Maps: How to Orient a Map to the Surrounding Terrain
Maps are invaluable for navigating unfamiliar terrain, but without this basic step, you might just be spinning in your tracks.
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2011 Be A Mapper Contest Official Rules
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Skip the Stove with These Trail-friendly Overnight Oat Recipes
Make your favorite breakfast staple either overnight or day-of with these cold-soak recipes.
Numb Limbs When Sleeping
What can I do to prevent getting numb hands and arms when I'm sleeping in the backcountry?
Ask A Bear: Scared By Flashing Lights?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
Editors' Choice 2011: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year
From a bargain ultralight tent to perfect-fit boots, here are 14 products that passed the ultimate field test.
Gear Review: Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX Boots
Want boots with maximum support and protection for minimum weight?
VOTE: Reader Photo Contest Finalists
You choose! Look through the slideshow and at the end cast your vote to help decide which one will be the winner for BACKPACKER's September 2011 issue.
Gear Review: Flip An Zip Zipper Repair Kit
This kit makes zipper repair a DIY project.
Gear Review: Yarns
You'll be the life of the campfire with a few tips from the pros.
Gear Review: XC navigation skills
Learn everything you need to know to get from point a. to point b.
Gear Review: Grease Monkey Wipes
A magic eraser for grease and grime.
Gear Review: Magellan iPhone ToughCase
A waterproof case that doesn't render your iPhone useless.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research Lateral Dry Bag
A dry bag that doubles as a duffel.
Gear Review: GoLite TraveLite 30'' Wheeled Duffel
An expedition-size wheeled duffle.
Gear Review: Polar Pure Water Disinfectant
An iodine treatment that doesn't taste like iodine.
Gear Review: MSR Dromlite Bag
A lightweight, six-liter bag.
Gear Review: Tech4o Data Center II Watch
A watch with all the whistles, but you don't have to wear it on your wrist.
Gear Review: Bandit Wine
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Review: Icebreaker Beast 150 Boxer Brief with Fly
A wool boxer brief for him (even if he hates wool).
Gear Review: Patagonia Switchback Bra
A sports bra with a very supportive wraparound design.
Gear Review: Stoic Merino Boy Boxer
A little bit of spandex helps these boy boxers (for her) stay in place.
Gear Review: Easton CTR-80 Trekking Poles
An all-carbon trekking pole that absorbs shock through the grip.
Gear Review: Davek Traveler Umbrella
A pricey umbrella that's worth every penny.
Gear Review: Portable Sounds Laboratories iMaingoX Speaker System
A handy little speaker system.
Gear Review: Eton Soulra iPod Dock
An iPod dock for the backcountry.
Gear Review: Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody
A long-sleeved shirt built for hot and sunny weather.
Gear Review: Dahlgren Backpacking Sock
Socks that stay plush through heavy miles.
Gear Review: Bridgedale X-Hale Light Hiker with NanoGLIDE Socks
Socks with friction protection in all the right places.
Gear Review: Darn Tough Vermont True-Seamless Socks
Socks that promise no blisters–and deliver.
Gear Review: Granite Gear Uberlight eVent Stuffsack
These Cuben Fiber stuffsacks are light and tough.
Gear Review: Brunton Restore Solar Charger
This bomber solar charger was the most durable of all the models we tested.
Gear Review: Energizer's Xpal SP2000 Power Pack
A hybrid battery and solar array.
Gear Review: Goal Zero's Nomad 7M Charger
Through the use of monocrystalline solar cells, Goal Zero created a super effective charger.
Gear Review: Helly Hansen Muru Short
Shorts that move but aren't baggy.
Gear Review: Balanzza Mini Scale
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Review: The North Face Leonidas Jacket
A stretchy, three-season jacket
Gear Review: GoLite Malpais Jacket
A ridiculously light shell that also blocks wind and rain.
Gear Review: Marmot Ether DriClime Jacket
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Guide 2011: Weekend Packs
These packs will comfortably hold all your Friday-Sunday needs.
Gear Review: Stoic Welder Lo Jacket
The perfect three-season jacket.
