Gear Review: Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT Two-Person Tent
It's not often that the lightest shelter in our test is also the cheapest and biggest.
All Content
Gear Guide 2013: Three-Person Tents
Comfy for three (or spacious for two!), these three-person tents are backcountry ready.
Gear Guide: More Tester Tent Picks
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Review: NEMO Bugout 9X9 Tent
Bugout lets you congregate for blissfully insect-free meals and card games.
Gear Review: The North Face Kings Canyon 4 Tent
Few four-person tents best this blend of livability, low weight, and reasonable cost.
Gear Review: Snow Peak Lago 2 Tent
This versatile, two-person shelter handles high-altitude summers and winters with equal aplomb.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 3 Tent
If low weight is your prime tent priority, put this shelter at the top of your shopping list.
Gear Review: Bergans Compact Light 3-Person Tent
A tent that is ideal for regions that see plenty of rain and wintry weather year-round.
Gear Review: REI Half Dome 2-Person Tent
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Gear Review: Marmot Pulsar 2 Tent
A long drip line and spacious headroom let's you enjoy the inside, and the outside, no matter the elements.
Gear Review: GoLite Imogene UL 2 Tent
A low-weight, low-cost two-person, freestanding tent
Gear Review: Eureka! Midori 2-Person Tent
An affordable two-person tent that can handle real weather.
Gear Review: Big Agnes Slater UL2+ Tent
A 96-inch-long, two-person tents suits every height.
Gear Guide 2013: One-Person Tents
Lightweight, but sturdy tents for the solo camper.
Gear Review: The North Face Mica FL 1 Tent
Deluxe features and headroom for a relatively low weight.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear SuperMegaUL 1
A lightweight tent that doesn't skimp on weather protection.
Gear Review: Big Sky Soul Solo Tent
A freestanding tent that tarp lovers will love.
Gear Review: More Tester Picks for Packs
Check out these additional tester picks.
Gear Review: REI Crestrail 70 Multiday Pack
For big, big loads (think parents or mountaineering) this pack is ideal.
Gear Review: Gregory Contour 70 Multiday Pack
The more you pack, the better it will carry.
Make an Alcohol Stove
Learn how to create a lightweight, functional backcountry stove for less than a few dollars.
Gear Guide 2013 Table of Contents
412 trail-tested products
Merrell Sponsored Video
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Review: Osprey Xenith 75 Multiday Pack
Clever features, plentiful pockets, and easy-access side zips have earned this pack "best organization."
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Altra 65 Multiday Pack
Best all-around: this pack will melt into your body and accomodate any quick-access needs as it supports over 50 pounds.
Gear Review: Mountainsmith Lariat 65 Multiday Pack
Mountainsmith Lariat 65 is a big-load bargain pack that'll last.
Gear Review: Bergans Helium 55 Multiday Pack
Light weight and load-bearing: Try this clean-design, ultralight pack.
Gear Review: Kelty Fleet 55 Multiday Pack
Cure for back sweat takes the form of pack with the Kelty Fleet 55.
Gear Review: Granite Gear Leopard V.C. 46 Multiday Pack
This pack's balance and close-fit is made complete with it's most exhaustive compression system.
Gear Review: Exped Lightning 45 Multiday Pack
This pack will fine-tune fit, carry 50-pound loads, and ease the burden with its ultralight weight.
Gear Review: Deuter ACT Zero 50+15 Multiday Pack
With incredible load distribution, this pack's easy on the shoulders.
Gear Review: Boreas Sapa Trek Multiday Pack
This "best travel pack" can check as luggage, keep your electronics dry, and accomodate your travel needs.
Gear Review: Vaude Brenta 35 Daypack
Don't judge a pack by its price: this pack's a loaded bargain.
Gear Review: Columbia Silver Ridge 35L Daypack
Tough fabric, compact, and room to spare. What more could you want?
Gear Review: High Peak USA Alpinizmo Rapid 35 Daypack
Anywhere, any activity, this pack will carry your goods from bushwacking in Arizona to climbing Mt. Sneffels with an ice axe.
Gear Review: Outdoor Products Amphibian Weather Defense 20 Daypack
In constant downpour, the impermeable thermoplastic, PU-coated nylon material of this pack kept our tester's gear bone-dry.
Gear Review: Grivel Gamba 30 Daypack
Best-in-class air circulation keeps sweat off your back while maintaining stability, ideal for intense dayhikes.
Gear Review: Mammut Trion Light Daypack
This Mammut pack hugs your back for balance while maintaining freedom for movement, creating the ideal alpine pack.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Equipment Bolt 24 Daypack
Stability for heavy loads from a stiff nylon framesheet allow for minimal rubbing and improved balance with this "carry-anything workhorse" daypack.
Gear Review: Patagonia Black Hole Daypack
Durable, efficient, comfortable, surprisingly roomy, this pack survived 200 trail miles and 200,000 air miles and landed its spot as "best all-around."
2013 Year of the Reader: Meet the Winners
2013 is a yearlong celebration of BACKPACKER readers, with dream trips, gear makeovers, and other great prizes. Meet the lucky readers just like you who have already won this year.
America's Best Used Gear Stores
We tallied your votes: These are the country's top 10* gear stores. (And tips for getting the most bang for your buck when you visit.)
Save Money on Your Trailhead Drive
Are you blowing big bucks driving to your favorite hike? Use these gas-mileage-boosting tips so you can get to more trailheads for less money.
