Editors' Choice

Does bleach repel Rattlesnakes?

What do you recommend including in a medical kit for a five-day hike with four (middle age) adults?

Sometimes drugs that help with attention deficit problems help with acclimatization to altitude—and sometimes they don't...

What’s the SPF of a deciduous forest?

Why is it advised to leave odor free deodorant or antiperspirant behind in the backcountry when sunscreen and bug spray are considered ok? Wouldn't the same premise apply to all?

My grandfather told me many years ago that using rubbing alcohol on your feet a few weeks before a backpacking trip will help prevent blisters. Have you heard this before?

I am leading a crew to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico next summer. We are covering 115 miles in 10 days and summiting four peaks around 12,000 ft. What workouts would you recommend to prepare 12 guys around the age of 16 for this trek

What is the fastest way to recover for hiking from a sprained ankle? What exercises can I do to strengthen my ankle muscles?

Can hiking with an aluminum external frame pack pose a hazard during an electrical storm?

I've had Lyme disease now for three years, misdiagnosed at first, I am a hiker and a climber and continue to do so even though the pain in my shoulders and knees is sometimes bad. I’m going to climb Mts. Whitney and Rusell soon. Will the high altitude affect my Lyme disease?

I recently went on a seven-day 100 mile hike. My knees where killing me on the down hills. What exercise can I do to prevent this from happen?

You run out of water on a long, hot dayhike. You find a full water bottle trailside, and also find a clear running stream. Drink from the stream, drink from the bottle, or abstain?

How long should water boil at 14,000 feet altitude where it boils at 60 degrees Celsius?

Why is it that wild animals can drink water that's unsafe for humans?

Just standing flat footed and lifting my toes I get a sharp pain shooting from the ball through the underside of my toe and my hiking has ceased. What could the problem be?

My boots seem to fit me well, but after about three hours of backpacking the balls of my feet become sore. Friction probably plays a role, so I duct tape the balls of my feet to slow down the pain process. Eventually they do get sore. Any suggestions?

I am a backpacker and mountain climber and am trying to find out more information specific to diet and keeping up my endurance, energy and strength. I have celiacs disease and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on obtaining the right carbs.

As a CO native, hiking Fourteeners in the summer is a favorite activity of mine. I'm excited to introduce my one-year-old to an easy one this summer (carrying him in a baby backpack, of course), but am a bit concerned about him and altitude sickness. Should I be?

Why do I get headaches nearing the end of hikes? I drink enough water, eat enough, but the last two miles of so of any hike I get a killer headache.

Does hiking and sleeping at altitude for the weekend one to three weeks prior to taking a hike at 14,000 help acclimating? I would be back at sea level for the work weeks in between.

How soon after exposure to poison ivy do I need to wash my skin? If I apply an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after contact with poison ivy, will it reduce my reaction, or stop it altogether?

When I through-hiked the PCT a number of people I was hiking with came down with giardia. We drank from the same sources for weeks. They treated their water and I never did and I still never got sick. Why?

With The North Face's new Drywall tent fabric and external clips, you can pitch the Phoenix 2 in the middle of a downpour without spilling a drop on the tent floor.

How do you improve on a tent that's already received an Editors' Choice award? Try adding a detachable vestibule, or "gear shed", that practically doubles the tent's footprint and its versatility.

Are giardia issues now greater than they were, say, in the 60s? In the 60's I often drank out of remote streams, with no ill effects.

Is Gore-Tex still the #1 all-time best waterproof material you can buy?

What are the best quick-dry pants to use in cooler temperatures?

I've heard that DEET is bad for sleeping bag fabrics. Since I use it on most camping trips, should I wash my sleeping bag after every trip?

Backpacker went wild and bush beat Craghoppers Bear Grylls line of clothing, survival style.

Big adventure awaits with this comfortable, large-capacity waterproof pack

A lightweight two-person tarp with multiple setup options.

Is this the summer you vowed lighten your load? Pick up this sequel to a previous Editors' Choice winner and start the season off right.

