Gear

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The beauty of this hike comes alive with the rain.

Receding water levels mean more miles of choice desert hiking and kayaking.

Paddle blue inlets too new for any topo.

Liven up your purified water.

Make your sleeping bag smell laundry fresh.

Determine direction without your compass.

Who would have thought a piece of golf equipment could be really useful to backpackers?

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.

10 essentials for long day adventures

The best ultralight cookers built by BACKPACKER readers.

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.

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

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

Using your GPS is easier than you think.

Quick tips to set your tent with the right rainfly.

Tarp tips for the tactical hiker.

Common GPS terms you should know.

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.

Tackle your tent pole problems with this quick tip.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Protect your tent from rain by building a rain dam.

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

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

Rubber boots are essential gear in the tundra.

Tent pole problems? Here's an easy fix.

Add some ribbons to your sleeper to speed drying.

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

Follow these 10 essentials to pick the right trekking poles.

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

Pick your backpack before your hike with our sizing guide.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

QuickTip: How to stake tents on hard ground.

Quick Tip: Preserving tent poles

How to make sure you stay upright on your poles.

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

17 tips for better compression

Get up close and personal with all those snowshoe parts.

Use ziplock baggies with your water purifiers for extra safety.

A candid interview with duct tape guru Angelo Ritson.

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

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.

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

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

How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.

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

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

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

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.

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