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From pocket-size accessories to dream tents and packs, we've pulled together the season's most sure-fire gifts for every kind of hiker.

First launched 19 years ago, Six Moon Designs' Gatewood Cape is a combo rain cape, pack cover, and floorless shelter that comes in at just 11 ounces. How does it stack up in 2025?

You won't find a lighter mat than the 2.7-ounce Gossamer Gear Thinlight.

Plantar fasciitis is extremely common, and yet experts don’t always agree on how to treat it. Here’s how to sort fact from fiction.

Our testers braved gale-force winds, feet of new snow, and a night in a ghost town to find the ultimate snowshoes for every kind of terrain.

The incident is the fourth confirmed case of rabies in the state's southwest this year.

In the two decades, since her murder, police have never identified a suspect in the death of Louise Chaput. Now, they're hoping members of the New Hampshire hiking community could help to change that.

Hiker hangtags will read 2,197.9 miles in 2026.

Some of the biggest hazards to your gear’s longevity aren’t on the trail—they’re inside your house. Dodge these traps to keep your sleeping bag, hydration gear, outerwear, and more in working order for next season and years to come.

Want to save on your hiking wardrobe? Then you need to know how to deploy your dollars.

Dr. Morgan Brosnihan has helped thousands of backpackers on the PCT. Here's how she recommends staying injury free mile after mile.

Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant, and other musical acts to take the main stage in Denver May 29-31, 2026

From blizzard-ready tents to sleeping bags that can handle the coldest nights, this is the gear you can count on this season.

Don't hang up your boots for winter yet. Spend the fourth season LASH-ing your way through the most scenic parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials are opening the new Palo Pinto Mountains State Park on New Years day to a select few guests.

Winter sleeping bags aren't usually affordable—but right now, you can grab the reliable, durable Marmot Mad River 0 for a third off its list price.

The Norwegian brand says the rest of the industry gets moisture wicking all wrong.

The brand packed all its latest tech into a new Mini, but the upgrade might not be for everyone.

Darning is a sewing technique that uses just a needle and thread to repair small holes in fabric.

Can our senior editor recreate her freeze-dried noodle dish of choice on the cheap? Only one way to find out.

From hammocks to headlamps, now is the time to snag backpacking gear at budget prices.

There are a lot of great deals for hikers today, but at half-off, Big Agnes's "crazylight" Fly Creek HV 1 Carbon might be the best.

It's never too late to learn something new, especially when that something is how to enjoy a walk in the woods. Start with this advice from hikers who started in their 50s or later.

Score up to 50 percent off on everything from tents to trail shoes this Cyber Monday.

The standard holiday festivities are fine, but they're even better in the woods, in national parks, and in caves.

Short days got you down? Keep the hiking spirit alive with this Bingo game.

From flashy trail apparel to desert-ready hiking sandals, this is the gear that kept our editors moving this month.

The 32-year-old man told his children that the 9-mile trek was the ‘trip of a lifetime’ before ascending into foul weather.

No one collects more detritus than the gear editor. But where to put it all?

The hikers in your life definitely have these midlayers bookmarked for their wish lists. Here's why.

From a beginner-friendly backpack to a tent any ultralighter can appreciate, these are some of our best picks for shopping for a backpacker.

International visitors will pay significantly more to visit some popular national parks next year, while annual passes rise to $250 for non-US residents.

Will your next hike take you high? Practicing how you breathe—yes, you heard that right—could help you stay strong.

A tent that's not built for the conditions can turn your chill winter camping trip into a disaster. Here's why and how to figure out if your shelter is ready for the challenge.

Our all-time favorite four-season tents can handle anything you throw at em’.

Authorities said conservation officers were still looking for the animal and urged local residents to avoid the area where the attack occurred.

Amidst an active search for missing hiker and law professor Charles Hosch, law enforcement is requesting that hikers steer clear of Blood Mountain.

From gear to gadgets, these are the ten best gifts for the weight-weenie in your life.

Don’t put your climbing rope, hiking shoes, and mountain bike in storage just yet—Chattanooga is extending their seasons

The Marmot Guides Down Hooded Jacket puts the “puffy” in puffy jacket.

