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Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm in the early stages of planning a family trip "Out West" for late August / early September. The plan is to see Rushmore and the Badlands, then on to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We'll likely be taking my brother's pop-up camper and be gone for 10-12 days. For a portion of that time, we'd be camping without electricity. DH has some rugged backpacking experience, and I saw the country in a camper in childhood, but haven't camped since having kids. Gulp. I try to remember that my mom camped when I was in diapers -- cloth diapers. Surely I'm up to two 12 year olds!

Our plans are to do some cycling, rafting and hiking, along with sightseeing and, of course, loads of driving. I'd like to spend a bit of time in Cody, Wy and in Jackson Hole, too.

I will need to purchase hiking footwear and socks. I don't anticipate extremely long hikes, but I don't want to be limited by lack of traction/stability or blisters! While I can wear my gym-worthy wicking tops, I would like to have some quick-dry underwear and pants options to minimize the stench and the laundry! I also need to make sure that I can handle some rain, although I don't want to spend a huge amount of money on raingear I might use once.

I'm looking for suggestions for:
1. Footwear / socks
2. quick-dry pants, toppers and undies
3. rain gear
4. Other wisdom as you feel led to dispense it!

Shopping

40 replies

Latest reply was from rabbit

catgirl

Veteran

Oh, you are right up my alley now!

Socks: Smartwool, also maybe a neoprene pair if you can't stand cold wet feet

Pants: REI has a lot of the good old zip off styles in quick dry lightweight bugproof fabrics. Patagonia has undies and toppers, but REI has other brands, including in-house, that are just as good.

Rain gear: I would do Marmot or Sierra or some reputable brand (nothing worse than crappy rain gear, and learning the hard way!), but we also have truly basic old school rain gear from the army/navy store that works just fine, just sweatier and a little less packable.

I also bring a pair of slip on shoes for camping, so as to get in and out of the tent easily (or the camper, if that's what you're doing). Crocs or Merrells or something else like that.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Personally I found Smartwool socks too hot for summer hiking. But my hiking boots are waterproof goretex Cascade mountains bomb proof. I like Bridgeport socks for hot weather.

ETA Coolmax socks gave me blisters.

Good rain gear is worth it.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, Una! I was hoping you would weigh in. I have a large REI not too far from me --- it would be nice to try some of their items on for size. I also have a Bass Pro less than 10 minutes from my house.

Anna: You're a hiking veteran, and I'm glad to hear your recommendations. I am determined to make sure I don't end up with blistered, aching feet!

rachylou

Veteran

REI is where I always go. Break in your boots before you go! I personally do a skirt and those zip off cargo pants that become shorts. Lots of socks; I like plain wool. I also like crocs for shuffling around camp in, and frankly have always found running shoe-like trail shoes sufficient on day hike trails. I'm also paranoid and carry one of those silver emergency blankets and whistle/magnifying glass/compass tools and a pocket knife. The glass is for lighting a camp fire in an emergency. Haha.

amiable

Veteran

Reading this thread with interest, as I'm also thinking of a Badlands/Rushmore family road trip this summer! (BethAnn, maybe we should coordinate times!)

catgirl

Veteran

I wear my Smartwools hiking all summer but I am NEVER hot in my climate! Maybe bring a variety.

JAileen

Veteran

We did a similar trip 3-4 years ago. We went to Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. It was fabulous. The west is magnificent.

I love Thorlo hiking socks. They are at REI. Actually, check REI for boots or hiking shoes. I have Solomon goretex hiking shoes. They are not tall, but have great traction. Yes, I know they're ugly. But I didn't get any blisters on an 11 mike hike! Fit is important and what works for you could be vastly different.
You should have good rain gear. We really got rained on during one hike. I was too lazy to put my rain pants on. So I was soaked below my jacket which is North Face goretex that I've had for 15 years or so.

I think you should check out REI. They will have everything you might need. If you join ($10?) you get 10% back at the end of the year.

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rabbit

Veteran

How fun! I did a very similar trip the summer I was 14 with my 10 year old sister, parents and the popup trailer. I think we got up to the Olympic Peninsula too, but all those stops you mention.

Some gear ideas:

Underwear: http://www.amazon.com/ExOffici.....&ie=U
I bought a pair of these maybe a decade ago and they are still going strong, haven't lost their shape at all

Liner Socks: wicking Polypropylene liner socks are useful so feet don't get sweaty. Also if you don't end up having a chance to wash your summer weight hiking socks as much, this liner will keep them less stinky.

