How important are hip belts if you keep your weight under 15lb and for dayhikes? Been looking to get into vest-style straps which seem to come with fastpacks, but the trade off seems to be that none really have a true "hip belt" that is weight bearing.

Okay let's settle this once and for all. Which one is all around better?

I use one of those wide brim straw hats women use in summer and i'm tired of pretending they aren't good or that they are gay to use on men.

I will be following the footsteps of an older close friend of mine who went /out/ing in Africa in the 80s after he ran away from home at 17.
We met on similar desolate paths elsewhere and I learned much from him when it comes to approach and attitude to make a journey that doesn't rely on money to get you to your destinations. But, I had never dared to go to a place like Africa before talking to him.

But, I will need some modern preparations such as the ability to make e-Visas, what power plugs are used, where to avoid insurgent or militia ruled areas, etc.
Is there any better source than https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Main_Page
Any personal experiences and advice is also welcome.

>inb4 go /out/ing in your backyard like we always do
No

I know this not /lit/ but are there generally books that will help a average guy become a /out/ man

Is it safe to go hiking in Upstate NY wearing shorts? Or will I die from deer ticks?

Easily the best /out/ state in the lower 48.
>tallest mountain in lower 48
>best coasts in lower 48
>three of the biggest cities full of nightlife and other activities
>a shit ton of public land
>mountains
>desert
>you name it, we have it
>even has yearly fires for pyromaniacs
>some of the hottest women in the country
>most women are practically naked on the beaches
>can dress like a hobo and no one will judge you

How important do you think a survival knife is?
Do you think it is a rather not needed item thats need can be superseded by a usual every day knife?
It is easier to just snap logs for a fire than to hack them with a survival knife.
This is of course not including raw survival where you are needing bushcraft and hunting skills to actually survive. Just general non normie tier camp holiday woodland camping.

and made some blackberry jam with them on my rocket stove. what did you guys do /out/side today? do any of you do stuff like this?

Help me find a new backpack please!

My current pack is a 2018 design Camelbak Fourteener 20 liter pack.
The pack is to carry around all the time, as well as to take on longer hikes. The Camelbak is nice, I need a compartment that can hold a hydration bladder, I drink a lot of water. I am looking to carry more water and spare clothes than I can fit in the 20 liter pack. So maybe a 30 or 40 or even 45 liter pack?
I only do day hikes, so I don't need to carry anything overnight.

The shoulder straps on the Camelbak fall apart after a year (I've gone through three identical packs)
If the pack is sized for a bigger person, that's a plus, but I realize I'm not gonna find that.
I am looking to carry 6+ liters of water and 4-5 changes of clothes with me, so I guess I'd rather err on the side of slightly larger, I also keep my wallet/keys/charger in the pack.

The big reason I'm asking here is I can't seem to find bags that have smaller individual exterior pockets that can be individually zipped open or closed without opening the main pack. I am used to being able to easy-access the front pockets to take things in and out without having to open up the whole pack - and most packs I find seem to be just one big compartment with maybe one accessory pouch on the outside, but I want 3-4 of those for different things.

random pack for pic related