A report from the Adirondacks is leading some researchers to surmise that hikers’ gear is likely a leading cause of microplastic contamination in at least some wild water sources.
Are you in a temporary rut—or do you have a case of catastrophic burnout that only a long walk in the woods can cure? Two career coaches weigh in.
What gear's worth the weight, what gear's TSA-approved for flights, and more.
Ultralight, homemade, and customizable—these gizmos solve all kinds of backpacking problems.
Level-up your carrying comfort with these top-performing daypacks.
Turning your favorite pasta into instant noodles takes just a few hours.
Here's the best way to spill-proof yourself and, if you do take a tumble, minimize injury.
CNOC unveils the ThruBottle as a direct upgrade to the Smartwater bottle.
Regularly backflushing your filter will keep it in tip-top shape. Here's how.
After becoming the first Mexican to complete the Triple Crown of hiking, Zelzin Aketzalli has an even bigger dream: building Baja California’s first thru-trail.
Crowded campsites, unpermitted hiking, and illegal sport is running rampant in this national park right now.
The Outside Lab at CU Denver uses sensors, weights, and mannequins to figure out how different backpacks carry loads and how much each can handle.
Raw skin and minor wounds are the kind of little things that can send a backpacking trip off the rails. Head them off with this easy advice.
At nearly 1,800 pounds, polar bears are roughly three times the size of a black bear
New restrictions in the New Mexico National Defense Area require hikers to get a permit to access the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Trail—and seems to ban most non-U.S. citizens from it entirely. Here's what we know.
Lighten your load with these minimalist-minded multiday packs.
This September, Jessica "Stitches" Guo finished thru-hiking the Continental Divide and Great Divide Trails in one five-month push, a deep-backcountry journey that saw her spend weeks without seeing a single other person. But with tens of thousands of people following her daily videos, it was a shared experience.
We have her outnumbered three to one; what could go wrong?
Nobody wants to run out of hot water, and nobody wants to carry around extra fuel canisters. Here's how to calculate exactly how much fuel you have in your can, and how much you'll need on your next trip.
In most cases, there's no need to shell out for new gear. Here's how to repair and clean your kit for seasons to come.
A partner who goes too fast or slow is at the heart of many an on-trail spat.
Our favorite packs were comfortable against our bodies, lifted the load right off our shoulders, and had the features we reached for over thousands of miles.
Our editors picked their favorite deals from Amazon Prime Day, including Keen hiking shoes, Columbia convertible pants, and some of the best water filters we've tested
Tarps are no longer the go-to shelters of most ultralighters. Should they still have a place in your kit? That depends.
The Washington State Animal Response Team dispatched to the Goat Rocks Wilderness after another crew had to airlift a dog’s owner out without her.
Fred Ramsdell was in the Wyoming backcountry when the Nobel Prize committee made its announcement.
The SOL Venture Rechargeable is a solid, lightweight headlamp for less than half the price of its closest competition.
Thanks to our propensity for carrying heavy loads for long distances, hikers are prone to backaches. Heres how to deal with yours.
Hike along turquoise waters and old-growth forests on the Diablo Lake Trail.
A black bear attacked and killed a camper in the state's second fatal bear attack since early September.
Of the 52 jackets we tested, only 9 kept our testers dry after a season of abuse.
Our editor tested a new backcountry-focused search engine that's currently in beta. It's an interesting idea, but often a frustrating product in practice.
Madeleine Bryant completed the entire end-to-end Grand Canyon trek alongside her father over the course of 17 years
A hiker was just rescued from a Colorado peak after blowing a simple rescue whistle. The lesson? Satellite messengers are great, but low-tech tools have their place in a safety kit, too.
More teeth equals better grip on the trail, right? Not so fast. We paid a visit to the Outside Lab at CU Denver to learn more about what makes some hiking shoes perform better than others.
The Kelty Cosmic Down 0 can handle frigid winter temperatures, but won't weigh you down on the trail.
We all have bad hiking habits. These are the ones guides say they notice most often—plus how to kick them for good.
From superlight, waterproof shells to fully featured, alpine-ready shields, these rain jackets will protect you in any environment.
With national parks facing furloughs and reduced visitor services, many conservation organizations are urging hikers to be good stewards by heading elsewhere. Check out these 20 underappreciated state parks instead.
The Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails will stay open, but permits, maintenance, and facilities could all take a hit.
