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Our testers weathered alpine gusts, freak downpours, and rough granite slabs to find the very best softshells. Eight jackets rose to the top.

One of the most popular spots on the Appalachian Trail, Max Patch, is better off now than it has been in years.

A first-hand account of an alligator attack in Florida.

Do these exercises regularly to widen your range of motion to feel your best on the trail and avoid injuries.

Our soft-drink warriors both believe this sugary, caffeine-packed soda is the perfect refreshment after exercise or adventure. (Hmm. OK.) They disagree about flavors, and be warned: it might get loud.

With the summer high season wrapping up, a variety of national parks are lifting reservation requirements for a while.

As hikers, we spend a lot of time in nature. Impress your hiking partners with these answers to commonly asked questions.

The body does weird stuff on the trail. We rounded up the experts to answer our burning questions about hiker physiology.

Are women's sleeping bags really warmer than men's? How long can I keep a down sleeping bag stuffed before it's ruined?

You can't dry out alcohol (yet), but you can cut weight without cutting flavor by sticking all the other ingredients for this backcountry old-fashioned in a dehydrator.

A home dehydrator might be the handiest kitchen tool you never knew you needed. Upgrade your backcountry cooking with these drying (and rehydrating) tips.

Everyone has a Why. Our motivations are as varied as our backgrounds, and these passions are what powers adventures big and small.

The results, however hilarious, remind us how hikers destigmatize the body

You've learned the basics and know enough to keep yourself safe. Want to take the next step toward honing your backcountry skills? Maggie Slepian explains why hitting the trail alone is the way to do it.

Backcountry tech is more abundant than ever, but it can add up quickly in an ultralight kit.

For his 3-day, fastest known time-setting hike of the JMT, Jeff Garmire had one rule: bring as little as he could carry and still make it to the finish.

The company's founder has given away the business, placing ownership in a trust and vowing to spend an estimated $100 million a year to fight climate change

A firsthand account of a free-solo accident in the Sierra Nevada.

The next time you find yourself camping by a wild body of water, catch your own dinner with this packable fly fishing gear

Check out Christopher Tedeschi's author page.

Joe “Kanga” Harvey appears to have drowned in the Connecticut River on the border of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Is a hiking resume complete without a long-distance thru-hike?

Three days: That's how long it took endurance athlete Jeff Garmire to finish the John Muir Trail. But from health scares to falling asleep while hiking, it was anything but a casual stroll.

Each year, Big City Mountaineers changes thousands of kids’ lives by bringing them on their first outdoor adventures. You can make it happen for another.

On the "easy" climbs up Mexico's volcanoes, ignorance and arrogance can be deadly. A classic story from the Backpacker archives.

Heading into the wilderness with your hiker-in-training? This gear will make the trip as fun for you as it is for your little one.

The Ultra gets a titanium case, sapphire face, significantly better battery life, and better GPS and off-grid route-tracking features, making it a much more robust backcountry tool

Hikers pled guilty to reckless conduct following off-trail rescue in Franconia Notch.

People keep falling into outdoor latrines while rescuing lost phones. Our editors list the belongings they would fish out of an outdoor crapper—and which ones they’d leave behind.

Alcohol-free doesn't have to mean tasteless. These drinks satisfy your beer craving without the buzz.

After locals sighted a plume above the summit of Tahoma, the National Park Service rushed to reassure its social media followers.

For carrying weight while moving quickly in the mountains, the Slope Runner Exploration 18L is our new favorite vest-pack hybrid

Who knew the famous comfort, durability, and versatility of the Merrell Moab could be improved?

Keep your cool in the backcountry—no matter how high the mercury climbs—with these key lessons from one of the hottest places on Earth.

No reroute is currently available.

Volunteers hope a new bus to the McAfee Knob trailhead will cut down on congestion.

This sweet crumble pulls double duty.

Hikers around the globe can agree on one thing: Snacks are essential.

Lightweight gear has a reputation for fragility, but there are exceptions to the rule.

