Fitness
Use this no-cost, do-anywhere training program to enhance hiking strength and speed this spring.
Want to set a big goal to give your training more focus and direction? Sign up for one of these mettle-testing trail events.
Mountain guide and author of
Fit by Nature John D. Colver offers up these hints for staying motivated and fit no matter what your excuse.
Always looking for a way to go farther and faster? Get ready with these tips to take your hiking to the next level.
Four moves that'll help you make an injury-free transition to lightweight hiking shoes.
We asked a few of our favorite pros how to fix some common backcountry annoyances
Boost performance and be a better backpacker with these fitness- and strength-building moves from our experts.
Pro Tips: Boost Performance, Planning, Safety, and More
See a week's worth of terrain on an epic dawn-to-dusk hike.
Tired of the same old weekend loops? Looking to create memories your grandkids will talk about? In this how-and-where guide, we serve up 15 extraordinary escapes that will shatter your expectations of "normal." From adventure moviemaking to canyoneering, we'll take you places you've never been—but will long to visit again soon.
Conquer cold with proactive hydration and calorie-packed nutrition.
Play it safe against altitude sickness.
Ease post-hike pain and prep muscles for the next day.
Yes, there's a better way to put one foot in front of the other. Improve your stride, trek farther, and end leg and back pain with our guide to the new science of healthy hiking.
Submit your video! Win a trip to Rainier and the title of America's Toughest Backpacker.
It's the final push. Complete the final week's challenge and get ready for next week's call to submit your video.
George Dunn, co-owner of International Mountain Guides, recalls personal adventures and gives tips about climbing Mount Rainier.
Build on week one's regimen by mastering even more survival and navigation skills and improving your overall fitness level.
Rev up for the first week of our plan to make you the ultimate tough guy, or gal.
Your body is an engine. It runs on a mix of carbohydrates, fats, and a very small amount of protein. And it's a finely tuned engine, using the best fuel for every need.
How to keep off what you've hiked off.
Make one simple resolution–to hike more in 2011–and we guarantee you'll lose that spare tire around the middle. Here's the proof, the plan, and the inspiration.
Get trail-fit now to make next summer your best hiking season yet.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you the proper height of trekking poles for various types of terrain.
Hike farther, faster, and pain-free with these training tips and exercise.
Hike farther, faster, and pain-free with these training tips and exercise.
Try this exercise to give your lower back the strength you need.
Nothing's worse on the trail than knee pain. Prevent and cure it with this exercise.
Tackle big miles with this essential exercise.
Want legs that handle any terrain. This is the exercise.
Get core strength with this key exercise.
Climb higher, live longer, and eat better, o.k.
be better, with these skills.
Travel confidently across any type of landscape.
Hike farther, faster, and pain-free with these training tips and exercise.
Fast food leads to fast crashes trailside.
Punch up boring noodles with ginger and garlic.
Break out of the boring one-pot routine.
Go big with these expedition trip planning tips.
Just like at home, there's clean-up to do after every meal in the backcountry. Here's how to get your dishes clean.
Want strong knees when hiking season starts? Work your hamstrings now.
See more–and have more fun–this winter with these gear and technique trips.
You love mountains, but your legs don't. Here's how to fix four common problems caused by high-angle hiking.
NNN-compatible with exceptional side-to-side stability.
These bindings are surprisingly sturdy, great for cruising on sturdy terrain.
This all-around Nordic ski both glides and grips for awesome touring.
This boot has the best of both worlds: The comfort of a Nordic boot, with the warmth of telemark boot.
Simple and user-friendly, these Voile skis are also built to weather the abuse of varied terrains.
Ideal for turning and climbing on rugged backcountry day trips.
Stiff on the downhill, flexible when skinning up, this boot has it all.
Adjustable and easy to use, traveling through varied terrain is a breeze.
Whether it's touring, powder or inbounds, this ski does it all.
The perfect blend of comfort and performance, this boot is great in all conditions.
Versatile and ready for anything, these bindings are super durable and won't ice up.
Great for powder, but still handles the bumps like a pro, these skis are super smooth.
Built for nasty winter conditions, this midweight winter running shoe keeps your feet warm and well supported.
Here's what 2,000-plus miles does to your system–and how to get the same results at home.
Could you earn a merit badge in wilderness travel? Better ace this test, taken straight from the Scouts' own backpacking manual.
Scoutmasters wrote the book on camping, and built an army of pack-toting teens. But do the troops truly rule when it comes to outdoor skills? We pitted three Scouts against three average readers to find out.
Three pack-friendly snacks that soothe tired, overworked muscles.
Use these proven exercises to get in the best hiking shape of your life.
Get trail-fit fast! This 4-week program was designed specifically for hikers by trainers Melissa Racouillat of San Francisco's Stone Clinic and Darren Flagg of Boulder's Animal Strength Human Performance Lab.
Stay in shape with these workout tips, and advice from a fitness hero.
Fight the sedentary lifestyle and get a move on with these exercised and essential skill.s
Get ready for the long fitness haul with these skills, workouts, and essential info.
Build your fitness foundation with this essential physiological info, tips on eating right and exercises for staying in prime hiking shape.
The secret to long-term health and fitness? Reap backpacking's many benefits–a strong heart, lean muscle, superior endurance–through every stage of your life. Here's how.
Undeterred by injuries that would cripple most men, a Colorado hiker nears the halfway point in a pioneering attempt to thru-hike the true crest of the Continental Divide.
Here's a cheap, crazy-fun way to build mountain skills.
Train for the long haul with endurance tips from Climbing: Training for Peak Performance author Clyde Soles.
