Beginner Skills
Ready to take the leap from car camping and day hikes to overnight backpacking? Feel prepared for your first multi-day backcountry adventure with advice from our trail experts written specifically with the new backpacker in mind. We'll teach you the beginner skills you need to plan your trip, pack appropriately, navigate the trail, hike with kids, set up your campsite, poop in the woods and more.
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.
A Veteran Thru-Hiker's Best Advice
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with the most popular columns from thru-hiker Liz "Snorkel" Thomas.
Pass/Fail: Hike in Sandals
Is all that extra breathability worth exposing your feet to sun, bugs, and toe stubs?
What’s In My Pack: Speed Hiker Joe McConaughy
Want to go really, really light? Take a hint from a guy who finished the Long Trail in less than 5 days.
Learning to Hike With a Disability
The trail is for everyone. Experience it your way by learning your limits and planning ahead.
Troubleshoot Your Weekend: 21 Tips to Go On the Perfect Backpacking Trip
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.
10 Indoor DIY Projects for Backpackers
Stuck inside? Then it's the perfect time to tackle one of these indoor DIY projects to set yourself up for a great hiking season.
Thru-Hiking with a Baby is an Exercise in Patience—and Endurance
Are the difficulties of taking a toddler on a 200-mile hike worth the rewards?
Summer's Here. Hike Naked.
If you want to appreciate how your body feels, rather than looks, on the trail, you have to let it all hang out.
Backyards Gone Wild: How To Camp At Home
If you have a yard or even a balcony, you have a campsite. Here are 8 ways to make the most of very close-to-home camping.
This Guided Meditation is as Relaxing as a Walk in the Woods
Practice mindfulness to experience the healing of nature from home.
5 Things to Use Instead of Toilet Paper
With TP disappearing off of store shelves around the U.S., maybe its time for the public to learn something backpackers have known for a long time.
Find Your Perfect Long Trail Pace
Hike with efficiency, speed, and intention, and you’re sure to accomplish your thru-hiking goals. Here’s how to plan your pace and fight lollygagging tendencies to reach the terminus before winter does.
The Ultimate Continental Divide Trail Packing List
Gear up for the United States' toughest long path with these expert picks.
Leave No Trace Confessional: I Trampled an Alpine Meadow
An early-season snow sends a hiker into delicate territory.
A Backpacker's Guide to Foraging
Start reconnecting with Mother Earth by learning to forage your dinner in the wild.
Leave No Trace Confessional: I Pooped in Front of an Audience
A forgotten WAG bag leads to a smelly situation on Mt. Whitney.
Tips for Hiking at Altitude With Your Dog
With little preparation, any fit canine can handle the alpine. Here's what you need to know.
How to Help You Kids Do Their Business in the Woods
Doing a number two outside can be a fraught topic for kids. But it doesn't have to be.
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Babies and Toddlers
Expert advice from Hike It Baby's Jessica Carillo Allatore
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Elementary School-Aged Kids
Expert advice from Family Channel editor, Lisa Jhung
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages
Expert advice on choosing trails for families with babies, to teenagers, and all ages in between.
How to Pick the Perfect Hike for Kids of All Ages: Pre-teens and Teens
Expert advice from BACKPACKER Editor-in-Chief, Dennis Lewon
