Are Survival Blankets Safe to Use in Lightning Storms?
Are survival blankets dangerous to use during electrical storms?
All Content
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.
Backpacker February '08 Gear Test
It's cold out there -- but don't fret. We've tested and reviewed all the best gear to keep you warm, dry, and comfy when the mercury drops.
Gear Test: Outdoor Research Motiva Pants
The Backpacker gear ladies try out these tough OR pants.
Backpacker Tests 3-Person Tents
These lightweight tents can house three campers in comfort or two in splendor.
GPS 201: Using Advanced Navigational Tools
Don't be daunted by a thick owner's manual. Unlocking your unit's advanced navigational tools is easier than you think.
Pack Fast, Pack Right
Organization and preparation will make your next overnight or day-hike packing session easy. Below, the Backpacker editors showcase their mistakes for your benefit.
Make Your Sleeping Bag Warmer
8 easy ways to fortify your sleeping bag
How to Digitally Capture Your Wilderness Adventures
Be a YouTube Star: Learn how to shoot, edit, and post your next wilderness adventure.
How to Clean and Store Your Gear
By keeping your gear (relatively) free of dirt and grime and storing it properly you can make your gear last forever.
The Best Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are better for the environment and can save you money. Learn about the pros and cons of the different types of rechargeable batteries.
Float the Green River
View redrock cliffs and spires as you float through Stillwater Canyon in Utah's Canyonlands National Park.
Cut Winter Weight: 4 Ways to Pack Light and Stay Warm
Don't overload your pack. Learn how to leave the non-essentials behind and still stay warm.
The World's Smartest Bears
Welcome to Yosemite, iconic American landscape, hikers' paradise, and all-you-can-eat home of the wiliest bruins on earth.
Hike Montana's Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness
This wilderness area houses a classic section of the CDT but is a little off the beaten path.
Over the Rainbow: Finding Red Rock In the Navajo Nation
A rarely-attempted traverse reveals the Navajo Nation's vast red-rock wilderness.
Where Can I Find the Site of Ansel's Legendary Yosemite Photo
Museum curator Glenn Crosby tracks down Ansel Adams' famous shot
Time 2 Go See Wild Horses
From Florida to Wyoming, track wild horses for four hours or 10 days.
Best Damn Weekend Ever: Kayak a Superior Archipelago
Try this black diamond, three-day kayak trip that navigates Lake Superior's piney islands.
3 Ways to See North Georgia
By foot, kayak, or on top of a Boulder, North Georgia has plenty of outside activities.
60 Minute Fixes: Boise
Idaho's capital offers hiking, kayaking, and climbing close to downtown
Through the Kaleidoscope: A Family Fall Trek Through New Hampshire's White Mountains
Cozy huts, five-course meals, and world-class foliage highlight one family's fall trek.
How to See More Snowshoe Hares
These hares love the snow and cold and they're designed to use the elements to their advantage
Camp Stove Cooking: Curry in a Hurry
4 easy recipes that will warm your whole body.
How to Thru-Hike L.A. County
Thru-hike L.A. County? It can be done with Southern California's Backbone Trail.
Preserving Ancient Artifacts
Looking to get more than scenic views out of your hikes? The U.S. Forest Service's Passport in Time program turns trekkers into weekend archaeologists.