How to Choose a Backpack: Tips

Need a new backpack? Here are a few tips to help you make decide which pack is best for you.

What's it For?: Determine what you will be using your backpack for. School? Commuting to work? Weekend getaways? Hiking? Biking? This will help narrow down the type of pack you need.

Weight: When you're in the store trying on your pack, if possible, fill the pack with the items you'll be carrying or at the very least fill it with items available to get a sense of how heavy it feels when full. How does it sit on your back? Does it tug on your shoulders? Does it feel comfortable? Walk around with the pack to see how it feels.

Proportion: Pick a backpack that fits your body size. You don't want a pack that hits the back of your head. You don't want the straps to be too wide apart so that they fall off your shoulders or too narrow that they are tugging together. If you're travelling and planning to carry it on board the plane, make sure it's small enough to pass airplane regulations.

Functionality: Again, consider what you'll be using the pack for and what you'll be carrying. Does it have enough outer pockets to reach the items you need most frequently? This can include your phone, a water bottle, a snack, sunblock, bus pass or keys. Does it have enough inner pockets to carry what you need? For example if you're carrying a laptop does it include a sleeve? Also, look at the material and determine if you need something that is water repellant or not. Some backpacks include extra straps which are great to carry a yoga mat.

Remember your backpack should ideally feel like an extension of your body. It should feel good. So don't be shy, try it on!

Think Green! Think ProPlanet!

Stop Global Warming.

“There is compelling evidence from all over the world that our planet’s weather and climate patterns are changing. Droughts, receding glaciers an ice caps, extreme storms, rises in ocean temperatures and sea levels, shifts in distribution of organisms and diseases-scientists tracking these events overwhelmingly believe that global climate change is a fact.

There are many simple things you can do in your daily life-what you eat, what you drive, how you build your home- that can have an effect on your immediate surroundings. Here is a list of few things  that you can do to make a difference.

• Use  Compact Fluorescent bulbs-Replace frequently used light bulbs with compact flurocent bulbs.
• Change your air filter-Check your car’s air filter monthly
• Use recycled paper-Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper
• Buy Products locally -Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.
• Plant a Tree –Trees absorb carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to  breathe.

Why Hiking Boots on a Hike!!!

The idea behind hiking boots is that they afford more ankle protection and foot protection than regular street shoes or running shoes while hiking. Some of that support is simply a product of the design—firm soles offer greater stability and prevent the foot from “rolling over” into a sprain. But most hiking boots also use a tall design and heavy leather material to keep ankles aligned and upright, even on rough trails.

There are several models out in the market, but one should one wear hiking boots which don’t just “support” the ankle but also lock it in place. The ankle should be covered and tied down with hook-and-loop closures.

If you have troublesome ankles that roll over and sprain easily, get an ankle brace to prevent a fall in unstable terrains.

We recommend that people with healthy ankles wear real boots–over-the-ankle, leather boots–because they’ll help prevent injury.

 Happy Hiking!!

How to stay warm while Winter Camping !!!

Most important, consider carrying an extra sleeping pad while you camping in winters. When you lie on your bag, you compress its insulation and most cold will come from beneath you. If you already have a decent self-inflating pad, we recommend carrying a Therm-a-rest Lite full-length pad . It adds very little weight to your kit and offers a substantial amount of extra insulation when you lie down.

Second, pack a full set of long underpants. You need maximum insulation in winters, hence one should invest in an all-purpose winter base layered innerwear.  Also pack some dry socks, and a warm cap.

At bedtime, have a long drink of water and eat an energy bar or something calorie rich. The water and food will help you generate a bit of extra heat. And when it's really cold, fill a water bottle with warm water. Secure the lid tightly and stick it down by your feet. You'll warm up quickly and sleep comfortably.

Happy Camping!!!

Lose Weight by Going Green!!!!

Yes you could  Lose weight this new year by going green.

Just make  savvy green choices -- you could see everything else fall into place: You'll eat better, exercise more, lose weight, and save money

Yup, that's right. All that with one goal. Here's how.

1. Walk More, Drive Less

Just use your car less and walk more. Let go off expensive, energy-hogging gym to add more cardio to your routine.Add a boost of exercise to your daily life by commuting more by foot. If not, try walking to run errands, replace your weekend brunch in the city with an afternoon hike, and hop on your bike for trips shorter than two miles.

Even if you don't consider yourself an athlete, low-impact walking or easy riding will help you make activity part of your routine while making a big impact in the carbon footprint of your transportation.

2. Discover Super Foods

Discover super foods in vegetables and fruits like broccoli, apples and quinoa.Having fresh, nutrient-rich produce on a weekly basis will inspire you to find new recipes and learn to love foods you'd never have chosen at the supermarket. Try reading on preparing the veggies -- light on the butter, oil, cheese, breading, and cream sauces, of course.

3. Go Green Literally

Still having trouble getting the hang of your recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables? Make them the centerpiece of your meals instead of a side. Replace meat with lower-calorie veggies, beans, or soy alternatives to trim your waistline -- and your budget -- while putting a dent in the emissions produced by factory farms.Try vegetable lasagna, chickpea curry, or soya bean to tackle your taste buds.

4. Stop Drinking Your Calories

All the vegetables in the world won't do much for your weight if you're drinking hundreds of extra calories each day via sugary juice, soda, or flavored coffees. And when those drinks are commercially processed and end up in your refrigerator in individually-packaged bottles, you're increasing your carbon footprint and your waste output along with your calorie intake.

Instead, get a reusable water bottle and keep it filled with filtered tap water (add some lemons or limes for extra flavor); invest in a machine that lets you refill glass bottle with homemade seltzer; and take your own insulated coffee mug with a your favourite  blend you brewed at home.

5. Volunteer, and Get Outside to plant more

Signing up for a NGO isn't the easiest or fastest way to drop pounds, but when you choose a cause that requires plenty of outdoor activity -- planting trees, picking up trash, maintaining trails -- you'll be helping protect your environment while getting some moderate activity, too.

And even better, you'll meet other people that are passionate about the same causes that you are -- increasing your chances of finding a workout buddy or helping you stay motivated .

6. Plan a Kitchen Garden

While you'll save money on greens and even on larger vegetables -- you can grow everything from tomatoes to citrus fruits in Kitchen containers -- you'll also eat a local, seasonal diet (it doesn't get much more local than your Kitchen balcony).

Even if you only have space to grow fresh herbs, try tossing them with everything from pasta to eggs and mixing them into cookies and soups for an added burst of flavor that keeps you satisfied without heavy sauces.

7. Workout in the Greens

Whether you're into yoga or running, taking your workouts outdoors mean you don't have to rely on treadmills, heated rooms, and the other electricity-guzzlers at your gyms -- but even more importantly, spending more time outdoors will give you that much more motivation when it comes to sticking with your environmental changes.

Develop a love for Mother Nature and you'll spend more time trying to protect her -- just as you'll start looking forward to the fresh air and positive energy of your weekend workouts.