Bound for one of the globe's most exotic locales? Thrive in any environment with these tips.
Tackle everything from jet lag to malaria (and those pesky mosquitoes) with our guide to staying healthy abroad.
From stings to dehydration, this fully-stocked kit has everything you'd need to handle a medical issue, even when overseas
Follow this winter workout and conquer the steeps come spring.
Close a wound, remove a tick, prevent poison ivy rash, and more essential tips.
It'll blow you away
Get stronger and hike longer with a workout that matches your physique.
Stay fit and healthy with these static and dynamic stretches, and secrets from Yosemite National Park wilderness ranger Mark Fincher.
Gymnasts can land backflips on balance beams four inches wide. Their secret: training barefoot.
Having trouble getting motivated? These soldiers toughen you up with their custom can't-quit tips.
One small step for our stair-obsessed man, one giant leap for fitness freaks everywhere.
With the right preparation–and a little help from a half-dozen friends, two exotic techno-gadgets, and one very sweaty hypoxic chamber–can a sea-level-dwelling rookie climb the highest peak in Colorado?
Get trail-fit in six weeks with this simple exercise plan.
Achieve peak performance on the trail with our complete guide to training and eating like a backpacker.
Long-distance runner Russell Secker feels your foot pain–and he knows how to get rid of it.
Forget all the rules about freezing or making yourself big. When faced with these angry beasts run for cover.
Get ready for spring with 3 joint-specific routines.
For these three fitness gurus staying fit is a job requirement.
Learn the mountaineer's secret for hiking up steep, high-altitude terrain.
When you're slipping and sliding, don't let your partners help you. Learn how to climb yourself to safety.
Recover from high-mileage days with these before-and-after stretches.
Take these 21 trail tips to heart, and you're virtually guaranteed a good hike.
Before you hit the trail, try thses exercises to build leg strength and stamina.
Get ready for hiking season in the off-season with this training plan developed by
Runner's World contributor Budd Coates.
Protein helps hikers regulate their metabolism, repair tired muscle, and boost their immune system.
Want legs that can tackle any climb, any heavy pack, any mileage? Well, don't work harder–work smarter. We grilled fitness experts and scoured the medical literature to uncover the latest, greatest strategies for building strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility.
Cardiac arrest is the number three killer in the outdoors&ndashlearn how to prevent, recognize, and treat trail-side heart issues.
Whether it's a "Birthday Challenge" or a peak that needs climbing, choosing a specific fitness challenge will help you stay motivated to get out more.
A naturopath's top 5 remedies for common backpacking injuries.
Keen on birds, peak bagging, or wildflowers? Here's how to join hikers who share your passions.
Help yourself hike out after an ankle injury
30 days to a killer trail body with cardio and strength workouts for backpackers.
4 indoor workouts that'll keep you outdoors-ready
Got summit fever? The sky's the limit with a fitness plan and climbing tips from world-class mountaineer Ed Viesturs.
Supercharge your legs with conditioning tips for monster hikes.
Conquer any current with these two simple strength conditioning exercises.
Get strong with yoga poses used by a world-class climber
Haul hefty loads more easily by strengthening your midsection.
No gyms, no weights–and, with our easy-to-follow plan–no bonking on the trail.
Improve your performance with the right drinking strategy
Get ready for your first race with a fitness plan from a world champ
Train for the long haul with endurance tips from
Climbing: Training for Peak Performance author Clyde Soles.
Pick up your hiking pace with these fitness tips
Meet these 6 Olympic hopefuls who will help you perform like a champion outdoors.
Our 5-step guide to planning, gear, food, fitness, and essential skills
Who's better suited for backpacking--men or women?
10 Ways Backpacking Changes Your Body
Strong legs, abs, back, and arms make hiking more enjoyable and helps prevent strains and sprains.
Do backpackers have superfast metabolic rates?
Why do we bonk at 14,000 feet?
Does backpacking build up your bones?
Secrets for staying on your feet from dancers, tightrope walkers, running backs, and more.
Do hikers have special nutritional needs?
It's lean, it's mean, and it can last forever.
Is there a maximum weight you can safely haul?
Sidelined by injury? Get back on the trail fast with this easy treatment plan.
7 ways to kick your stride into overdrive
Want to develop legs of steel and the balance of a mountain goat? Try yoga.
Shortcuts that'll help you keep up with faster hikers.
Winter warmth is easy with these tips from arctic explorers, cold-weather experts, and army docs.
12 ways to get more miles out of your legs.
Got a bum knee or ankle? Better treatments for post-hike joint pain are on the horizon.
Feeling pooped at the end of the day? Try these relaxation and breathing techniques to put more pep in your step.
Tips to improve your hiking stride.
Eat right and you'll hike stronger.
Are you a dayhiker who's ready for an all-nighter? A weekender longing to try a 5-day trek? Or are you ready for a thru-hike? Regardless of your skill level, here's the information you'll need to go that extra mile.
Wish you could leap tall mountains in a single bound? Here's an exercise program designed for backpackers.
Is this health-food-store item really needed in those recipes?
How to improve your tolerance for cold and enhance your outdoor performance.
Sore shoulders after lugging a pack? Try this exercise remedy.
Shaky on logs or rocks? Try these exercises to steady your feet.
If you've had a knee injury, follow these exercises before you hit the trail again.
Stronger foot muscles can end ankle sprains and aching arches.
Use these specific stretches to alleviate muscle pain.
Choose your fuel wisely to keep your engine running strong.
The 25 often-overlooked ways to stay healthy and injury-free.
