Is It Ever OK to Trundle Rocks?
Think before you throw.
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The 10 Best Car Camping Gifts of 2020
These products will help you live it up on your next basecamping adventure.
Deal of the Week: BioLite HeadLamp 330
This light prioritizes both power and comfort.
The 12 Best Hiking Gifts Under $25
For many of us, 2020 has been the year of shrinking budgets. From environmentally-friendly ski wax to an ultralight musical instrument, these outdoor gifts will still bring a smize to anyone’s masked face.
Deep Dive: Hiking Footwear Outsoles
Get a grip on choosing the right outsole for your adventures.
Desert Treasure
Coyote Gulch Trail, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, UT
Recipe: Garlic Noodles
Elevate your standard Ramen with this savory sauce that comes together in minutes.
Leatherman FREE T4
This problem-solving multitool is small enough to fit in your pocket.
Leatherman FREE K2
This knife has a few handy tricks hidden away.
The 6 Best Baselayers of 2021
Layer up with these perfect next-to-skin picks
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Colorblock Tight
Best leggings
Beyond Clothing K2 Celeris Pullover and Long John
Most versatile baselayer
First Lite Men’s Wick Longsleeve Crew
Best wicking
Woolx Merino Blizzard ¼ Zip
Warmest baselayer
Montbell Super Merino Wool Light Weight Round Neck
Best value baselayer
Get Above It in Tennessee's Big Frog Wilderness
In the winter, the mountains and ridges of Tennessee transform.
The 10 Best Gifts for Adventurers of 2020
Get ready for your next big journey with these 10 smart presents.
The 3 Best Snowshoes of 2021
The trail's still there, even when you can't see it. Beat the posthole with these floaty, powder-ready snowshoes.
MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoe Kit
Best for beginners
Atlas Helium-MTN
Best stride
Garneau Premiere
Best float
Leatherman FREE P4
This do-it-all multitool offers convenience in a compact design.
Explore a Frosted World on Roan Mountain, North Carolina
Winter on the Appalachian Trail is blessedly crowd-free. Enjoy it on this classic day hike.
Deal of the Week: Garmin inReach Mini
Grab a rare deal on this two-way satellite messenger.
The 10 Best Gifts for Beginner Backpackers and Campers
Make a novice hiker's day with one of these products.
The 5 Best Gifts for Dog Owners of 2020
Help your friends prepare their pooches for the trail with these standout products.
The Best Gifts for Ultralighters of 2020
Help the gram-counter on your list go lighter and faster.
The 21 Best Gifts for Backpackers You Can Still Buy Now
From a precision-engineered jacket with a built-in mask to a titanium fire pit to a rollicking adventure book, our writers pick their favorite backpacking gifts of the year.
What Does a Biden Presidency Mean for the Outdoors?
After four years of Trump, U.S. environmental policymakers are about to get new marching orders. Are we in for a seismic shift, or just a course correction?
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear AP Pant
An awesome deal on some of our favorite trail-to-town trousers
The Best Snow Safety Gear of 2021
Stay safe in winter conditions with these essential tools.
Arva EVO 5
Intuitive beacon
Rocky Talkie
Durable radio
Mammut Carbon Probe 280 Speed Lock
Fast-action probe
Scott Patrol E1 30 Backpack
Full-featured airbag pack
Meet the (Scaly, Feathery, Blubbery) Neighbors in Everglades National Park
A weeklong paddle through Florida’s Everglades National Park is chock-full of wildlife encounters.
Watch: Return to Mt. Kennedy
An improbable climb of a remote peak ties together U.S. politics, the environmental movement, and the power of family bonds.
What Backpacking Lost in the California Fires
California's catastrophic wildfire season left some of the state's most vaunted hiking areas charred and impassible. With the climate changing and wildfires continuing to intensify, it may be a taste of what's to come.
The 3 Best Softshell Jackets of Winter 2021
Find the sweet spot between weather protection and comfort with these flexible shells.
Arc’teryx Trino SL Hoody/Anorak
Most breathable softshell jacket
Maloja WangM / PunaM
Most versatile
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
Most protective
Keep Your Fingers and Toes Warm on Winter Hikes
Cold fingers and toes cause quick misery in the backcountry. The key to feeling as warm as possible is keeping your digits toasty. Take care of your hands and feet and you’ll have a much more pleasant winter camping experience.
Deep Dive: Waterproof/Breathable Membranes
Everything you need to know about keeping dry.
Editor's Pick: North Cascades Weekend
Destinations Editor Kristin Smith loves this shoulder-season overnight on East Bank Ross Lake Trail in Washington's North Cascades National Park.
Recipe: Triple Berry Crisp
Wow your hiking partners with this simple yet delicious dessert.
Shattered on the Pacific Crest Trail
When they wake up broke, broken, and far from home, how do thru-hikers find the will to go another mile?
BACKPACKER Reader Picks: Car-Camping Comforts
This gear will take your next trip to the next level.
Deal of the Week: Kelty Cosmic 0°F
This sleeping bag will keep you toasty on cold winter nights.
State Parks Are in Danger of Becoming Victims of 2020
Hit hard by coronavirus and historic wildfires, California needs visitors to ensure its state parks recover.
The 4 Best Hardshell Jackets of Winter 2021
Stay warm and dry with this season's most bombproof shells.
The Votes Are In: Wolves Are Coming Back to Colorado
With the narrow passage of Proposition 114, Colorado is set to become the first state in US history to reintroduce wolves by voter action.
Marmot Keele Peak
Year-round pick
Rab Khroma Kinetic
Best mobility
Ortovox 3L Ortler Jacket
Most breathable
Outdoor Research Archangel
Best protection
Sponsored Content
Gifts Every Hiker REALLY Wants
Leatherman makes the perfect multi-tool for each type of outdoor enthusiast.
Working Remote With Chris Burkard
See the world through the viewfinder of one of the world’s foremost adventure photographers.
Ditch the Car for Public Transport on These All-Time Dayhikes
Ride the train or the bus all the way to the trailhead on these short adventures.
Find Your Backcountry Hideout at Robber's Cave State Park, Oklahoma
Nature and Old West history meet.
Go on a Coastal Getaway in the Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon
Get to know the northwestern rainforest—and its salamanders—on this overnight route.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus
This rain shell set has you covered from top to bottom.
It's Time to Stop Managing Our Wildlands for Hunters First
Why do we still run our public lands like it’s 1920?
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.
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
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
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