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Before I dive into adult options, let me discuss rods for kids. This is really easy. For younger children, get a spinning or spincasting reel and mount it on a matching ultralight rod. If they’ve never cast before at all, get them the spincasting model – also known as a “push button” – because they’re simple to operate and virtually bulletproof. Then again, a quality spinning reel isn’t much harder to use. Pick out a rod to go with it if they don’t come packaged together. The key is to make sure that it’s not too long and not too heavy. Something in the 4- to 6 ½-foot range is perfect, and in a lighter action it’ll make catching any fish really fun.

Adults can find one or two rods that cover a lot of different techniques. If you prefer only spinning or only baitcasting, that’s fine, but I’d recommend that you start with one of each. Either way, remember that if you want a tool that does a lot of different things, keep everything middle of the road. For the spinning rod, that means a 7’ medium-action version. By medium action, I mean that the top 40 percent of the rod has flex and the bottom 60 percent is backbone. That’ll allow you to use it for finesse presentations and even certain power fishing techniques.

For your spinning reel, choose something from right smack in the middle of your preferred manufacturer’s freshwater lineup. Usually that means a “30” or “3000” size. You’ll want a gear ratio anywhere from 5:1 all the way up to 6.8:1. Again, that’s the middle of the road approach, and your line should land there, too. Whether you choose monofilament, fluorocarbon or braid, 8-12 pound test is perfect.

Again, you don’t necessarily need a second combo, but I guarantee you that if you can afford one it’ll make you a more versatile and more prepared angler. While the spinning rod favors more light line techniques, by supplementing it with a baitcasting rod you can more comfortably utilize power fishing presentations as well. Once again, I recommend a 7’ medium-action rod because you can do a little bit of everything with it – topwaters, spinnerbaits, Texas Rigs and so on. It’s long enough for “bomb casts” but short enough for close quarters fishing. You’ll want to pair it with a low profile casting reel that fits comfortably into your palm. It should feature a 6.4:1 through 7.3:1 gear ratio, which again will enable you to do a lot of different things. Spool it up with 12 to 17 pound test line – if in doubt, in my opinion you cannot go wrong with 15 pound test on a baitcasting rod.

Remember, picking a rod doesn’t need to be difficult, and you don’t need to wait until you have 10 of them to enjoy a great day on the water. Start with versatility and middle of the road options and you’ll be surprised how much success you can enjoy right off the bat.

It’s essential to insulate your tent for winter camping to sleep comfortably at night and prevent hypothermia. Once your rectal temperature reaches 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re already at risk. To help prevent hypothermia, it’s crucial to understand how cold weather moves inside a tent.

Tents become cold because of convection. Inside your tent, cold air moves and becomes warmer when it comes in contact with your body. These steps lead to condensation and moisture, which the presence of water can exacerbate. For example, if it’s raining outside your tent.

As moisture grows, mold and mildew can develop, which can be dangerous if you have allergies or asthma. It also has the unwanted effect of making the air inside colder.

Insulated tents can keep you warm and prevent moisture. Common ways to stay warm inside include using cold-weather sleeping bags, mattress pads, and adding a tent lining.

Usually made of polyester or nylon, tent linings have different weights to help you deal with cold temperatures. However, there are other ways to insulate your tent for winter camping. We enumerate these methods in the following section..

1. You don’t ALWAYS have to embrace the suck (but sometimes you do).

Conditions will vary year to year, but the AT is a long trail through a humid part of the world, and you are likely to encounter many rainy days along the way. Sometimes it will drizzle lightly for an hour or two. Sometimes it will downpour for seven days straight. It’s not feasible to hike 2200 consecutive miles in one hiking season and avoid regularly walking in the rain altogether.

2. Look on the bright side.

Sure, squelching out 20 miles in a cold drizzle isn’t fun. But hey, that accursed sky juice is also the reason those delightful babbling brooks keep flowing year after year. Rain keeps the forests of the Appalachian Trail lush, green, and decidedly not on fire.If you were a Pacific Crest Trail hiker, you’d be facing 25-plus-mile water carries through the baking desert on the regular, only to reach northern California and Oregon later in the year and find that the world is on fire and everyone is screaming and the smoke is in your eyes and lungs and everything is terrible.

3. Sometimes, it’s OK to just get wet.

Hiking while wearing my rain jacket is terrible. It’s hot and stuffy, the hood droops in my eyes and crinkles in my ears, and I end up just as wet from sweat a s I would have from rain if I never put the durn thing on to begin with. The primary function of a backpacking rain jacket is to keep you warm, not dry. Rain can suck the warmth out of you with incredible speed on a cool day, leaving you at risk of hypothermia even if the temperature is well above freezing. But in the blistering heat of an Appalachian Trail summer, it’s OK to leave the rain jacket off. Hiking will keep you plenty warm, and the droplets will, i f anything, feel refreshing. I often see hikers encase themselves in head-to-toe Gore-Tex the moment rain threatens, even on a hot summer day. This self-inflicted torment really isn’t necessary. Just keep hiking. If you find yourself getting cold, stop and put it on then.

On a related note, you don’t have any vital organs in your legs. Also, your legs stay pretty warm thanks to their hard work propelling you up the trail. I recommend rain pants for shoulder season conditions where you need all the warmth you can get—especially if you’ll be hiking through snow. March starters will probably want to hang onto a pair of rain pants at least through the Smokies, or further, depending on how conditions develop throughout the spring.