First off, it's appropriate that I start off by letting you know a little bit about me. My name is Bernie, but I'm perhaps somewhat better known by my trailname: Reality.

I'm an enthusiastic backpacker and I fell in love with backpacking at an early age. Though I had to put it on hold (at times) for some of the other things that life sends our way, backpacking remained a significant part of my life (interests).

I started out as a super ultralight backpacker; my base weight was less than 5 pounds. That was actually due to the fact that I didn't own much gear. However, I soon learned from retailers that I didn't have all the "right" gear. So, I then became what was considered a real backpacker. At nearly 70 pounds including consumables, I think it was more like a backbreaker than a backpacker. I had accumulated some great gear, but backpacking became more of a burden or at least it wasn't as pleasant as it could have been.

With the advent of the lightweight backpacking movement, I gained a renewed interest in perfecting my backpacking gear and experiences. Today, my pack weight averages about 18 pounds for extended trips. I have the gear and knowledge to be an ultralight backpacker. But, I choose to be what I've termed a "Comfortweight™" backpacker. In my opinion, a comfortweight backpacker is one who makes a compromise between comfort and weight - one who understands that "light is not always right."

I'm a firm believer in the saying "hike your own hike." We each have to decide what's best for ourselves. What's good for one may not be for another.

I'm also the administrator of an online backpacking forum called Practical Backpacking™ Forums (PBF) which is located at PracticalBackpacking.com. If you've never visited, I highly recommend that you logon. PBF is a great community of friendly backpackers eager to share their ideas and experiences with you.

I've started this podcast to help contribute some useful information and ideas, to enable backpackers to make their wilderness experiences more comfortable and enjoyable.

It's definitely not the only backpacking podcast, but it's indeed one of the few. And there is room for many more. I do not pretend to be a broadcasting expert, as my interests are in other areas. And I'm not currently using the best equipment.

That said, if you're interested in backpacking, and not overly concerned with theatrical-style presentations, you're likely to get some enjoyment out of these podcasts. Keep in mind, your simply listening to a conversation, so just glean whatever is of interest to you.

In the coming episodes, you'll hear interviews with leading gear designers, information on how to make your own gear, what to eat on the trail, tips for reducing pack weight, trip reports, and anything else that I can dig up that may be of interest to backpackers.

Thank you for listening. Check back periodically (subscribe) for newly released Practical Backpacking™ Podcast (PBP) episodes.