Yosemite Bans Drones
UAVs are no longer welcome in the park.
All Content
How Good Are Bears at Rock Climbing?
Pretty good.
Eureka! Silver City 30 Sleeping Bag
A $90 bag that is worth so much more.
Sierra Designs Mobile Mummy 2-season
A liveable mummy.
NEMO Tango Duo Slim 30 Sleeping Bag Review
This cuddly, 700-fill DownTek sack for two actually packs to a reasonable size.
X Marks the Spot
A hidden box of treasure. A cryptic poem from a wealthy Santa Fe art dealer. Four states’ worth of Rocky Mountain wilderness. Our reporter joins the hunt.
No Permit? No Problem
Bless the planners of the world, with their tight itineraries and advance reservations. This story is not for them. Here are your go-to, last-minute getaways.
Mountain Hardwear Ratio 32 Sleeping Bag Review
This down bag deftly handled both near-freezing and humid, sweltering nights, making it the pick of campers seeking affordable versatility.
Therm-a-Rest Auriga Blanket Sleeping Bag Review
An ultralight bag for mummy-haters.
Rab Neutrino Endurance 200 Sleeping Bag Review
A light, compressible, warm, and water-resistant summer sleeping bag.
Snakes On A Trail
Close encounters of the serpentine kind from BACKPACKER Forum users
Gear Review: Oakley Airbrake Snow Goggles
Oakley’s Switchlock Technology makes swapping lenses a cinch–even while wearing gloves.
Salomon Tour Jacket
This fully water-proof, breathable hardshell skips the bells and whistles and straight-up performs.
Tarptent Scarp 1
At 2 pounds, 15 ounces, this ultralight tent impressed.
Arrest Made in Redwood Poaching Investigation
The suspect is charged with carving burls out of the iconic old-growth trees.
4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Rumbles Through Yellowstone
It's Yellowstone National Park's largest quake since 1980.
Readers' Best Wildflower Shots
<p class="sub_header">You sent us your best flower shots from Switzerland to California. Here are the ones that really blew us away.</p>
Epic Mud #Fail
A (hilarious) cautionary tale for us all.
Gear Review: The North Face Banchee
This multiday pack is perfect for type As who love organization, ventilation, and maximum adjustability.
Gear Review: REI Dash 2 Tent
A two-person shelter that's perfect for couples who want a superlight tent with freestanding, two-door performance.
Survival Lab: Make a Snow Anchor
Think a Snickers bar can hold your weight? Our man puts desperate-times deaden to the test.
Gear Review: Patagonia Rock Craft Pants
"The best pants I've worn in two decades," says our tester. Here's why.
Smith Pivlock Approach Sunglasses
Our testers loved the performance of these next-gen interchangables.
Smith Pivlock Approach Sunglasses
Our testers loved the performance of these next-gen interchangables.
Gear Review: Solo Stove Titan
This wood burning stove that makes cooking a joy.
Survive With… a Soda Can
A tossed soda or beer can is never a pretty sight in the wild -- but it could be your ticket to a much-needed meal if you find yourself stranded near a body of water. With some floss (or scavenged line), even a child can assemble a simple, usable fishing
Sea to Summit Escapist Tarp Review
Reinforced guyout points deliver above-average durability, and an optional mesh net enhances protection in buggy areas.
MSR Hubba NX Tent Review
Solo hikers get a near-perfect balance between livability and weight savings.
Easton Mountain Products Kilo Carbon 2P Tent Review
This freestanding, double-walled featherweight pitches fast, packs tiny, and withstands the worst three-season storms.
Editors' Choice 2014: Kelty TN 2
Starlight meets lightweight in this view-friendly tent.
REI Dash 2 Tent Review
It’s the perfect shelter for couples who want a superlight tent with traditional freestanding, two-door performance.
Editors' Choice 2014: Mountain Hardwear Optic 2.5
Enjoy the best of indoor/outdoor living.
Sierra Designs Flashlight 2 UL Tent Review
An unconventional design delivers comfort and protection for even the tallest campers—with no weight penalty.
Outdoor Research Helium Bivy
This shelter disappears in your pack—like any good bivy—but tent-like upgrades make it way more livable than most.
Big Agnes Super Scout UL2 Tent Review
This non-freestanding shelter blends the best features of tents and tarps, offering bug protection and a ballroom-size vestibule for about a pound per person.
Mountain Hardwear Tangent 2 Tent Review
Alpine storms can’t shake this four-season shelter. It’s no ultralight, but the strength-to-weight ratio is hard to beat.
Big Agnes Slater UL3+ Tent Review
Amazing features for the weight: Even tall folks can stretch out in this 96-inch-long dome (the longest in our test), and the giant vestibule offers welcome shelter in prolonged storms.
Norway’s Lofoten Islands
Head above the Arctic Circle for non-stop adventure.
Marmot Stormlight 3 Tent Review
It’s strong enough to handle wintry conditions, but light enough to carry all year.
Brooks-Range Tension 40 Tent Review
It’s one of the lightest three-person tents we've used, yet it has two doors and headroom.
REI Quarter Dome 3 Tent Review
This three-season dome saves weight and money.
The North Face Talus 4 Tent Review
This freestanding shelter fits a whole family—on a family budget. But space is best for parents with young kids, not teens.
