From short overnights to multi-day trips into the backcountry, every backpacker wants the right tools for the job. Below we cover all the gear you need for your backpacking adventures, including detailed round-ups, reviews, and...
Let’s face it: It rains, and sometimes it pours. Thankfully, a good rain jacket can provide a solid layer of defense against the elements. Our female editors have tested dozens of designs on trails near and far to bring you our 18 favorites below...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. Uses and budgets vary, and the ideal tent for beginners and those taking shorter trips differs...
As your next-to-skin article of clothing, a baselayer plays a fundamental role in pulling moisture away from the body and regulating core temperature. It’s far easier to justify purchasing a nice down jacket, but a baselayer can be just as important...
A sleeping pad is a critical—and often overlooked—element to a backpacking system. And while early backpacking sleeping pads were bulky and often weighed several pounds, plenty of current ultralight offerings pack down to the size of a water bottle.
Gone are the days when backpacking consisted of strapping on a huge external frame and lumbering through the forest with an aching body. Trends in backpacks these days err towards minimalism...
From short overnights to multi-day trips into the backcountry, every backpacker wants the right tools for the job. Below we cover all the gear you need for your backpacking adventures, including detailed round-ups, reviews, and...
Let’s face it: It rains, and sometimes it pours. Thankfully, a good rain jacket can provide a solid layer of defense against the elements. Our female editors have tested dozens of designs on trails near and far to bring you our 18 favorites below...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. Uses and budgets vary, and the ideal tent for beginners and those taking shorter trips differs...
As your next-to-skin article of clothing, a baselayer plays a fundamental role in pulling moisture away from the body and regulating core temperature. It’s far easier to justify purchasing a nice down jacket, but a baselayer can be just as important...
A sleeping pad is a critical—and often overlooked—element to a backpacking system. And while early backpacking sleeping pads were bulky and often weighed several pounds, plenty of current ultralight offerings pack down to the size of a water bottle.
Gone are the days when backpacking consisted of strapping on a huge external frame and lumbering through the forest with an aching body. Trends in backpacks these days err towards minimalism...
From short overnights to multi-day trips into the backcountry, every backpacker wants the right tools for the job. Below we cover all the gear you need for your backpacking adventures, including detailed round-ups, reviews, and...
Let’s face it: It rains, and sometimes it pours. Thankfully, a good rain jacket can provide a solid layer of defense against the elements. Our female editors have tested dozens of designs on trails near and far to bring you our 18 favorites below...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. Uses and budgets vary, and the ideal tent for beginners and those taking shorter trips differs...
As your next-to-skin article of clothing, a baselayer plays a fundamental role in pulling moisture away from the body and regulating core temperature. It’s far easier to justify purchasing a nice down jacket, but a baselayer can be just as important...
A sleeping pad is a critical—and often overlooked—element to a backpacking system. And while early backpacking sleeping pads were bulky and often weighed several pounds, plenty of current ultralight offerings pack down to the size of a water bottle.
Gone are the days when backpacking consisted of strapping on a huge external frame and lumbering through the forest with an aching body. Trends in backpacks these days err towards minimalism...
For trips with a lot of moving around, I've found travel backpacks to be more convenient than rolling suitcases. I've been testing travel packs for the past few years, and the REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 is far and away my favorite. With a similar weight...
Any climbing pant worth its salt has to hold up to a world of torment—and the Black Diamond Alpine Light Pants rise to the task. After testing scores of technical climbing apparel, we have pretty strict guidelines for what makes a solid pair...
La Sportiva is a climbing specialist through and through, with a healthy lineup of rock and approach shoes designed for maximum grip on technical terrain. I recently brought the women’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX—a mid-height variation of their flagship TX4...
While traditional mummy-style sleeping bags remain the most popular option for backpackers, those who sleep hot or count ounces are increasingly moving toward more streamlined quilts. Enlightened Equipment was one of the first to offer ultralight...
Nemo’s Dagger has long been considered one of the most livable lightweight backpacking tents on the market, and Nemo recently updated the design with a revamped pole structure that really maximizes the interior. With more headroom, larger vestibules...