Gear Guide: Lowe Alpine Alpine Attack 45 Weekend Pack
This pack is thousand-foot glissades and crampon/ice axe friendly.
Spring-Fed Water
Is it safe to drink untreated ground water?
Gear Review: Granite Gear Nimbus Trace 62 Weekend Pack
A weekend pack that can handle overtime.
Gear Review: REI ecoSensitive Revelcloud Jacket
PrimaLoft, DWR-treated Pertex Quantum, and recycled polyester make this a warm and eco-friendly puffy jacket.
Gear Review: Montbell Alpine Light Down Parka
A hooded, 800-fill down puffy.
Gear Review: Jetboil Crunchit
Easily puncture and crush spent fuel cans with this handy tool.
Gear Review: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider Weekend Pack
If you travel light and fast, this is your weekend pack.
Gear Review: Gregory Baltoro 65 Weekend Pack
An updated version of a previous Editors' Choice Awards winner.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Cohesion Stretch Pant
Lightweight and durable shell pants.
Gear Review: Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow
A compact pillow that inflates to 12x15".
Gear Review: REI Passage 65 Weekend Pack
Just $149 can buy you a great pack.
Gear Review: Kuhl Renegade Pants
Styled like cotton pants, but built to work out.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Revival 65/Jubilee 65 Weekend Pack
If you're an organizer, this is the pack for you.
Gear Review: Loksak's OPSAK bag
These resealable, washable, and polyethylene bags protect food and toiletries from small critters.
Gear Review: Sky Tonight Star Charts
Chart your campsite's night sky with customizable maps.
Gear Review: Pre-packaged Dinners
You won't go hungry with these backcountry dinners.
Gear Review: Pre-packaged Lunches & Snacks
Easy-to-eat lunches and snacks that actually taste good.
Gear Review: Pre-packaged Breakfasts
Oatmeal, granola, and eggs–backcountry style.
Gear Review: America the Beautiful Annual Pass
If you plan to hit more than one national park in a year, consider this national parks pass.
Gear Review: Leki Aergon Photoadapter Kit
Turn your Leki trekking pole into a monopod for photo ops.
Gear Review: Hurraw! Lip Balm
Handmade from fair-trade ingredients, this lip balm has BACKPACKER editors raving.
Gear Review: Petzl Core Headlamp
A rechargeable and programmable headlamp.
Gear Review: Primus PrimeTorch 1010
A 140-lumen beam in a lipstick-size flashlight.
Gear Review: Coghlan's Cooler Light
A light for your cooler–perfect for car camping.
Gear Review: Pelican HeadsUP Lite 2690 LED Headlamp
An easy-to-use headlamp (even with gloves on).
Gear Review: GSI Crossover Kitchen Set
Everything you need to cook up a feast in the backcountry.
Gear Review: MSR Alpinist 2 Cookpot
A 2.4-liter hard anodized aluminum cookpot.
Gear Review: Jetboil Sumo Cookpot
A 1.8-liter aluminum cookpot.
Gear Review: Soto Muka Stove
A white gas stove that doesn't require priming.
Gear Review: Lorpen Kids Light Hikers
Merino/synthetic socks that will make kids' feet happy.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Hurricane Accelerator Shell
A hooded, seam-taped, DWR-treated rain jacket for kids.
Gear Review: REI's Tarn 18 Pack
A kid-size mileage logging pack.
Gear Review: Patagonia Kid's Capilene 3 Midweight Crew Baselayer
For outdoor kids, a baselayer that will keep them dry and warm.
Gear Review: Baladeo 22G Knife
A full-size, three-inch blade that's sharp and light.
Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits Core Lite Knife
A knife, whistle, and light in one.
Gear Review: Callpod Fueltank DUO Rechargeable Battery Pack
A rechargeable, lithium-ion battery pack for all your gadgets.
Gear Review: RoadID's Wrist ID Sport
A bracelet with all your vital information in case of emergency.
Gear Review: Rab Aeon Print T-shirt
A polyester performance t-shirt that's worth every penny–and we're giving away four! Read on to win!
Editors' Choice 2011: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 Tent
A family-size tent that weighs as much as some two-person shelters.