Adam Roy

Need to grab a bag for sub-zero nights? Marmot's Lithium is on sale now.

It takes a lot to spook a hiker—but it's not impossible. From widowmakers to Appalachian Trail shelter rodents, these costumes are guaranteed to spark fear in any of our hearts.

Turning your favorite pasta into instant noodles takes just a few hours.

Regularly backflushing your filter will keep it in tip-top shape. Here's how.

The Outside Lab at CU Denver uses sensors, weights, and mannequins to figure out how different backpacks carry loads and how much each can handle.

New restrictions in the New Mexico National Defense Area require hikers to get a permit to access the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Trail—and seems to ban most non-U.S. citizens from it entirely. Here's what we know.

A partner who goes too fast or slow is at the heart of many an on-trail spat.

Tarps are no longer the go-to shelters of most ultralighters. Should they still have a place in your kit? That depends.

Fred Ramsdell was in the Wyoming backcountry when the Nobel Prize committee made its announcement.

The SOL Venture Rechargeable is a solid, lightweight headlamp for less than half the price of its closest competition.

Thanks to our propensity for carrying heavy loads for long distances, hikers are prone to backaches. Heres how to deal with yours.

A black bear attacked and killed a camper in the state's second fatal bear attack since early September.

More teeth equals better grip on the trail, right? Not so fast. We paid a visit to the Outside Lab at CU Denver to learn more about what makes some hiking shoes perform better than others.

The Kelty Cosmic Down 0 can handle frigid winter temperatures, but won't weigh you down on the trail.

The Nahanni is a spectacular northern river with a dark history. Getting there isn't easy—but it's worth the trouble.

An alpaca-wool hoodie, an ultralight and ultra-comfy backpack, and a headlamp that shines in 3 different shades of white: This is the gear that helped our editors live their best lives in September.

A backcountry cocktail kit in a box, a 5-ounce library, and a cornhole set you can fit in a daypack: This is the gear our editors absolutely don't need to pack, but keep bringing anyway.

The Conservation Fund announced this week that it had purchased 480 acres of formerly private land on Mount Bross—including a key portion of one of Colorado's most popular high-alpine trails.

We paid a visit to Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion to learn more about Joro spiders, the AT's newest residents.

Level up with these smart backpacking accessories, all of which cost a Hamilton or less.

Pennsylvania's 501 and Eckville shelters have amenities like solar showers and on-site caretakers and provide a crucial stopping point for hikers on the AT—but they're scheduled for demolition next year.

The Ursack AllMitey is a lightweight alternative to bear canisters that's tested against grizzlies and smaller critters too—and it's on sale right now.

A 29-year-old solo hiker suffered "significant but non-life-threatening" wounds after the attack on the Turbid Lake Trail.

With their easy access to adventure, gorgeous scenery, and electric vibe, mountain towns can feel like an outdoor paradise from the outside. But moving to—and staying in—one can be trickier than it looks.

When hikers get lost in the wilderness, newspaper headlines often credit their survival to subsisting on their own urine. The reality? It’ll just kill you faster.

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North Carolina's Mount Mitchell State Park had been closed since Hurricane Helene wrecked part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Fat Bear Week, the annual contest to find Katmai National Park and Preserve's chunkiest ursine resident, is nearly upon us. Brush up on the highs, lows, and shockers of this battle of the titans.

Move over, duct tape: An outdoor-specific sewing kit—and the know-how to use it—might just be the most useful repair gear you bring.

Baxter State Park officials are asking for the public's help identifying the person or people who defaced the sign at the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus.

In two separate incidents in Arizona and Colorado, police say that three individuals walking dogs assaulted or threatened other hikers after getting into disputes over their pets.

Thanks to its space-age materials, the Editors' Choice-winning Mystery Ranch Radix 57 carries serious weight while coming in at a pound less than similar haulers.

The Anchor Ranch had been at the center of a long-running land dispute involving two of Montana's largest landowners.

A group of hikers had to call for help in New York's Catskills after taking shrooms and losing both themselves and their car keys in the mountains.

Joro spiders’ large size and enormous webs have spurred public concern since the invasive species arrived in the United States in 2013. While they’re harmless to people, they may pose a threat to their new ecosystem.

Think you understand how headlamp brightness works? Get schooled at the Outside Gear Lab.

A comfy sleeping pad, an insulated bottle to keep your drinks chilly, and a pile of fantastic backpacking food: This is the gear that helped our editors make the most of this past month.

There's a beauty (and importance) in the trail's smallest trekkers

From wild animals to dangerous terrain, the outdoors has its fair share of hazards. Test your survival knowledge against a Backpacker editor and see how you fare.

Pistachio, tahini, and crunchy kadayif have proven to be a winning combination as a chocolate bar filling. But how do they work as part of a s'more?

