Princeton Tec Byte Headlamp Review
One of our favorite headlamps ever.
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Out Alive: Mauled By A Grizzly
Mike Gersack (35) and his wife, Shawna Ridge (38), were attacked by a grizzly near Big Sky, Montana, on May 13, 2011.
Stay Safe In Bear Country
Here are some key skills every hiker should know before entering bear country.
Saved by a Space Blanket
You probably carry one of these already (right?). Now, make the most of it with these seven life-saving techniques.
Hang A Bear Bag In 5 Minutes…In The Dark
Can a food-hanging skeptic quickly secure her smellables from marauding bears—without going crazy in the process? Our scout set out into the night with a rope and stopwatch to find out.
10 Tips to Go Ultralight
Boost comfort and miles with these field-proven tips for carrying less.
White Pinnacle Peak, Nevada
This hike will tempt you to pack a parachute as sandstone peaks reach 1,500 feet above Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area's valley floor.
Flagstaff: Agassiz Peak
The forbidden fruit of Arizona, Coconino's Agassiz will mesmerize and tempt you.
West Coast Trail, British Columbia
Trace the seam between land and sea on Vancouver Island.
Diabolo Portage, Ontario
The Steel River Circle Route in Ontario, Canada, promises to be steep and rocky.
Baldpate Mountain, Maine
The Appalachian Trail in Maine will take your breath away, both as you climb 3,662 feet to the summit and then your 360-degree view.
Coastal Prairie Trail, Florida
Try your luck at finding solid ground—in order to see a Technicolor sunset and flocks of cormorants.
Cabeza Prieta Pass, Arizona
This desert gem is an explorer’s heaven.
Blacktail Buttes, Idaho
Visit Craters of the Moon to see this lava-tubed wonder under an azure sky.
Iron Mountain, California
Hiking this 8,007-foot peak will bring you peace and solitude, as well as breathtaking views.
Wrangell Plateau to Dixie Pass, Alaska
Navigate your own route through grizzly terrain in Elias National Park, all to access seldom-seen panoramas of the 16,000-foot Wrangell Mountains.
Hike Hard, Eat Well
From trail mix to trout, upgrade every meal with this guide to recipes, cooking skills, and nutrition.
Recipe: French Toast
Check out Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.
Hash Browns & Eggs
Check out Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.
Oatmeal – 3 different ways
Mix up your oatmeal for a savory and delicious twist.
10 Commandments of Backcountry Cooking
How to stay organizied and prepared for your backcountry cooking.
Cinnamon Cocoa Almonds
Almonds are a super backpacking snack and this cocoa-dusted recipe makes for a satisfying desert.
Quinoa Salad With Kale
This dish is packed with protein and vitamins A & C.
3 Types of Wraps
Fast and easy food for your hike.
Paleo Crunch
Paleo snacks pack a nutritional punch.
Anytime Trail Bars
Bars are an easy way to fuel your body.
Lemon-Herb Trout Over The Campfire
Cooking trout over a campfire is amazing with this great recipe.
Shelf Life for Common Backpacking Foods
How many day's before you food becomes a bio hazard while hiking?
Crispy Avocado Melt
This dish is salty and crunchy and full of anti inflammatory properties.
Delicious Tuna in 3 Different Ways
Tuna can be served in so many ways, check out these three amazing meals.
New Zealand's Routeburn Track is an Epic Made Easy
Who says you have to work hard for the best scenery? New Zealand’s great walks deliver life-list terrain with perks for beginners and experts alike.
2014 Editors' Choice Snow Awards
We took the cream of this year's gear crop to British Columbia and returned with the best of the best.
What’s your favorite summer tee?
For steamy hikes, I like ultrathin, stretchy fabrics that feel cool and breezy. Problem is, they often have durability issues...
Editors' Choice Snow: Nalgene 32 Ounce Ultralite Wide Mouth Bottle
For years, our staff has been kicking this bottle around because of its top-notch durability, safety, cost, and weight.
Editors' Choice Snow: Delorme inReach Explorer
Upload routes, plot waypoints, and communicate with friends in the field, at home, and on Facebook and Twitter with this next-gen, do-it-all device.
Editors' Choice Snow: JanSport Klamath 55, 65, 75 Backpack
No-compromise features with bargain price make this pack shine.
Editors' Choice Snow: Scarpa F1 Evo
An insta-change alpine touring boot that almost has a mind of its own.
No-Cook Sundae Banana Split
This super-easy, pudding-based treat just might ease your day-three ice cream craving.
Editors' Choice Snow: Dynafit Radical Speed Turn
A bargain all-terrain binding that doesn't skimp on quality.
Editors' Choice Snow: Wool Buff
The must-have accessory that does everything; it works as a neck gaiter, facemask, ponytail holder, balaclava, and more.
Marmot Tracks Cookies
This fun treat is no-bake, dead easy, and oh-so addictive.
Editors' Choice Snow: Black Diamond JetForce Technology Airbag
This battery-operated, fan-powered airbag system takes the hassle and uncertainty out of a piece of critical safety gear.
