7 Best Lightweight Backpacks of 2016

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Whether you’re planning an epic thru-hike, a 5-day trek in the mountains, or a quick weekend jaunt in the woods, keeping pack weight down is key. The lighter your backpack, the more you’ll enjoy hiking, which makes a world of difference on backcountry trips.

Lightweight backpacking isn’t just for long-distance trekkers anymore. The entire outdoor industry is going lighter and there’s good reason for that. Lighter packs are more comfortable. Your backpack will be one of the four heaviest items on your back (backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), so it’s a great place to start reducing overall weight.

I’ve researched and tested dozens of lightweight backpacks to narrow this list down to the very best of the best. Whatever your hiking goals are, I hope this post helps you find the perfect pack to keep you comfortable on the trail for many years to come. Enjoy!

CRITICAL BACKPACK CONSIDERATIONS

COST - A solid lightweight backpack shouldn’t break the bank. That said, if you take care of your backpack, it will last for many years and thousands of trail miles. So it’s not a bad idea to invest in a good piece of equipment. I recommend a range of packs from budget buys to high-end purchases and talk about the pros and cons of each.

WEIGHT - Your backpack will be one of the four heaviest pieces of gear you carry on backcountry trips (backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad), so it’s an important piece of gear for keeping overall weight down. The options I recommend have a good balance between weight, comfort, and durability.

FRAME - The lighter your overall pack weight, the less frame you’ll need. Most of the packs I recommend have simple frames that will be very comfortable carrying loads up to 35lbs. If you prefer to carry heavier loads, choose one of the packs I recommend with a sturdier frame.

VOLUME - The volume of your bag will limit how much gear you can carry in it. Most experienced lightweight backpackers can easily fit their gear in a 40-50L pack, even for a thru-hike. If you’re new to lightweight backpacking, you might want to choose a pack with a larger volume and work your way down. Also, if you plan to use your pack for snowy winter trekking, consider bumping up a size in volume.

DESIGN - A backpack doesn’t have to be complex to be exceptional. It’s often the companies that keep design elements simple and streamlined that make the best packs. At the end of the day, your backpack is just a sack to carry other gear comfortably. So don’t feel the need to overdo it with a ton of excess compartments, pouches, zippers, clips, and straps.

MATERIAL - Most lightweight backpacks are made from one of two materials: ripstop nylon or cuben fiber. In general, cuben fiber is lighter, but more expensive. Both materials are durable and highly functional for backpacks.

FIT - Fit is one of the most important factors in a comfortable backpack, but it’s also one of the toughest features to pin down until you have a pack fully loaded and on your back. The packs I recommend are well known for their comfort. Measure your torso length and hip belt size before ordering and you should be good to go.

BUYING ONLINE - Check the seller's return policy before you buy, but you can almost always return an unused pack within a certain timeframe after purchasing. I recommend buying your top choice, trying it on at home when you get it, and returning/exchanging it if it doesn’t fit quite right. I’ve been buying lightweight backpacks online for years and I’ve yet to have any problems.

KEY DESIGN FEATURES

MAIN COMPARTMENT - Most lightweight backpacks have one large top-loading compartment for storing the majority of your gear. That’s really all you need. Extra compartments and zippers add unnecessary weight. Pack items you won’t need until camp (shelter, sleeping bag/pad, stove) in the bottom of your pack and you’ll be set.

REAR MESH POCKET - Most lightweight packs have a large mesh pocket on the back. This feature comes in very handy on the trail. It’s great for gear you want to stow quickly or keep easily accessible, like a rain jacket or water purifier. It’s also good for airing out wet gear.

HIP BELT - A good hip belt is a critical feature of any backcountry pack. Your hip belt will hold most of the weight of your pack on your hips, which keeps your shoulders from tiring. Hip belts should be comfortable and transfer weight without slipping. Every pack on this list has a solid hip belt.

SHOULDER STRAPS - Shoulder straps will hold a significant amount of your pack weight as well. You’ll want them to have comfortable padding and be well spaced to avoid chafing and odd pressure points. Every pack on this list has comfortable shoulder straps.

