Dan Hu

We dunked 19 filters across the country, from silty streams in California’s Agua Caliente Creek to clear lakes in Washington’s Olympic Mountains, to find the year’s best.

For years, backpackers hung their food to keep hungry bruins at bay. But with trails getting more crowded—and bears wising up to our tricks—many experts say it's time to ditch the bear hang once and for all.

Whether because of poorly-fitting shoes, moisture, or just bad luck, every hiker’s tangled with those raw, fluid-filled bumps. Science can tell you how they form—but can it stop you from getting them?

A group of researchers from University of California, Irvine investigated the link between SAR incidents, park visitation, and Twitter posts. Their conclusions could inform how hikers portray their own adventures—and view those of others—online

Can the most common bear deterrent work in heavy wind and sub-zero temperatures? A group of researchers set out to test it.

The "Ten Essentials"—ten items supposedly necessary for a safe hike—are a widely-accepted dogma in backpacking. But new research adds to the narrative.

A survey of more than 700 John Muir Trail thru-hikers gave researchers insight into what makes a hiker more likely to get injured or ill while backpacking.