Hiking Socks: Thorlo, smartwool, wigwam are all good choices. Here's an article: http://thesavvybackpacker.com/best-hiking-socks/

Footwear: Actually for hot/rocky/dusty hiking like many of the trails in the parks you mention I like ones like these Columbia sportswear ones: http://www.columbia.com/Women%.....lt,pd.html (I haven't tried these in particular, mine are another older model). A higher rise helps protect my ankles from twisting, if you get gortex it helps keeps water out, but helps sweat/heat evaporate, some tread is helpful, but not deep enough that it catches pebbles, and most importantly, it's light-weight and cushy inside like a tennis shoe.

I don't have any specific pants recommendations, but remember you might be dealing with mosquitoes so long pants/sleeves help sometimes. You will almost certainly get covered with dust, so that put me off wearing shorts that much on trails and the inevitable caking of dust/sunscreen on my lower legs if I couldn't wash them at night

For Raingear - it's most likely to be thunderstorms, so something heavy-duty with a hood that protects from windy down-pour, even if it's cheaper plastic material, might be as useful as an expensive Gortex coat if you are briefly caught in it. Gortex is more comfortable of course for longer hikes in rain.

General advice - Not that you would do this, but don't wait to cook dinner until after pulling the trailer into a camping spot at midnight (seems obvious doesn't it). It can take a very long time to traverse windy national park roads and find an open space, so eat early so everyone isn't grumpy, tired, and hungry and miles from civilization. Also, at some point, you might all get thoroughly sick of being in the car together, so it's nice to have part of a day in a town or campsite where nothing is planned and you all split up and do your own thing somewhat.

rabbit

Veteran

Just adding REI is super expensive if you are buying several things. But it is a great place to try on gear, find exactly what you like, and then stalk that item online for a lower price from Amazon or Sierra Traders or something. It does have a very generous return policy, but if you are trying to kit out four people....

ETA: Always carry a flashlight hiking. Lightweight small, bright headlamps are very useful around camp or hiking. I make sure one of us is carrying a kit like rachylou mentions too.

ETA2: You can get NorthFace from Sports Authority on sale relatively often.

Deborah

Veteran

No advice but just wanted to say you have nothing but my total admiration. No electricity!! Need I say more.

Jeanie

Veteran

Oh, how exciting Beth Ann! Our family did the same trip last year minus the camping and it is stunning countryside. I am a bit jealous as I am an avid hiker but DH is not so I missed seeing the land on foot but we did cover a lot of sites. We had bison mommies and babies crossing the road right in front of our car and prairie dogs and donkeys scampering around. Well, maybe donkeys don't scamper!

Agree with everyone about investing in good rain gear. I like something with Gortex. Nothing is more miserable than being wet and camping. LL Bean is good but Patagonia or other brands are probably more stylish. I always threw in some of those plastic rain ponchos in my Boy Scout camping days for backup. They fold up into a little square.

Fit is the most important for hiking boots and they should also be waterproof. I would say shop around and get the best boot for your foot and then make sure you wear them in before your trip to avoid blisters. I also like Keens sandals for lighter hiking in the summer because they have holes which keep your feet cool and dry. They would be good around the campsite.

Attaching a fond memory

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Beth Ann

Veteran

Rachy: Love your idea of skirt over pants, at least if it's not hot. I am a bit Diva, you know. I have leopard, ballet style crocs that I hope last the summer and make the trip! BTW -- My DH is Mr. Safety, so I bet he'll have one of those blankets!

Ami: What fun! Have you checked out the KOA near Rushmore? I think we'll stay there.

JAileen: Great tips on REI! So wish we had time for Glacier...and Banff....and...

Rabbit: I will be checking all your links closely. Love the hiking boots!
I went on a 3 week trip when I was 12 --- Badlands, Yellowstone and Teton, Idaho, Oregon, Washington in Vancouver Island, Banff, Lake Lousie, Montana. Yep. It was one of my best childhood memories. My kids are 12 now, and I hope I can leave the with some great memories, too! Besides, the mosquitoes are far worse in Illinois!

And I am so going to make those "brownies in an orange" over the campfire........as long as DH chops the firewood!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Deborah: I am not resorted to the light and heater in the truck under duress. There's a nice make up mirror in there, and the seats are heated!

Deborah

Veteran

Ok, that sounds a little more acceptable lol It does all sound fun.

Gaylene

Veteran

A Gortex (or similar breathable/windproof) jacket is an essential in my books for any type of camping trip. I'd also suggest a fleece jacket or vest because the mountains can get pretty cool in the evenings and early mornings. And a hat--if for no other reason that to keep the rain and sun off your head and hide your bedhead hair.

