Keep out the wind, rain, and cold with our favorite shells of the season

Our testers found load haulers for every trip and hiker. Pick yours and enjoy the spoils.

This year's top gadgets are designed to keep you safe and comfortable on the trail while staying out of your way.

Find the perfect shelter to match the perfect location.

Treat your feet with these trail runners and mid-cuts.

For five months, we crisscrossed continents, climates, and comfort zones to put the newest outdoor products to the test. Presenting the 12 winners of this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards.

Sleep well in the backcountry with these down and synthetic models.

All the best accessories for your campsite.

The scenic 310+ mile trail is perfect for hikes of all lengths and adventures of all sizes.

Nestled in the Boundary Waters, Minnesota's highest point is a uniquely beautiful day hike.

Sweeping ridgetop views and dense coastal rainforest put the 34-mile Paparoa Track in good standing among New Zealand’s Great Walks

See historic bridges and wildlife on this 38.6-mile paddle through America's heartland.

Want a real wilderness experience? Head west and trek endless empty miles on the BLM's best terrain.

This New Hampshire footpath— the oldest continuously maintained hiking trail in the country—is a rite of passage for anyone who cares about America’s history of preserving and exploring wild places.

Craving sunshine on your shoulders? Consider this your hit list. These ten dayhikes turn every step into a celebration of summer.

Sample a Colorado Front Range classic on this hike across the continental divide.

Nothing quite says "warm weather" like wild snake orgies. Here's everything you never wanted to know about trailside tangles of slithering serpents.

Find your way the old-school way by mastering the map.

Follow these tips to make sure you and all the essentials get where you’re going.

Avoid common mistakes with these tips and tricks for planning, hiking, and camping, and make your first—or next—trek problem-free.

Is there a trickier piece of gear to buy than hiking boots? Pick the wrong shoes, and you could find them rubbing you raw deep in the wilderness. Avoid common footwear-buying mistakes and find your perfect pair with our buyer’s guide.

How to make it more bonding than battle zone.

Strengthen your legs for early-season hikes, which often involve postholing in lingering snow up high and crossing run-off swollen rivers down low.

Out of every 100 people who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, 73 will give up. Beat the odds—and save your budget—by following these rules from a gear shop owner who sees thousands of hikers every season.

When a boulder snaps his leg on a California mountain, Gregg Hein finds himself in a fight for his life.

What if you were bitten by a venomous snake far from help? For Scott Vuncannon, an encounter with a rattler in the North Carolina backcountry was the beginning of a struggle for survival.

Your chances of being attacked by a bear are around one in two million. Todd Orr was mauled by one twice in a single day. Listen to his story in the latest episode of our podcast.

A fatal accident is the beginning of a six-day-long wilderness ordeal in the second episode of BACKPACKER's Out Alive podcast.

For George Brown, 68, a morning trail run in August 2018 became more than 40 hours stranded in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness with a broken leg.

The wilderness is full of dangers. BACKPACKER's new podcast tells the stories of the people who survived them.

Choosing which foods to eat in the wild can either make or break you.

See if you have the knowledge to ID the lower 48's bruins.