High Sierra Sport Company Hawk 45
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High Sierra Sport Company Hawk 40
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High Sierra Sport Company Lightning 35
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High Sierra Sport Company Lightning 30
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Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove
An integrated burner, pot, and heat exchanger sized for solo hikers.
Vargo Decagon Stove
An integrated burner, pot, and heat exchanger sized for solo hikers.
Vargo Triad XE Stove
An integrated burner, pot, and heat exchanger sized for solo hikers.
Vargo Triad Stove
An integrated burner, pot, and heat exchanger sized for solo hikers.
Helly Hansen Rapide Mid HTXP Leather
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Crazy Creek Products Air Chair Plus
Features abound in this three-season sleeping pad from REI.
Crazy Creek Products HEX 2.0 PowerLounger
Features abound in this three-season sleeping pad from REI.
Crazy Creek Products Crazy B.A. Tarp Lite
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Crazy Creek Products Crazy Crib LEX w/ Tarp
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Crazy Creek Products Crazy Standard Tarp
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Helly Hansen Odin Foil Jacket
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Helly Hansen Odin Light Softshell
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Helly Hansen Odin Superstretch Jacket
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Helly Hansen Odin Guiding Light Jacket
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Helly Hansen Odin Traverse Jacket
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Helly Hansen Odin Fastpack
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Lawson Hammock Company Blue Ridge Camping Hammock
The perennial BACKPACKER favorite gets an upgrade with better ventilation.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Brenna Fisch
A profile of Brenna Fisch, who fell and broke her skull while hiking.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Danelle Ballengee
A profile of Danelle Ballengee, who fell 60 feet off a cliff while trail-running, which shattered her pelvis.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Melissa McQueen
A profile of Melissa McQueen, who was trapped overnight on a fourteener and lost eight toes from frostbite.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Justin Harris
A profile of Justin Harris, who broke his leg and survived two days after a fall while canyoneering in Utah.
How to Use Bear Spray
How to responsibly store, equip, release, and dispose of bear spray.
How-To: Use Your Pants as a Flotation Device
How to improvise a flotation device using your pants.
Choosing a Safe Campsite: Considering Trees
How to decide if a campsite is safe from deadfall and "widow makers."
Which Fuel Bottles Go with Which Camp Stoves?
I am getting ready to buy a lightweight canister stove. Is there a guide for which stoves use which fuel bottles?
Stay Safe in a Lightning Storm
What to do in the event of a sudden lightning storm.
Track the Sun to Find North
If you suspect you're off-track use the sun to help orient you and determine which direction is true north.
How-to: Fix a Cut in Leather Hiking Boots
One of my leather hiking boots has a cut across the toe box. It is not deep, but it is enough to cause tearing in the leather. Is there a way to close this cut?
Meet Survival Expert Creek Stewart
Learn to use standard household items to survive with these pro tips from Stewart.
Weather Anecdotes: Explained
Mnemonics make it easy to remember weather sayings and make weather predictions, but is there any truth behind the prediction rhymes?
Heroes: Ken Phillips, 53
A savior to injured hikers, he's training the next wave of backcountry medics.
Die Another Day
You won't get far in the backcountry without pushing through challenging conditions and terrain. But perseverance can be your worst enemy, and turning around the only way to succeed. Mark Jenkins explores the fine line between daring and doom.
Profiles In (Dis)Courage: Melissa McQueen
Broken, but not beaten, four backcountry travelers tap unexpected reserves to overcome horrific injuries.
Profiles In (Dis)Courage: Danelle Ballengee
Broken, but not beaten, four backcountry travelers tap unexpected reserves to overcome horrific injuries.
Profiles In (Dis)Courage: Justin Harris
Broken, but not beaten, four backcountry travelers tap unexpected reserves to overcome horrific injuries.
Profiles In (Dis)Courage: Brenna Fisch
Broken, but not beaten, four backcountry travelers tap unexpected reserves to overcome horrific injuries.
Survival Bootcamp
At the military's top-secret survival school, Air Force crews learn how to escape their worst-case scenario — shot down behind enemy lines. With the highest level of access ever granted to a journalist, our scout learns how to escape when Mother Nature is only one of your worries.
