Looking After Yourself Advice
 

Hi,

Just a few quick questions for my trip to Western Europe this June.

1) Travelling can be exhustive, anyone got any tips or medicine which will give that extra boost of energy?
2) Backpacks can be quite sore on the shoulders. Can you recomend any creams to help??
3) Being on your feet all day can make your legs and feet ache, any tips on how to help this pain?
4) Should you always use bottled water? Or is it safe to re-fill and use water from taps?
5) We are going to the alps and other mountains where it will be cold weather. Are the hostels warm enough? Do you need a blanket?
6) In Interlaken and Chamonix, is the weather and water cold in June? Should i bring a hat and scarf?
7) I was hoping to do some outdoor activities, but I have never really done anything more than swimming, but eager to experience something new. What activities would be a gentle introduction for me to gain confidence in doing other sports?

Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks in advance!

1) didn't take anything....I think the excitement's pretty much all you need! Just make sure you eat and drink lots
2) Try and get a pack that supports more from the stomach this alleviates a lot of the shoulder pain...
3)I toughed it out...had some pretty massive blisters, but eventually your feel become really callused and strong
4)As you're in europe, I know that a lot of places have pumps in the middle of parks where you can refill the water. It's supposed to actually be cleaner than the bottled water!
5) cant help you there...never been to the alps
6)" "
7)Interlaken is weeeeeelll renoun for it's outdoor activities (and extreme sports)! you can do anything there! Apparently cliff jumping is amazing, if you're going to do anything I've heard that's the thing to do. Just as a small warning though, interlaken is supposed to be really expensive, so choose your activities wisely. & if all else fails you can't beat hiking in the alps! :cheers:

welcome to tpunk

simply angelic gave a great start, here are a few more tips

2) Backpacks can be quite sore on the shoulders. Can you recomend any creams to help??
no dont use them because yes you will have smooth sexy shoulders the minute you run out your skin will get dru cracked and nasty. the trick is to make sure your pack is adjusted so that your core muscles (stomach hips) support your bag. here is my guide on fitting a bag right

make sure your bag has a nice thick hip belt before you buy it

here are the general rules, take the pack off put it on the floor with the part the lies against your back on the floor.

let the hip straps all the way out.
roll it over and now let the shoulder straps and the sternam straps out, there should be some should adjusters at the top of the shoulder straps near you head let those out

take your shoes off so you are standing flat.

put the bag on your shoulders

buckle the hip belt and tighten it,
the top will be hanging but thats ok, right now we want your hips to support most of the weight of the bag

now that the hip belt is mostly adjusted and sitting on those two bones that stick out on your hip.

adjust the bottom shoulder straps pull them tight, you will have to loosen them to take the bag back off

now tighten the top shoulder adjusters this should pull the bag closer to your body and make it stand closer to strait up, you dont want the top leaning back it throws your balance off.

next readjust you hips so they are still carrying most of the weight.

now you adjust the sternum strap, you want it to cross your zyphoid process.
but not your nipples. so about an inch higher than your nipples i think. it should be tight enough you can get two finger under it.

now shake your ass and see if the bag tips or falls off or anything. if no than you should be good


the rule of thumb is loosen the straps when you take it off. and when you gear up top to bottom. thats why i could wear my pack all day but hated taking it off
if i missed anything one of the pros will be in here.

if you cant adjust the length between those your bag may be to big for your frame. but that gap above your shoulders is BAD. check under the foam panel that goes against your back ad see if you can adjust the size
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3) Being on your feet all day can make your legs and feet ache, any tips on how to help this pain?
actually i have really soft feet, like i cant walk outside bare foot soft without them hurting, here is why.

wear good properly fitting shoes make sure to loosen them when you take them off, and tighten them and tie them when you put them on, use flat laces, the thin round ones put more pressure in fewer places
the wide flat laces spreads it out a bit. throw your shoes away when you push in on the heel with two fingers and it doesnt spring back at all.


7) I was hoping to do some outdoor activities, but I have never really done anything more than swimming, but eager to experience something new. What activities would be a gentle introduction for me to gain confidence in doing other sports?

run. walk, those are a great start, you cant do them alone or with people. i hate running but love to bicycle, but it is a little $$$$
as for group sport, my vote says kickball

^^^^ DAMN, good job friends:)

1) Travelling can be exhustive, anyone got any tips or medicine which will give that extra boost of energy?

I personally think you just need to be in overall good health instead of relying on medicine (I just hate taking pills unnecessarily :p). Try to eat right and get enough sleep, even if it means the occasional night not on the town!

2) Backpacks can be quite sore on the shoulders. Can you recomend any creams to help??

It's mostly about the fit, as Court has explained.

3) Being on your feet all day can make your legs and feet ache, any tips on how to help this pain?

Find a loving masseuse. This also should help with the 2) issue. :p Again, good shoes. My Chaco straps killed for a while, but I toughed it out and got some fun calluses...which are now disappearing. :(

7) I was hoping to do some outdoor activities, but I have never really done anything more than swimming, but eager to experience something new. What activities would be a gentle introduction for me to gain confidence in doing other sports?

I think you should just try stuff with an open mind and with the idea to have fun, regardless of whether you're any good or not! Find a non-competitive, friendly environment and just let your hair down and do whatever you want. :) I went snowboarding for the first time last year and spent so much time on my ass and was hurting like hell, but I LOVED it. If you have someone who wants to try stuff too, all the better - group motivation always helps. Hiking and biking are always enjoyable.

Vodka and red bull. :)