Where's the most memorable place you've ever gone to the bathroom outdoors? From a spider-filled jungle to a mountaintop throne, here's what two Backpacker editors had to say.

Deaths from extreme heat are climbing—and hikers are especially vulnerable. Here's what you need to know about keeping yourself safe during the hottest months of the year.

When should you prioritize your safety over your desire to finish your hike? Always. Six hikers explain how they knew it was time to call it.

On a long trail, you’ll likely want to thumb a ride eventually. Here’s how to do it tactfully and safely.

They may be cute, but chipmunks, mice, and other small animals will steal your chow and ruin your pack in the process. Here’s how to stop them in their tracks.

Don't let the gram-counting around ultralight gear intimidate you. Slimming down your pack's weight is easier than many beginners think.

First step: Accept that mud is inevitable on any trail.

Two thru-hiking moms share their top tips for backpacking with little ones.

Fend off fatigue by eating enough of the essential macronutrient.

From nutrition myths to getting protein, our experts break down how to stay fueled and feeling good on your next big hiking trip.

Canister stoves and cold temps don’t always mix. Here’s how to make your stove more efficient when the mercury drops.

Don't waste your half-used hand warmers. Save them for later with this trick instead.

Not bringing ice cleats or crampons on an icy hike can be frustrating at best, and deadly at worst. Here's how to know what you need—and some staff-tested recommendations fo what to buy.

Couldn't get the PCT permit you were banking on? You still have options. From prepping for a fast-paced hike to skipping the Sierra to waiting for cancellations, here's what you can do.

Hoarding gear, hiding our injuries, and packing way, way too much candy: These are the bad habits we have no intention of losing this year.

Hikers have to clean up after dogs—why don’t equestrians have to do the same?

Get some solid Z's even when you’re sticky and sweaty.

Some hikers swear by using a tent footprint. But are they really necessary?

Is there any room for creative expression on the trail—or are hidden treasures still just trash?

There's no better way to test the strength or compatibility of a relationship than to take it on the trail. Here’s how to use a hike to evaluate a new partner.

Yes, you can hold down a stable career and hike six months out of the year. Three enterprising thru-hikers share their secrets.

Packing food for a backpacking trip can be a challenge—this method offers one solution.

Cool off fast and stay safe in a heat wave with these pro-level strategies.

Lyme disease is one of the most debilitating tickborne illnesses. But a cure could be on its way.

Our hiking dietician puts these eight nutrition myths to rest.

Don't hike with the masses. Instead, find your own peace on the trail this summer with these tips and trips.

You might think those dried chili macs in your garage last forever. Not so fast.

From letting ticks make a meal out of you to slogging through deadfall, these pitfalls can derail your summer adventures.

From meal planning to meeting the townies, every aspiring thru-hiker should hear this hard-won advice.

Self-described Luddite Michael Engelhard preferred to ditch the gadgets and improvise what he required instead. Would a super-size adventure change how he packed?

Having a friend join you as support for a few days during your hike can be a welcome break—and a chance to reconnect with your life at home. But for it to be a positive experience, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Everybody does it. But pooping in the wrong place could make a mess of someone else's hike. An expert shares how to make the best of a sh*tty situation on the trail.

You have gotten so smelly before, you've stopped noticing. You have a "nice" pair of Lone Peaks for when you want to look presentable. You own too many sporks. If this sounds like you, then congratulations: you are definitely a hiker.

Learning how to talk about problems you're having on the trail—and how to listen—can be the difference between a frustrating, demoralizing hike and a fun, fulfilling one. What can psychology teach us?

When it comes to packing for a winter camping trip, separating good advice from falsehoods can be difficult.

Drifts got you down? Use these tips to travel efficiently in even deep pow.

Those little crispy cookies your grandma gave you when you were a kid don’t seem like they’d be packed with energy. But they aren’t just shockingly calorically dense: They’re durable and delicious, too.

The weather's getting colder, and that means your packing and planning strategies have to change. Steer clear of these backpacking mistakes for a smoother transition to fall.

Make your headlamp pull double-duty as a warm, inviting light for camp gatherings with these low or no-weight techniques.