Let the crowds stampede the national parks—in the U.S., you’re never far from state lands that boast sublime beauty, natural seclusion, and endless adventure. These 14 just scratch the surface.

Backpacking by yourself unlocks a powerful wilderness experience. If you’re scared to solo, you’re on the right track.

Fanny packs, bear spray, and camp stoves: These are the products that helped us adventure over the past month.

I came for their looks. I stayed for their all-day comfort and all-terrain performance.

Thru-hiking is for everyone—but if you really want to build your life around the trail, some careers make it easier than others.

Feel like you couldn’t possibly bare skin in the shape you’re in? All the more reason to try.

Kayak to pocket beaches and Gulf islands in south Florida.

You know what's worse than not reaching the summit? Getting caught in a thunderstorm.

You don't have to spend hours and hours on the trail to get prepared for your next big hike. It's more efficient to train with a loaded pack.

Suit seeks return to reduced Trump-era boundaries.

By supporting service corps that are preserving our public lands, Carhartt is helping to protect parks and empower the next generation of park stewards

Don’t whack a golf ball off one either, or chuck a Frisbee, or do anything else that jeopardizes the safety of your fellow hikers

Maybe you don't want to carry a bear canister, or you're just naturally a quiet person. Either way, these trails are for you.

Rescuers found Jetal Agnihotri, 29, on fourth day of search.

When there’s nothing to write home about, you might be doing it right.

Everything you need to find a last-minute backpacking adventure before the leaves turn and the air turns frosty.

By some measures, Jenny Bruso’s advocacy for body inclusivity in the outdoors has been a wild success. But she says the fight has barely begun.

A disco ball, frozen lobster tails, a cat: We polled editors about the strangest gear they had ever packed for a trip.

From funding for conservation projects to mitigating wildfires, public lands win big.

Yes, Starbucks Via will do the trick. But is it the best way for gram-counters to get caffeinated?

Some backpackers are just dedicated soloists. But as our writer discovered on her first big group trip, sometimes there's magic to hitting the trail with some new friends.

Forget Zion and Canyonlands; this desert gem has something for every hiker among the hoodoos and bristlecone pines

While the park still doesn’t have an entrance fee, it’s going to get a little more expensive soon.

Want to hike without crowds? See jaw-dropping vistas without torching your quads? Check out these dayhikes and backpacks.

Hiker claimed self-defense; bear was roughly 100 feet away.

Next time you have to resupply your gear, make one of these swaps to reduce your waste and impact on the planet.

On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they’re not done yet

As someone who’s confronting his own age, I appreciate seeing an older guy hold it down. That’s why I’m cheering for 480 Otis this Fat Bear Week.

A group of researchers from University of California, Irvine investigated the link between SAR incidents, park visitation, and Twitter posts. Their conclusions could inform how hikers portray their own adventures—and view those of others—online

Bigfoot sightings continue to capture the imagination of monster-lovers everywhere. Despite being particularly unphotogenic, we've gathered ten of the best-known photos of the elusive simian.

Catch the Perseids with these smart skywatching tips.

Joe McConaughy sets a new Fastest Known Time on the 223-mile John Muir Trail.

After 1,706 miles, this is what PCT thru-hikers appreciate most.

A complete list of everything the new record holder carried and wore

On Sunday night, British hiker Josh Perry decimated the trail’s long-standing self-supported records after chasing Timothy Olson’s 2021 time

San Diego is more than great views of the Pacific. These trails will take you through canyons, alpine, waterfalls, and more.

In summer, or shoulder season for that matter, there’s not much better than a water-view hike or one that ends up at a beach for lounging and swimming.

Two men defaced the popular Moran Point overlook, and photographers caught them in the act

Despite their eponymous appearance, cow chips, a rich cookie, taste divine.

Park received 1.46 inches of rain, out of an annual average of 1.9 inches.

Wildfire season is getting longer and more intense. What does that mean for backpackers who have to breathe the smoke it generates?