Worst Nightmare: Cold
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Worst Nightmare: Breathless
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Worst Nightmare: Blindsided
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Worst Nightmare: Man Down
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Worst Nightmare: Entwined
A hair-raising tale of wilderness terror that will haunt your backcountry dreams
Bear Grylls: Master of Disaster
Q&A with Guest Editor Bear Grylls
Trail Mix: East
Your region's go-now guide
From the Field: East
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
From the Field: Central
Our trail scouts' top local hikes
Rip & Go: Southern Harriman Loop, Harriman State Park, NY
Escape into wild forest just a short train ride from Manhattan.
Rip & Go: Backpack Trail, Yellow River State Forest, IA
Climb to bluff-top views of hardwood forest and rolling farmland.
How Do I Carry a Bear Vault on My Pack
I have an Osprey Ariel 55 backpack and am going on a trip that requires hard side bear vaults. Will I be able to get everything including the BV in my pack, and if so, how do I carry the BV?
Meet the Gear Testers: Steve Howe
If you're looking for experience in the outdoors, Steve Howe is your man.
Knot Tying: Learn the Sledge Knot
Use this knot to tie logs together when making a raft.
Meet the Gear Testers: Kelly Bastone
Tester Kelly has tough standards, and it takes a lot to convince her that something new can replace what she already has.
BACKPACKER'S Year of the Reader Contests
We're gearing up for some massive giveaways in 2013 to celebrate BACKPACKER's 40th anniversary.
2012 Be A Mapper Contest Official Rules
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OK to Ignore "Dry Clean Only"?
I have a down parka that says "dry clean only". Do you think it would be fine to wash it as I do my down sleeping bag?
Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Recap Day 4
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Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Recap Day 3
On the third day of the 2012 Summer Outdoor Retailer show, our reader reporter team found some great boots and essentials for under $20.
Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Recap Day 1
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Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Wrap Up
Our 4-person team of Reader Reporters brought in a fresh perspective this year at the Summer 2012 Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. See their reviews on the latest and greatest gear.
Outdoor Retailer Summer 2012 Recap Day 2
On day two of the Summer 2012 Outdoor Retailer show, our reader test team tackled ultralight, three-season hiking, and breathability.
Cheesy S'mores Are the Campfire Snack You Never Knew You Wanted
Don't click away yet: Cheese and chocolate make for a delicious and well-rounded taste combination.
How to Make a Cheese Wax Candle
Turn one amazing trail snack into a lifesaving firestarter.
Cookstove Safety
Avoid the most common backcountry first-aid mishap--hot water burns. Use these stove safety techniques to reduce your backcountry burn risk.
Trim Your Pack to Save Weight
How can you cut weight? Learn how to, literally, shave ounces or even pounds from your pack.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Final Picks
Our Reader Reporter gravitated to the products she most looks forward to coveting in the coming year and selling in her job as an REI employee. See her picks for food, drinks, kids' packs, zipperless tents, and more.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Meeting New Brands
On his final day at the show, our Reader Reporter Gerben got introduced to some new brands, and put together his money-is-no-object hit list of favorite gear.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Core Gear Wish List
Set loose on the floor today, our Reader Reporter assembled his list of dream items he'd love to have in his kit. See his top picks for tent, pad, bag, pack, and other key essentials.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: These are a Few of Our Favorite Things
Our Reader Reporter Erica takes one last tour to gather a wish list of her favorite items at the 2012 Summer Market.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Foot Fetish
Our Reader Reporter was on the hunt for midweight hikers, minimalist shoes, and trail runners.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Triple Challenge
Today our Reader Reporter Lisa went hunting for items that not only cost less than $20, but were eco-friendly and made in the USA. She pulled in a surprisingly large haul of accessories, including water bottles, headbands, lights, and a new backcountry toilet system.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Essentials Under $20
Our bargain-hunting Reader Reporter found high-quality accessories for less than a Jackson.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Boot Bonanza
Our Reader Reporter's mission for the day: find the best new mountaineering boots, sandals, and low-cut hikers.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Mission Ultralight
Our Reader Reporter scouted the floor for the lightest tents, packs, sleeping bags, and accessories.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Light and Long-lasting
Our Reader Report looks to balance light weight with affordability and durability with his report from the first day on the show floor.
Outdoor Retailer Roundup: Hot, Sweaty and Smelly No Longer
This northeast native Reader Reporter searches for the best in three-season hiking warm and outer layers.