Just finding their way to their journey's starting point is a challenge that few new thru-hikers think about until they have to do it. But there are resources—and generous people—to help them.

An outbreak of norovirus on the Pacific Crest Trail proves that hikers’ hygiene routines need an upgrade.

From choosing the right water filter to evaluating your gear list, AT hiker Michael Perry shares his advice for getting trail-ready

Call him crazy, but our hiking columnist loves climbing hills. A fifth of the way into the epic Continental Divide Trail, he’s got some ways to improve your form, function, and mental performance.

Four hikers reveal every morsel that's fueling them for thousands of miles.

A stripped-back list of do’s and don’ts

How to find some of the country’s best campsites—and stay for free

If you’ve never forgotten an important piece of gear, you will someday. Here’s how to make do without your tent poles, sleeping pad, and more—and how to decide when it’s time to give up and go home.

With smoke choking much of the US, we sourced some expert tips for staying safe on the trail.

Don't let a poorly-loaded backpack put a damper on your next adventure in the backcountry. Learn how to pack it the right way—with efficiency, convenience and comfort in mind.

Social media is full of ridiculous “camping hacks” that won’t help you do anything but create a bunch of extra garbage. Embrace these editor-tested tricks for staying comfy in the backcountry instead.

Rushing rivers pose one of the backcountry’s biggest threats. Do you know how to cross safely—or when it’s best to not cross at all?

A rainy trip doesn’t need to be a miserable trip.

Want to improve your next trek, guaranteed? Master these key skills for hiking, climbing, and camping in comfort.

Your tent will withstand anything with these tips.

One-way hiking means never seeing the same spot twice, but you need to have your car shuttle logistics dialed. Follow these 10 tips to shuttle like a pro.

You don’t need to be fluent in hiker lingo to hit the trail—but it does help to understand guidebooks, trip reports, and your fellow trekkers around camp.

You hike year-round. Why can't your dog? Make sure they're dressed, fed, and prepared for the weather, and your best friend can enjoy the snow by your side.

Most of us won’t make it to either pole in this lifetime. But we can still learn some tricks from those who have.

Travelling a long trail end to end isn't the only way to thru-hike.

Shorter days are no problem with these night hiking tips.

Some advice doesn’t age well. It’s time for an upgrade.

Beginner hikers often overpack and overprepare. But as Maggie Slepian learned the hard way, experienced hikers have their own special way of messing up.

We all use the trails—but very few hikers take the time to help keep them clean, safe, and maintained. Here's how you can join them.

Yes, you might have to get up early. But put in the effort to fit some trail time into your vacay, and you'll have a chance to sample hikes you might otherwise never do.

Hikers around the globe can agree on one thing: Snacks are essential.

Thru-hiking is for everyone—but if you really want to build your life around the trail, some careers make it easier than others.

Everything you need to find a last-minute backpacking adventure before the leaves turn and the air turns frosty.

Backpacking really isn’t that complicated. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Bad weather. A heavy pack. Blisters. Bears. Hazards big and small can sabotage any trip. Avoid common mistakes with these 100 tips and tricks for planning, hiking, and camping, and make your first—or next—trek problem-free.

Snakes and heat shouldn't keep your little one locked inside all summer. Here's how to keep them safe in the backcountry.

If you haven’t snagged a reservation to the growing list of timed-entry parks, it might seem like a trip there this summer is out of the cards. But fret not—we found some legal ways to visit.

Dayhikes are wonderful, but you’ve decided to make the leap and sleep outside. No car, no campground, just you, your hiking partner, and a tent. Here’s how to pull off your first backpacking trip without a hitch.

Whether you're a Mountain House fanatic or dehydrate your entire menu yourself—here's how to keep your energy levels stable on trail.

We've been warned against hitchhiking our entire lives—but on a long trail, sometimes it's the best option.

Most thru-hikers are careful about LNT rules—but a few scofflaws can make us all look bad.

Forgetting to plan ahead, leaving social trails, and 3 more ways errors backpackers make.

We talked to Leave No Trace about the best ways to bushwhack.