Editors' Choice Snow: Montbell Frost Line Parka
A bargain puffy with 800-fill goose down. Enough said.
Editors' Choice Snow: Jetboil Joule
The cold-weather canister stove that changes the game in backcountry cooking.
Editors' Choice Snow: Pat's Backcountry Beer
An apres-ski beer has always been just out of reach in the backcountry--until now, thanks to this packable, ultralight brew.
Editors' Choice Snow: TSL Symbioz Elite Snowshoes
A radical innovation in snowshoe design results in one of the best models we've ever seen.
Editors' Choice Snow: Hanwag Omega GTX Mountaineering Boot
A blister-free mountaineering boot for the masses.
Editors' Choice Snow: K2 Route Ultralight Helmet
The lightest, most inconspicuous snow sports helmet ever made.
High Sierra Ascender 40 Backpack
This 40-liter, panel-loading pack is only $80.
Rab Silwing Shelter
Ultra light Rab Silwing shelter is a great way for two to stay protected.
Leki TourStick Vario Carbon
Splurge a bit on these trekking poles that combine carbon and aluminum for incredible durability.
The Only Boots You Need
The perfect combination of protection, support, weight, and comfort.
Keen Marshall Mid WP Hiking Boot
The price-to-performance ratio is off the charts.
Ahnu Coburn Hiking Boot
Enjoy the best of both worlds: enough flex for a natural stride and the support for big-trip loads and terrain.
LOWA Innox Mid GTX Hiking Boot
This boot eats up big miles, no matter how heavy your pack.
Salomon X Ultra Mid GTX Hiking Boot
It breathes and flexes like a trail runner, but the rugged outsole is all boot.
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boot
A bargain-priced boot that doesn't settle.
Ecco BIOM Terrain Plus Hiking Boot
Bomber materials and construction shine in a technical, off-trail backpacking boot.
Hanwag Tatra GTX Custom Fit Hiking Boots
If your foot is extra wide or super skinny, or if you have a protruding bunion, this is the boot for you!
Nepal Blizzard Death Toll Rises to 39
Rescue workers continue efforts to locate missing locals, trekkers and climbers in the Himalayas.
7 Tough Sleeping Bags
Three-season bags that are warm, comfortable, and ready for abuse.
The North Face Cat’s Meow Sleeping Bag Review
A longtime staff favorite the Cat's Meow, from The North Face, receives a rugged facelift.
Big Agnes Encampment 15 Sleeping Bag Review
You can drag this burly bag around camp, using it for everything from a blanket for stargazing to a makeshift “sofa” by the fire.
Therm-a-Rest Saros 20 Sleeping Bag Review
It’s a solid synthetic bag at a great price, with a classic mummy cut that pleased everyone.
Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 Sleeping Bag Review
Thanks to its unique welded construction, it’s the most packable (15 by 7 inches) synthetic bag in the test.
Rab Ascent 500 Sleeping Bag Review
Through four months of nonstop use—often in miserably damp conditions—the Ascent lofted up like new every night.
Mountain Equipment Glacier 500 Sleeping Bag Review
It has the best warmth-to-weight ratio here; testers pushed it 10 degrees below its 23°F rating.
NEMO Strato Loft 25 Sleeping Bag Review
The rectangular shape, combined with a little stretch, makes this the most comfortable bag in the test.
Millinocket, ME: Debsconeag Loop
Cross the northeast’s wildest moose country beneath fall’s fiery canopy.
John Muir Trail Section 5: Onion Valley to Whitney Portal
Tag Mount Whitney, the Lower 48's highest peak, during this 42-mile trek into Sequoia National Park where there's more acreage of wilderness than you'll know what to do with.
John Muir Trail Section 4: Edison Lake to Onion Valley
In this 86-mile section, hike through Kings Canyon National Park into a series of JMT favorites.
John Muir Trail Section 3: Devil's Postpile to Edison Lake
Climb through a rejuvenating burn zone and a cinder cone-strewn hillside at the front end of this 32-mile stretch on the JMT
How to Assess a Developing Storm
Assess a developing storm on the fly with these steps from mountain meteorologist C. David Whiteman.
New Wilderness Board Game Appeals to Backpackers
Perfect for rainy days in the tent.
This Insanely Inspirational Time-Lapse Video Will Blow Your Mind
From Half Dome to Crater Lake, Shane Black's time-lapse video portraits will have you ready to hit the trail and camp under the stars.
Make a Salve With a Garden Weed
Weeds usually end up in the compost bin, but this one can be used a salve for bug bites and blisters.
Climb the Grand Teton with BACKPACKER editors
Enjoy an alpine adventure, raise money for a great cause, and score free gear.
Make Snow Traction With Bungee Cord
With just some bungee cord, some small steel chain, and a pair of needlenose pliers, you can build your own custom-fit traction devices for under $10.
Smith’s Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener
Keep your knives in top form, even on the trail with this pocket-sized sharpening tool.
Salewa Firetail EVO Mid GTX Hiking Boot
A versatile hiker that's light like a trail runner but stiff enough for bigger hikes.