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Backpacker editors go head to head on the most controversial of feminine hygiene accessories.

Some of our readers love trail singalongs. Some hate them with an unmatched passion.

Don't hike with the masses. Instead, find your own peace on the trail this summer with these tips and trips.

Our trails columnist has hiked thousands of miles. These are the routes at the top of his bucket list. Thrill yourself with a trip to an amazing trail this year.

Our writer has spent decades trekking toward the endangered. On these trips, he's seen firsthand what happens if a keystone species goes missing from its habitat.

As it turns out, bear social dynamics are complex. And it's the lady bears who are really in charge.

It’s pretty dang comfy to hike in, too.

A helmet built for late-season ski tours, a waterproof case built for early-season paddles, and a pair of hiking pants that's comfortable almost anywhere: This is the gear our editors rocked this month.

A cheap, thin pad is the ultimate multi-use accessory.

Heather "Anish" Anderson obliterated the previous record, hiking 800-miles in 24 days with no aid or resupply.

Spoiler alert: You're going to need a tampon.

Thirteen testers sampled 48 meals, snacks, and cooking implements. These five stayed in our packs.

Why this beautiful country belongs on your bucket list, according to a traveler who has been there 20 times

Blades come in all shapes and sizes. Here's how to pick the right one for your needs.

Barney "Scout" and Sandy "Frodo" Mann are veritable PCT legends. Now, they're passing the torch.

What's better than hiking? Hiking to BBQ. Celebrate summer with a hike-and-feast combo on one of these seven trails.

You might think those dried chili macs in your garage last forever. Not so fast.

Colorado wildlife experts weigh in on whether it's safe to vape in the backcountry.

If that first hike of the season had your legs crying for mercy, give these workouts a go.

Outside columnist Wes Siler put four identical New York strips to the test, using different cooking methods to determine the perfect way to grill a steak

Call it the bugpocalypse: Between now and the end of June, two different broods of cicadas will appear in the midwest from the first time since 1803. Here's how hikers can get a front-row seat.

These trips include gourmet food prepared each night, charity work, local expert advice, and more. You can't get that on your own.

Touch the sky and test your mettle on these hair-raising hikes.

This odiferous allium pops up annually in Appalachia throughout April and May and its allure is as palpable as its taste is polarizing.

A great trail is eternal. See if you can pick out some of America’s best hikes in these photos from the National Park Service’s archives.

In pursuit of the Triple Crown, many hikers save this high route through the Rocky Mountains and New Mexico desert for last. It’s not so scary—as long as you’re prepared.

From letting ticks make a meal out of you to slogging through deadfall, these pitfalls can derail your summer adventures.

Authorities believe Lucas Macaj, 23, took a "significant fall."

Kick off hiking season right by acing your Memorial Day camp BBQ.

Avoid decision fatigue with our top picks for one of the biggest gear events of the year.

Need a caffeine fix? This method beats brewing a cup of joe on the trail.

Mountain Equipment’s Katam handles abuse better than any six ounce layer we’ve ever met.

A hiker decided to leap the 5-foot gap from a clifftop to a hoodoo near Moab, Utah. It didn’t end well. 

The bills would have instructed the state to seek reimbursement when hikers needed rescue from a closed trail, but faced opposition from emergency personnel.

Here’s a little-known secret: the Cornhusker State is full of untapped adventure

Here’s why we still reach for the Outdoor Research Foray II hike after hike.

At less than an ounce, the BRS 3000T is definitely ultralight. But does it work?

The method, popular for relocating problem polar bears, could be used to airdrop grizzlies into wilderness areas across the Pacific Northwest.

This year’s lineup of electronic devices made the outdoors more accessible, comfortable, and bug-free for our testers.

A local expert shares her secrets on finding the state's best waterfalls—from easy walks to more adventurous tours deep in the mountains.

Starting this fall, backpackers will have to pay a new fee to hike California's popular Lost Coast Trail. For some, it will triple the cost.

Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear? Here's what our resident bruin would prefer.

Kindly trail angels often provide free food for thru-hikers. Who’s allowed to indulge?

Officials warn pet owners to remain vigilant after finding at least a dozen barbed treats. No dogs have been reported injured so far.

Choosing a low R-value sleeping pad doesn’t mean skimping on comfort.

We lost sleep over narrow, scratchy, crinkly pads so that you don’t have to

The highest road in North America is getting a major facelift—and it’s not going to be easy.

A common nuisance for hikers and backpackers, mosquitoes are moving to higher altitudes nationwide. 

San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments in California will now include land sacred to local Indigenous people, increase equitable outdoor access in Los Angeles, and protect habitat for endangered species

A California public lands dispute heats up as the property owners who once fought to protect the land now work to stall new trails.

You've probably seen a video of Nelson Holland on your Instagram or TikTok feed. Here's how he went from a New Yorker with little outdoors experience to a Colorado hiking fanatic.

Glen Van Peski’s new memoir dishes out life advice and takes readers behind the scenes at Gossamer Gear.

With its new Mountain Series, watch brand Luminox collaborated with Bear Grylls to create some of its toughest—and most powerful—timepieces yet

Acclimatizing to high altitude before a hike is rough, but you can make it easier on yourself.

With the right tools, making great meals at camp will feel just like cooking at home

When the days are long and the sun is high, these trail-worthy layers protect your skin so you can focus on the adventure ahead

Break trail (not the bank) at these budget-friendly life-list hiking destinations.

From a perfect set of running shorts to a grid fleece that can do, well, anything, this is the gear that helped us hit the trail this month.

Sandra Aguirre started hiking for her own sake and ended up helping others do the same. Now she wants to help you.

We hiked, ran, skied, and climbed in the dark to find the best head illumination of the year.

No camp stove? You can still whip up a hot meal with these tips.

While the JMT still isn’t open for the season, it now faces potential delays as trail maintainers and geologists work to clear it and assess its safety.

When Laura Van Antwerp stepped on a trail, she found a way to maintain the sobriety she had been fighting for. Now, through her organization Your Sober Pal, she's trying to bring that transformative outdoor experience to people who might not otherwise have had it.

For a handful of lucky students in Emory and Henry College's Semester-a-Trail program, the Appalachian Trail is the ultimate teacher.

Nine testers donned dozens of tops to find the best shirts, midlayers, and wind shells for hiking.

Eight testers ran, trekked, and squatted in dozens of products to find the best bottoms for hiking.

You won’t have as much solitude as you think, and there’s a reason everyone uses some of the same gear. But once you’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail, you’ll never be the same person you were when you started.

Nine testers donned 32 shirts, jackets, and hoodies for hiking. These five came out on top.

Local guidebook author Susan Joy Paul explores the best summit hikes in and around Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The country's northeast corner offers an impressive, diverse landscape that will challenge even the most experienced hikers.

For thru-hikers, there’s nothing better than stumbling upon refreshments partway through a long day. But do trail angels need to babysit their gifts?

Borders can be arbitrary political edicts or hard facts of geographical existence. Crossing them on foot opens a rare view into both sides.

Will the next generation of ultralighters be hiking with giant helium balloons clipped to their packs? The host of Failure Is an Option puts this technique to the test.

Mystery Ranch’s Radix carries serious cargo without a weight penalty.

Fire lookouts in Washington were built for their unparalleled views. These six are the best of the best.