SOLE Signs On As Title Sponsor of Baja Travesia Adventure Race
SOLE, makers of performance custom footbeds, socks and sandals, has inked a deal to be the title sponsor of the third annual Baja Travesia Adventure Race.
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How to Sleep Soundly In a Sleeping Bag
On your next camping trip, be sure to heed these 10 tips for sleeping like a log
How to Store and Clean a Sleeping Bag
Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling, including storing, washing/drying, and special considerations.
Sleeping Bag Terminology
Impress your friends–and understand any salesperson–by learning all sorts of sleeping bag lingo.
Become a Savvy Sleeping Bag Shopper
Five questions to ask yourself before you buy a sleeping bag
Learn to Patch a Sleeping Pad
Editor in Chief Jon Dorn teaches you how to fix a ripped sleeping pad in this skills video.
Swelling Hands
My wife's hands swell when she hikes. Is she in danger?
3 Ways to See Mexico's Pacific Coast
Secluded coastline and bikable rain forests are just two things waiting for you in Mexico
Pick the Perfect Pack: Measure Your Torso Length
One of the most critical pieces to finding the ideal backpack is your torso length. Backpacker Gear editor Kristin Hostetter shows you how to get started.
Calculate Your V02 Max
Learn to calculate this essential fitness metric.
Pack Fitting 101: Size and Buy the Perfect Backpack
Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter drops some knowledge on how to find, fit, and buy your perfect backpack.
Wash Your Sleeping Bag Correctly
It's not as easy as it sounds. Jon Dorn shows you how to wash your sleeping bag correctly to make it last as long as possible.
Find the Perfect Sleeping Bag
Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter breaks down the basics of sizing the right bag.
Climbing Longs Peak
Join the Backpacker staff as they bag Longs Peak in this exclusive on-the-scene video.
Clean Your Hydration Unit
Jon Dorn shows you how to clean and store your hydration unit after a long day on the trail.
2007 Editors' Choice Award Winners: MSR Reactor and Primus EtaPower Camp Stoves
Backpacker Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter breaks down two of the best camp stoves of 2007 on the trail.
The Backpacker Smackdown: Testing the CamelBak
Backpacker associate editor Shannon Davis puts the CamelBak hydration system through the wringer... Shannon Davis puts the CamelBak hydration system through the wringer...
Smash Your Fitness Barriers With Heart-Rate Training
Become a better hiker. Build speed, endurance, and strength all through heart-rate training.
Does Altitude Impact Alcohol Stoves?
How good are the alcohol stoves at high elevations and/or any elevation?
Seam Seal
What's the best way to re-attach seam seal tape that is pulling away from waterproof fabric items such as a waterproof stuff sack or tent fly?
Down vs. Synthetic
Down versus synthetic sleeping bags: What's the deal?
Purify Water
Can I safely purify water inside my CamelBak hydration reservoir?
Hypothermia Risks
Do high-blood pressure medications increase my risk of hypothermia while hiking in negative-40°F weather?
Shin Splints
How can I prevent shin splints when I hike downhill?
Are Survival Blankets Safe to Use in Lightning Storms?
Are survival blankets dangerous to use during electrical storms?
Knee Relief
What can I do to recover an old injury that swells after a long day of hiking?
Heat & Hiking
What should I eat during hikes on hot days?
Dinner Camping Recipes
Restaurant-quality dining on the trail. Choose from Mushroom and Tomato Orzo with Pesto or Chicken Posole Wraps for your next campfire dinner.
Breakfast Camping Recipes
Spice up your oatmeal with lemony blueberry sauce. Or go for camp-side blueberry pancakes--topped by more blueberry sauce.
Appetizer Camping Recipes
Unwind after a long hike chilé fondue, French bread bruchetta, or an Asian peanut dip
Week-Long Backpacking Menu
Avoid the Pop-Tart rut with Backpacker's seven-day, two-person shopping and menu list.
Weekend Menu: Vegetarian
Eat for energy minus the meat with this three-day, two-person meal plan.
Weekend Menu: Campsite Gourmet
From cashew-ginger chicken to fruited scones, tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for the trail and the campsite.
Day Hike Menu: Ultralight
What to eat when you're one person spending one day on the trail and looking to travel light
Backpacking 101
Trip-planning tips, gear lists, safety advice, and other essential wisdom every hiker ought to know.
Build It: Homemade First Aid Kit
There are plenty of pre-packaged first aid kits out there but, here are some good ingredients that should go in most kits for most types of hikes. Keep in mind that the longer the hike, or the larger the group, the more safety gear you should bring.