HIP BELT POCKETS - I’m of the opinion that a backpack isn’t suitable for the trail unless it has hip belt pockets. With a lightweight pack, you won’t need to take breaks nearly as often, so you’ll want some items easily accessible (snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, camera, etc.). Most of the packs I recommend come with built-in hip belt pockets. If they don’t, I highly recommend buying aftermarket hip pockets.

SHOULDER POUCH - I’m also very fond of using a shoulder strap pouch on my packs. I use it to hold my camera and sunglasses while I hike. That way those items are always protected and easily accessible. A couple of the packs I recommend come with shoulder pouches, but most don’t. So you might consider an aftermarket shoulder pouch if it sounds like a good fit for you.

WATER BOTTLE HOLSTERS - Hydration is key, so your water bottles should always be easy to get to. It’s shocking to me when I test packs where I can’t reach the water bottles with the pack on. That’s just not acceptable. Every pack on this list will allow you to grab your water bottles easily while hiking.

WATERPROOFING - In general, it’s not a good idea to rely on any backpack for waterproofing. Cuben fiber is a waterproof material, but seams sewn into a pack will keep it from being 100% waterproof, even if taped. In wet weather you’ll want to pack important items (sleeping bag, clothes, electronics, etc.) in waterproof stuff sacks or plastic bags inside your pack.

HYDRATION PORTS - If you’re a backpacker that likes to use a water bladder for hydration, not having hydration ports can be a dealbreaker. I’m not a huge fan of water bladders, so it’s not as much of a concern for me. That said, most of the packs I recommend do have hydration sleeves and ports.

TOP LID - Most lightweight backpacks don’t have top lids these days in order to reduce weight. Instead, they use roll-top closures, clips, and straps to keep gear secure, which is very effective. I do recommend a couple of packs with top lids, but if you don’t have one, you probably won’t miss it.

STERNUM STRAP - Sternum straps are included on most backpacks these days. They give you the option to connect your shoulder straps across your chest for a more secure feel. It’s a nice touch when the sternum strap has an elastic section for a little give and the clip has an emergency whistle built in.  

LOAD LIFTER STRAPS - Load lifter straps can be used to pull the tops of your shoulder straps back towards your backpack. This will transfer some of the weight of your pack to the front of your shoulders and release some downward pressure. Many lightweight backpacks don’t have them and they are not really necessary if you’re carrying a light load.

TREKKING POLE & ICE AXE LOOPS - Trekking pole and ice axe loops are a nice touch. They make it easy to stow your sticks when you’re not using them to hike. I find that I use mine quite often. Most of the bags I recommend come with these stowing options.

12 Tips for Choosing Toys for Your Child

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A reporter called me the other day to ask for my opinion about the new toys on the market for this holiday season. I’m certainly not an expert on every toy that beckons from store shelves, but I do have some opinions about what makes a good toy. I thought maybe if I talked about some general principles, we could pool our thoughts and information to help each other pick suitable toys from the lot offered this year.

I told the reporter that adults often seem to forget what toys are for. Play is the “work” of childhood. While they play, our children are learning new skills, defining themselves as individuals, and practicing relationships with others and with the physical world. When this is also fun, they are learning that learning, being themselves, and sharing are all pleasant experiences. Good toys are toys that help kids do those things.

Finally, the toys adults choose to buy tell us as much about those adults as they do about the kids they are buying for. Your values — the things you think are important for your kids to learn about in terms of skills, identity, and relationships — are conveyed in your gift, whether you do it consciously or not. It’s interesting to take a look at the toys you put in the shopping basket as a statement about yourself.

There are always new and colorful toys for the choosing. Many do have good play-value. But there are some basic toys that a well-stocked playroom should have to encourage children’s development. My list of a basic dozen for girls and boys from preschool to around age 8 follows. You’ll find that most quality childcare programs, preschools, and kindergartens have all of these toys. If your child spends a good part of the day in such a setting, don’t worry about having everything at home too. If I had to choose only three items from the list for guaranteeing constructive indoor play at home, I’d get the unit blocks, the animals, and the art stuff. Have fun!

