Foehn Women’s Brise Jogger
Best trousers
All Content
Smartwool Women’s Merino Sport 150 Short Sleeve
Best t-shirt
Deal of the Week: Bear Canisters, Sacks, and Spray
Stay safe in bear country with deals from REI and Moosejaw.
3 All-Purpose Daypacks for Any Trail Adventure
A good daypack makes or breaks an outing. These three perform.
3 Fire Starter Kits That Work in the Wettest Conditions
When it's cold and rainy and you need a campfire, now, these three fire starter kits will do the job.
It Takes Grit to Finish the Triple Crown. Just Ask Akuna.
Will “Akuna” Robinson is an Iraq veteran, a thru-hiker, and now, one of the few African-American backpackers to complete the country’s three most famous long trails.
The Outdoor Industry Grew Faster Than the National Economy in 2017
According to a new report from the federal government, outdoor recreation accounted for for $427.2 billion, or 2.2 percent, of the United States' GDP.
Useful Features on your GPS
These key features will help you make the most of navigating with a GPS.
GPS Tracks vs. Routes
Learn two crucial navigation techniques to make the most of your GPS.
How to Use Waypoints on a GPS
Eric Larsen teaches how to use a crucial navigation tool.
Intro to GPS Navigation
Polar explorer and expedition guide Eric Larsen explains the basics of GPS navigation and how to get started with your new device.
3 Trail-Tested Binoculars for Hikers
Bring the world into focus with these backcountry-ready optics.
Deal of the Week: The North Face Ventrix Hoodie
Get ready for fall adventures with a deal on this versatile insulating layer
Tested: Bear Sprays
Bear spray in the backcountry is a must. We tested two powerful brands.
Please, People, Don't Put Wild Animals in Your Car
An attempt to rescue a bobcat in Colorado is the latest instance of animal lovers doing more harm than good.
How to Help Your Kids Do Their Business in the Woods
Doing a number two outside can be a fraught topic for kids. But it doesn't have to be.
A Mysterious Illness is Sickening Florida Panthers, and No One Knows What's Causing It
Florida wildlife officials are asking for the public's help in figuring out what's disabling wild cats in the state.
Knog Bandicoot Headlight
Set it and forget it with this mono-chassis headlamp.
Man Fined for Trying to Fight Grizzly Bear
A visitor to Banff National Park wanted to wrestle a grizzly. He was lucky to make it out unscathed, says an expert.
LNT Confessional: I Dropped a Case of Beer Cans Into a Creek
An accidental litterer receives their penance in this edition of Leave No Trace Confessional.
A Mountaineer Brings the Outdoors Back Home
More than a decade after seeing his first peak, adventurer Tyrhee Moore gives back.
Float a Swedish River on a Huck-Finn-Style Log Raft
A trip down the Klarälven River is a journey back in time.
Map: 16 Backyard Epics That Prove Everywhere is Hiking Country
You don't always need to go far to go big. Case in point: these stunning hikes, all within a day trip of a major metropolitan area.
Mammut Kento HS Hooded Jacket
Do-it-all shell
Salewa Wildfire Edge
Secure shoe
Outdoor Companies Join Relief Efforts for Hurricane Dorian Victims
A handful of brands are donating product, money, and time to survivors in the Bahamas.
How to Care for Your Backpacking Gear
Keep your gear going season after season with these tips from Boulder Mountain Repair technicians Sam Goodhue and Matt Wintston to prevent little problems from becoming big (and expensive) ones.
4 Edible Plants for Beginner Foragers
Chow down on these edible plants, all found across the U.S. Briana Wiles, author of Mountain States Foraging and owner of Rooted Apothecary, and Kat Mackinnon, RH (AHG), Botany Program Director at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, give you the goods.
Pass/Fail: SUP Into Camp
It’s just like backpacking, but with a paddleboard instead of boots. Right?
Sleepwalking Into the Wilderness
In October 2018, Rob Lundgren, 66, woke from a dream to find himself in a nightmare—lost in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Hike the Living Desert in Ironwood National Monument, Arizona
The Ironwood Forest is a true redemption story. Home to arroyos, plains, foothills, and mountains, the monument’s coarse and well-aerated soil allows roots to dig deep. The result: The world’s densest stands of ironwoods, low-growing shrubby trees that enrich the earth, enable the Ironwood Forest’s species diversity, and burst with purple-pink flowers in late spring.
Do Denali Right
Deepest Denali is big, bold, and sublime—for those willing to pay the price of admission.
Hike of the Month: Trekking Italy's Gran Paradiso
See heavenly sights—and get them to yourself—in the mountains of Italy.
