Ask Kristin

Gear editor Kristin Hostetter answers reader questions about backpacking gear.

What's the best way to keep pack contents dry. Pack covers and pack liners have failed repeatedly. Should I just rely on zip lock bags?

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.

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....

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?

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?

What steps can I take to make a 28°F sleeping bag stretch into colder temps than it is designed?

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?