Gear

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.

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.

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

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

Protect your tent from rain by building a rain dam.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

17 tips for better compression

How to make sure you stay upright on your poles.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Tips to keep water filters filtering.

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

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