Capture Fall Colors on Camera
Up your photography game with this expert advice.
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My Big Three: Morgan Sjogren, Guidebook Author
The gear a hiking lifer can't leave home without.
Wolves Won’t Wait
In November, Colorado will make history when it lets voters decide whether to reintroduce gray wolves. But the discovery of the state’s first confirmed pack in nearly a century is casting an old debate in a new light.
Contest: Can You Pick the Fattest Bear?
Fat Bear Week is upon us. Pick the chunkiest in Katmai National Park and Preserve for a chance to win.
How a Jogging Stroller Saved My Outdoor Life
Being a new parent is hard, but being able to share your favorite thing with your baby makes it a little easier.
A Crowd of Campers Trashed Max Patch
After campers left garbage strewn across one of the Appalachian Trail's most popular sites, guides, educators, and social media influencers ponder how we can do better.
LNT Confessional: I Swam Wearing Bug Spray
Taking a dip in a backcountry lake? Stop and think about what you're wearing.
Deal of the Week: Klymit KSB 0°F Down Sleeping Bag
A sweet deal on a spacious mummy bag
Decathlon Quechua 2 Second Easy Fresh & Black
This tent’s up-in-a-flash setup makes it a great car camping shelter.
For Members Only: Utah's San Rafael Swell
An insider's guide to San Rafael Swell, UT
How to Sharpen and Maintain Your Backpacking Knife
Keep this essential gear item in tip-top shape.
BACKPACKER BTS: Previewing the 2020 Fall Gear Guide
Gear Editor Eli Bernstein takes you behind the curtain and into the BACKPACKER photo cage
Ask a Thru-Hiker: How Do I Deal With My Post-Hike Depression?
Getting back to "real life" after a long hike can be rough. But if you feel low after coming home, you're not alone.
I Survived a Lightning Strike
Minko Nikolov, 32, suffered a near-fatal lightning strike while scouting a bouldering objective in Rocky Mountain National Park in August 2019.
Pass/Fail: Master Glacier Travel
A longtime hiker faces her fears to level up her adventure resume.
SABRE Frontiersman Bear Spray 9.2 oz. With Practice Spray
This spray provides extra safety in grizzly country.
SABRE Frontiersman Insider Bear Canister
This new-look bear canister is easy to pack and carry.
SABRE Runner Pepper Gel with Adjustable Hand Strap
A compact safety device for solo hikes and runs
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station
This storage-heavy table is a mini-kitchen for car camping meals.
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker
This chair delivers maximum comfort for car camping chill sessions.
Ron Griswell Has a Message for Black College Students: The Outdoors Are For You Too
The founder of HBCUs Outside is using gear libraries and hiking meetups to tear down barriers in the outdoor industry.
Yosemite Closes Due to Wildfire Smoke
Sequoia and Kings Canyon closed earlier this week.
Deal of the Week: Marmot Tungsten UL Hatchback 3
This weather-beating fortress will keep you dry and safe.
The Beginner's Guide to Foraging
Reap the bounty of nature’s pantry by learning to identify and responsibly harvest wild edibles on the trail or in your neighborhood.
Gear 360: Readers Review Helly Hansen Layers
Get ready for fall with a sunshirt, a midlayer, and a do-anything shell.
Live on the Edge at Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Soaring bluffs and views to match make this an adventure worth going on.
Get to Know: Feathered Friends
Go behind the curtains at this down-obsessed outfitter
Basecamp Weekend: Grand Island, MI
Spend a weekend on the water on this circumnavigation of a lonely island in Lake Superior.
Basecamp Weekend: Salmon River Mountains, ID
Pitch camp next to an alpine lake, rocky peaks, and a WWII plane wreck in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains.
8 Rules for Staying Safe in the Backcountry
From bear encounters to first aid, these safety tips will help you manage the unexpected in the backcountry.
Yes: Patagonia Hid "Vote the Assholes Out" on Some of Its Tags
This season, the company hid a secret message on one of its products—and the internet just noticed.
Merrell Rubato
This light hiking shoe will keep your feet in the comfort zone
Merrell Antora 2
Versatility and comfort for hiking and trail running
VOORMI Drift Jacket
This versatile midlayer excels at temperature regulation.
Chase the Rainbow in Acadia National Park, Maine
Start your fall off in spectacular fashion.
Mammoth Crest Loop
Pack a summer of views into one weekend.
Heat Buster Hikes
Find refuge from high summer temps temps on these chill dayhikes.
Deal of the Week: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite
This warm foam pad is a smart shoulder-season pick.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: What Is an Average Day on the Trail Like?