Make a Sleeping Bag Liner
Add 10-degrees of warmth to your sleeping bag with this simple DIY project.
The Truth About Bears: The Maps
Bears in the lower 48 have rebounded from decades of declining populations and shrinking habitat. Also improving: your chance of seeing a bruin in the wild. By Ted Alvarez
Special Report: The Truth About Bears
You love them. You fear them. And you misunderstand them. See more bears and learn about the surprising new thinking around hiker safety in this complete guide. By Ted Alvarez
Heroes: Bob Peoples, 68
This tireless trail angel is firing up a new generation of backcountry stewards.
2013 Reader Photo Contest – Your Best Shots
For 40 years, BACKPACKER readers have explored the wilderness and returned with photographic gold. But we were wowed by the entries for this contestmore than 650 of them. Check out these finalists (and this year's winner), then go to backpacker.com/photos to submit your own images. Well showcase the best entries in upcoming issues.
Local Hikes in the East — March 2013
Tromp through a Florida cypress swamp, find solitude on a Catskills peak, look for rare Carolina blooms, plus 9 more.
Local Hikes in the Central U.S. — March 2013
Snag a dozen great winter trips, including a texas Hill Country overnight, a Lake Superior snowshoe, and a hike to Apostle islands ice caves.
Local Hikes in the West — March 2013
Soak in a New Mexico hot spring, spot wintering bighorn sheep in the Winds, hike to a lost California oasis, and more.
Survival Lab: Eat Out
Need to find food in a crisis? Just foraging for fun? Learn to raid nature's pantry, which is full of easily harvested, highly nutritious meals.
Gear Guide 2013: Charts
Hundreds of pieces of outdoor gear from all the major outdoor retailers - now in an easy-to-print digital format.
Gear and Go Tour
In celebration of our readers, we have designed a second tour (in addition to our popular Get Out More Tour) that will launch in 2013, the GEAR and GO TOUR.
2013 Adventures Denver
Our second-annual Adventures Denver is a family friendly day of fun in the outdoors trying out new gear and activities...for free!
2013 Adventures NYC
On June 22, 2013 we'll help bring the outdoors to life with our popular Central Park adventure day!
Field Test: Tough Waterproof Cameras
These six cameras can take it all and still bring home your hero shots.
Gear Review: Merino Midlayers
Get year-round versatility for travel, trail, or town.
10 Steps to Raising Kids Who Love the Outdoors
You want your kiddos to enjoy the outdoors – camping, hiking, biking, etc. – as much as you do. Northwest editor Michael Lanzas has 10 tips on how to accomplish that – and have fun along the way.
Ghost Bears
Head into the Cascades to track elusivs grizzies.
Foraging 101
Learn to find food in the wild.
Trail Mix — East — March 2013
Your region's go-now guide: Visit a new hikers' hostel connected to 50 miles of trail in Maine's Bigelow Mountains, see the rare Oconee bell in South Carolina's Jocassee Gorges area, explore the world's longest mapped cave system near Louisville, and more.
Top 3: Better in Winter
What off season? Bundle up and reap the benefits of colder weather in these snowy playgrounds.
From the Field — East — March 2013
Our trail scouts' top local hikes, including fire tower views in New Jersey, a New York waterfall, and more.
Rip & Go: Florida Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
Traverse a primeval landscape of cypress swamp, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands.
Mountain Map: White Mountains, NH
The Granite State's crown jewel is an epicenter for alpine adventure, from peakbagging to ridgewalking to hut camping. Where to start? In the heart of the Whites, with beta from our map team. Trek across windswept plateaus, tag a handful of the range's 48 peaks above 4,000 feet, and get a taste of high-altitude tundra.
Trail Mix — Central — March 2013
Your region's go-now guide: Explore ice caves on Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, overnight in peace in northern Missouri, and more.
From the Field — Central — March 2013
Follow the footsteps of Wild West outlaws in Oklahoma, marvel at Gooseberry Fall's frozen cascades, search out arrowheads at Hot Springs National Park, and more.
Rip & Go: Lost Maples Loop, Lost Maples State Natural Area, TX
Warm up for hiking season with a mellow escape to a maze of limestone plateaus.
Trail Mix – West – March 2013
Your region's go-now spring guide: Scramble to Salado Indian cliff dwellings in Arizona, spot bighorn sheep in Wyoming, and more.
Vote For Your Favorite Reader Photo
Here's our top ten favorite pictures from this month's photo contest. Vote for your favorite to help us choose the winner. The winning photo will be published in Backpacker's May issue.
Gear Review: Helle Dokka Knife
You'll never have to buy another knife after the 3.3-inch triple-laminated Helle Dokka.
Gear Review: Big Agnes Seedhouse 3 Tent
A lightweight tent that can handle 30-mph windstorms...and kids.
Gear Review: The North Face Verbera Backpacker GTX
A burly boot that doesn't beat up your feet.
Gear Review: Patagonia Piton Hybrid Hoody
A versatile fleece midlayer that performs like outerwear.
Gear Review: Black Diamond EXL Backpack
A 20-liter pack that offers all-day comfort.
Gear Review: SmartWool PhD SmartLoft Divide Full Zip
A versatile jacket that's comfy in temps from 20 to 60.
February/March Table of Contents
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Review: Rab MeCo 250 Long Sleeve Zip Tee
An ultralight turtleneck that is 65 percent merino and 35 percent Cocona polyester.
Gear Review: Icebreaker Sierra/Cascade Long Sleeve Hood
A mideweight merino layer perfect for on or off the mountain.