Customer Reviews

THE BACKPACKER'S HANDBOOK

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What I liked most about this book is that it is very up to date with available equipment. This is a very informative book and Mr. Townsend does an excellent job of preparing you for a successful backpacking trip. I sell backpacking gear for a living and this is one of the books that I recommend to customers both novice and experienced.

This is a detailed book on backpacking and backpacking equipment. Chris Townsend is the TGO Magazine (The Great Outdoors Magazine) gear editor. He receives all the new equipment, before it hits the shops, to test and write revues on. He has been hiking for over 25years and has walked over 20,000 miles so he has a good idea of what he is talking about. Unlike Ray Jardine's book, beyond backpacking, which advocates making your own gear Chris explains, in a lot of detail, all the different types of gear you can buy for backpacking. He gives his worldly advice on equipment and hiking techniques. If you want to listen to Chris talk about gear try going to backpackinglight.co.uk and click on podcast and you should be able to find some interviews with Chris.

The Backpackers Handbook is more informative and easier to read than the other two books I bought recently (Hiking Light Handbook, and Everyday Wisdom). Save your time and read this one alone.

This is really a gear guide rather than a backpacking guide. It is hundreds of pages of gear reviews, with details such as weight and the author's opinions. He has lots of long distance hiking experience and this shows, as does his knowledge of gear (although he glosses over gear that he doesn't like such as solid fuel and alcohol stoves, which are necessary items for some people). However, if you expect to find useful information about hiking or backpacking or camping, this is not the book. As said, it is a guide to gear for light weight backpacking. As such, it's not even very useful for car campers or family campers. But, if you want to know what to take on the AT or while backpacking the Alps, this is the book for you.

Honestly, this is my backpacking bible. I love backpacking how-to books and books on the trail, and Mr. Townsend brings the both of those together in a manual that covers everything from specific components of boot construction to the five different kinds of ways to sew a sleeping bag. This book goes into EXTREME detail about what kind of gear he would recommend and why, so it's hard to read straight-through (I did anyway). He manages to insert his own stories and experiences to give you sort of a context as to why he thinks the way he does, and it lends the book the air of wisdom, like you're talking to a veteran scoutmaster or an experienced thru-hiker (which he is).

I wish he was a little more knowledgable about newer backpacking equipment, but other than that the entire book is priceless. Definitely a must-own for any backpacker, from day- to thru-hiker.

This is, without doubt, the best book on backpacking I've read. Just the right balance between specific recommendations and general advice, objective information and personal opinion.

An excellent book for both beginners and those more experienced. Chris Townsend has logged thousands of miles on a few continents. He's done every major trail in the U.S., backpacking in the backcountry for months at a time and his experience really shows.

He has also reviewed tons of gear for "Backpacking" magazine and he clearly explains to the reader what gear works and why/why not. He goes into much detail about clothing, hiking boots, tents, etc. While it may seem he goes overboard with the minute details, the reader will come away with a knowledge of what works hiking and backpacking (methods, skills and gear) and what doesn't.

Also evident is the author's respect for nature; his reinforcing of the "leave no trace" philosophy resonates throughout.

I got three backpacking type handbooks at a library and read all three this is by far the best one. It has the most in depth information and is enjoyable to read.

Having previously bought a copy of the second edition of the Backpackers Handbook some years ago, I found it to be a very informative book and a great help for hiking. A few years having passed, I thought the newer version would be more up to date and informative, as advertised. I was disappointed to find the book was basically not much more than a reprint of the 2nd edition and in my opinion, not worth the money. It contains only a very small amount of new information, in fact most chapters are verbatim or very close to verbatim repeats of the second edition. Less than impressed.

I have read through this book and i must say it was full of really useful infromation. I am a new backpacker and i'm planning my first trip through the smoky mountains. It had really valuable info, but i would say that it is more of a read through than a field guide. I would recommend this book to anyone.