How to Camp in Comfort This Winter
The fourth season’s rewards—unparalleled solitude and otherwordly views—don’t come easy. Use this advice from Colorado ski guide Mia Tucholke to handle the cold and witness the season’s splendor.
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Farm to Feet White Mountain Lounger
Best camp sock
Decathlon Forclaz MH520 High Sock
Best value sock
Rockay Razer
Best sock for trail running
Darn Tough Edge With Cushion
Most comfortable sock
Smartwool PhD Pro Ski Race
Best sock for big days
Can a Warm-Weather Backpacker Learn to Love Winter?
Two fair-weather enthusiasts tear down their fear of the fourth season.
PAKMULE Sway-Back
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2020 Holiday Gift Guide
No matter who you're shopping for, we've got you covered with 2020's best holiday gifts for hikers, in every price range.
The 6 Best Hiking Boots of Winter 2020
Bust through snow, crust, and slush with this warm, toothy footwear.
Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range BOA
Best features in a boot
Dolomite Tamaskan 1.5
Best ounce-for-ounce boot
Vasque Breeze WT GTX
Best for snowshoeing
SCARPA Manta Tech GTX
Best for mountaineering
Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Winter GTX
Most versatile winter boot
Oboz Sawtooth II 8” Insulated B-DRY
Warmest boots
The Long Haul
What does it take to plan a for a record-setting thru-hike attempt? A Calendar-Year Triple Crown hopeful spills.
Weekend Hike: Into Enchantment
Spend two days in the high country of Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
The Sentimental Pieces of Gear We Just Can't Give Up
There may be newer, better options out there, but we'll never stop using these products.
The 4 Best Gloves of Winter 2020
Get the warmth you need—and ditch the bulk you don't.
Gordini Spring Glove
Best dexterity
Black Diamond Recon Glove
Best protection
Seirus HW Gore-Tex Infinium Trace Glove
Most breathable glove
Flylow Super Mitten
Warmest mitten
The 6 Best Insulated Hiking Jackets of Winter 2020
Stay warm and cozy with these perfect puffies and fleeces.
Mountain Equipment Xeros Jacket
Best-fitting women's insulated jacket
Sierra Designs Borrego Hybrid Jacket
Most breathable insulated jacket
Outdoor Research Helium Down Hooded Jacket
Most durable insulated jacket
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody
Best insulated jacket for weatherproofing
Montane Prism Ultra Pull-On
Lightest insulated jacket
Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded Jacket
Warmest insulated jacket
3 Perfect Exercises to Keep You Pain-Free and Pack-Ready
Whether it’s a moderate overnight load or 45 pounds of expedition gear, the moment you put on a pack your body must acclimate to additional pressure on your joints, muscles, and spine. Add these exercises to your workout routine to feel like a champ no matter how much you're carrying.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell
Save big on this breathable windbreaker.
The Best Winter Camping Gear of 2020
Want to get outside this season? These 7 products can help you do it more comfortably and safely than ever before.
Superior Hammock 15°F
Best winter hammock
Big Agnes Battle Mountain 3
Best protection in a winter tent
SlingFin CrossBow 2 Four-Season
Best strength-to-weight ratio of winter tents
EXPED Winterlite 5°F WMNS
Best women's winter sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Saros 0°F
Best value winter sleeping bag
Gryphon Gear Taurus VRB -5°F
Warmest winter sleeping bag
Mammut Women’s Perform Down 14°F / Men’s Perform Down 19°F
Best all-around winter sleeping bag
The 4 Best Packs of Winter 2020
Winter activities can take a lot of gear, from avalanche equipment to heavy sleeping bags. But that doesn't mean you have to weigh yourself down. These four bags keep it light while still leaving you enough room to carry your necessities.
Gregory Targhee FastTrack 45
Most versatile winter backpack
Ortovox Haute Route 40 / Haute Route 38 S
Best organization in a winter pack
Osprey Soelden 32 / Sopris 30
Most comfortable winter backpack
Mammut Trion Nordwand 28
Best backpack for big miles
Explainer: William Perry Pendley and the Fight Over the Bureau of Land Management
William Perry Pendley made a career out of fighting against the Bureau of Land Management before becoming its acting director and greenlighting mining and drilling plans on public lands across the west. Now, a federal court's decision that he served illegally could put those plans in danger.
Take A Hike Day Contest and Virtual Campfire
Share your photos and join us live!
KIND Snacks and BACKPACKER Magazine ‘Take A Hike Day’
Sign up for a KIND® Energy Bar sample and join us on November 17th for National Take A Hike Day.
How to Care for Your Adventure Dog
Hit the trail with your dog and you’ll find you’re both happier and healthier.
No, That Mountain Lion Wasn't "Stalking" a Runner
A viral video of a mountain lion has inspired headlines about the cat "stalking" the runner who recorded it. But that's not what the clip shows.
George Atiyeh Was the Hero the Forest Needed
The 72-year-old activist, who passed away last month, used mining claims, scenic flights, hiking trails, and occasionally outright confrontation to protect the Opal Creek Wilderness.
Deal of the Week: Eddie Bauer Alpine Sisu 50L
This winter-ready pack lets you grab your gear quickly.
Editor’s Note: Take a Hike to the Polls
The results of this fall’s election could change the outdoors for a long time. Make a plan and make your voice heard.
Firetower Hikes: Rooms With a View
Hike to one of these nine fire lookouts for unbeatable views and a unique backcountry experience.
Enjoy the Outdoors All Winter Long
With new EXOspikes, Kahtoola completes the ultimate trilogy of winter traction.
Editors' Choice: The Best Gear of Fall and Winter 2020
Make the most of the cold with six perfect picks, from jackets to tents to skis.
NEMO Kunai 3-4 Season Backpacking Tent
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: All-Weather Shelter
Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Sleeping Bag Liner
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Heat Booster
Seirus MagneMitt Summit
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Easy-Access Mitten
SCOTT Superguide Freetour
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Wide-Roaming Ski
G3 Via Carbon
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Do-it-all Pole
The North Face Summit L3 50/50 Down Hoody
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Breathable Puffy
The Mystery on Mount Washington
Pam Bales’ solo hike in October 2010 turned into a daring rescue of a fellow hiker. But she was left with more questions than answers.
3 Calorie-Bomb Recipes to Keep You Going in the Cold
In winter, consuming hearty, nutrient-dense foods goes a long way toward keeping you warm. Stoke your inner furnace with these three energy-packed recipes.
The 8 Best Face Masks for Hiking
Protect yourself and your fellow hikers with these comfortable, trail-ready masks.
Find Solitude by the Sea on California's Lost Coast
See the coast the way it was meant to be seen.
747 is Your 2020 Fat Bear Week Champion
At an estimated 1,400 pounds, 747 is one of the biggest bruins in Katmai National Park and Preserve—and he just won Fat Bear Week in a landslide.
BACKPACKER BTS: Previewing the Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded Jacket
Gear Editor Eli Bernstein discusses one of his favorite new products in the 2020 Fall Gear Guide.
3 Hors D'oeuvres to Fancy Up Your Next Camping Trip
We all need a little something to munch on while we wait for the chili to rehydrate. These tasty, easy-prep apps might just be the most memorable part of the meal.
7 Surprising Things You Can Do With a Headlamp
Petzl’s new IKO CORE headlamp innovates on the old “elastic band” setup to create a do-it-all portable light.
Deal of the Week: Black Diamond MidWeight ScreenTap Fleece Gloves
These soft, dextrous gloves provide a shoulder-season boost of warmth.
LifeStraw Go Stainless Steel
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Capture Fall Colors on Camera
Up your photography game with this expert advice.