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From a super-versatile, super-light trail shoe to a 5-ounce camp chair that you could stuff in your pocket, these are 8 pieces of gear we wish we could still find in stores.

A wearable bag that's as cozy as a hotel bed but light enough to carry on the trail? The Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol 30 has the best of all worlds.

Hard hiking challenges muscles in unique ways. Beat injuries this season by prepping with these 18 exercises that target essential muscles.

High winds and snow can hurt hikers' eyes and leave them unable to navigate—a recipe for danger on a high peak.

From the history of an Appalachian Trail legend to a surprising public lands success story, you can take in these articles without looking at a screen.

From shoes to sleeping pads to ultralight tents, this Backpacker-tested gear is ready for the trail.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are urging visitors to avoid picking fungi in the midst of a mushroom poisoning outbreak that has sickened 40 and killed 4 in California.

With 16.9 million hikers, including 6.2 million on its NPS-managed segments, the AT was more popular last year than Zion, Yellowstone, or the Grand Canyon.

The Lumina 200 is one of the warmest jackets in its weight class.

New books by Heather Anderson and Derick Lugo take readers across America's long trails, up to the Continental Divide's highest ridgelines, and deep into backpacking's heart.

You stored your sleeping bag wrong, and now it’s crusty, musty, and flat. Here’s what you need to know to make it cozy again.

Thru-hiking has gotten more expensive over the years. We talked to trail-town business owners and looked at economic data to estimate how much the class of 2026 should plan on spending.

There's one big difference between the Near Zero Ready-2-Go Bundle and most backpacking packages: We would actually use this gear.

It's a pound lighter than other full-featured packs in its size, but the Exped Lightning 45 hauled more than 50 pounds of gear without leaving us aching.

One Grand Canyon National Park staff member told a popular hiking podcast that debris flows from the Dragon Bravo Fire could make several popular endurance routes dangerous for the foreseeable future.

Having the emergency gear you need can be the difference between a near-miss and a scary outcome. Pack it without weighing yourself down with these two DIY emergency kits, one for dayhikers and one for backpackers.

It may not be the human-swallowing horror of Golden Age Hollywood films, but quicksand is a real-life hazard for hikers. It pays to know what it is and how to escape.

Altitude sickness affects up to 75 percent of people who recreate at high elevations. Now, a new study suggests probiotics could play a part in helping hikers resist it.

Need a light, weather-resistant shelter that won't break the bank? Don't overlook Outdoor Research's Helium Bivy.

These exercises include every squat variation you need to develop the power to ascend steeps and stay upright.

Packs come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s how to find your perfect fit.

While it's not clear what led to the incident, park officials said that the deceased man was located in "steep and hazardous terrain."

Muscle soreness or hot spots? You might need to readjust your pack’s fit.

Fire ants, an imported insect just millimeters long, are generally more painful than dangerous. But a rare allergic reaction turned one hiker's encounter with them into an emergency.

Yes, you can maintain hiking fitness with just a few hours of exercise per week. The trick is to make those hours count.

You don't need to be an elite athlete to put down big days on the trail. What do you need? Experience, an early wake-up, and a very good plan.

Coastal exploration and inland adventure converge in Ventura County

Emergency personnel near Los Angeles are urging the public to exercise caution after a swollen river swept one hiker away.

In 2000, he starting hiking as a runaway parolee. Today, he's a beloved trail angel.

Check out Alisha McDarris's author page.

Explore global cherry blossom hikes—from Japan to the Himalaya—combining spring blooms, scenic trails, and crowd-free outdoor adventure.

A workhorse pair of wool socks, a tasty drink, and one of the best lightweight headlamps we've tried: This gear kept us moving through winter's last weeks.

A new proposal by Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Celeste Maloy would erase Biden-era protections for the monument, opening it up to coal mining and drilling without shrinking it.

Some new-gen ultralight backpacks redistribute weight as well as their heavier cousins. But that doesn't necessarily mean they feel the same on the trail.

Thanks to space-age materials and innovative designs, new internal-frame packs are lighter and more capable than ever. But don't sound the death knell for the frameless rucksack just yet.

Modern ultralight internal-frame backpacks can handle an impressive amount of weight. But what happens when you push their limits with heavy carries?

Who calls for help in the backcountry most often, and why? Here's what a year of Garmin inReach data say.

