The Backpacker's Handbook, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Chris Townsend (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1996

Winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild award for excellence, this inspired guide from one of the world's best-traveled adventurers offers essential, up-to-the-minute information and advice on all aspects of backcountry trekking for hikers and backpackers of every stripe. From planning and techniques to gear, it's all covered in succinct, highly readable fashion in an expanded, visually arresting update of a proven bestseller. The Backpacker's Handbook is the only major guide to deliver an in-depth look at all backpacking styles, from ultralight to long-distance hiking. New material on trekking in challenging environments such as deserts and mountains will appeal to hikers who love to push the envelope. Chris Townsend's anecdotal style makes for a book that invites reading from cover to cover, yet is designed to let readers find specific topics quickly. The Backpacker's Handbook teaches us how to make traveling through the wild truly enjoyable and fulfilling while protecting its natural beauty.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

" . . . the joy of walking through the ever-changing, ever-constant natural world, the magic of waking to sunlight glinting on a mist-wreathed lake, the excitement of striding through a mountain storm. . . . " These, wrote Chris Townsend in the universally praised first edition of The Backpacker's Handbook, are but some of the reasons to backpack. Here is all you need to do so safely and comfortably.

In this thoroughly revised and updated Second Edition, Townsend uses his gently encouraging tone and his own experiences to show what can go wrong. He is slave to neither tradition nor to technology: He recommends pile and Gore-Tex, and has long since abandoned his tarp for a tent, but he still prefers wool socks. And because he believes that "wilderness needs defending from those who love it," Townsend's emphasis throughout is on low-impact camping.

The First Edition's success was due to its enormous practicality for backpackers of all skill levels, with everything from essential techniques for every backpacking trip--such as map and compass work--to the skills needed for more remote wilderness journeys--such as how to ford rivers safely and how to choose a route in untracked terrain. To this now add such topics as hiking in deserts, ultralight backpacking, and adventure trekking in distant corners of the globe.

The Backpacker's Handbook teaches us how to make traveling through the wild truly enjoyable and fulfilling while protecting its natural beauty. Townsend's advice is always sensible, rarely doctrinaire, never condescending.

"Every imaginable topic, from choosing and using equipment, to wilderness nutrition and cooking, to backcountry skills and hazards, is covered thoroughly and engagingly."--Backpacker

"The novice as well as the experienced hiker should benefit from this book."--Travel Books Worldwide

"Townsend has written a clear and comprehensive primer on backpacking gear. His knowledge in this area is immense."--Sierra

"For those thinking of taking a backpack journey, The Backpacker's Handbook is required reading."--Daily Local News (West Chester, Pennsylvania)

"The most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to equipment and technique available anywhere. Highly recommended."--Backpack (UK)

About the Author

One of the world's best-known and most experienced rough-terrain hikers, Chris Townsend has been backpacking for more than 25 years. His most notable adventures include a 1988 trek spanning the 1,600-mile length of the Canadian Rockies, a 1,000-mile walk through the Yukon, and a monumental 3,000-mile expedition from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide Trail. Townsend is the author of Wilderness Skiing and Winter Camping and Walking the Yukon, also by Ragged Mountain Press, and of High Summer, Adventure Treks: Western North America, and The Great Backpacking Adventure. When not on the trail, Townsend lives in Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 2 edition (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070653151
• ISBN-13: 978-0070653153
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST introductory Backpacking book available., June 2, 1999

By 

David Dathe (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Backpacker's Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Backpackers lost a great tradition with the ending of Colin Fletcher's "The Complete Walker" series; the third edition was published in the mid-80s. Chris Townsend has continued the tradition, however, with a classic text for the beginning (or advanced) backpacker. Townsend's clear writing, love of the outdoors, years of experience and clear opinions shine on almost every page. It is simply impossible for one person to test and evaluate every piece of backpacking equipment on the market. So what criteria to use to judge if the text has accomplished its goal? First, the coverage of equipment is extensive. Footware, packs, clothes, shelter (tents, etc.), sleeping bags, kitchen items, food and other necessary items are all discussed in the various chapters. Second, within each category a reasonable number of different items have been tested. An example is the section on backpacking stoves. Virtually all kinds of stoves are mentioned and discussed. Third, the evaluations are clear, reasoned and blunt. For these reasons, as well as being based on years of experience, the evaluations come across as fair and trustworthy. Fourth, the author's bias are clearly indicated. For example, side bars read like this: "Lightweight Rain Jackets: My Choices". Having the author evaluate the alternatives, then justify his own choice of a particular piece of gear adds greatly to the text. Townsend is not afraid to take what might seem to be unpopular stands. For example, in the section on water treatment in the wilderness (p. 199-201), he downplays the need to treat every drop of water you drink using some type of purification system. He does, however, mention a far more important health problem of not washing your hands and keeping cooking utensils clean. The latter two probably contribute more to sickness than untreated water. Such frank and concise opinions are woven throughout the text. Both the beginning backpacker and the seasoned pro who want a wonderful summary of the state-of-the-art of backpacking equipment and procedures will have to hike a long trail to find a better book than this. My only suggestion for the next edition is to double the content and halve the weight so that I might carry the book with me for reading in the outdoors! The book is an essential piece of backpacking gear!

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best All-Inclusive Backpacking Guide!, February 15, 2000

By 

"jelentari" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Backpacker's Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Being a novice, I wanted ONE book that would answer all my questions and provide me with valuable information I would need. This book was the one! I read a lot of the "editorial reviews" on several backpacking books, but I used the "customer reviews" to make my final selection. Thanks to all the previous reviewers, I'm happy to say that I did indeed choose what is probably the best all-inclusive backpacking guide which I know would follow me from novice through experienced. If you don't want to be saddled with dozens of books just so you can have a wealth of information on an activity you'd like to try, than this is the ONE book to get!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best on the subject, February 2, 2003

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Backpacker's Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I have a nice collection of camping books, and simply put - this is the BEST book I have ever found on backpacking, period. If I had bought this book first, I could have saved my money from buying so many others since none of them had all the information I was looking for. This book is complete and covers every aspect of backpacking for the novice and expert alike. It is called the "backpackers bible" by those that know it just for that reason. If you plan to backpack for one day, to a long trip, this book covers it all from weather, to clothing, gear, stoves, food, shoes, maps, you name it. And it is well written so that you don't really have to scan it like a catolog. You will find the writing style so comfortable, you will read it like a novel from front to end. I was suprised that I had read it right though, since most of us do not read reference books in this manner. Very enjoyable and well worth the money.