Ticla Refugio Tarp Review
As luxurious as a portable shade tree and open to welcome breezes, it offers cool refuge for four in hot conditions.
Exped Tarp II Review
An easy-to-pitch tarp
Patagonia Ascensionist 45 Daypack Review
It’s light, low-profile, and “perfect in that there’s nothing left to take away,” according to one tester.
Mammut Neon Crag 28 Backpack Review
This retro-looking rucksack sports a single, roomy packbag that can easily compress low-volume loads. It’s well-suited for dayhikes, sessions at the crag, or anyone who’s tough on gear.
CamelBak Arete 18 Hydration Pack Review
Use this streamlined chameleon as a stand-alone hydration daypack (it comes with a 2-liter reservoir) or slip it into the sleeve of your big pack and use it for day jaunts or summit sprints from basecamp.
Arc'teryx Alpha FL 30 Daypack Review
Ultralight, waterproof, and comfortable—the top-loading Alpha FL 30 hits a rare trifecta. Plus, its shape provides unmatched mobility.
Kelty TraiLogic PK 50 Multiday Review
It’s ideal for newbies who need some packing guidance and type As who like to have a precise spot for every little thing.
Fjällraven Friluft 55 Multiday Pack Review
A breathable, stable trampoline-style multiday pack.
Marmot Apollo 60 Multiday Backpack Review
This top-loader is big-load friendly, built like a tank, and has great access.
Mystery Ranch Terraplane Multiday Backpack Review
This 85-liter behemoth manages the heaviest loads.
REI Flash 58 Multiday Pack Review
The Flash has been a perennial favorite for its low weight and price, and female testers raved about its new women’s suspension system.
Millet UBIC Multiday Pack Review
This burly, big-volume, well-organized pack boasts a unique system of exterior straps that lend it year-round performance—without adding a lot of weight.
Bergans Rondane 65 L Multiday Backpack Review
It’s as light as some daypacks, but the Rondane has the muscle to carry weeklong loads.
Gregory Z 65/J 63 Multiday Pack Review
The Z nails the tester wish list: ventilated trampoline suspension with a super-stable carry; low weight for the capacity; and smart, uncluttered organization.
Mountain Hardwear South Col 70 OutDry
The South Col proved ideal for mountaineers: comfortable and stable mile after mile with loads up to 60 pounds.
Editors' Choice Snow Awards 2013
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Pro: Outfit Yourself for a Day Hike
Everything you need for a typical spring day hike.
Make a Duct-Tape-Beer-Can Visor
Nice job. You’ve forgotten your sunglasses and your hat. Lucky you thought ahead and brought duct tape and beer. Here’s how to put them to use keeping the sun out of your eyes.
Into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Located in northeaster Alaska, ANWR is the largest wildlife refuge in North America with over 19 million acres. Photographer Chuck Graham explored the beauty of the refuge during a two-week, 160-mile excursion<b>. </b>Here, he shares his photos of the landscape, rivers, and wildlife.
Survive With…Plastic Shopping Bags
Everyone has a pile of plastic shopping bags overflowing out of a kitchen drawer or pantry just taking up space. So, make a survival tool out of ‘em – specifically, a strong, durable waterproof rope, which you can braid without any tools. All you need is as many plastic bags as you can get your hands on and a pair of scissors.
Treasure Island: Canada's Haida Gwaii
See exclusive photos of our man's trip to this exotic island off the coast of Canada.
Gear Pro: British Columbia Gear Testing
An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a BACKPACKER gear testing trip.
How to Plan Food for a Week
Avoid these common mistakes, and you'll impress your friends with plenty of tasty, easy-prep meals.
How to Choose Climbing Shoes
Understand the three main performance categories.
10 Ways to Use Duct Tape
Never hit the trail without this sticky wonder.
10 Ways to Use Seam Grip
Use this versatile goo for fixes, upgrades, and more.
10 Ways to Use a Tampon
Put one in your survival kit. Here's why.
10 Ways to Use a Condom in the Backcountry
Throw a couple in your survival kit. Here's why.
10 Ways to Use a Bandanna
It's the most versatile piece of fabric you own. Here's why.
How to Plan a Weekend Menu
Learn how to pack, plan, and feed your crew for a weekend with this handy guide.
Editors' Choice 2014: Leatherman Juice S2
Pack this do-it-all tool on every trip.
Editors' Choice 2014: Western Mountaineering Alpinite Sleeping Bag
Impeccable craftsmanship and top-shelf materials make this bag a perennial favorite.
Editors' Choice 2014: Halfpops
Sorry trail mix, our snack bag is full.
Editors' Choice 2014: Mountain Hardwear Optic 2.5
Enjoy the best of indoor/outdoor living.
Editors' Choice 2014: Big Agnes Double Z Sleeping Pad
Snooze sounds on the most plush backcountry sleeping pad we've ever seen.
Editors' Choice 2014: GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition
Shoot with the most versatile POV camera on the market.
Editors' Choice 2014: Montbell Down Hugger 900 #2
Innovative sewing techniques deliver a whole new level of ultralight comfort.
Editors' Choice 2014: Marmot Essence Shell
There's always room to pack this featherweight, bombproof shell.