Dennis Lewon

Just how much pack weight can one hiker cut? Our editor performs a far-out experiment in minimalism.

Join us on a trek in Nepal, and let’s show how hiking and helping go hand in hand.

Want to do some good on your next big trip? Join us in Nepal in spring 2022. On this special adventure, we'll volunteer on a post-pandemic recovery effort, then go on a life-list trek.

Rushing rivers pose one of the backcountry’s biggest threats. Do you know how to cross safely—or when it’s best to not cross at all?

Tear down the walls: Sleeping without a tent gives a true backcountry experience.

Get inspired by the everyday, every day.

You don’t have to go far to enjoy camping season: If you have a yard or even a balcony, you have a campsite. Here are 8 ways to make the most of very close-to-home camping.

Make sure you’re prepared for your next trip into bear country.

From a gem of the national park system to a do-everything backpack, these five things are the best value for every hiker.

In Mexico’s Copper Canyon, LifeStraw’s give-back program delivers water purifiers to schools in need.

Trek through villages that still have one foot in the past

A trip down the Klarälven River is a journey back in time.

The 3,000-mile long trail has plenty of alpine highlights, and this one in northern Colorado is my new favorite.

The Bight Gear + BACKPACKER test team climbed Mt. Rainier in July. All four of the contest winners made the summit—and added to Bight Gear’s 100 million feet of vertical testing.

Everyone has their own special slice of the backcountry. For BACKPACKER Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon, it's a slice of beach in Northern California.

Give kids a chance, and you might be surprised by what they can do.

Last spring, BACKPACKER readers went to Nepal on a unique mission: work on a school-building project, then go on a life-list trek. Turns out, hiking and helping go perfectly together.

You have a whole summer of hiking ahead of you, and we're ready to help you make the most of it.

Spend less, hike more with a system that prioritizes affordability and durability.