How to Find the Perfect Hiking Partner
Companions can make or break a trip. Here’s how to choose one wisely.
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The Case for Section Hiking
Thru-hiking is a wonderful experience, but it’s not the only way to see a long trail. And for a lot of people, it might not even be the best.
Sometimes You’ll Hate Your Hike—and That’s OK
It doesn’t matter how beautiful the scenery is, or how lucky you are to be out there: Hike for long enough, and you’ll have bad days. And guess what? There’s nothing wrong with that.
Introducing Impossible Odds
Two friends, 8,000 trail miles, one year. This is Impossible Odds.
Preview: Here’s What It’s Like to Hike the Triple Crown In One Year
Two-thirds of the way through a monumental hiking challenge, there's still so much left to learn.
Our Goal Was to Hike the Entire Triple Crown in One Year. We’re Almost Done.
Two-thirds of the way through a monumental hiking challenge, there's still so much left to learn.
Here’s What’s in a Calendar-Year Triple Crowner’s Pack
When you’re hiking 8,000 miles in a single year, your gear needs to work. This is what Sammy Potter and Jackson Parell, the youngest hikers ever to finish the Triple Crown in a calendar year, brought.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: What to Do When You Want to Quit Your Thru-Hike
Is your motivation running dry? Try one of these strategies to recharge it.
Going on Your First Backpacking Trip? Don’t Make These 5 Common Mistakes.
If first trips have something in common, it’s that they go sideways pretty often. Here are a few important lessons readers and editors have learned along the way.
Meet 11 Heroes Who Are Saving Hiking’s Future
Without a healthy world, there's no backpacking. These 11 backpackers and advocates are fighting for a better Earth.
Timothy Olson (Probably) Just Nabbed the FKT on the PCT
After 2,652 miles, 400,000 feet in elevation gain, and more than 51 days, the ultrarunner finished his PCT thru-hike.
Is It Legal to Hike Naked?
Whether you're participating in Naked Hiking Day or just want to feel the breeze on your skin, there are a few things you need to know about nude hiking if you want to make sure you don’t end up ticketed or in cuffs.
These BIPOC And LGBTQ+ Ultralighters Are Pushing Hiking Further
The thru-hiking community is getting a much-needed diversity boost.
Where to Hike with your Dad for Father’s Day
These ten hikes are the perfect Father's Day getaways.
Aggressive Bears Wreak Havoc on Hikers’ Plans for Parts of the AT
Forest Service shutters campsites and shelters over a 13-mile stretch after receiving reports of multiple aggressive bruins.
The Internet-Age Struggle: How Can We Protect the Outdoors Without Gatekeeping?
With information about “secret” trails and campsites all over the internet, finding a balance between conserving the wilderness and welcoming people to it has never been more important—or more challenging.
Your Next Thru-Hike Could Be in Alaska
The Alaska Senate just passed a budget to start construction on a 500-mile segment of the Alaska Long Trail.
Hiking in the Rain? This Gear will Help Salvage Your Trip.
Seven products that will help keep you and your gear dry
Rediscover Adventure on These 4 Classic Hiking Road Trips
With America reopening, it’s high time to hit the road. See some of the country’s greatest parks, grasslands, and trails on these handpicked routes.
Pack Some Backcountry Relaxation With These Lightweight Wilderness Reads
There's nothing quite like kicking back at camp with a good book. These eight are light both literally and figuratively, making for perfect campfire companions.
Get Creative With Our Favorite Ultralight Hacks and Mods
From growing your own food on the trail (really) to cutting down your headlamp’s weight, these are some of our favorite ultralight hacks.
What’s the Buzz About Cicadas? Here’s Where Hikers Can See This Spring’s Insect Horde
Periodical cicada hatches like this year’s are an underrated wildlife experience. See the swarm up close—and maybe eat a few of them—on these hikes.
How to Face Your Fear of Backpacking Alone
A solo hiking or backpacking trip can either be a freeing or terrifying experience. Learn how to prepare and tame your imagination in the backcountry.