My biggest suggestion, though, is to keep things simple if you are camping in a pop-up trailer. Unless your husband and kids have been trained to do a lot of the cooking, cleanup, and other chores, I'd think twice before keeping to the standards that you do at home. My mantra was if I did the cooking, someone else did the cleanup. That alone convinced my husband and kids that one-pot meals were the way to go, reinforced by the fact throwing everything into one pot usually made for a fast meal once we got set up in the campground. Hunger and fresh air do remarkable things to those one-pot concoctions, especially with the promise of chocolate bars for dessert. Most of my female friends intensely dislike tent camping, and, after seeing women doing meal prep and other chores while the rest of the family were off hiking, I can certainly understand their feelings.

Neel

Veteran

I have no useful advice .. But just popped in to say that it sounds like its going to be one super vacation! And I think you are doing well by preparing in advance

Mann

That sounds like a great trip! A couple of suggestions from me (years of climbing and backpacking in the Pacific Northwest). It's expensive, but I'd go with merino underwear (Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool). It's very breathable in the summer (ok, PNW summer), and it really does not stink. Synthetic underwear and bras (and clothes in general) get really smelly on multiday active trips. For the same reason, I also prefer merino tops, even in the summer - the merino tops come in multiple weights, and the lightest is suitable for hot weather activities in my experience. It might be less important for a camper van style camping though when the volume and weight of things you bring is not that restricted so you can bring multiples of everything, but if bringing less stuff and doing less laundry is important, I'd really consider merino wool options. These you could of course wear later on for exercizing or maybe even other activities.

Second, re rain gear. I do have a rain jacket I like and use, but nothing is really going to keep you dry in long downpours, and the jacket might not dry completely overnight if you are camping in damp weather. Putting on a wet jacket in the morning is not fun. On multiday trips where I need to cover long distances but the forecast points to likely heavy and prolonged rain, I typically bring a cheap-o poncho (~10 bucks) and use that instead of a rainjacket. (The poncho would be awkward for cycling and rafting though, but you probably wouldn't cycle in rain?) Also, some of my climbing partners sometimes use umbrellas in the rain on training (day) hikes if the trail is nice and there is no hands-on scrambling. It might sound like a strange practice but it's worth considering and I've done it occasionally myself. I don't think there is any reason to spend a lot of money on a very good rain jacket for just this one trip in my opinion.

And re footwear. Unless you are plunge stepping in snow or need to wear crampons or carry an enormous pack or in other specific circumstances, I would suggest you consider just trail running shoes with good traction instead of a hiking boot. These might be also something you can use often afterwards. Or do you already have something like that perhaps?

And re hiking pants. Do you have a pair of capri length or long workout pants? Like yoga pants? And exercise shorts? Those should already be quick drying. If you do, is there a reason why you specifically want pants marketed as hiking pants? The pants marketed as hiking pants are going to be more abrasion resistant and water resistant, but how important are these two characteristics to you for this one trip?

I sound like I'm on anti-shopping crusade here. Maybe I'm old school, but it sometimes irritates me how looking at catalogues or talking to some REI sales associates it seems like it's simply impossible to walk into the outdoors without first spending hundreds of dollars on "gear".
I don't mean to be negative, just trying to say that if you DON'T WANT to spend ton of money, you shouldn't!

rabbit

Veteran

Gaylene - my ears are steaming just thinking about your last sentence. argh.

I love camping and backpacking, but there has always been a very equal division of labor with whoever is involved, and it falls out according to who likes doing a particular chore and is good at it, not gender roles.

Backpacking with my husband we've developed a system over the years and we don't even have to talk about it, we just do our thing. He cooks, I wash dishes. I set up the tent and find a place to hang the food above bear height and throw the line up there. I deal with trash and anything which would attract critters. I filter the water and replenish the water bottles. He gets up at the crack of dawn and makes hot cocoa while I'm still lying muzzily in the tent waiting for the sun to warm things up. He deals with the stove and we both build a campfire if it's permitted. He does most of the navigation and map / terrain reading, although I double-check and make sure I fully understand where we are at all times. He carries the heavier stuff in his bag.

I agree with Gaylene that one pot meals are delish and if it's anything more involved than opening packets and chopping a few things, everyone ought to help out.

ETA: also I agree with what Mann wrote. I haven't tried merino undies, but I've had Gortex eventually soak through after hours and hours of rain exposure, and wished I had a trash bag to wear. My trail shoes are Columbia, but were 35$ from an outlet.

