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.
Yes, you can make your pack lighter even in winter. But if you want to stay safe, you’ll need to change the mindset you bring to your shakedown.
Our testers put everything from budget aluminum poles to the fanciest carbon we could find through the wringer. These are our favorites.
The MSR Access 3 can stand up to winter storms without requiring you to carry the weight of a mountaineering tent.
For too long, hikers have suffered under the yoke of trails that we have to do twice. I say: enough.
An ultralight cap, a sleep system upgrade for the colder months, and the best backpacking dessert we've had in a long, long time: Here's the gear that kept our editors happy on the trail this month.
A new job posting calls for volunteers and asks for 40 hours of work per week.
PCT permit day is coming. Are you prepared to snag your preferred permit?
We lost sleep over narrow, scratchy, crinkly pads so that you don’t have to.
The gear is plentiful. The organization less so. Get a glimpse inside Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy's garage gear loft.
After ascending the 14,505-foot peak, one hiker slipped and fell down the 99 Switchbacks.
Many hikers overpack water, a bad habit that translates to pounds of unnecessary weight. Experts explain how much you really need.
Navigating with a map and compass or GPS is the backbone of good navigation—but even without them, there are still methods to find your way in the wilderness.
Need to grab a bag for sub-zero nights? Marmot's Lithium is on sale now.
Our all-time favorite three-season tents can handle anything you throw at ‘em.
After walking for 293 days, Troy “Punisher” Croxdale touched the southern border of the Continental Divide Trail—his third long trail since the year began.
Don't settle for "good enough." Instead, find the campsite of your dreams by considering these factors.
Efforts to restore the American chestnut comprise "one of the most epic conservation stories ever told.”
It takes a lot to spook a hiker—but it's not impossible. From widowmakers to Appalachian Trail shelter rodents, these costumes are guaranteed to spark fear in any of our hearts.
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.