Make a classic backpacking dessert without a campfire using this simple recipe.

The Exped Megamat is a camping pad that sleeps like a full-on mattress.

Prosecutors in Colorado claim that a state park ranger searched for information about abdominal anatomy and injury payouts online before stabbing himself and trying to pass it off as an attack.

In the wake of a fatal snakebite on a Tennessee trail, Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy dives into one of their most common causes.

Give your sleeping bag, puffy, and layers an end-of-summer deep clean without leaving them damaged.

A canyoneer spent some 48 hours nestled in a dark, wet cave behind a raging waterfall before rescuers managed to hoist him out.

Why would a lightweight backpacker willingly add a kettle to their load? Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy makes his case for his new favorite swap.

Finally an ultralight kit that won't turn your savings into dust. Here's where to start.

A hiker in Tennessee passed away late last week after suffering a snakebite a half-mile into a local trail.

Colorado's highest peaks saw an estimated 265,000 hiker-days in 2024, far short of the pandemic-era record, but a gain over 2023.

Resist the siren call of pumpkin spice season: You've still got two weeks left until Labor Day. From sneaking in one last trip to brushing up on your campfire skills, here's how hikers should spend the rest of their summer.

Cutting your pack weight can make for a more fun experience on the trail—to a point. From backpacking with no backpack to trying the Triple Crown without a sleeping bag or tent, we share four stories of hikers who pushed ultralight to uncomfortable—and occasionally dangerous—places.

The Granite Gear Virga 2 is an affordable frameless pack, and right now it's on sale for 30 percent off.

Hikers in the U.S. rarely have to worry about paying for the cost of their own rescue. But that isn't true everywhere—and in some cases, the bill can be very, very big.

My backcountry teapot doesn’t save weight—but it saves my sanity.

Yes, there are hazardous creatures out there in the woods. But that doesn’t mean you need to fear them. From rattlesnakes to alligators, here’s what you need to know about some of the wild’s most infamous creatures and what to do if you see them.

A high tide at Point Reyes trapped two 18-year-old hikers on a beach with no way to retreat.

The British Columbia man emerged from the animal encounter relatively unscathed.

With simple ingredients and easy prep, these budget-friendly meals are ready to keep you satisfied on your next backpacking trip.

Italy's mountains have seen an increased number of deaths this summer as hot weather drives hikers towards higher altitudes.

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The Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 Platinum has all the features of a much heavier backpacking tent tucked into a sub-two-pound package.

Grippy shoes, quality sun layers, and an ultralight backpack that can handle a load: This key gear made our adventures better this month.

On trails today, low-cut shoes are king. But the hiking boot still has its place.

The mercury's on the rise. Hiking in these conditions can be costly, but here's how you can go about it safely.

Two separate parties had to spend the night on Katahdin's Knife Edge before rescuers could reach them.

For one hiker, balancing time for the trail with the obligations of a job and fatherhood means relying on ungodly amounts of caffeine.

On via ferratas, climbers use permanently-installed iron rungs and cables to ascend soaring cliffs without the need to carry heavy rock climbing gear. Want to try one? Here's what you need to know.

The cardinal rule of hiking with your dog: don't take them up any mountain you can't get them down.

I can live with a sub-par tent or a Walmart shell. But cheap shoes? That’s a trip-ruiner.

One local Grand Teton fox who's embracing its inner sneakerhead has stolen nearly three dozen shoes in a Grand Teton campground, leading park officials to worry it's becoming alarmingly habituated to humans.

If you're a devotee of Altra's Lone Peaks, you can grab a fresh pair at a steep discount now.

Colorado's iconic Hanging Lake Trail reopens to the public this month. Come with us to get a crowd-free sneak preview.

Summer's here, and from a pocket-size caffeine spray to trail-to-town footwear that's ready to travel, this is the gear that's getting us out there.

This Backpacker-tested tent, sleeping bag, pad, and backpack is everything a new hiker needs to hit the trail—and right now it's a steal.

A 10-person crew of imprisoned trail workers and firefighters helped evacuate a person with a broken ankle from a rugged trail in Oregon. He's at least the second stricken hiker they've helped.

The Orukayak Beach Explorer bundle comes with everything paddlers need for casual overnight adventures, and folds up small enough to check on a plane.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 55 is a trail-tested, reliable ultralight pack, and right now you can snatch it for under retail.

Where's the most memorable place you've ever gone to the bathroom outdoors? From a spider-filled jungle to a mountaintop throne, here's what two Backpacker editors had to say.

Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy and former Editor Jon Dorn shared their wildest animal encounters onstage at Outside Festival. From a harrowing mountain lion encounter in Saguaro National Park to a bathroom break interrupted by a bruin, here's what they said.