Ask the Experts: Gear and Survival Advice
Our pros Kristin Hostetter and Buck Tilton get you ready for the trails ahead.
Green Gear Report Card 2008
The first industry-wide survey about which gear manufacturers are positively impacting the environment
How Climate Change is Affecting Our Alpine Environments
Thanks to melting ice and snow, climate change is effecting the future of our mountains
Three-Season Gear Checklist
Get trail-ready for Spring, Summer, and Fall with our comprehensive three-season gear checklist.
Swamp Gear Packing Checklist
Ready to get wet and wild? This packing list will prepare you for any swamp trek.
Snow/Winter Gear Packing Checklist
Get ready for winter with this comprehensive packing list.
Snowshoeing Gear Checklist
Be prepared for the snowshoe trails with this packing list.
Ski Touring Gear Checklist
There's more to ski touring than that skis. We've got you covered with all the necessary essentials, from poles to expedition-weight base layers.
Rainforest Gear Checklist
Gear up for potentially sweltering heat and downpours with this gear selection.
Mountaineering Gear Checklist
Mount Everest? Rainier? Before you go, tick off each of these items for your expedition.
Hot Desert Gear Checklist
From New Mexico to the Sahara, this gear checklist will have to prepped for any desert adventure.
High Mountain Gear Checklist
Changing your altitude? From crampons to ice axes, gear up here.
Canoeing and Paddling Gear Checklist
Getting ready for whitewater or maybe just a relaxing paddle down a remote river? We've got you covered.
Dayhiking Gear Checklist
Ready your gear quiver for a for a full day outing.
Sleeping Pad Shopping Guide
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Raingear Shopping Guide
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
GPS Shopping Guide
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Camp Stove Shopping Guide
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Gear Checklists and Shopping Guides
Make sure you don't forget a thing with our comprehensive gear checklists for pretty much any trip occasion. Plus, learn how to pick the perfect piece of gear.
Ultralight Gear Checklist
Strip off the pounds with our ultralight checklist and hit the trail light as a feather.
Green Guide Exclusive Online Materials
Information on 19 more "green" companies and an interview with Big Agnes's Bill Gamber
National Park Permit Center Information
Need trip-planning beta for your National Park adventure? See our comprehensive list of National Park phone numbers, websites, and drilled down details here. You’ll be ready to hit the trail in no time.
Make Your Gear Last Forever
Backpacker's Ultimate Fix-It Guide
Keep Your Feet Dry With Gaiters
Choose the right type of gaiter for your trip.
Ramps 'n' Grits
Add garlicky zing to classic southern Appalachian grits.
Down East Blueberry Pancakes
Maine's celebrated wild blueberries demand real New England maple syrup.
Recipe: Salmon-Studded Spaghetti
Go Italian—with a Pacific Northwest twist—by serving this seafood pasta.
Chicken Posole Wraps
Limed corn is the secret to this classic New Mexican comfort food. Flour tortillas and lime wedges are traditional accompaniments.
Caribbean Pineapple Curry
Give your camp dinner a tropical flair
Thai Green Curry
This sweet-tasting dish is more fragrant than hot.
Indian Red Curry
Chili peppers give this meal a pungent kick.
Masman Curry
Lemongrass and peanuts accent this creamy Thai dish.
Medicine Man – Sulfur on Sticks
Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into, ugh, eating match heads
Medicine Man – Abdominal Terrorists
Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into waterborne parasites
Shoot It, Film It, Find It
Cameras, camcorders, and GPS–our testers pick the best for the trail.
December '07 Gear Test: 3D Connexion Space Navigator, Purosol Sport/Marine, Solio, The Pod
The Backpacker testers try out some ingenious products for photo taking, map making, screen cleaning, and portable recharging.
Top 4 Digital Cameras
All our picks weigh less than 8 ounces and cost less than $400.
Smart Chart: Find Your Perfect GPS Unit
Whether you're a backpacker, dayhiker, geocacher, runner, or cyclist we have a GPS unit for you.
Top 4 Digital Camcorders
Four packable, trailworthy camcorders that could launch your YouTube career
Spend a Perfect Day in Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Join Gregory Mountain Products master pack designer for a day in Joshua Tree National Park
How to Choose a Campsite
A NOLS veteran offers tips on balancing comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace principles.
Learn How to Use an Ice Axe
Master these skills to make your axe a tool—not a toy.
How to Repair a Jacket Zipper
Salvage a few more years out of your favorite jacket with these zipper fixes.