Gear

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

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.

How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Keep your trekking poles clean and maintained with these tips.

Winter sun damage can be just as bad as in summer.

Take care of your hiking boots and they'll take care of you.

Log some easy "city" miles in your new hiking boots before that epic trip.

Setting up a tarp? Follow these techniques depending on the situation.

A simple blister remedy gets you back on the trail fast.

When gently paddling amidst the mini-icebergs that grace Prince William Sound, you ponder one question: why walk?

The inside of a pack is a rough place for poorly packaged food. Protect your grub so it emerges intact.

Vancouver's Juan de Fuca Marine Trail offers the best of both worlds in a challenging and surprising 29-mile ramble.

When temps warm but the going's still snowy, strap on snowshoes to reach Washington's hidden camping gems.

Tips to keep water filters filtering.

A few simple precautions will prevent punctures and preserve the foam in your self-inflating pad.

Beat the rainy-day blues by playing sleeping-pad chess or checkers.

Thickness, length, width, and weight options make choosing the right pad more involved than you might think.

Finding a bivy that's just your size makes all the difference on colder nights.

How to dress smart and stay warm when Old Man Winter blows in.

Learn how to weatherproof your tent -- before it rains.