It can't all be sunsets and bear encounters. Thru-hikers spend most of their time doing one thing: walking.
See Natural Fireworks on These Alpine Wildflower Hikes
Late summer means the high country has finally melted out—and as the snow leaves, the blooms move in. Check out one of these seven hikes for colorful meadows just below the peaks.
A Nutritionist Judges Your Favorite Hiking Foods
Are you packing the best fuel?
Member Deal of the Month: Big Agnes AXL Air Sleeping Pad
This featherweight pad doesn't skimp on cushion.
Decathlon Forclaz Trek 100 Down Hiking Jacket
This down puffy offers lightweight warmth at a sweet price.
Eight National Forests Close Due to Fire Danger in California
The order comes after the National Guard rescued 207 campers from the Creek Fire.
Geyser Systems Portable Shower Giveaway
Enter by 10/6/20 for your chance to win a Geyser Systems Portable Shower
The 5 Best Car Camping Tents of 2020
For trips that don’t take you far from the car, these tents will let you rest your head in spacious comfort and style.
Hike New Mexico's Mesas in the Cruces Basin Wilderness
Discover true quiet in this uncrowded forest.
Eureka! Copper Canyon LX 4
Most spacious
MSR Habitude 4
Most durable
Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel 3
Best gear storage
Klymit Cross Canyon 2
Most versatile
Merrell MTL Long Sky
A lightweight trail-running shoe that provides outsized protection and stability
Up Your Hiking Endurance With These 3 Exercises
Escape the gym with these movement-based routines designed to take your workout outdoors.
The 7 Best Gear Deals for Hikers at REI's Labor Day Sale
Grab serious savings on GPS units, sleeping bags, lighting, and more.
September Member Gear Discount
This month's exclusive discount is brought to you by Xero Shoes.
3 Trail to Taproom Hikes to Take This Fall
These beer-and-trail pairings are refreshing from the first step to the last sip.
In Defense of Ugly Trails
Is natural beauty always in the eye of the beholder?
5 Early Labor Day Deals to Get You Ready for Fall Hiking
It may not feel like it, but autumn is just around the corner.
Go Lake-Hopping in Adirondack Park, New York
Visit a world of water on this three-day trek through the hills.
Helly Hansen Odin 9 Worlds 2.0 Jacket
Stay protected and comfortable in all outdoor conditions
Helly Hansen Odin Stretch Hooded Light Insulator
A comfortable, lightweight, and soft synthetic puffy
Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen Hoodie
Stay comfortable and protect against the sun
Gear 360: Readers Review Merrell Hiking Shoes
We sent three of Merrell's newest trail runners and light hikers to BACKPACKER members and asked them what they thought.
A 40-Mile, Quarantime Hike Through New York City
With travel plans cancelled due to COVID, one hiker makes the most of staying close to home.
The Pacific Northwest Trail is Pitting Hikers Against Grizzly Bear Activists
In a remote corner of Montana, backpackers and wildlife advocates clash over the future of a bear population hanging on for dear life.
The Best Gear for Late-Summer Dayhiking
Even on a lowkey dayhike, good gear can be the difference between a forgettable outing and a fun one.
AMK Mountain Hiker Medical Kit
Emergency aid
Duckworth Vapor Snorkel Hood
UV shield
Kate’s Real Food Bars
Energy boost
Vasque Breeze LT GTX
Light-and-mighty boot
Osprey Hikelite 26
Reliable rucksack
What our Members are Testing Now: The North Face Sotara FUTURELIGHT Jacket
There's more than meets the eye with this comfy, waterproof shell.
Trail Report: Aero Lakes, Beartooth Mountains, MT
Basecamper Brent Umphlett, his brother, and 4 days of alpine lakes deep in the Montana wilderness.
Avoid These Beginner Mistakes
Jason Stevenson, author of "Outdoor Adventure Guide: Hiking and Backpacking," knows a thing or two about how to keep first-timers happy
Avoid These Beginner Camping Mistakes
Jason Stevenson, author of "Outdoor Adventure Guide: Backpacking and Hiking" on how to avoid beginner blunders
It's Time for Outdoor Brands to Make Clothing for All Women
When companies don't offer plus sizes, that sends a message about who is and isn't welcome in the outdoors.
COVID is Causing a Boom in Fastest Known Times
With races around the country canceled, an unprecedented number of ultrarunners are testing themselves on the trail.
4 Exercises to Build Trail-Worthy Ankle Strength
These moves will help you make an injury-free transition to lightweight hiking shoes without risking a sprain.