Gear editor Kristin Hostetter answers reader questions about backpacking gear.

For steamy hikes, I like ultrathin, stretchy fabrics that feel cool and breezy. Problem is, they often have durability issues...

If you love your current shoes and don’t want to shell out for winter-specific runners, add a strap-on cleat like the STABILicers Run ($40; 32north.com) and a pair of running gaiters, like the Outdoor Research Stamina ($35; outdoorresearch.com), which will keep snow and slush from penetrating the upper or sneaking in over the top.

Good timing, because I just came back from a week of desert hiking in Jordan, and I ran into the same problem. My prized Leatherman Juice S2 sounds like crinkling sandpaper whenever I touch it.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Sometimes they look the same, but there are several key differences.

To get the best answer for your question, I went to two BACKPACKER staffers who can relate: Jon Dorn and Ben Fullerton, both 6’6”. Here are a few of their three-season picks.

For long johns, there are plenty of polyester options. If it’s maximum warmth you’re after, look for higher lofted polyesters, with gridded channels that trap heat and accelerate wicking....

Keep up with your buddies on the trail, backpack on the cheap, keep pesky bugs out of your tent, and stay on track with your weight loss goals without bonking mid-trip.

I'm allergic to down, but I like its compressibility. But do you know anyone who makes a hypoallergenic down sleeping bag or am I stuck with synthetics? 

It is finally here, we are taking our Boy Scout troop in the AT thru the GSMNP. The only question now is how to keep teenage boys motivated to complete the 76 miles?

Do I really have to buy my girlfriend a women's-specific pack if it seems like a men's would fit?

I'm pretty skinny and when I tighten my hipbelt I end up with lots of extra strap flapping around. Can I just cut this extra stuff off?

If I alter a pair of waterproof pants, how can I make the new seams waterproof?

I'm on a budget. Why shouldn't I substitute a $10 pool float for a sleeping pad that costs $100 or more?

What is a good backpacking soap that's environmentally friendly?

What’s the best way to patch a burn hole in my hiking pants and make sure it will not expand any bigger?

What can my husband and I do to protect our wedding rings when we are backpacking?

Mountain guide and author of Fit by Nature John D. Colver offers up these hints for staying motivated and fit no matter what your excuse.

Why are European tent floors more waterproof than American ones?

I am getting ready to buy a lightweight canister stove. Is there a guide for which stoves use which fuel bottles?

One of my leather hiking boots has a cut across the toe box. It is not deep, but it is enough to cause tearing in the leather. Is there a way to close this cut?

I have an Osprey Ariel 55 backpack and am going on a trip that requires hard side bear vaults. Will I be able to get everything including the BV in my pack, and if so, how do I carry the BV?

I have a down parka that says "dry clean only". Do you think it would be fine to wash it as I do my down sleeping bag?

Is there anything I can do to ease the pain of a hot spot?

That’s a tough, but not impossible, task, Theo. Generally speaking, I’d consider 35 liters to be more of a day- or day-and-a-half pack at most, not a multiday pack.

What’s the best way to remove and treat a tick bite? My recent attempt severed the head, which required a hospital visit to remove.

What is the best way to find a slow leak in a self-inflating sleeping pad?

Get your gear ready for hiking season with these tips from gear editor Kristin Hostetter.

Can bears and other critters be a problem at night even if all our group has for food are, say Clif Bars - or any other similar kind of energy/protein bars?

Can sleeping bag liners be used as ultralight sleeping bags?

Do I really need to buy a tent footprint? Or are the newer tents tough enough that you don't need one?

I'm new to backpacking, should I buy all my gear then buy my pack? Or, should I buy my pack first? I will be doing some long distant hikes and some weekend hikes too.

Are there any "tricks" to keeping water liquid on an extended winter outing?

Is my sleeping bag's performance affected by what I wear when I sleep?

Can altitude increase the effect of thyroid medications? I recently hiked four days in the Grand Canyon and had an experience which felt like an overdose of my thyroid meds. I skipped a dose and all the symptoms went away, even after climbing another 3,000 feet. What's up?

The day after a long, tough, hike I often feel like my head is filled with cotton and like my eyes won't fully open. What can I do to prevent or cure this? I drink a lot of water, but that doesn't seem to help.

Is an ultraviolet light, like a SteriPen, better for treating filtered water than iodine tablets?

I was recently introduced to "wicking" blisters--putting material under the skin to drain the fluid. I am a certified Wilderness First Responder, but I couldn't recall any mention of "wicking" blisters in my training, and I didn't find any in the Wilderness Medical Institute's training book. I think it is a great way to get a very bad infection. What do you think?

What would be the best snack to eat just before going to bed to help stay warm? Would it be something high in fat and high in calories or something high in protein because you burn more calories digesting protein, which would increase your metabolism?

Why do I get the shivers about 20 mins after along, hard winter hike, even after changing into dry clothes and blasting the heat? What can I do to prevent this?

