Osprey Skarab 22 / Skimmer 20
Best all-around
All Content
Black Diamond Distance 15
Best for peakbagging
Gregory Miwok 12 / Maya 10
Best fit
4 Ways to Pitch a Tarp That Every Backpacker Should Know
For versatility and affordability, nothing beats a tarp. With an 8-by-10-foot piece of nylon, some paracord, stakes, a trekking pole, and a little ingenuity, you can make a shelter to withstand any weather.
Leave No Trace Confessional: I Killed a Skunk
We're not going to lie to you: This is bad.
How To Start Your Own Backpacking Tradition
One backpacker shares her secret to maintaining a decades-long hiking streak.
3 Homemade Breakfast Bar Recipes for Hikers
Prepare the first meal of the day at home and you'll start hiking sooner—and have on-the-go snacks.
Pass/Fail: Backpack With a Baby
Are mother and son ready to trade the crib for a tent?
Hike of the Week: Alamere Falls, CA
The classic Pacific coast waterfall is the destination; the 15-mile round-trip hike through evergreen forests, coastal grassland, and beachside cliffs is the journey.
9 National Park and Monument Hikes to Beat the Crowds on Fee-Free Day
On April 20, all national parks in the U.S. will offer free admission. Skip the lines with our guide
How to Pick the Perfect Hiking Backpack
Gear Editor Eli Bernstein takes us through what to look for when shopping for a pack.
Project Vertical: Running Oregon
What happens when a D1 athlete turns her attention to the trail? A lot of fast miles.
Gear of the Week: Morankiv Floating Serrated Knife
This lightweight blade plays well on the water.
Hike of the Week: Kings Mountain, OR
Climb through Douglas firs and sword ferns to reach this 3,205-foot summit.
How to Tidepool with Your Kids
Turn a day at the beach into a trip to the magical world of ocean life.
Excerpt: A Wild Encounter on the Appalachian Trail
For early thru-hikers, steep hills and long distances were only part of the challenge.
2019 Get Out More Tour Schedule
Backpacker's Get Out More Tour is coming to a place near you!
2019 Get Out More Tour
Join Backpacker’s Get Out More all star ambassador Randy Propster for an engaging 75-minute seminar full of trail tested tips, regional trip advice and outdoor gear!
Quiz: Can You Tell Black Bears and Grizzlies Apart?
See if you have the knowledge to ID the lower 48's bruins.
How to Pack a Bear Canister
Say good-bye to food overflows and ineffective bear bags, and fend off unwanted visitors with these tips.
Hiker Todd Orr was Mauled by a Grizzly. Twice.
Todd Orr, a veteran member of the Montana Forest Service was attacked by a grizzly bear. Twice.
Mother Bear Charges Crew Shooting Video About Bear Spray
Naturalist Casey Anderson put preaching into practice when charged by a grizzly while making a video about how to properly deploy bear spray.
What Wildfires Mean for Bears
Fire seasons are getting worse and longer, and humans aren’t the only ones affected. When the forest burns, what happens to its inhabitants?
Ask a Bear: Do Bears Really Love Honey?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Quiz: Test Your Wildlife IQ
How much do you really know about the creatures that you're sharing the wilderness with?
Gear of the Week: National Geographic Maps Colorado Backpacking Loops
Make trip planning easy with these readymade itineraries.
How to Keep Your Dog (and Yourself) Safe in Bear Country
Taking a dog on a bear-frequented trail heightens your risks. Stay out of trouble with these 5 tips for hikers with canine companions.
Ask a Bear: Where Does the Word "Bear" Come From?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Ask a Bear: How Many Different Types of Bears Are There?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our 'Ask A Bear' column.
Why I Take My Colorado-Raised Kids to the Ocean
Growing up at the beach gave me a love for nature, and a desire to protect it. Now, I want to pass that on.
Gear of the Week: UCO Beta Headlamp
This affordable light outshines its price tag.
Master the Basics of Thru-Hiking
You don’t have to be a planner to start a thru-hike, but you’ll turn into one if you want to finish. Such is the wisdom of Amanda “Zuul” Jameson, who has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Grand Enchantment Trails and now helps fellow trekkers dial in their gear.
