Visit our Trail Directory for an overview of the sections. Trail section pages include maps, directions, and downloadable GPS (.gpx) and Google Earth (.kml) data. A great way to ask questions of like-minded outdoor ozark trail chair enthusiasts is to check out the Ozark Trail Section Hikers and Backpackers (OTSHAB) Facebook page. You’ll find numerous advocates eager to answer your questions and aid you in planning your thru-hike.
Surprisingly, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent packpack to get you started. If you are building out your gear on a budget, the Ozark Trail 40L Eagle is a bargain internal frame backpack. At under $50, this pack was my main backpack ozark trail backpack for over a year, and still serves as an occasional backup to my other bags. A frame is important because it will keep your back from getting sore by distributing the weight along your spine and hips, rather than on your shoulders.
Some days this bag was heavier than I would have chosen it to be. However, it took a pretty good beating and has held up. The only thing I might add is a liner for wet days, like a small plastic trash bag. I can’t imagine loading this up with a lot of bulky, heavy items. I backpack in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada.
A reader emailed several good questions while preparing for a backpacking trip on the Ozark Highlands Trail. I enjoy responding to these type of inquiries and decided to write this post. This is the Russian Doll of the bag world, the bag going inside of the bigger bag. We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space.
Not too small, but not too large (and thus wasteful) – a Goldilocks design. After all, I had to be sensitive to weight as we were required to carry our own water for 10 miles as there were no options for filtering during that stretch. They’re cheap, so I usually carry one in my daypack even though I rarely use it on multi-day backpacking trips.
Water sources such as rivers and streams may only be available seasonally. Ozark Trail maps are a great resource to help identify places where you can access water. Bring enough water for your trip or a way ozark trail canopy to purify water to make it safe to drink. Many of the creeks and streams look crystal clear, but it’s still smart to make sure any impurities are removed with pumps or tablets before drinking the water.
Lastly, I haven’t yet had a chance to test its waterproofing in a huge down-pouring of rain, but it did hold up in some strong winds surprisingly well. Future users may want to seal or waterproof the seams a little better. When hiking, doing gentle stretches each morning and evening can avoid problems. Using some lotion on the feet each night after cleaning also helps prevent blisters. Pack a file for smoothing the toenails during your trip. After the Ozark Trail experience, I found a good podiatrist.
All though I’ve been hiking for years, my hikes have been short ones no more than a mile or two. Normally they took place at a green space or a nearby park. For these outings it was carrying a Nalgene bottle of water in a pocket or on a strap and large jug kept in the car for the drive home. But over the last few years my wife and I are into longer hikes.