How to Suffer Outside

I'm not a beginner but bought the book because I'm getting back into it after many years away. I wanted an easy-to-read refresher, and this book didn't disappoint. Diana Helmuth is funny and insightful and tells it like it is. I especially recommend this book for girls and women getting into backpacking because Diana leans the text to a woman's perspective. For example, she has 4 pages of details about hiking with a vagina. She has 4 bullet points about hiking with a penis. I suppose she has more experience with one over the other. This book is full of great, practical tips and wonderful stories. I only rated it 4/5 stars instead of 5 because there's not enough nudity and violence to warrant a perfect score. Buy Diana's book. It's great. Buy a few copies and give them out as gifts!

I LOVED this book. As someone that is just starting to get into backpacking this book was perfect. The book itself is super hilarious but also very informative. The author has a way of making you feel confident about backpacking no matter what your size, physique, or experience level. Highly recommend this book!

My entire flight to New York was filled with giggles, laughter and a sharpie, underlying the helpful hints, belly laughs i wanted to remember and sheer utter joy at this lovely informative book. Diana is straightforward, honest and manages to address and untangle many "unmentionables" that needed to be mention about some mis adventures and how to avoid them. She is bold in her approach and I so felt I could breathe the cool crisp fresh mountain air in my "B" seat, squished between two masked passengers breathing recycled stale air. This book is a complete delight and MUST for everyone whether you set one foot on grass or miles in the wilderness. Brava Diana

I bought this book on Kindle halfway through reading the content blurb (something I don't normally do). I say halfway because that's how far I got before I had to stop because I was laughing so hard. Equal parts hilarious and practical it felt like sitting down with a good friend who will tell you all the good and bad of something. Like the best friend that will tell you that dress makes you look like a house decorated in the 70's and push you toward the blue one you didn't think you'd fit into but look fantastic in. Covering all the basics you don't know you need to know about hiking and camping, including the things you wonder about but are too embarrassed to ask (bathroom break anyone?) The illustrations are wonderfully comical but not distractingly so. They help flesh out the topic covered in an odd and endearing way. If you're interested at all in hiking, camping, or just having a great time laughing - this book is for you. And a final note - I would go hiking with the author and illustrator anytime. I just wonder if minion leggings would clash with space cat. 😉

Although I am not a newbie, I am new again to backpacking after many years away from it. This book has was not only very helpful to me as I had so much to learn and relearn but her style of writing is absolutely hilarious. You won't want to put it down! She had me giggling quite often! She has helped me take the leap I needed to get ready to go back out on my first journey. I would also say, even a seasoned backpacker could glean a great deal of good insight and information from her. Folks, get the book!!