Marie’s list of most important toys

1. Unit blocks. Plain wooden blocks (lots of them) in enough sizes to encourage hours of construction, alone and with others.
2. Legos or some other manipulative toy that encourages development of fine motor skills and creativity.
3. Baby dolls and a few basic changes of clothing. Nothing fancy. I’m not crazy about the dolls that crawl, eat, say something, etc. They usually break too easily and they reduce the amount of creativity required to play with them by whatever thing they do. I do suggest having dolls with various skin tones in the playroom. When children love their dolls, they are practicing loving people who look different from themselves.
4. Play kitchen stuff and a play toolbox — both toys for both genders. Kids love to imitate their parents and other adults around them and their play helps them get comfortable with doing lots of different things.
5. Dress-ups — scarves, hats, animal masks, leotards. Look in your closets or in the local Salvation Army store and put together a box full of stuff for hours of creative play.
6. A collection of sturdy rubber or plastic animals (farm animals, zoo animals, and definitely dinosaurs) and a fewvehicles scaled to work with the blocks. Your kids will spend hours making farms, zoos, and dramatic scenes.
7. Art stuff. Lots of it. Playdough and cookie cutters, chunky crayons and paper for little kids. Older kids like glue, glitter, safety scissors, and lots of colors of paper.
8. Finger paint. Every kid deserves to be messy once in a while. You might also include an inexpensive plastic tablecloth to put on the floor when it’s finger painting time.
9. Something for making rhythms and music. A pot and a spoon will do for kids under two. Jingle bells for the young child. Something more complicated like a thumb harp for older ones.
10. A sturdy dollhouse with some basic furniture and durable dollhouse dolls that represent everyone in your family. The house needs to be big enough and open enough that the kids can really get in there and play. (Don’t be surprised if you find the dinosaur or the zoo animals in there sometimes.) You don’t have to take out a second mortgage to buy one of those expensive wooden houses. This can be a fun family project. Find a few sturdy boxes for rooms, cut out windows and doors, decorate the walls and put a scrap of fabric down for a rug. Small boxes, jar lids, some fabric and scraps of wood can be easily transformed into furniture. Dolls can be made out of old-fashioned clothespins. Even if you aren’t the creative type, remember that your kids are.
11. Anything that encourages physical exercise: jump ropes, balls, basic sports equipment, skates, age-appropriate riding toys. Too many of our kids lack physical confidence and competence.
12. An age-appropriate board game or two to encourage cooperative play and problem solving.

In summary, to foster learning as well as fun . . .

• Remember that play is the “work” of childhood. Good toys help kids learn new skills and practice relationships with others and their world.
• When you choose a toy, ask yourself if it is really for the child or for yourself. (It’s okay to use toy buying as a nostalgia trip. Just don’t expect the child to share your enthusiasm.)
• Don’t get hung up on gender-specific toys. Little girls and little boys both need to learn to be comfortable with babies and with tools in the world they are going to inhabit as adults.
• Get in there and play with your kids. It’s part of the fun of being a parent.

5 things to know about heading back to school

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That's less than three weeks from now! Here are a few things we thought you should know about as the summer winds down: 

#1 – Tax Free Weekend is this weekend (Aug. 5-7). The statewide tax holiday applies to most clothes, shoes and school supplies. It also brings a lot of traffic to Allen, so plan ahead if you plan to visit any of our main shopping hubs. 

#2 – Make sure you know proper school bus etiquette. Lots of drivers get confused when they see the school bus stop arm, so we created a helpful infographic  to help explain the rules. Stopping for buses is required by Texas law, with violators facing up to $1,250 in fines. 

#3 – Consider helping local students. Allen Community Outreach will hold its annual Fill the Bus school supply drive August 1-9. Check out the list of needed supplies and drop-off locations  if you'd like to help. 

#4 – Ready to get back into a routine? Find a fitness class or sports league by browsing the latest Parks & Recreation Fall Guide. Allen residents can register for programs beginning Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. 

#5 – Allen Public Library offers many resources to help students succeed, from computers and printing services to group study rooms. Anyone who lives in Texas can get a library card with Allen Public Library. (Lost yours? Replacements are only $2.) You can learn more by visiting.

Feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

5 Values You Should Teach Your Child by Age Five

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Many parents think that it's premature to teach values to a toddler or preschooler. But that's a misconception. Here are the values that all children should develop by their fifth birthday, and some easy ways to make them stick.

