HOB-blog
Rain gear that actually works: shells, pants, and gloves
Here's a fun fact about mountains: they make their own weather, and they don't check the forecast first. They defintely don't run it past you before deciding what to do. You can start a day in sunshine and end it in sideways sleet. And here's another fun fact:...
What ‘packable’ means (and why you should care)
Gear companies love the word "packable." They slap it on jackets, pillows, daypacks, and, for all I know, burritos. It sounds like marketing fluff, but it actually means something. And on a trek, it matters a lot. What it means A packable item compresses into a small...
When airports go sideways: missed connections, missing bags, and life after customs
Airports are strange places. They're the only spot on earth where it's socially acceptable to drink a beer at 6 a.m., nap on the carpet as hundreds of strangers walk past, and pay $14 for a bottle of water. Most of the time, international travel goes more smoothly...
How to build a flight plan that won’t wreck your trek
Here's something that doesn't tend to appear in the travel brochure: the hardest part of your first big trek might happen before you ever lace up your boots. It happens at 11:47 p.m. on a travel website, when you're staring at 47 flight options and wondering why one...
Headlamps: what do all those buttons actually do?
Buying a headlamp used to be simple. It had one button. You pushed it, and light came out. Today's headlamps have more modes than my microwave, and the instruction manual reads like a tax return. So let's decode them. First, why you need a headlamp at all On a trek,...
Merino vs. synthetic (and why cotton isn’t invited)
Walk into any outdoor store and you'll find a plain T-shirt that costs about as much as a nice steak dinner. It's made from the wool of a sheep who, apparently, lives better than most of us. Is it worth it?Let's talk fabric. Merino wool This isn't your grandmother's...
‘We just make it happen’: the Moore Approach
There's a question I get asked more than any other. It isn't about altitude sickness, or boot break-in, or whether the food in the teahouses is any good. It's this: How do people make time to travel? I've been asked it by doctors, teachers, contractors, retirees, and...
The science behind jet lag: Why it’s a real thing and how to deal with it
If you’ve ever stepped off a long-haul flight into some far away location feeling slightly detached from reality and downright weird, you already know jet lag is not just “being tired.” It’s disorienting. Your body feels out of sync with your surroundings, and no...
Featured Hobnailer: Walter Nicolau
Our "Featured Hobnailer" series spotlights both past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Walter Nicolau of Columbia, Maryland. Walter is Director of Operations Human Performance Improvement Consultancy for GP Strategies. In July of 2026,...
Featured Hobnailers: Molly Bray & Randall Sarosdy
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Molly Bray and Randall Sarosdy of Austin, Texas. Randall is a retired legal educator and Molly, a research professional. The two will be tackling Hobnail's...
Featured Hobnailer: Scott Ballard
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Scott Ballard a resident of West Jefferson, North Carolina. Scott and his son, Cam, will be tackling the Everest Base Camp Classic trek in April, 2026. Q:...
Frank and Lola’s Ecuadorian Odyssey
When South Carolinians Frank and Lola board their flight to undertake Hobnail Trekking's Ecuadorian Odyssey in early December, they aren’t entirely sure what to expect. They know the trip will stretch them, but they also sense it’s going to be the adventure of a...
Life is short — don’t waste it with excuses
“Oh, I could never do that.” You might be surprised how often I hear this sentence when discussing adventure travel with people. You would think I just suggested that they fly to the moon or ride an angry water buffalo or read "War and Peace" in Mandarin Chinese. So,...
10 reasons why Americans should experience Ecuador
Over the past 18 months, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Ecuador not once, but twice. And in that time, I’ve managed to dip my toes into all three of its spectacular ecosystems: the Galapagos Islands, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon basin. Each one is so wildly...
Why I chose Kuhl® for my Ecuadorian adventure
When selecting clothing for adventure travel trips, there are two considerations I go to right away: Is it lightweight and multi-use? This matters because if you’re traveling well, you’re traveling light. Nobody wants to lug a bunch of unnecessary stuff around...
12 tips for capturing breathtaking, cinematic cell-phone videos on your adventure travel trip
Think you need a $10K video camera to get awesome video footage while on trek? Umm...think again. Whether you’re trekking in the Andes, hiking the Scottish Highlands, or standing in awe of the Himalayas, that rectangle in your pocket — your smartphone — is more than...
Featured Hobnailer: David Maiorana
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview David Maiorana a self-professed "hobo" with a mailing address in Florida. David has tackled several treks with Hobnail, including Everest Base Camp, Mt....
Nervous about overseas travel? We’ve got you.
If the idea of traveling overseas makes your palms sweat, you're not alone. Many of our Hobnail guests tell us they were nervous — even downright intimidated — the first time they considered an international trek. And who can blame them? Between foreign languages,...
Top 11 packing hacks for an overseas adventure travel trip
Let's face it — for most people, packing stinks. Packing incorrectly stinks even more. There's nothing more frustrating than beginning a 10-day overseas adventure by realizing you didn't bring what you needed or you brought too much stuff you didn't need. But that...
Featured Hobnailers: Kathy Jones & Rachel Bishop
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview mother/daughter trekkers Kathy Jones and Rachel Bishop, both of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Kathy and Rachel tackled the Everest Base Camp Classic trek as...
