In the backcountry, having the right shelter is crucial. For over three decades, Hilleberg has specialized in making that "right shelter" by building the highest quality all season tents.
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by sethhughes.com's author page.
Not quite sure how to fit a pack, measure your torso, calculate your V02 max, patch a sleeping pad, or clean a funkified hydration unit? Watch and learn.
On windchill, temperature, and waiting for summer
Big and small, the Backpacker teams spotted a variety of wildlife along the CDT
Team 43 treks through Montana and Idaho for Backpacker's CDT Project
Join the Backpacker CDT Project along this picturesque trail
Updated terrain maps are now more useful for hikers.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by Julia Vandenoever's author page.
To acquire stamina, you gotta sufer
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by Julia Vandenoever's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
On photography, sandstorms and power walking
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by Julia Vandenoever's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by sethhughes.com's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors, Photos by sethhughes.com's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Packs, tents, boots, and bags–that's easy. Now comes the hard part: Everything else. Below, you'll find our top picks for all the lust-worthy backcountry essentials you'll need to make your trip safe, fun, and simple.
You won't go far with sore feet. So our testers went the distance–5,000 miles, to be exact–to bring you the best shoes for every foot and hike.
The secret to a great day outdoors? Start with a great night. Sleep well in all conditions with one of these snooze-tested bags.
You can test-drive a car, but not a tent. So our crew did the shakedown for you, logging 600-plus nights under stars and storms. Here's what we liked.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Is it possible to build a backpack that doesn't contribute to global warming? Not yet, but five pioneering companies gave it one helluva try. (Cue standing ovation.)
Here's how Aron Ralston, Ed Viesturs, Les Stroud, and others get out and back again–and how you can, too.
GoLite founder's 40-day wonder workout
Sometimes it's not enough if you're the only survivor
A friend told me vitamin C can eliminate the taste of iodine in water. How much is necessary and does it affect the purification process?
Is wearing two pairs of socks better for cold-weather backpacking?
Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to zinc oxide?
I always get a rash on my shoulders where the pack harness rests. Is there anything to prevent that?
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Take care of these gatekeepers to your active future
Whether you fear, respect, or applaud these complex creatures of the night, the tips below will help you find and observe them.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
With some pontificating, and a few thoughts about rescue insurance
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.
The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack.
The Goal: Hit the trail and forget you're even wearing a pack. The Solution: One of these 30 field-tested vanishing acts.
Thoughts on Jeeps, Sandstone, and Hiking Hazards
The Emotional Side to Injury Recovery
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
When you're trekking into a backcountry bowl, avalanches are almost always a threat. Learn how to protect yourself when the worst happens.
When a scramble turns to a nightmare learn how to help yourself.
When you're stuck in the desert unexpectedly conserve, conserve, conserve.
When you're slipping and sliding, don't let your partners help you. Learn how to climb yourself to safety.
How long should you boil water before drinking it?
If you were to wear an altimeter watch on an airplane, what would the elevation reading be?
I will be backpacking in southern Arizona's deserts and drinking from cattle tanks. How should I treat or filter the water inside these tanks?
Is a can of personal defense pepper spray an effective bear deterrent?
Don't worry about lava. Worry about rocks and mud and ash.
Beware of dehydration when a sudden illness strikes.
Shania Twain opens a hiking track on her New Zealand property
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
After a day of hiking, I get severe leg cramps in my calves. Can you explain why these are happening and what I can do to prevent them?
Do chiggers bite dogs, and if so, how do you combat that on the trail?