Keeping the backcountry clean is a year-round job. Here's how to do it in the fourth season.

Are you a fitful sleeper on the trail? You don't have to be.

Feel the urge to drop trou more when the temperatures on the trail dip below freezing? It could be cold diuresis.

To heck with Quitter's Day: These bite-size resolutions are simple to keep and are guaranteed to upgrade your hiking experience.

Winter hiking doesn't have to be uncomfortable. Not entirely, anyway. For less than $20, these accessories can help make it almost cozy.

Whether you're headed to the Pacific Crest or the Florida Trail, long trail alumni have something to teach you. Here, backpacker writers share their best thru-hiking wisdom from a collective 11,000 miles of walking.

Yes, you need to eat differently on winter hikes than on summer ones—but the best foods might not always be what you think.

It's never too late to learn something new, especially when that something is how to enjoy a walk in the woods. Start with this advice from hikers who started in their 50s or later.

No need to muscle through the fourth season anymore. These tips don't take much work and keep you feeling cozy all night long.

Yes, you can make your pack lighter even in winter. But if you want to stay safe, you’ll need to change the mindset you bring to your shakedown.

Don't settle for "good enough." Instead, find the campsite of your dreams by considering these factors.

Are you in a temporary rut—or do you have a case of catastrophic burnout that only a long walk in the woods can cure? Two career coaches weigh in.

A partner who goes too fast or slow is at the heart of many an on-trail spat.

Thanks to our propensity for carrying heavy loads for long distances, hikers are prone to backaches. Heres how to deal with yours.

We all have bad hiking habits. These are the ones guides say they notice most often—plus how to kick them for good.

Getting stopped up during a backpacking trip is a common—and uncomfortable—experience.

Beetle larvae taste "nutty" and scorpions are like "softshell crab" according to expert bug forager Aly Moore. Ready to try nature's trail mix for yourself? Here's how to do it.

With their easy access to adventure, gorgeous scenery, and electric vibe, mountain towns can feel like an outdoor paradise from the outside. But moving to—and staying in—one can be trickier than it looks.

Move over, duct tape: An outdoor-specific sewing kit—and the know-how to use it—might just be the most useful repair gear you bring.

Stay calm, assess the situation, and use what’s in your pack.

Lets just say I don’t spring out of my sleeping bag as fast anymore.

Having a bad stomach isn't a trip-killer, as long as you follow these tips from a veteran hiker.

Carbs are one of the hardest nutrients to get right on the trail. We interviewed two experts to learn the facts.

Hiking dietitians weigh in on how to meet your fueling needs without hauling the whole fridge.

Give your pack a much-needed shakedown by cutting these common but unnecessary items.

In bear country, food storage is key—but can be a huge pain. Here's how to ease the burden of rigid bear-proof containers.

These easy tips will have a huge impact on your quality of life on the trail

Sharing a cramped sleeping space with a dozen stinky hikers can be a challenge. Here's how to make it more pleasant for everyone.

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 on the ascents.

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

A stripped-back list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when hiking in the buff

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.