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This basic piece of gear can make or break your hiking experience

Fend off fatigue by eating enough of the essential macronutrient

Practice these for hanging gear, tensioning guylines, and joining ropes

Trail veterans often jerry-rig the popular Sawyer Squeeze water filter onto a bomb-proof Vecto bladder. Now, the two products come together as a unit.

From nutrition myths to getting protein, our experts break down how to stay fueled and feeling good on your next big hiking trip

Strong legs make for easy miles. Get yours ready for your next big trip with this advice.

Backpacking in the snowy season doesn’t need to be an ordeal. We polled our colleagues to find out their best gear tips for packing for snowy adventures.

With a child-free week ahead of him, one dad decides to summit as many local peaks as he can. In the end, he learns something about adventure, accomplishment, and himself.

Not bringing ice cleats or crampons on an icy hike can be frustrating at best, and deadly at worst. Here’s how to know what you need—and some staff-tested recommendations fo what to buy.

Awe doesn’t have to be reserved for far-flung places. Instead, take a moment to learn about the landscape just outside your door.

Here’s to a new year of adventure. Fill your 2025 calendar with day trips and thru-hikes to summit peaks, remote forests, and urban escapes with our picks for the best destinations of the year.

When our trail columnist first started sliding silicone spacers between his toes, friends chuckled. But now these little separators are getting the moment they deserve.

Our hiking columnist inadvertently deviated from the route while descending a peak. The accident prompted him to investigate the harm caused by switchback cutting.

A commercial for Secret’s whole-body deodorant says the product will make women “smell great all day, all hike, and all night.” But why should that even matter?

With winter right around the corner, it’s time to ensure your expensive gear performs like new

As a former editor at Scuba Diving magazine, I've traveled to many islands. These are my absolute favorites for outdoor recreation.

After years of waiting for other people to care for my favorite trails, I finally bought a foldable saw and took care of it myself

The place has it all. Points for trying to guess, but you may never have heard of the name.

Employees from PACT Outdoors installed WAG bags on a popular peak, and asked hikers to tell the truth about their backcountry poop habits. Here’s what they discovered.

My wife decided we needed an active outdoor getaway, a romantic ramble across moors and fells and three national parks. I knew it’d be hard. I’ve never been happier.

Whether you’re hiking over rough terrain or going for a walk around the block, rucking is an easy way to add in resistance training

When Linda “Nana” Vanderloop set out to thru-hike the AT, she had no idea she was on her way to becoming the oldest woman on record to complete the feat

Camp chairs have gotten small enough and light enough that it’s easy to bring one backpacking. But should you?

Can’t take it anymore? We hear you. Step up to the void and scream it out on these six trails.

Surrounded by more famous destinations, this area is often overlooked. Yet it is one of the wildest and most beautiful units in the national-park system.

Just because you’re not a hunter doesn't mean you can’t take advantage of some of the best outdoor apparel technology in the industry

Like humans, dogs have accidents in the backcountry. So what do you do if your canine hiking companion is in distress?

Don’t just chuck it in the trash. Here’s the right way to get rid of your spent bear spray.

Hidden along Highway 1, not far from Point Reyes National Seashore and celebrated oyster farms, this camp-like retreat is drawing city-goers eager to be surrounded by wilderness

Sometimes throwing in the towel is the best thing you can do for yourself, but don’t give up in the heat of the moment

At 101, Kelty is one of the oldest outdoor industry pioneers alive today

From a two-mile stroll in North Carolina to a 2,600-mile trek along the Pacific Crest, these hikes have had the most profound impact on our trails columnist—and will change your perspective on the country.

Walking from terminus to terminus is a thru-hiker’s dream, but what about when circumstances—or a really cool side trail—lead you on a detour?

In most of the world, the crowds of summer have thinned, the temperatures are perfect, and prices are dropping. What are you waiting for?

Diversifying your footwear keeps your feet dry, comfortable, and healthy. What else could you want?

On a long hike, Snickers, GORP, and instant coffee can start to become as draining as the miles. Here are five—admittedly fancy—alternatives we love.

As part of a long struggle with alcoholism, I decided to jump-start my recovery with a serious physical challenge: hiking 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail

You all know not to pet the fluffy cows in Yellowstone, but do you know how to plan a successful visit?

Choosing the right backpack can make or break your trip. Our expert helps make your choices simple.

Our trail columnist spent the summer hiking with novice backpackers to come up with this key advice for beginners

We’re headed to Kathmandu for two weeks of school-building, teahouse trekking, and incredible Himalayan views. Want in?