Check out Zoe Gates's author page.

Keep your favorite backpacker well fed, from cooksets to organic meals and portable seasoning shakers.

Madison "Peg Leg" Blagden battled injury and weather to become the first woman to complete a border-to-border Calendar Year Triple Crown.

No need to muscle through the fourth season anymore. These tips don't take much work and keep you feeling cozy all night long.

A small-but-mighty headlamp, portable water treatment, and more pocket-sized gifts for your favorite hiker.

Thaw out this winter on these easy, breezy coastal hikes.

Our top picks for trail life, including an annual national parks pass, ultralight pillow, and convenient filter system.

From a coffee upgrade to a perfect coat, these are our editors' personal picks for the best outdoor gifts of the season.

U.S. attorney says people caught with cannabis in national parks and other federal lands will once again face "rigorous" prosecution after DOJ rescinds policy of ignoring low-level offenses.

We break down the federal government's closure of Monument 102, the official southern end of the Arizona Trail.

Backpacker spoke with the director behind "The Lost Wolves of Yellowstone," a new documentary featured at Banff, to learn how the reintroduction of wolves over 30 years ago.

Give a well-tooled gift to the hardworking, hard-playing type

PassToPass is a nonprofit that provides llama-supported backpacking trips to those with Parkinson's Disease.

When firefighters reached the victim, they found he had been punctured by a 4-inch-wide, 15-foot-long tree branch.

Our top picks will help you sleep soundly, from frigid evenings in the Midwest to full on Alaskan expeditions.

My hot hydration take? This OG water bottle is still the best trail companion.

Just weeks after a hiker slipped and fell to their death on Mount Whitney, a pair of incidents led to three rescues on the peak this month.

These kicks have the insulation, waterproofing, and support to keep you on-trail through the cold season.

The Kelty Wireless 2 is a reliable tent for new or thrifty campers.

We tested dozens of pads in an effort to find the very best on the market, ideal for everything from mild winters to the world’s most extreme climates.

Two weeks after a hiker reported an abandoned tent with supplies and car keys inside on the northwest side of Mount Madison, authorities are still trying to determine what happened to the gear's owner.

After testing 28 down and synthetic options, these eight rose to the top of the ranks.

Why wait until you get to the trailhead? This deconstructed take on the new viral dessert comes together with just a backpacking stove, so you can sate your darkest culinary urges off in the woods where society can't see you.

The Arizona Trail Association says it expects the terminus's closure, which its executive director called "nothing less than desecration," to be permanent.

Between layoffs, funding cuts, and a government shutdown, it's harder than ever to be a national park ranger. Outside Articles Editor Fred Dreier talked to us about what he learned from investigating the national parks' current crisis.

Cherries flambé, mango sticky rice pudding, dark-'n-stormy s'mores: Enjoy these camp desserts now and apologize to your dentist later.

Enlightened Equipment is offering 20 percent off on its entire lineup through December 1, including its custom Revelation quilts.

Never split up on the trail. And if you do, never take all the gear with you.

The man told rescuers that he had been on the trail since the previous day.

Experience unique winter adventures in every region of the province

A least 13 people have been killed and more than 100 people have been attacked by bears in Japan since April.

Backpacking is for the people—and so are these dirt-cheap, delicious backcountry recipes that let you eat like a king without spending like one.

AT legend Dale "Greybeard" Sanders hopes to become the first person to thru-hike the trail in their tenth decade—and the man whose record he’s trying to break is along for the ride.

31 pairs hit the trail. These 9 stayed in regular rotation.

From the Pacific to the Andes to the Amazon, this South American gem offers a wealth of biodiversity and cultural experiences

Check out Adam Roy's author page.

A couples counselor explains why the trail can strain relationships—and how to keep it from happening to you.

We tested 25 sleeping bags. Only eight of them kept our trekkers toasty and dry all season.

A longtime backpacker hits the trail with the help of AI-powered motion assistance and wonders: Will these gadgets change hiking forever?

Reflections from our writer's recent dispatch to one of the most remote corners of North America.