Enlighte...

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Steven Smith from My Life Outdoors joins the show to discuss all sorts of backpacking topics that you think you know about…but you might not. Is your gear poisoning you? Are sleeping pad R values highly misleading? Why is a mesh base layer the best option? And how does Derek mess up the Lightning round…again?

Topics Covered:

-Ultralight Backpacking Gear

-The Best Backpacking Clothing

-What You Know about Backpacking is Wrong

Check ...

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John Kelley joins the show discuss backpacking gear companies that are ripping you off. Which products are you overpaying for? And what are some reasonable alternatives?

B&B Documentary is out!

Topics Covered:

-Ultralight Backpacking Gear

-Expensive Backpacking Gear

-The Best/Worst Deals Going

Check out John Kelley’s ‘The Backpacking Podcast’

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!

Teton Gear:...

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Derek and Carl discuss the top 10 ways you are most likely going to die on the trail...and how to avoid them. These are based on data provided for many years. Also, Carl tries to track down the REI clerk that Derek rejected in his backpack purchasing process.

B&B Documentary is released!

Topics Covered:

-Backpacking Survival Tips

-Backpacking Gear

-Backpacking Skills and Strategies

Enlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultr...

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Special forces operator, survival expert, TV star Mykel Hawke joins the show and shares 6 unexpected survival tips that you’ve likely never heard before. How do you actually fight off an attacking bear? What did Tom Hanks do wrong in Castaway? Find out on this week’s episode.

B&B Documentary (releases Wed Evening)!

Topics Covered:

-Backpacking Survival Tips

-Wild Animal Encounters

-Unexpected Survival Gear

Check out Mykel Hawke...

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