Gear Review: Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot
This featherweight pot is great for solo pasta lovers.
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Kristin Hostetter
My Stories
Gear Review: Gerber Crucial Multitool
This midsize multitool lacks excess.
Family Camping: Tips & Stats
How many miles, and how heavy a pack, can your kid handle? Plus, big tents, first aid, and newbie adults.
Family Camping: Fun Food
Meal-by-meal tips to please the whole family
Family Camping: How to Pull it Off
87 tips for making your next family trip easy, fun, and comfortable
Backpacker's Guide to Family Camping
A realistic, hassle-free handbook for taking kids outdoors
The Kitchen Sink: Backcountry Cookware Reviews
Everything you need to eat well in the backcountry.
Gear Review: Light My Fire Spice Box
Keep your salt, pepper, and sugar in this rugged, ultralight case.
Gear Review: Sea to Summit AlphaLite Cutlery
Get these light knives, forks, and spoons without breaking the bank.
Gear Review: Sea to Summit Delta Insul-Mug
This pack-friendly mug keeps drinks hot and hands cool.
Gear Review: MSR Exo 2 System Cook Kit
This cook kit provides a light solution for two-person dinners in the backcountry.
Gear Review: GSI DukJug Bottle
This better bottle survives freezing temps, doesn't absorb food smells, and can take a beating.
Gear Review: Evernew Color Ceramic Non-Stick Deep Pots
Camp cooking and cleanup goes much faster with Evernew's ceramic-coated pots.
Gear Review: Evernew EL9 Solar Clip Light
This sustainable light gives cap-wearers a viable headlamp alternative.
Gear School: Ultralight Packs
Shop smarter, hike farther with this guide to the guts of today's lightest load haulers.
Gear Review: Merrell Optima Tank
A stretchy top that works well on summer trails, rock climbs, and in yoga studios.
Gear Review: Western Mountaineering Hooded Flash Down Jacket
This puffy layer saves weight without excess cold spots.
Digital Camera Glossary
Before you shop–and buy–your dream camera, familiarize yourself with these commonly used terms
Freeplay FreeCharge 12V
Check out Kristin Hostetter's author page.
Eton Microlink FR150 Weather Radio
Solar panels and hand crank keep Eton Microlink FR150 weather radio going and going.
Taste Test: Camp Coffee
Whether you're going ultralight or ultra gourmet, it's crucial to pour the right cuppa joe.
3 Ways To Save: Ultralight Dayhiking
Save weight, your feet, and money with these three pieces of ultralight gear
The Backcountry Bathroom
Nature calls, even in the wilderness. We've found 5 products that will make your outdoor bathroom runs easy, hygienic, and safe.
Zero Impact Challenge
Is it possible to build a backpack that doesn't contribute to global warming? Not yet, but five pioneering companies gave it one helluva try. (Cue standing ovation.)
How to Lighten Your (Planetary) Load
We found 17 pioneering products that will cut your carbon cost without sacrificing performance.
Kids' Stuff
Check out Kristin Hostetter's author page.
How to Waterproof Everything
From your tent, to your bivy sack, to yourself, learn how to stay dry and comfortable.
How to Store and Clean a Sleeping Bag
Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling, including storing, washing/drying, and special considertations.
Half The Weight, Twice The Fun: Hike The John Muir Trail
Find out what happens when four people hike the 221-mile John Muir Trail in just a week. Then learn how to bag the classic in more sensible lightweight fashion.
The Menu: Be an Ultralight Gourmet
No, it's not an oxymoron. You, too, can say buh-bye to endless energy bars and instant rice glop--and eat like royalty for less than two pounds a day.
Exclusive Online Content: Layer Up
Ward off the chill of cooler temps with these Backpacker-tested base layers and shells
Stove Review: Jetboil GCS
A revolutionary stove-and-pot set that'll cramp your prep time with super-fast boils.
Cookset Review: Brunton IB
An aluminum cookset that's light in your pack and on your wallet.
Stove Review: Vargo Jet-ti
A compact, superlight canister stove to call your own.
Backcountry Skiing: Master The Telemark Turn
The tele turn requires careful technique and some practice. Work on these moves at your local slope before venturing onto untracked snow.
Refurbishing Your Tent's Coatings
Give that old tent a new waterproof coating without shelling out big bucks.
Time To Treat: When to Repair Gear
How do you know that your gear is crying out for help? Consult our handy list of signs and solutions.
Waterproof Your Wilderness Gear
A complete guide to buying gear that will keep you dry--no matter what
The Best Recipes: REI/BACKPACKER Camp Cook-off
The best gorp, breakfast, entree, and dessert recipes from our cooking contest: 200 contestants, eight finalists, one culinary king
Common Sock Materials
Get the lowdown on what your socks are made of.
Gear TLC: Make Your Socks Last
Get more mileage from your stockings, on the trail and in the wash
Foot Mechanic Quiz: Fixing Foot Problems Before The Hike
Do your foot troubles warrant an expert's opinion? Take this quiz to find out.
Wander Along The Wild Olympic Coast
A trip along Washington's Olympic Coast is one whale of a day at the beach.
Buying A Better Filter
It's simple: Unless you like getting sick, treat all of your water. Follow these 10 essentials to find and maintain the right filter.
Sleeping Bag Care: A Lofty Goal
Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling.
Skis or Snowshoes?
Take BACKPACKER's quiz to quickly determine where your natural ability directs you.
Choose The Right Snowshoe
The size and type you'll need depends on your weight (with pack) and the snow type you expect to encounter.
Anatomy Of A Snowshoe
Get up close and personal with all those snowshoe parts.
Hiking While Pregnant
With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.
Rock Island State Park
Too small to get much attention and a pain in the neck to reach: The perfect Wisconsin escape.
How To: Boot Cleaning
Take care of your hiking boots and they'll take care of you.
Foot Fitness
Stronger foot muscles can end ankle sprains and aching arches.
Fixing A Blister
A simple blister remedy gets you back on the trail fast.
Break In Your Boots
Log some easy "city" miles in your new hiking boots before that epic trip.
You Can't Strut With Fallen Arches
Test to see if your "shocks" -- the arches of your feet -- are blown.
Grow Trail Greens
Time it right and you can harvest fresh greens every day of your trip.
Editor's Choice: Bowman Lake, Glacier National Park
Bears electrify an already incredible experience at Glacier National Park's Bowman Lake.
The Mother of All Beginner Trips
Imagine that your well-coiffed, country club mother calls and says, "I want to go backpacking." Would it be your worst nightmare or a family dream come true?
The Colors Of Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias
Wrangell-St. Elias National park is known for its jaw-dropping scenery, but there's just as much beauty at your feet.
Snowshoes Terrain Techniques
Techniques for winter trekking. Find out the advantages snowshoes provide for getting over hill and dale.
Modern Man Vs. Mad Dog
A techno-packer and a yard-sale minimalist go stride for stride to find out what kind of equipment is best for a good time. Or more importantly, does it really matter?