Big Agnes is well known in the backpacking space for their quality take on everything from ultralight tents to sleep systems. Built for 3-season backpacking, the Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad is no exception, offering solid comfort and durability at a...
For trips with a lot of moving around, I've found travel backpacks to be more convenient than rolling suitcases. I've been testing travel packs for the past few years, and the REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 is far and away my favorite. With a similar weight...
Any climbing pant worth its salt has to hold up to a world of torment—and the Black Diamond Alpine Light Pants rise to the task. After testing scores of technical climbing apparel, we have pretty strict guidelines for what makes a solid pair...
La Sportiva is a climbing specialist through and through, with a healthy lineup of rock and approach shoes designed for maximum grip on technical terrain. I recently brought the women’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX—a mid-height variation of their flagship TX4...
While traditional mummy-style sleeping bags remain the most popular option for backpackers, those who sleep hot or count ounces are increasingly moving toward more streamlined quilts. Enlightened Equipment was one of the first to offer ultralight...
Nemo’s Dagger has long been considered one of the most livable lightweight backpacking tents on the market, and Nemo recently updated the design with a revamped pole structure that really maximizes the interior. With more headroom, larger vestibules...
Big Agnes is well known in the backpacking space for their quality take on everything from ultralight tents to sleep systems. Built for 3-season backpacking, the Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad is no exception, offering solid comfort and durability at a...
For trips with a lot of moving around, I've found travel backpacks to be more convenient than rolling suitcases. I've been testing travel packs for the past few years, and the REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 is far and away my favorite. With a similar weight...
Any climbing pant worth its salt has to hold up to a world of torment—and the Black Diamond Alpine Light Pants rise to the task. After testing scores of technical climbing apparel, we have pretty strict guidelines for what makes a solid pair...
La Sportiva is a climbing specialist through and through, with a healthy lineup of rock and approach shoes designed for maximum grip on technical terrain. I recently brought the women’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX—a mid-height variation of their flagship TX4...
While traditional mummy-style sleeping bags remain the most popular option for backpackers, those who sleep hot or count ounces are increasingly moving toward more streamlined quilts. Enlightened Equipment was one of the first to offer ultralight...
Nemo’s Dagger has long been considered one of the most livable lightweight backpacking tents on the market, and Nemo recently updated the design with a revamped pole structure that really maximizes the interior. With more headroom, larger vestibules...
Big Agnes is well known in the backpacking space for their quality take on everything from ultralight tents to sleep systems. Built for 3-season backpacking, the Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad is no exception, offering solid comfort and durability at a...
Choosing a sleeping bag can be a confusing experience. There are so many considerations to keep in mind: down or synthetic? Snug mummy or roomy rectangular shape? And perhaps the most puzzling question of all: which temperature rating should you choose...
Whether you’re a first-time backpacker or a seasoned veteran, everyone could use a good packing list to make sure they’re prepared before hitting the trail. Our detailed checklist below covers everything from critical backpacking equipment (tent, pack...
We get this question a lot: Do your hiking shoes or boots need to be waterproof, or can you do without? Hikers and backpackers fall on both ends of the spectrum—some prefer the unparalleled breathability of non-waterproof footwear, while others...
The sleeping pad you bring on an expedition can be the difference between a comfortable outing in nature and a sleepless night spent tossing and turning. But how do you decide which pad to buy and how much warmth you’ll need? Looking at R-value is a...
This age-old question challenges newbie backpackers and veterans alike. You've already spent a substantial amount on a tent, but should you tack on the extra purchase of a footprint? Is it really necessary? Below we break down the key components of the...
Your pack is arguably the most important piece of gear in your backpacking kit, and a proper (or improper) fit can make or break your time spent in the backcountry. It all starts with nailing the size, which can then be adjusted and fine-tuned to hug...
Choosing a sleeping bag can be a confusing experience. There are so many considerations to keep in mind: down or synthetic? Snug mummy or roomy rectangular shape? And perhaps the most puzzling question of all: which temperature rating should you choose...