Best Hiking Boots of 2021
Nobody knows hiking boots like Backpacker. We sent testers around the world with the latest boots and shoes to see how they perform in varied conditions. These 10 rose to the top.
Why This Active Pass Member Packs a Sponge on Every Hike
These products help keep him safe and comfortable in the white mountains.
Could Thru-Hiking Be Bad For Your Health? A New Study Makes a Troubling Find.
Exercise may not be enough to make up for thru-hikers’ bad diets, a new paper suggests.
This Load-Eating Pack Helped Me Thru-Hike in Comfort
It may not be the lightest pack on the market, but the Gregory Baltoro 65 kept me pain-free and making miles even on the longest hikes of my life.
Speed Hiking for Science
What does hiking 800 miles in less than two weeks do to your body? Ultrarunner and FKT holder Joe McConaughy hit the Arizona Trail to find out.
Experience Every Season in a Day in the White Mountains
An abrupt shift in the weather turns into the best kind of White Mountains experience.
My Ultralight Backpacking Setup Weighed Almost Nothing—and it Was Miserable to Use
Is lighter really always better?
Sea to Summit Cool Grip X-Mug
The best multi-use mug of 2021.
Gerber Suspension-NXT
The best value multitool of 2021.
Being a Solo Female Backpacker Can Seem Scary. But it Doesn’t Have to Be.
For almost a decade, I avoided camping alone. Now, I wish I had tried it sooner.
5 National Park Campsites for an Epic Night Out
There are campsites—and then there are campsites. Settle in for one fantastic night at one of these prime spots, from mountain views to a beach getaway in the middle of Yosemite.
Have the Best Night of Your Life at These 10 National Park Campsites
The national parks are our national treasure, and these 10 campsites are the best they have to offer. Hike in, pick up your jaw, and post up in paradise.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: Should I Thru-Hike This Year?
Nearly a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us are ready to say goodbye to stay-at-home orders, shoulder our packs, and head out on a multi-month hiking adventure. But with transmission rates still high and vaccination efforts stretching into late summer, should we hold off?
7 Essential Ultralight Brands You Need to Know
Pack feeling too weighty? Start slimming it down with these 7 killer brands.
This Instagram Live Series Is Letting Black Adventurers Write Their Own History
Run by the St. Louis-based organization Black People Who Hike, the #OurStory series will air three times a week through Black History Month.
Deal of the Week: Altra Lone Peak 4.5
Stay light on your feet with these cushiony, comfy trail runners.
Thoughts Before a Calendar Year Triple Crown
A backpacker contemplates the challenges of Calendar Year Triple Crown on the eve of his 8,000-mile hike.
You’re Still a Backpacker Even if You’re Not Thru-Hiking
Backpackers have a habit of glorifying the big adventures. But the little ones can be just as sweet.
A Hero’s Journey
Rue McKenrick would hike the perimeter of the country to demonstrate our nation’s unity—if only he and the country could hold together long enough for him finish.
Need a New Year’s Resolution? Try the 52 Hike Challenge
A hike a week can change your life.
Thru-Hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis Joins President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition
Outdoor recreation is getting a little more representation in government.
Firetower Hikes: Rooms With a View
Hike to one of these nine fire lookouts for unbeatable views and a unique backcountry experience.
Easy Epics: 15 Drive-Up Campsites Even Backpackers Will Love
Combine the best of car camping (spacious tents, comfy chairs, frosty margaritas!) and the best of backpacking (deep solitude, outrageous scenery, swimming holes!) with these 15 accessible hideaways.
Ask a Thru-Hiker: What Are “White-Blazers” and “Blue-Blazers”?
Thru-hiking lingo isn’t just code, it’s a window into how people backpack.
Document Your Hikes in Paint
Making art on the trail helps you appreciate the landscape in a new way.
10 Times Gear Rescued Us
In tough situations, this gear had our keisters covered.
The Perfect Weekend Backpacking Trip: 21 Tips for a Better Hike
Work! Altitude! Traffic! Sometimes it seems like the universe is conspiring against your hiking plans. Here's how to subdue those hazards and 18 other trip killers to keep your weekends sacred.