Gaylene

Veteran

Rabbit, sounds like you and I would be good camping mates!

Our family loved to camp and backpack in the mountains and, like you mention, a big part of the fun is dividing up all the tasks so everyone has things to do. Because we did so much backpacking, I still use the same system for preparing and bagging all our meals in advance when we camp so pretty much all I do in the field is to boil water and dump in the contents of the bag.

When our sons were just 3 and 5, we took our camping gear to Denmark and Norway for a summer. Now THAT was luxury camping for this wilderness girl because every campground had a kiosk where you could buy fresh milk, rolls, cheese, and other goodies on site--with the option of having these supplies to your camping site in the morning for your breakfast! Others had heated buildings with kitchens and dining areas for food prep and dinners. But what I loved best were the campgrounds with a "mother's room" that held showers and facilities just for moms and little kids; it was so much fun meeting other moms and seeing all these little kids getting prepped for bed in their jammies.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Gaylene: Yep. This will be a "family" trip. Fortunately, I married a kind and useful man, and as we all know, useful is sexy. On winter mornings, he warms up my car, takes care of the snow, and carries out my work bag. My DD is busy going through my camping pins and making cooking plans, and my DS, while he'd play with Legos or on the Wii 24/7 if I let him, he can be suprisingly resourceful and helpful. I'm sure there will be eyerolling, but I intend to raise independent young adults!

Mann: Good word. I intend on buying only what I think I would use again hiking near home. I will indeed pack some of my workout gear and try to choose a boot that I can use of the nice trails that are within 10 minutes of my home -- right now I realize my walking shoes aren't giving enough support to my feet, so trail shoes will get a lot of use. I like the idea of one pair of hiking pants, just because I don't like wearing slinky workout pants in, say, a visitors center. However, I don't want to blow the budget on clothes!

Rabbit: Sounds like a great work-sharing system! I think we'll take my brother's camper on a 2-3 night trip nearby in May/June. We have several options 30-50 minutes away from home. Some practice for the big game! And no bears!

Gaylene: I would love to camp in Europe. Sounds like a whole different type of experience, but a wonderful one! I hope to plan and prep before we go, too. Of course, with a 10-12 day trip, I probably can't do it all before hand, but I can get a good start!

Minnie

That sounds like a great, fun trip.
I prefer hiking/trail shoes over hiking boots for most situations and my favorites are Merrell.
Athleta has nice functional clothing that packs well and can be used on and off trails.

pil

Veteran

.We're thinking of packing up our dogs and heading for Mt. Rushmore this summer too! A friend of mine wore some Royal Robbins pieces for a mountain hike in France and Switzerland.

catgirl

Veteran

Our camping trips involve a lot of beer and bacon. The guys love to sit around the campfire and cook meat on sticks, so yes to one pot meals and letting the boys do the "work".

As for expense, I agree to definitely use what you have if these items are for a single trip and purpose. I have had the same camping gear for 15 years now, because until it falls apart, there is no point replacing it. It's all going to get holes from fire sparks, stains, and wear. I am not a cute camper! Bring lots of baby wipes for shower-free days. And a hat is my best friend for cold evenings and bad hair.

Frankly, our cheap rubber raingear from Army/Navy is the most waterproof... No need to spend a lot - just remember it will feel like the old days of being encased in rubber.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I have no words of wisdom but I did want to wish you an amazing trip!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Una: I'm remembering a canary yellow poncho on my family trip in 1975. Raingear is likely where I'll economize, since we'll likely try to do our hikes before the typical late afternoon mountain thundershower.

I will be taking a simple black dress in a sort of "travel knit." (in photo) I figure I'll brave the National Park shower house before a trip into Jackson Hole for a nice lunch and some light shopping.

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kkards

Veteran

trip sounds like all kinds of fun! when i was 16 my family took 4 weeks and drove across the country (and back), stopping in all the places you mentioned. for an east coast girl, it was eye openning. nothing to add on the gear, it seems like that was pretty well covered
.

Mann

Beth Ann, oh, I get it now about the hiking pants - you really want actual casual pants instead of gym wear that are a bit more functional for the occasion than say hiking in jeans. Sounds like this is also something you might use then after the trip? I like the zipoff styles like alaskagirl was talking about as I find having "two lengths in one pant" quite useful. I personally find the hiking pants that are of stretchy material more comfortable than the non-stretchy ones.

Sarah A

Veteran

I have tons to say but no time to say it now... flagging to remember to come back. This type of trip is so how I roll in the summer.... Have a great time. More soon

Anonymous

Oh, sounds like a lot of fun!

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