Whether you’re a first-time backpacker or a seasoned veteran, everyone could use a good packing list to make sure they’re prepared before hitting the trail. Our detailed checklist below covers everything from critical backpacking equipment (tent, pack...
We get this question a lot: Do your hiking shoes or boots need to be waterproof, or can you do without? Hikers and backpackers fall on both ends of the spectrum—some prefer the unparalleled breathability of non-waterproof footwear, while others...
The sleeping pad you bring on an expedition can be the difference between a comfortable outing in nature and a sleepless night spent tossing and turning. But how do you decide which pad to buy and how much warmth you’ll need? Looking at R-value is a...
This age-old question challenges newbie backpackers and veterans alike. You've already spent a substantial amount on a tent, but should you tack on the extra purchase of a footprint? Is it really necessary? Below we break down the key components of the...
Your pack is arguably the most important piece of gear in your backpacking kit, and a proper (or improper) fit can make or break your time spent in the backcountry. It all starts with nailing the size, which can then be adjusted and fine-tuned to hug...
Choosing a sleeping bag can be a confusing experience. There are so many considerations to keep in mind: down or synthetic? Snug mummy or roomy rectangular shape? And perhaps the most puzzling question of all: which temperature rating should you choose...
Whether you’re a first-time backpacker or a seasoned veteran, everyone could use a good packing list to make sure they’re prepared before hitting the trail. Our detailed checklist below covers everything from critical backpacking equipment (tent, pack...
We get this question a lot: Do your hiking shoes or boots need to be waterproof, or can you do without? Hikers and backpackers fall on both ends of the spectrum—some prefer the unparalleled breathability of non-waterproof footwear, while others...
The sleeping pad you bring on an expedition can be the difference between a comfortable outing in nature and a sleepless night spent tossing and turning. But how do you decide which pad to buy and how much warmth you’ll need? Looking at R-value is a...
This age-old question challenges newbie backpackers and veterans alike. You've already spent a substantial amount on a tent, but should you tack on the extra purchase of a footprint? Is it really necessary? Below we break down the key components of the...
Your pack is arguably the most important piece of gear in your backpacking kit, and a proper (or improper) fit can make or break your time spent in the backcountry. It all starts with nailing the size, which can then be adjusted and fine-tuned to hug...
"I guess I just really want to do something different—something I'm not comfortable doing. Something aside from hiking." I quickly threw "Imja Tse" into Google, gripping the phone between my shoulder and ear as details unfolded. "It'd be about a month...
“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With the Stewart-Cassiar Highway in our rearview mirror, we had finally reached the Yukon. This was our third trip to Canada’s westernmost territory in a calendar year, and we knew that it would feel incomplete without...
Exhausted and oxygen-deprived, we high-fived as frigid winds took our already limited breath away and whipped at the prayer flags that marked the summit. We were about an hour early for sunset, and the extra time allowed us to bundle up, look around...
All good plans start with a wild idea, but this one might just take the cake. Back in the spring, Kaytlyn—who I’d never met at the time—approached me with an ambitious proposal. She wanted to link up a series of North Cascades high routes on foot...
Brian and I were less than a week into our adventure north when, during a brief phone call, my dear friend’s children insisted I read their favorite poem, "the Yukon Song." Though written for children extolling the virtues of leaving civilization and...
"I guess I just really want to do something different—something I'm not comfortable doing. Something aside from hiking." I quickly threw "Imja Tse" into Google, gripping the phone between my shoulder and ear as details unfolded. "It'd be about a month...
“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With the Stewart-Cassiar Highway in our rearview mirror, we had finally reached the Yukon. This was our third trip to Canada’s westernmost territory in a calendar year, and we knew that it would feel incomplete without...
Exhausted and oxygen-deprived, we high-fived as frigid winds took our already limited breath away and whipped at the prayer flags that marked the summit. We were about an hour early for sunset, and the extra time allowed us to bundle up, look around...