Alleged AT Murderer to Stand Trial
A judge ruled today that James Jordan is mentally competent to stand trial.
Our Biggest Gear Fails
Sometimes, products just don't perform as planned.
Loneliest Campsites in the Lower 48
Escape the headlines—and the rest of the population—at one of these seven sites.
See Fossils on These 3 Impressive Hikes
Discover forgotten worlds on these three fossil-rich dayhikes.
The 10 Most Gorgeous Solo Hikes
Because sometimes, you just want to get away from it all.
Black Diamond Rhythm Tee
Durable wool shirt
14 More Awesome (and Awesomely Bad) Outdoor Movies You Can Stream Right Now
Hike the desert or sail the Indian Ocean with these great (but sometimes cringe-inducing) flicks.
Avalanche Swiss Granola
Best breakfast
Meet The 2020 Get Out More Ambassadors
Check out Backpacker Magazine's author page.
Marmot Yolla Bolly 30
Most comfortable sleeping bag
Here Are the National Parks That Are Closed Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
A handful of major parks have shuttered, while many more have modified operations.
Thru-Hiker Heroes: Will "Akuna" Robinson
Akuna's path to the Triple Crown led through battles with PTSD, a failed attempt on the PCT—and a few life-changing friendships.
30 Hazardous Hikes (That You Should Do Anyway)
From grizzlies to falling rocks to maze-like canyons, you'll want to come prepared for these tricky trips.
Killer Trips: Weather
Heading out on one of these hikes? Keep an eye on the forecast.
Was This Swedish Immigrant the First Continental Divide Thru-Hiker?
Nearly a century ago, Peter Parsons made long trail history before there were long trails.
The Hiker Who Never Left
When CDT thru-hiker Cionnaith "Lucky" O'Dubhaigh stopped to resupply in Lake City, Colorado, he was just looking for a short rest. Instead, he stayed and turned his new home into one of the best trail towns in the country.
14 Organizations to Support This #GivingTuesday
Take a break from the holiday shopping frenzy and give back today.
The Best Gifts for Ultralighters of 2019
Help them go lighter and faster with these 15 trail-ready gifts.
This 89-Year-Old Grandma and Her Grandson Are Visiting All of the National Parks—and They’re About to Start the Final Stretch
Grandma Joy is an inspiration to anyone who's ever dreamed about hitting the road.
How to Organize a Hiking Meetup Online
Hiking alone can be fun, if you’re ready for it. For the rest of us, there’s still safety in groups. But what do you do if you don’t have any hiking buddies?
6 Eastern Fall Hikes to Catch Epic Colors
With its mixed hardwood forests, the east coast has some of the country's best fall leaves. See them before they're gone on these six hikes.
It Takes Grit to Finish the Triple Crown. Just Ask Akuna.
Will “Akuna” Robinson is an Iraq veteran, a thru-hiker, and now, one of the few African-American backpackers to complete the country’s three most famous long trails.
Gear of the Week: Hart Outdoor First Aid Kits
These kits make finding what you need simple.
Hiking is for the Birds
Birding adds a new dimension to every hike.
Growing Up on the PCT
When a father-daughter team tackles the Pacific Crest Trail over the course of seven summers, they learn something about long-distance hiking—and each other.
Pass/Fail: Hike With Wet Feet
Can two hikers keep their feet happy while splashing through creeks for days?
4 Mountaintop Lookout Towers You Need to Hike
Score bird’s-eye views over valleys and mountains on these four treks to summit lookouts.
43 Ways to Have Your Best Summer Ever This Year
From swimming holes to wild berries, it’s prime time for hikers. Tick off these 43 trips and experiences to make the most of the season.
Gear of the Week: Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon Umbrella
Shield yourself from rain and sun with this ultralight umbrella.
The Crawford Path at 200
This New Hampshire footpath— the oldest continuously maintained hiking trail in the country—is a rite of passage for anyone who cares about America’s history of preserving and exploring wild places.