The 3 Biggest Mistakes Hikers With Dogs Make
Backpacking with your dogs? Make sure you both stay happy and healthy with this advice from a professional trainer.
Editor's Note: The Best Weekend on the CDT
The 3,000-mile long trail has plenty of alpine highlights, and this one in northern Colorado is my new favorite.
Gear of the Week: MSR Pika Teapot
This handy piece of cookware makes pouring hot water a breeze.
Trail by Design results – An Open Letter from Backpacker and Merrell
BACKPACKER and Merrell teamed up with eight artists to inspire others by sharing what the trail means to them, through their own unique vision and design.
The 7 Best Ultralight Packs
Hike long, not heavy, with these weight-saving haulers.
3 Vegetarian Recipes to Fuel You on the Trail
Going meatless shouldn’t mean going hungry. These protein-packed vegan recipes will satisfy any hiker.
The 3 Best Hikes for Gem Hunters
Search for buried treasure on one of these gem-studded dayhikes, where gathering rocks is legal.
Opinion: Hunters Pay for Conservation. Hikers Should Too.
Hunters fund conservation through taxes and tag fees. As their numbers decline, it’s time for hikers to step up.
The 3 Best Self-Inflating Camping Pads
Skip the pump, and the huffing-and-puffing, with these three trail-tested self-inflating pads.
Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Briefs
Best boxers
Duckworth Polaris Crew
Best warm top
Mountain Khakis Men’s Original Trail Pant
Most durable pant
Fjällräven Ovik Re-Wool Shirt
Best flannel
Hydro Flask Crushable Hat
Best hat
The North Face North Dome Pullover Hoodie
Best sun shirt
KÜHL Silencr Kargo Short
Best short
adidas Outdoor Agravic Parley Tee
Best t-shirt
September Member Gear Discount
This month's exclusive discount brought to you by Sierra Designs
Deal of the Month: Granite Gear Crown VC 60
An ultralight pack that doesn't carry like one.
What We're Testing Now: Big Agnes Soul Kitchen Camp Table
Elevate your car camping meals with this collapsible table.
How to Prime a White Gas Stove
Prep your stove to run smoothly so you can cook up a backcountry feast.
Careful Out There: Falling Trees, Helicopter Rescues, and a Continuing Search
Your accident and survival report for the week of August 26th to September 3rd
Facebook Live: Minimalist multiday pack testing, Part 2
Our gear editor previews the new Mountainsmith Zerk 40
Facebook Live: Minimalist multiday pack testing, Part 1
Our gear editor previews the new Mountainsmith Zerk 40
Gear of the Week: Hart Outdoor First Aid Kits
These kits make finding what you need simple.
The Best Dayhikes in Death Valley National Park
Explore the desert with our favorite hikes, short and long.
Hiking is for the Birds
Birding adds a new dimension to every hike.
Careful Out There: Waterfalls, Cliff-Jumpers, and a Night on the Mountain
Your survival and accident report for the week of August 19th to August 26th
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Babies and Toddlers
Find trail bliss with expert advice from Hike It Baby's Jessica Carrillo Allatorre
REI Co-op Kingdom 6
Palatial Tent
Eureka! Ignite
Supercharged Stove
Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set
Comprehensive Cookware
LonoLife Thai Curry Beef Bone Broth
Restorative elixir
OtterBox Venture 65
Classy Cooler
NEMO Stargaze Recliner Luxury Chair
Serene Seat
The Best Car-Camping Gear for Families
These auto- and boat-friendly luxuries are your ticket to outdoor family fun.
JR Stockwell is the King of the Mountains
If there was a championship of local hiking, New Hampshire native JR Stockwell would be a lock for first place—except he never tells anyone about his singular adventures in the White Mountains.
Mountain Lion Attacks Child in Colorado
Cougar encounter is second in two weeks, third of the year for the state.
Environmental Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Endangered Species Act Changes
The plaintiffs claim the new regulations are an "attack" on the decades-old conservation law
Basecamp Membership Photo Contest
Enter your best backpacking or nature inspired photo for a chance to win!
Growing Up on the PCT
When a father-daughter team tackles the Pacific Crest Trail over the course of seven summers, they learn something about long-distance hiking—and each other.
Alpine Fitness: Strengthen Your Knees
Exercises to get your joints trail-ready
The Best Shoulder Season Sleeping Pads
Create the perfect sleep system for cooler autumn nights by putting the right insulated mat under your sleeping bag.
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 LW
Luxurious Pad
NEMO Tensor Alpine
Best warmth to weight
Exped SynMat TT 9 M
Warmest