All good plans start with a wild idea, but this one might just take the cake. Back in the spring, Kaytlyn—who I’d never met at the time—approached me with an ambitious proposal. She wanted to link up a series of North Cascades high routes on foot...
Brian and I were less than a week into our adventure north when, during a brief phone call, my dear friend’s children insisted I read their favorite poem, "the Yukon Song." Though written for children extolling the virtues of leaving civilization and...
"I guess I just really want to do something different—something I'm not comfortable doing. Something aside from hiking." I quickly threw "Imja Tse" into Google, gripping the phone between my shoulder and ear as details unfolded. "It'd be about a month...
“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With the Stewart-Cassiar Highway in our rearview mirror, we had finally reached the Yukon. This was our third trip to Canada’s westernmost territory in a calendar year, and we knew that it would feel incomplete without...
Exhausted and oxygen-deprived, we high-fived as frigid winds took our already limited breath away and whipped at the prayer flags that marked the summit. We were about an hour early for sunset, and the extra time allowed us to bundle up, look around...
All good plans start with a wild idea, but this one might just take the cake. Back in the spring, Kaytlyn—who I’d never met at the time—approached me with an ambitious proposal. She wanted to link up a series of North Cascades high routes on foot...
Brian and I were less than a week into our adventure north when, during a brief phone call, my dear friend’s children insisted I read their favorite poem, "the Yukon Song." Though written for children extolling the virtues of leaving civilization and...
If your cooler must-haves include easy portability, large capacity, and maximum ice retention, a wheeled cooler is the way to go. Like standard hard-sided models, many of today’s top wheeled coolers can keep ice frozen for several days with the added...
Florida-based iRocker has been in the stand up paddle board game since 2013, and their latest All Around 11’ 7.0 is just the right amount of board for casual paddlers and beginners looking to dip their toes into the sport. While neither the most stable...
The climbing pants in our lineup may or may not help you clip the chains of a 5.13, but they sure make the process a lot more comfortable. We've been testing climbing pants for over a decade in a quest to find the perfect sending slacks, and we've...
For backpackers who tend to sleep hot or value keeping their pack weight to a minimum, a quilt is an excellent alternative to a fully enclosed sleeping bag. Hyperlite Mountain Gear specializes in the ultralight space, and their 20-Degree Quilt...
When the skies open up and Thor's Hammer strikes, sometimes your trusty ol' rain jacket just won't offer the full-body protection you need. Enter the rain pant. Whether you're punching in pickets on the slopes of Denali, or setting off on a...
I've been an on-and-off road runner since college and have gotten back into it over the past few years. I love a good trail run as much as the next mountain townie, but something about leaving my front door for a run (and skipping the drive to a...
A climbing brand at its core, it’s no surprise that Black Diamond would make a ski purpose-built for long skin track missions. With a paulownia core and carbon fiber layup, the Helio Carbon 88 is competitively lightweight. And while many narrow skis...
All it takes is one muggy day on trail in a full cotton shirt to illustrate the importance of a hiking shirt. The lightweight, moisture-wicking nature of these trekking tops makes them well-suited for long, hot days, and they generally feature a good...
Toeing the line between a 3- and 4-season tent, MSR's Access is well suited for fast-and-light backcountry missions that warrant the added protection but without the heft and bulk of a true mountaineering design. I pushed the tent a bit beyond treeline...
If your cooler must-haves include easy portability, large capacity, and maximum ice retention, a wheeled cooler is the way to go. Like standard hard-sided models, many of today’s top wheeled coolers can keep ice frozen for several days with the added...
Florida-based iRocker has been in the stand up paddle board game since 2013, and their latest All Around 11’ 7.0 is just the right amount of board for casual paddlers and beginners looking to dip their toes into the sport. While neither the most stable...
The climbing pants in our lineup may or may not help you clip the chains of a 5.13, but they sure make the process a lot more comfortable. We've been testing climbing pants for over a decade in a quest to find the perfect sending slacks, and we've...
For backpackers who tend to sleep hot or value keeping their pack weight to a minimum, a quilt is an excellent alternative to a fully enclosed sleeping bag. Hyperlite Mountain Gear specializes in the ultralight space, and their 20-Degree Quilt...
