Often we gain experience through pain, hardship, and embarrassing mistakes. Today I’m sharing with you 3 incredibly simple hacks to backpack like a pro, so you have more time on the trail and less time frustrated with gear and blood.

1. Bring duct tape, but not a roll of it. On your water bottle, wrap enough duct tape to fix a tent pole, boot sole, etc., but not so much that you can’t stow it in your pack. Your group will thank you!

2. Using a rubber band or pony tail holder, cover the pre-filter on your water filter with a plain old coffee filter. This saves on your pre-filter and your main filter, and allows you to pump longer between cleanings.

3. If you’re prone to nosebleeds in high elevation or dry climates, apply a coat of Vaseline with a Q-tip in each nostril twice a day.

I hope these tips help you as much as they’ve helped me. Happy trails!