How to train for high-altitude trekking over a Southern U.S. summer
If you’ve signed up for a Hobnail trek — or are considering it — you’ve probably heard us say, “The best training for trekking… is trekking.” But if you're living in the Southeast U.S. during summer, where stepping outside feels like walking into a hot, wet sponge,...
Your couch will still be here: Why NOW is the time to book
Let’s be honest: As it relates to travel, the easiest thing in the world to do is nothing. Staying home is comfortable. Familiar. It doesn’t cost anything extra (although you’re paying for food regardless of where you are), doesn’t require new gear, and doesn’t ask...
Two Ways Up the Roof of Africa: Lemosho vs. Rongai
So, you’ve decided to climb Kilimanjaro — Africa’s tallest peak and one of the world’s greatest non-technical high-altitude hikes. First of all, high five. Second, you’ve got a decision to make: Which route should you take? Hobnail offers what we believe are the two...
Cloud forest: The Andes’ living sponge
When most folks picture the Andes, they think jagged peaks, incredible Incan ruins, and maybe a few llamas posing impassively for the camera. But there’s a whole other world hiding just below those mountaintops — and if you’re trekking with Hobnail in Peru or Ecuador,...
What Are Hobnail Boots? The Rugged History Behind Our Name
We get this question a lot: What exactly is a “hobnail”? And fair enough — it’s not a word you hear every day. (Unless you’re into vintage military gear or 19th-century shoe repair.) When we named our company Hobnail Trekking Co., we weren’t trying to be cryptic or...
The Faroe Islands: What to know for our Nordic Odyssey adventure
"The WHAT Islands? Never heard of it." This is a common response when I mention the Faroe Islands to my American friends, and to no fault of their own. The Faroes are a mysterious place that most of us know very little about — which makes it extremely cool that we...
Full-length Camino vs the Camino Classic: What’s the difference and what’s best for you?
For centuries, pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain, seeking spiritual renewal, cultural connection, or simply a beautiful long-distance trek. The traditional route — called the Camino Francés — runs nearly 500 miles from...
What makes it an ‘adventure’?
The word “adventure” gets thrown around a lot in our industry. It’s even in the name — “adventure travel.” We must be careful not to lose sight of what adventure actually is. Merriam Webster defines it as “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks” and...
Featured Hobnailer: Kip Newton
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Kip Newton of Asheville, N.C. Kip tackled the Everest Base Camp Classic trek back in March of 2024. Q: What is/was your occupation? A: I am a retired...
The Science Behind Moisture-Wicking Clothing: Why Cotton is a No-Go for Trekkers
If you’ve ever gone on a hike wearing a basic cotton T-shirt, you probably learned the hard way that not all fabrics are created equal — especially when, after a long uphill slog, your sweat-soaked shirt becomes a cold, heavy, clammy, hypothermia-inducing garment that...
Featured Hobnailer: Luis Prieto
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Luis Prieto of Palm Beach, Florida. Luis tackled the Everest Base Camp Classic trek as part of Hobnail's inaugural group back in April 2018. (Luis is pictured...
Whisky, Weather, and Wild Peaks: Trekking Scotland’s Northwest Highlands
Most locals would probably admit that there's something wonderfully unhinged about Scotland's Northwest Highlands. It's like the landscape couldn't decide whether to go all in on the majestic grandeur, or keep things low-key, rugged, and humble. So it went ahead and...
Featured Hobnailer: Luanne Brogna
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Luanne Brogna of New Jersey. Luanne will be tackling a custom version of our Peruvian Odyssey in October, 2025. Q: Where do you live? A: Presently I am living...
Featured Hobnailer: Robert Tretsch
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Robert Tretsch of Atlanta, Georgia. Robert completed our Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes Extension trek in September of 2019. (In the above photo, Robert is...
Featured Hobnailer: Ed Leist
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Ed Leist of Bel Air, Maryland. Along with his wife, Samantha, and their daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Dylan Sweeney, Ed completed our Peaks of the...
The Physics of a Perfect Backpack: How to Pack for Maximum Comfort
When you’re headed into the mountains on a trek, your gear becomes part of your body. Your backpack isn’t just a container—it’s a critical tool for comfort, efficiency, and injury prevention. Understanding the physics behind packing can dramatically affect your...
Featured Hobnailers: Jeff & Patricia Stewart
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Jeff and Patricia Stewart of Monteagle, Tennessee. The Stewarts completed our Peruvian Odyssey in September of 2023. Q: Where do you live? What are your...
Adventure Travel for Retirees: 10 Reasons to Embrace the Journey After 50
Speaking as someone who is perfectly in the middle of this age range, I feel that I can make this statement with confidence: Adventure travel is the perfect reward for professionals and retirees ages 50-70. Sure, golf and pickleball are great everyday activities for...
Don’t over-complicate it: Hiking is just walking with boots and a backpack
Sometimes, we over-complicate things. It’s just human nature, I guess. Cooking? Over-complicated. Throw it in a pan and cook it over medium heat until it’s done. Politics? Over-complicated. Use the common sense God gave you. Driving? Over-complicated. Drive the speed...
Featured Hobnailer: Christanne Kurtz
Our "Featured Hobnailers" series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Christanne Kurtz of San Diego, California. Christanne is tackling Nepal's Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes Extension, April 14 - May 3, 2025. Q: Where do you...