A former backcountry caretaker with the Green Mountain Club breaks down her favorite regimen for keeping her skin clear in the wilderness

Our writer dove into the inner workings of the Backpacker’s Pantry factory to learn the tricks of the trade

Descending a trail strains your muscles and ligaments. Our hiking columnist asked a physical therapist how to avoid aches and pains on your next downhill adventure.

Most of us don’t have time to leave work and life behind for months of trekking. These backpacking trails will give you a glimpse into thru-hiking life, alongside some of the most stunning scenery in the nation.

Apple’s new iOS 18 update allows its products to work off-grid. But are phones a suitable replacement for purpose-built backcountry communication tools?

Five questions with Shilletha “Dragonsky” Curtis, whose memoir ‘Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself’ explores her transformative hike on the Appalachian Trail

According to the actor, everything can be solved with one more useful piece of outdoor equipment

Looking to try this 211-mile route through the Sierra Nevada? The FKT holder on the JMT provides key advice on landing a coveted permit, picking the best resupply points, the most beautiful campsites, and essential gear.

A great trail is eternal. See if you can pick out some of America’s best hikes in these photos from the National Park Service’s archives.

In ‘A Walk in the Park,’ Kevin Fedarko’s new book about his quest to hike the big ditch from end to end, inadequate fitness and bad gear choices nearly led to disaster right from the start

The bills would have instructed the state to seek reimbursement when hikers needed rescue from a closed trail, but they faced opposition from emergency personnel

Starting this fall, backpackers will have to pay a new fee to hike the popular Lost Coast Trail. For some, it will triple the cost.

There are lots of theories about how to avoid altitude sickness. But in practice, acclimatization isn’t so straightforward.

As her dad, I want to give her the space and privacy she needs, without making her feel like she should be embarrassed

She’s mad at me because I took a wrong turn and she’s terrified of lightning. But I think she owes me an apology, too. 

I could barely walk, a condition doctors told me would likely deteriorate further. That prompted me to plan an adventure of a lifetime.

Arbitrary goals are nonsensical. They also can be the source of great joy.

From miles of trails to acres of public land, the explorable and beautiful terrain in these states stand out above the rest.

At �����ԹϺ��� Inc., we've got experts in all kinds of travel, from adventure to backpacking to cycling to yoga and then some. We asked all our best editors and writers at every brand to reveal where they want to go in the world in 2024. You'll find endless inspiration in their stories—and the travel bucket list of a lifetime.

The Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails pass through a combined 22 states. Our hiking columnist categorizes them from hardest to easiest.

Everybody does it. But pooping in the wrong place could make a mess of someone else’s hike. An expert shares how to make the best of a crappy situation on the trail.

What’s an acceptable baseline of fitness? According to the most adventurous American president in U.S. history, it was an ultra endurance trek.

Learning how to talk about problems you’re having on the trail—and how to listen—can be the difference between a frustrating, demoralizing hike and a fun, fulfilling one. What can psychology teach us?

The Alaska ferry system is creaky and unpredictable. But it may be the best way to reach the wildest trailheads and abandoned shorelines in America.

Neighbors Jeff Hashimoto and Langton Ernest-Beck dreamed up a crazy summertime challenge: climb Washington’s 100 highest mountains, and link the peaks by bike

From the most beautiful hikes in the world to advice on tipping, these are our most-read articles of the year

The 26th president once demanded that military personnel be able to walk 50 miles in 20 hours. I set off on an ill-fated mission to see if I could do it myself.

A hiker rescued in California last week is the latest to find themselves pinned under a big rock. But they’re far from the first—or the unluckiest—to have a bad encounter with a boulder.

Bikes, skis, and tents can be a costly commitment. With that in mind, brands like Evo, Fjällräven, and L.L.Bean have designed outdoor trips where you can demo top-end equipment for days or weeks at a time.

When it comes to packing for a winter camping trip, separating good advice from falsehoods can be difficult

Knowing how to keep warm could help save your life if things go wrong on a winter hike

Hitting the trail with someone may be the best way to get to know them. But what if “someone” is your new hubby?

These are some of our favorite gear brands led by badass women in the industry

Search and rescue officials are urging adventurers to carry appropriate gear after an unprepared hiker nearly died on one of the state’s high mountains

Itacate’s dehydrated meals fill the backpacking void with chilaquiles, Caldo Tlalpeño, and sopa de lentejas