The Challenge: Stay Silent on a Group Hike
Does the peacefulness of solo hiking translate into a social setting?
The 4 Best Socks of 2019
Happy feet make for a happy hiker. Pamper them with these four pairs.
The Best Climbing Gear of 2019
Go up, up, and away with a light harness, a versatile shoe, and more.
How to Find the Perfect-Fitting Hiking Boot
Do your shoes actually fit properly? We asked Oboz how to know you’re getting the right fit before you hit the trail with your brand-new hiking boots.
When Do You Need Waterproof Hiking Shoes?
The answer is more nuanced than one might think.
Hike of the Week: Wa‘ahila Ridge Trail, O‘ahu, HI
Climb Wa‘ahila Ridge below Mt. Olympus for some of the island's best views.
Point6 37.5 Hiking Light Crew
Most durable sock
Stratis Adventurist
Most comfortable sock
Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles
Lightest poles
Petzl Meteor
Breathable helmet
Black Diamond Solution
Featherweight harness
LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Black Series CLD
Most durable carbon poles
Petzl GRIGRI
Versatile belay device
Gabel Carbon Force F.L.K.
Most versatile
Komperdell C3 Carbon Pro
Best traction
SOG PowerPint
Best all-round multitool
Smartwool PhD Endurance Pro Print
Best socks for trail running
Evolv Nighthawk / Skyhawk
Bargin shoe
Gear Aid Kotu Tonto Knife
Most durable knife
Outdoor Element Firebiner
Best gadget
Balega Enduro Quarter
Best fitting sock
Here's What You Need to Know About David Bernhardt, Nominee for Secretary of the Interior
Acting Secretary Bernhardt has years of experience in government—and longstanding professional ties to the oil industry. As the Senate considers his nomination, we break down his history.
When the Trekking Trail is the Best Teacher
A month of travel through Nepal proves just as enriching as second grade math, science, English, and history. Maybe more.
Someone Landed a Helicopter on the California Super Bloom
“We never thought it would be explicitly necessary to state that it is illegal to land a helicopter in the middle of the fields and begin hiking off trail. We were wrong."
Project Vertical: The Last Team on Aconcagua
Want to get one of the most popular peaks in the world to yourself? As Sarah Lee learned, it's all a matter of timing.
BACKPACKER's Favorite Old Gear
Every piece of gear starts off new and shiny. But then come the miles. And the rocks. And the sun and the rain and the marmots. The stuff that lasts becomes part of our trip memories, intertwined with the journey. We keep using these things because we love them—and we love bucking our throwaway culture. Guides, editors, and testers share some all-time favorites here, and we hope your shiny new gear will someday look the same.
Black Diamond SpotLite 160
Best for minimalists
Smith Basecamp
Best for small faces
Costa Pescador
Greenest
Sunski Treeline
Best deal
HydraPak Velocity IT 1.5L
Best insulation
Platypus Big Zip EVO
Best all-around reservoir
BioLite HeadLamp 330
Most comfortable
Vaurnet 03
Best all-around
CNOC Outdoors Vecto
Most versatile reservoir
Klean Kanteen TKPro 25 oz.
Best bottle lid
Princeton Tec SNAP
Most versatile
Osprey Jet 18
Best kids pack
Big Agnes Duster 15°F
Best kids sleeping bag
Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL
Best child carrier
KEEN Targhee Little Kids’ Waterproof Boot
Best kids boots
Helly Hansen K Barrier Down Insulator
Best kids puffy
Reima Narvik Thermal Set
Best kids baselayers
BUFF Junior New Original
Best kids accessory
Babiators
Best kids sunglasses
HOKA ONE ONE Sky Toa
Best ride
Gear of the Week: Mammut Kento High GTX
This boot excels in technical terrain.
Hike of the Week: Bane Canyon, Chino Hills State Park, CA
Find fields of poppies on this spring-perfect hike in the Chino Hills outside Lake Elsinore.