Value #1: Honesty

Help Kids Find a Way To Tell the Truth
The best way to encourage truthfulness in your child is to be a truthful person yourself. Consider this story: Carol decided to limit the number of playdates between her 3-year-old son, Chris, and his friend Paul. The boys had been fighting a lot recently, and Carol thought they should spend some time apart. So when Paul's mother called one afternoon to arrange a get-together, Carol told her that Chris was sick.

Overhearing this, her son asked, "Am I sick, Mommy? What's wrong with me?" Carol, taken aback by her son's frightened look, told him she had only said he was sick, because she didn't want to hurt Paul's mother's feelings. Carol then launched into a complicated explanation of the distinctions between the various types of lies, and Chris was confused. All he understood was that fibbing is sometimes okay-and that, in fact, it's what people do.

Your child takes his cues from you, so it's important that you try to avoid any kind of deception, even a seemingly innocuous one. (Never, for instance, say something like "Let's not tell Daddy we got candy this afternoon.") Let your child hear you being truthful with other adults. Carol would have been better off saying, "This isn't a good day for a playdate. I'm concerned that the boys were fighting so much last week. I think they need a break."

Another way to promote the value of honesty: Don't overreact if your child lies to you. Instead, help her find a way to tell the truth. When the mother of 4-year-old Janice walked into the family room one afternoon, she saw that her large potted plant had been toppled and that several branches had been snapped off. She knew right away what had happened: Once before, she had seen Janice making her Barbie dolls "climb the trees," and she'd told her daughter at the time that the plants were off-limits. When Mom demanded an explanation, a guilty-looking Janice blamed the family dog.

Janice's mom reacted sensibly: She interrupted her child's story and said, "Janice, I promise I won't yell. Think about it for a minute, and then tell me what really happened." After a moment, the child owned up to her misdeed. As a consequence, Janice had to help clean up the mess and was not allowed to watch television that afternoon, but her mom made sure to emphasize how much she appreciated her daughter's honesty. In doing so, she taught the child an important lesson: Even if being honest isn't always easy or comfortable, you-and other people-always feel better if you tell the truth.

Value #2: Justice

Insist That Children Make Amends
At a recent family gathering, Amy and Marcus, 4-year-old cousins, were making castles out of wooden blocks. Suddenly, Amy knocked over Marcus's castle, and he started to cry. Witnessing the scene, Amy's father chided his daughter and ordered her to apologize. Amy dutifully said, "I'm sorry."

Then her dad took her aside and asked, "Do you know why you pushed over his blocks?" She told him that she was mad because Marcus's castle was bigger than hers. The dad told her that though this was no excuse for destroying her cousin's castle, he could understand her feelings. He then sent her back to play.

The father's reaction was similar to that of many psychologically savvy parents: He wanted his daughter to identify and express her feelings and to understand why she behaved as she did. That's okay, but it isn't enough. In order to help children internalize a true sense of justice, parents need to encourage them to take some action to remedy a wrong. For example, Amy's dad might have suggested that she help Marcus rebuild his castle or that she bring him some cookies as a gesture of apology.

Saying "I'm sorry" is pretty easy for a child, and it lets her off the hook without forcing her to think. Having a child make amends in a proactive way conveys a much stronger message. If you're aware that your child has acted badly toward someone, help him think of a way to compensate. Maybe he can give one of his trucks to a playmate whose toy he has damaged. Perhaps he could draw a picture for his sister after teasing her all day. By encouraging your child to make such gestures, you emphasize the importance of treating people fairly-an essential value that will one day help him negotiate the complicated world of peer-group relationships.

Value #3: Determination

Encourage Them To Take on a Challenge

Five-year-old Jake showed his mother a drawing that he'd made with his new crayons. "That's very bright and colorful," she told him. "Nice job!" The child then ran to his room and dashed off another drawing to bring to his mom for praise-then another and another.

"Each one was sloppier than the last," his mother said. "I didn't know what to say." A good response might have been: "Well, Jake, that drawing isn't as carefully done as your other one. Did you try your best on that?"

Determination is a value that you can encourage from a very young age. The easiest way to do so is by avoiding excessive praise and by providing children with honest feedback, delivered in a gentle, supportive fashion.

