Amazon: This thoroughly researched yet accessible backpacking book offers a complete view of backpacking today, exploring everything from how to plan a trip and select gear to emergency procedures and first-aid care in the field. A revised, updated, and comprehensive guide to backpacking with a complete view of modern-day backpacking, The Backpacker’s Field Manual covers the best in gear, first aid, and Leave No Trace camping, and also includes chapters dedicated to trip planning, cooking and nutrition, hygiene and water purification, and more. Whether you’re about to set off on your first hike or have been camping for decades, The Backpacker’s Field Manual is an indispensable guide for trip planning strategies and also works as a quick reference on the trail for:
• Back-country skills: how to forecast the weather, identify trees, bear-proof your campsite, wrap an injured ankle, and more—with over one hundred illustrations to guide you
• Tricks of the trail: time-tested practical lessons learned along the way
• Going ultra-light: downsizing suggestions for those who want to lighten up
Also: The Backpacker's Field Manual has been the bible of the Princeton University Outdoor Action Program for more than a decade, field-tested by one of the most respected outdoor programs in the country. It is the most comprehensive backpacking guide available--broad in scope while still focused on the essential skills and information that backpackers need to travel safely and comfortably in the wilderness. Backpackers of all levels will find this book indispensable: before you start your trip, for deciding on an itinerary, selecting equipment, and figuring out what food, clothing, and other supplies to pack;
once you're out in the wilderness, for choosing a campsite, setting up camp, navigating with map and compass, identifying trees and plants, and preparing meals (recipes included!);
if something unexpected happens, for finding a lost person, seeking shelter in a lightning storm, and performing first aid for common injuries. More than 100 line drawings illustrate such useful skills as how to set up a tarp, repair your stove, wrap an injured ankle, predict the weather, and much more. And scattered throughout are Tricks of the Trail, additional tips for successful backcountry hiking.
Any traveler knows that space in a backpack is limited, so on your next trip, pack the only guide you'll need--this one.

This manual is extremely practical and accurate. Even tho this is 2015 and the copyright is 2005, it is still up to date on its wisdom and its descriptions of options on gear and techniques. Another good point of this book is the author's intention. The cover states he is a director of outdoor action at a university, not a gear salesperson, so his descriptions of gear and techniques should have little or no bias other than experience, which is good for the reader.

Yes, the book covers everything I could think of to check up on. Everything. ( )

Rick Curtis is an expert in outdoor education. As the director of Princeton University's Outdoor Action program, Rick coordinates 800+ students on freshman orientation trips including backpacking, canoeing....climbing etc. He knows how to backpack, how to evaluate risks, what you need etc. This is a great go to book if you are just starting out or if you have been packing for a long time! ( )

Great resource for novice and experienced backpackers. An essential reference for the outdoor enthusiast's bookshelf. ( )