I have two questions about cramps: How can I avoid or prevent cramps just above my knees, in my quads? And how can I stretch out cramps in that area?

If a backpack fits you really well, does thin hipbelt padding make a big difference? If so, is there a way to improve it?

The issue is not knowledge of how to bear bag - it's the throwing! I have no arm and no aim. Tricks? Suggestions?

I have a long (13 1/2) and narrow foot and cannot find any boots to fit. Help!

Can you prevent cracking stove O rings?

A broken binding or a skin that won’t stick could mean a night spent out in a snow cave, or worse. Have your kit tuned up before you go, but make sure you know how to fix common problems in a pinch.

You don’t need pro-level skills to ski off-piste, but honing your kick-turn technique and avoiding rookie mistakes will ease your transition to backcountry terrain. Here’s how to master the ups and downs when lifts and groomers are miles away. Plus: Prevent blisters, stay energized, and negotiate steeps.

Caused by variable weather, unstable snowpack, and steep terrain, backcountry avalanches claim an average of 25 lives a year in the United States. Your first safety step: Brush up on the basics below. Next, take a course accredited by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education

On any wilderness trip, smart preparation is key. But it’s even more important when you’re backcountry skiing, due to the technical gear, low temperatures, potential for severe weather, avalanche risk, and tricky routefinding. Here’s how to start smart—before you leave home.

Start earning your turns–safely–with this primer on equipment, route planning, reading conditions, and more.

How much weight can a 10-year-old boy comfortably carry?

I store all my gear in large plastic containers. My containers are large enough so there is no compression, but now I'm worried about breathability?

How do I bend the stays in my backpack?

What's the difference between titanium and aluminum cookware? Can you explain the pros/cons of each?

Hard-won-lessons and tips about grizzly bears from the front lines of survival.

How can I prevent pebbles from getting in my running shoes while I run?

I am going to start backpacking again after many years and wanted to know about internal frame packs. How do you determine the correct size of the pack (I am 5' 10" in height)?

Next summer I will be transporting 4 people (2 adults, 1 toddler, and 1 infant) and 2 dogs (50 pounds each) into the great outdoors. What carries more gear? A roof basket like the Thule MOAB, or a roof box?

I am comparing the Kelty Gunnison 2.1, sold everywhere ($189.99) with the Kelty Zenith, sold at Target ($59.99). The basic dimensions are the same and there are a few obvious differences, but how can the price be so different?

Can a woman comfortably use a man's backpack? How much of a difference does it make?

My boyfriend always gets annoyed that I load our heavier items into his pack. I think that since he weighs 30% more than me, his pack can be about 40% heavier, adding 10% for M/F differences in hematocrit, VO2 max, etc. Reasonable?

If I had to survive on bad water for several days (say I fell in a canyon with no water) would enemas of the bad water actually keep me from dying of dehydration and not give me diarrhea? I heard of a family lost at sea with a hydration bladder was able to survive this way.

I tore tendons in my left ankle when I was younger, and as a result, don't have the most stable of ankles while hiking. Braces tend to be too hot and irritating inside a boot - is there any specialty boot or aftermarket product to help?

My dog joins me on many of my hiking trips. Is there anything short of giving her a bath that will remove the oils from poison oak/ivy?

Does bleach repel Rattlesnakes?

What do you recommend including in a medical kit for a five-day hike with four (middle age) adults?

Sometimes drugs that help with attention deficit problems help with acclimatization to altitude—and sometimes they don't...

What’s the SPF of a deciduous forest?

Why is it advised to leave odor free deodorant or antiperspirant behind in the backcountry when sunscreen and bug spray are considered ok? Wouldn't the same premise apply to all?

My grandfather told me many years ago that using rubbing alcohol on your feet a few weeks before a backpacking trip will help prevent blisters. Have you heard this before?

I am leading a crew to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico next summer. We are covering 115 miles in 10 days and summiting four peaks around 12,000 ft. What workouts would you recommend to prepare 12 guys around the age of 16 for this trek

What is the fastest way to recover for hiking from a sprained ankle? What exercises can I do to strengthen my ankle muscles?

Can hiking with an aluminum external frame pack pose a hazard during an electrical storm?

I've had Lyme disease now for three years, misdiagnosed at first, I am a hiker and a climber and continue to do so even though the pain in my shoulders and knees is sometimes bad. I’m going to climb Mts. Whitney and Rusell soon. Will the high altitude affect my Lyme disease?

I recently went on a seven-day 100 mile hike. My knees where killing me on the down hills. What exercise can I do to prevent this from happen?

You run out of water on a long, hot dayhike. You find a full water bottle trailside, and also find a clear running stream. Drink from the stream, drink from the bottle, or abstain?

How long should water boil at 14,000 feet altitude where it boils at 60 degrees Celsius?

Why is it that wild animals can drink water that's unsafe for humans?