40 pairs went into the backcountry. Only a select few survived a season of thru-hikes, scrambling, and guiding.
Getting stopped up during a backpacking trip is a common—and uncomfortable—experience.
Fall is here. Watch the leaves transform from the comfort of these backcountry huts.
The first 1.1 miles of the CDT are now only available to US citizens who apply for permission to enter the National Defense Area.
The Nahanni is a spectacular northern river with a dark history. Getting there isn't easy—but it's worth the trouble.
An alpaca-wool hoodie, an ultralight and ultra-comfy backpack, and a headlamp that shines in 3 different shades of white: This is the gear that helped our editors live their best lives in September.
The lightning-sparked Dragon Bravo fire has devastated the Grand Canyon since July. Starting October 1, the North Rim will partially reopen to the public.
The new web app combines gear organization and trip reports in a user-friendly package.
We polled hundreds of hikers about their partner pet peeves. Do you have any of these habits?
What happens when a lifelong solo backpacker decides to try sharing the trail?
After a category 4 hurricane tore through the southeast, a third of the Appalachian Trail faced significant damage. Volunteers are bringing it back to life.
A backcountry cocktail kit in a box, a 5-ounce library, and a cornhole set you can fit in a daypack: This is the gear our editors absolutely don't need to pack, but keep bringing anyway.
Beetle larvae taste "nutty" and scorpions are like "softshell crab" according to expert bug forager Aly Moore. Ready to try nature's trail mix for yourself? Here's how to do it.
Madeira doesn't land at the top of most hikers' life lists. But after experiencing its thick forests, quad-burning ascents, and soaring seaside hikes, we're ready to say: it should.
Nestled in the heart of the North Cascades, the Goat Lake Trail is a perfect dayhike to see waterfalls, dense old-growth trees, and some snippets of an old mining settlement.
The Conservation Fund announced this week that it had purchased 480 acres of formerly private land on Mount Bross—including a key portion of one of Colorado's most popular high-alpine trails.
Falcon Guides's new book, "Surviving the Trail," taught our associate editor how to survive better. In this review, she explains what she learned.
How many backpacks are in our senior editor's gear closet? Watch her tour here.
Even the longest hikes are too short to spend worrying about how you look.
Garmire finished the trail in just over 45 days, raising $29,000 for the Trevor Project in the process.
Harrod hiked an average of 41 miles per day for nearly two months to break the 10-year-old record.
In our opinion, sugar can be a hiker health food. Pair it with your electrolytes for better hydration and performance.
On your days off the trail, would you rather get a slice of pizza with your tramily? Or relax all on your own? Take our quiz to identify the best trail town for you.
We paid a visit to Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion to learn more about Joro spiders, the AT's newest residents.
The giant salamanders make their homes and lay their eggs under rocks.
Some cooking hacks are easy. Some are delicious. This particular one is neither.
Level up with these smart backpacking accessories, all of which cost a Hamilton or less.
Pennsylvania's 501 and Eckville shelters have amenities like solar showers and on-site caretakers and provide a crucial stopping point for hikers on the AT—but they're scheduled for demolition next year.
The Ursack AllMitey is a lightweight alternative to bear canisters that's tested against grizzlies and smaller critters too—and it's on sale right now.
A 29-year-old solo hiker suffered "significant but non-life-threatening" wounds after the attack on the Turbid Lake Trail.
With their easy access to adventure, gorgeous scenery, and electric vibe, mountain towns can feel like an outdoor paradise from the outside. But moving to—and staying in—one can be trickier than it looks.
When hikers get lost in the wilderness, newspaper headlines often credit their survival to subsisting on their own urine. The reality? It’ll just kill you faster.
Self-rescuing can be a good idea—just make sure the SAR team looking for you knows you're doing it.
Check out Adam Roy's author page.
North Carolina's Mount Mitchell State Park had been closed since Hurricane Helene wrecked part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On her new podcast "Gear Abby," Shawnté Salabert debunks this and other outdoor myths.
Is there a bigger gray area than the uphill right of way rule?
Fat Bear Week, the annual contest to find Katmai National Park and Preserve's chunkiest ursine resident, is nearly upon us. Brush up on the highs, lows, and shockers of this battle of the titans.
Move over, duct tape: An outdoor-specific sewing kit—and the know-how to use it—might just be the most useful repair gear you bring.
Baxter State Park officials are asking for the public's help identifying the person or people who defaced the sign at the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus.