Gear Reviews

Here's the best way to make a lightweight and inexpensive camping mattress.

10 surprising uses for your water bottle.

Try these easy cleaning tricks to keep using your hiking poles out on the trail longer.

A do-it-yourself guide for sewing space-age hats and other performance outdoor gear.

Spring is for the birds. Here's where to find a flock near you.

Waterproof boots can make the difference between a sick hike and a miserable slog.

Keep your flashlights and headlamps alive longer with these trail tips.

Winter warmth is easy with these tips from arctic explorers, cold-weather experts, and army docs.

10 essentials for long day adventures

The best ultralight cookers built by BACKPACKER readers.

Nine features that can turn a small sack into your favorite backpack.

Visitors to Siberia's Lake Baikal encounter endless coastline, brown bears, and exotic hiking to last a lifetime.

Endless varieties of coral and birds await when you kayak the blue waters of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Now here's scientific proof that trekking poles are a hiker's best friend.

Using your GPS is easier than you think.

Common GPS terms you should know.

Quick tips to set your tent with the right rainfly.

Tackle your tent pole problems with this quick tip.

Tarp tips for the tactical hiker.

To stay dry in a downpour, carry the right wet-weather gear and know how to use it.

Lengthen your boots' life span by following this simple maintenance plan.

On your next outing, be sure to heed these 10 tips for sleeping like a log.

Take your hike into the river with these paddling, kayaking and boating tips.

Going sleeveless might save you weight, but will a vest keep you as warm as a jacket?

For a different wilderness experience, try floating down the river in a kayak or canoe.

Trouble sleeping in camp? Try our tips for a good night's rest.

What's the best way to treat bug bites? Don't get bit in the first place.

How and where you should set up your winter tent for maximum comfort and shelter longevity.

Paddle Wisconsin's Turtle-Flambeau waterway, watch the aerial show, and lay claim to your own island.

High above the trees you'll find the hike of your dreams: a ridgeline trail where your only companion is an occasional mountain goat.

Hard-won tips for pitching tepee tents on any terrain

Consider these points when deciding if an approach shoe is right for you.

Protect your tent from rain by building a rain dam.

You can experience heavenly hiking even if you lose your boot sole.

Add some ribbons to your sleeper to speed drying.

Tent pole problems? Here's an easy fix.

Rubber boots are essential gear in the tundra.

There's no single piece of equipment more crucial to your backwoods enjoyment. Here's how to make the right choice.

There are different boots for different types of terrain. Follow these 10 essentials to match sole to trail.

Half of your "good sleep" equation is a comfy pad (the other half is your bag). Look for these 10 essentials when you buy.

Pick your backpack before your hike with our sizing guide.

Buying a European backpack? Use our conversion chart before you buy.

Before you get a new boot, make sure the shoe fits with our sizing chart.

It's simple: Unless you like getting sick, treat all of your water. Follow these 10 essentials to find and maintain the right filter.

Follow these 10 essentials to pick the right trekking poles.

Not all shelters are created equal, as anyone with a cheap tent will tell you after a bad storm. Follow these 10 essentials when buying your next tent.

Inventor finds a way to harness all that energy you burn on switchbacks and long trails.

Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling.

In Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve, you'll walk on water -- almost.

QuickTip: How to stake tents on hard ground.

Quick Tip: Preserving tent poles

17 tips for better compression

Trail-proven ways to keep your trekking sticks healthy and strong.

How to make sure you stay upright on your poles.

Get up close and personal with all those snowshoe parts.

Use ziplock baggies with your water purifiers for extra safety.

An emergency kit doesn't amount to a hill of beans unless a few feet of duct tape are included. Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the sticky, miraculous fix-all.

A candid interview with duct tape guru Angelo Ritson.

A brief and shining history of the most useful backpacking tape.

Make the proper buying decision by first learning the language of jackets.

Two ways to keep your external frame on your pack in tip-top shape.

Getting the right shell has as much to do with personal needs and hiking habits as it does with the quality of a garment.

What to do if your filter head does not have an adapter for your water bottle.

How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.

Before you cinch up your gaiters, consider the best way to keep the wicked weather and bits of terrain at bay.

Sewing a key pouch inside your pack is the best guarantee of a quick ride home.

If I had to pick, I'd take a carabiner instead of a pocketknife when I hike.

All it takes is $7,000 and a man named "Pittsburgh" to become a weightless thru-hiker.

The hidden side of a watery Utah playground.

A watery paradise, a hiker's secret.

Wisconsin's Brule River has great rivers galore -- just don't lose your uncle's canoe.

Ease the load on your knees and shoulders by making a hiking stick.

Has your sleeping bag lost its loft? Zipper off its track? Check to see if your bag is worth repairing or if it's time to buy a new one.

Know what can and can't be repaired on your boots, and who to call.

Everyone knows good outdoor clothing is expensive. See if you can save your old hiking apparel.

See if your stove or water filter is safe to repair.

Mildew. Torn mesh. Broken zippers and poles. Is it worth fixing your home away from home? Find out for yourself.

Can you revive a sputtering pack? With this diagnostic checklist, you may be able to breathe new life into a tired old backpack.

Insiders' tips to keep your hikers on the trail longer.