When the skies open up and Thor's Hammer strikes, sometimes your trusty ol' rain jacket just won't offer the full-body protection you need. Enter the rain pant. Whether you're punching in pickets on the slopes of Denali, or setting off on a...
I've been an on-and-off road runner since college and have gotten back into it over the past few years. I love a good trail run as much as the next mountain townie, but something about leaving my front door for a run (and skipping the drive to a...
A climbing brand at its core, it’s no surprise that Black Diamond would make a ski purpose-built for long skin track missions. With a paulownia core and carbon fiber layup, the Helio Carbon 88 is competitively lightweight. And while many narrow skis...
All it takes is one muggy day on trail in a full cotton shirt to illustrate the importance of a hiking shirt. The lightweight, moisture-wicking nature of these trekking tops makes them well-suited for long, hot days, and they generally feature a good...
Toeing the line between a 3- and 4-season tent, MSR's Access is well suited for fast-and-light backcountry missions that warrant the added protection but without the heft and bulk of a true mountaineering design. I pushed the tent a bit beyond treeline...
If your cooler must-haves include easy portability, large capacity, and maximum ice retention, a wheeled cooler is the way to go. Like standard hard-sided models, many of today’s top wheeled coolers can keep ice frozen for several days with the added...
Florida-based iRocker has been in the stand up paddle board game since 2013, and their latest All Around 11’ 7.0 is just the right amount of board for casual paddlers and beginners looking to dip their toes into the sport. While neither the most stable...
The climbing pants in our lineup may or may not help you clip the chains of a 5.13, but they sure make the process a lot more comfortable. We've been testing climbing pants for over a decade in a quest to find the perfect sending slacks, and we've...
For backpackers who tend to sleep hot or value keeping their pack weight to a minimum, a quilt is an excellent alternative to a fully enclosed sleeping bag. Hyperlite Mountain Gear specializes in the ultralight space, and their 20-Degree Quilt...
When the skies open up and Thor's Hammer strikes, sometimes your trusty ol' rain jacket just won't offer the full-body protection you need. Enter the rain pant. Whether you're punching in pickets on the slopes of Denali, or setting off on a...
I've been an on-and-off road runner since college and have gotten back into it over the past few years. I love a good trail run as much as the next mountain townie, but something about leaving my front door for a run (and skipping the drive to a...
A climbing brand at its core, it’s no surprise that Black Diamond would make a ski purpose-built for long skin track missions. With a paulownia core and carbon fiber layup, the Helio Carbon 88 is competitively lightweight. And while many narrow skis...
All it takes is one muggy day on trail in a full cotton shirt to illustrate the importance of a hiking shirt. The lightweight, moisture-wicking nature of these trekking tops makes them well-suited for long, hot days, and they generally feature a good...
Toeing the line between a 3- and 4-season tent, MSR's Access is well suited for fast-and-light backcountry missions that warrant the added protection but without the heft and bulk of a true mountaineering design. I pushed the tent a bit beyond treeline...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
America’s Top 10 Conservation Heroes is a series honoring the individuals and organizations that have made the biggest mark on conservation, environmental protection, and awareness of the outdoors...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
At Switchback Travel, we love stories. Nothing moves or motivates us quite like artfully written and insightful accounts of the world. And while the online format is great, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a soft spot for books...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
America’s Top 10 Conservation Heroes is a series honoring the individuals and organizations that have made the biggest mark on conservation, environmental protection, and awareness of the outdoors...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
At Switchback Travel, we love stories. Nothing moves or motivates us quite like artfully written and insightful accounts of the world. And while the online format is great, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a soft spot for books...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
America’s Top 10 Conservation Heroes is a series honoring the individuals and organizations that have made the biggest mark on conservation, environmental protection, and awareness of the outdoors...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
At Switchback Travel, we love stories. Nothing moves or motivates us quite like artfully written and insightful accounts of the world. And while the online format is great, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a soft spot for books...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