This four-person tent offers room in all directions, sky view ventilation, and a bone dry fly.

My friend and I have a debate going about how to pack a tent: He says stuffing it is better, but I say folding and rolling is better. Who's right?

Tents have warnings to "maintain adequate ventilation. Death by suffocation is possible!" My tent has lots of mesh. What's the story here?

How can I be sure my water treatment equipment is doing it job. Is there a way to test this?

I am new to backpacking and have only made a few serious trips. Everyone I hike with always carries a gun. Do you carry a firearm when in the United States? Or am I just paranoid?

Two waterproof/breathable fabrics paired with a stowable hood for durability and solid performance in a lightweight, compressible package.

What is the mosquito's hunting range?

Tax return burning a hole in your pocket? How about blowing it on a feathery-light shelter for two?

How can reduce the pain from knee arthritis so I can still hike?

Never suck again with this unique hydration system.

Will bleach make water safe to drink?

If you lack the cash, storage space, and/or desire to own a quiver of packs, get the ultraversatile Gregory Z65.

Will trekking poles help prevent my hands from falling asleep and getting itchy when I hike?

I am planning a thru-hike on the AT. Can you give me insight into the pros & cons of ultralight poles vs the old standbys?

If a rain fly has a few areas of mildew will it still work to repel rain, or do I need to get a new fly?

For a summer trek at Philmont, which is better, a wool sweater or a fleece garment?

I accidentally left my down sleeping bag in a stuff sack for two years! Is it ruined?

How many quarts of water per person per day should you carry when packing in the desert Southwest in the middle of May?

Ultralight, simple design for light-and-fast hiking

Is it true that placing a rope around your sleeping bag will discourage snakes from crossing it?

What can I do to prevent getting numb hands and arms when I'm sleeping in the backcountry?

Is it safe to drink untreated ground water?

I like sleeping under the stars. Is the fabled "rattler joins camper in his sleeping bag" tale at all a meaningful risk?

What is the shelf life of chlorine dioxide tablets?

They're nimble, versatile, and by far the easiest snowshoe binding I've ever used.

How long does it take for human feces in a cathole to break down into soil?

Because of a toe injury, my index toe now bends to the left. Should I do anything about it?

I have been away from backpacking for a while, why the shift away from external frame backpacks?

What's the best way to patch a tear in a siliconized Cordura pack cover?

I need prescription sunglasses, but can't afford them. Do you have any cheap sunglasses solutions that won't make me look like a geriatric?

I'm looking for a super packable rectangular sleeping bag–do they exist?

I have always used the "Potable Aqua" pills to treat water in the wilderness. Now I hear that they won't kill one or two specific water-borne diseases. Is this true, and if so, what can I do to kill the extra germs?

Three days into a five-day hike, your knee blows up to the size of a softball, despite there being no fall and no trauma. Why, and what can you do to help the knee?

Easy to pitch + easy to carry + easy to stay warm = Easy to love.

Is QuikClot a friend or foe?

I want to do some backpacking in Florida, but I know that the water in the Everglades and most streams is high in tannins. Is it safe to drink after filtration or purification pills?

How can I treat this condition on the trail?

My understanding is that the maximum amount of sodium you should have in your diet is about 2,400 mg. Is there a minimum amount you should have? I perspire excessively and get headaches without salt replenishment.

Is there a medicine that will treat leg cramps?

I have very poor circulation in my fingers and toes. What is the best way to keep them warm consistenty without overheating?

What is the best way to clean your hydration pack and tube?

What do you do with the water that is "backwashed" into the "dirty" bag? Discard the water or re-filter?

My baselayers say not to wash with fabric softener. Are dryer sheets out too? No dryer sheet = major static.

Can rechargeable batteries be used in LED and non-LED headlamps and flashlights?

How do the GPS apps for smartphones compare to a regular GPS?

Is it true your body swells at high elevations?

How can I keep glucose near me at night without attracting bears?