Introduction

   So you've decided you're interested in hitting the road. Whether it's a few weeks, or a few years, you want to see what it's like. Maybe you want to hitch-hike across your home state, maybe you want to hop freight trains across the country, maybe you're just curious and want to know more; whatever the case, if you're new to the road, there's a lot you probably want to know.
   A quick search of the internet gives a handful of pages with detailed information and discussions about obscure, specific topics (what's the best multi-tool to carry, internal-frame pack or external-frame), and some with very vague advice for beginners. There really aren't many places for someone new to the topic to get a more specific understanding of what to expect and what you'll need, without having to sift through thousands of forum posts or dozens of sites.
   That's what this site is here for: to discuss the things you'll need, without being too vague or too confusing. Over the next few posts, I'm going to try to cover everything you'll need to know to get by; starting off with the really important stuff, and moving on to smaller, less necessary details later.
   I've been traveling on-and-off for about 5 years; so I'm not the most experienced traveler out there, but I can guarantee that what I do has worked for me. If there's ever anything you want to add or ask, feel free to leave a comment.