Another powerful way to help kids develop determination is to encourage them to do things that don't come easily-and to praise them for their initiative.If your son is shy, for instance, quietly encourage him to approach kids on the playground, even if it makes him feel nervous and scared. If your daughter is quick to blow a fuse, teach her strategies (such as counting to ten or taking a deep breath) for holding back a temper tantrum. Congratulate kids when they manage to do things that are difficult for them. The child who hears "Good for you, I know that was really tough!" is bolstered by the recognition and becomes even more determined to keep trying.

Value #4: Consideration

Teach Them To Think about Others' Feelings
Anne was frustrated because her daughters, ages 3 and 4, ended up whining and fighting every time she took them grocery shopping. "I finally told them that we needed to figure out how to do our shopping without everyone, including me, feeling upset," Anne says.

The mom asked the girls for suggestions on how to make the trip to the grocery store a better experience for all. The 4-year-old suggested that they bring snacks from home so they wouldn't nag for cookies. The 3-year-old said she would sing quietly to herself so she would feel happy.

The girls remembered their promises, and the next trip to the supermarket went much more smoothly. Leaving the store, the younger girl asked, "Do you feel really upset now, Mommy?" The mother assured her that she felt just fine and remarked how nice it was that nobody got into an argument.

Do these small problem-solving exercises actually help a child learn the value of consideration? You bet. Over time, even a young child sees that words or actions can make another person smile or feel better, and that when she's kind to someone else, that person is nice to her. This feedback encourages other genuine acts of consideration.

Value #5: Love

Be Generous with Your Affection

Parents tend to think that children are naturally loving and generous with their affection. This is true, but for loving sentiments to last, they need to be reciprocated. It's chilling to realize that over the course of a typical busy day, the phrase "I love you" is probably the one that a child is least likely to hear.

Let your child see you demonstrate your love and affection for the people in your life. Kiss and hug your spouse when the kids are around. Talk to your children about how much you love and appreciate their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

And, of course, don't let a day pass without expressing your affection for your child himself. Show your love in unexpected ways: Pack a note in his lunch box. Tape a heart to the bathroom mirror so he'll see it when he brushes his teeth. Give her a hug-for no reason. Don't allow frantic morning drop-offs or frenetic afternoon routines squeeze loving gestures out of your day.

I can practically guarantee you that the more you say "I love you" to your child, the more your child will say "I love you" back. The more hugs and kisses you give, the more your home will be filled with love and affection. And when our children feel free to express their love to us, we instill in them perhaps the greatest value of all.

5 Father's Day Gifts Dad Actually Wants

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Why not give dad something he'll actually use for Father's Day this year? And no, we're not talking about those pajamas from last year that he still hasn't worn.

Father's Day is June 19, and whether you're gift shopping for your father, brother or husband, there's something here for every man in your life – guaranteed.

5 Father's Day Gifts Dad Actually Wants:

1. Corral Men's Circle G by Corral Basic Tan Boot

If dad's old pair of boots are looking a bit rough, he'll love to receive this bestseller. They feature all-over distressed leather, fancy stitching on leather shafts and a soft leather lining and cushioned insoles for all-day comfort. Pull tabs and dip openings at the top are there for his convenience and the snip toe and leather outsoles give this boot that perfectly classic look.

2. Twister Dallas Wool Cowboy Hat

Dad will look Tim McGraw-fresh in this classic black cowboy hat. It features a matching black hatband with a belt buckle and tip for decoration.

3. Nocona Belt Co. Men's Brown Strap & Shotgun Shell Conchos Belt

This genuine leather belt features 12 gauge shot gun shell conchos, plus a brass buckle to match the shells. Dad's sure to get a kick out of this one… and actually wear it, too.

4. Ariat Trifold Wallet

This wallet features oil tan leather and an Ariat-brand concho. The inside features a clear ID slot, credit card slots, a removable photo slip and money slots. A very useful gift.

5. Columbia Men's PFG Bahama II Short Sleeve Shirt

If he loves fishing more than life itself, this one will surely be appreciated. This nylon shirt dries fast and features mesh-lined cape vents at the back shoulder to keep him cool plus omni-shade UPF 30 that provides maximum protection for long hours spent in the sun.