The Hoka Speedgoat 6 has the cushion and grip to handle miles of rough trail, but never weighed us down.

Photos provided by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition show that a 26-mile stretch of what was formerly a rough four-wheel-drive track has now been graded in preparation for barrier construction.

Carrying the tools and know-how to fix gear failures can save you from catastrophe in the backcountry.

Over the weekend, a 46-year-old man became ill on the trail in Georgia, prompting an emergency response.

Not interested in going hard? These multiday backpacking trails can still offer big payoffs for hikers.

Having a smelly WAG Bag is gross for your and your friends. Here’s how to avoid it.

The Ultra 6.5R is one of the lightest and warmest pads available.

Compasses aren't just a practical safety tool—they're a ticket to a richer hiking experience.

Use these simple exercises to shake off the rust and reignite your love of hiking.

The Columbia Arctic Crest hybrid jacket mixes a toasty, vest-like core with stretchy, temperature-regulating side panels and arms to create a piece that bleeds just enough heat on cold, high-tempo days.

Say goodbye to high gate costs at these four parks, none of which charge an entrance fee.

The 21-year-old hiker fell off the trail near the summit of Mount Marcy and was unable to make her way back up.

Getting to the Apostle Islands ice caves in Wisconsin requires a multi-mile trek over the frozen surface of Lake Superior. This week, a handful of lucky visitors got the chance to see them.

Watch next month’s lunar eclipse from your tent in these remote spots across the U.S.

From a wintertime proposal that ended with someone trapped in a hole to a "murdery" first date on the trail, a lot can go sideways when you go hiking with romance in mind.

Under a new federal policy, hikers will be prohibited from venturing south of the PCT's southern terminus monument, the trail's main organization said this week.

Accidents happen to the best-prepared of us. And for the search part of a SAR call to lead to rescue, they need to be able to find you

With our new tool, you may never buy retail again.

Early blossoms in Carrizo Plain National Monument have some land managers suggesting that California is on the precipice of a major wildflower year.

Dawdle less, hike more with these tips.

We called REI's Rainier shell "an indisputable steal" for $100. Right now, you can get it for as little as half that.

January's bear sighting is one of the earliest Yellowstone National Park has had on record. Here's how to stay bear safe, even in the winter.

A solo hiker is in the hospital after two other hikers found her unconscious near a popular waterfall earlier this week.

Just 4 percent of Texas's 268,000 square miles are public. But thanks to a new billion-dollar fund, the Lone Star State's parks department is going on a shopping spree.

A firsthand look at why hiking in Antarctica is less about mileage and more about responsibility.

Researchers say that autonomous machines could help with trail maintenance and assist in search and rescue. But first, they have to learn to navigate the backcountry

Rough trail on the menu? The cushy Altra Timp 5 has the stack height to handle it.

Risk management is a big part of hiking, but it's time for us to consider the digital footprint of our experiences before pressing “post.”

Avoid the dreaded "spring knee" by giving your joints some attention before the trails melt out.

After receiving a call about an overdue hiker on Colorado’s Quandary Peak, rescuers flew a drone up the peak to lend him an essential piece of gear.

Avalanche Aware will teach you where avalanches occur and how to avoid them—and it's not just for skiers.

You don't need to be in peak form to start a long trail—but there are some caveats.

We tested the FaceGlove in cold, windy, and sunny conditions. Here's what we thought.

Both tight and lengthened hip flexors could be limiting your mobility and making your hikes miserable. Here’s how to fix it.

From a ball cap that's made for the skin track to a shrunken-down classic board game, this is the gear that elevated our time on the trail this month.

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Pad is a whopping 4 inches thick and still light enough to tote on backcountry trips.

In September, Garmire blazed through the Appalachian Trail in just over 45 days, shaving 4 hours off the trail's eight-year-old self-supported FKT. He breaks down the gear he carried to do it—and reveals what couldn't handle the 2,000-mile trip.

A new hyperlight fabric and innovative suspension system give the Mirage 40 its class-leading specs.

If passed, the Bay Area Ridge Trail would join the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Ice Age Trail, and eight more hikes in the federally-protected system.

Keeping the backcountry clean is a year-round job. Here's how to do it in the fourth season.

Are you a fitful sleeper on the trail? You don't have to be.

Internet donors raised nearly £5,000 for Wasdale Mountain Rescue after the team pleaded online for the hikers it had rescued to settle their hotel tab.