Beginner Skills

When you're hiking for weeks or months at a time, sometimes you need a little audio therapy. These podcasts are just what the doctor ordered.

Use snow to build furniture, survive a storm, or make better pancakes (seriously).

We get it: backpacking can be expensive. But you don’t have to shell out a lot of cash to get outside this weekend. Follow these tips to hit the trail for less.

When there’s nothing standing between you and subzero temps but your three-season bag, all is not lost. Use these tricks to push further into winter without losing any sleep.

Can a diehard winter athlete take on a new sport—and the frustration of becoming a beginner again?

If you’re thinking about your feet while backpacking, you’ve done something wrong.

Getting soaked in cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. Use these tips to stay out and stay safe.

Is hiking with a total stranger a smart way to find a partner—or a train wreck unfolding one step at a time?

Can you see America's best idea on a thru-hike? You sure can—if you can figure out how to pick up your permit.

It’s one of the most liberating ways to take fido on the trail. Make sure that he—and you—are ready for it with our tips.

Use a few everyday items to keep your doggo and yourself hiking happy.

Our scout bucks conventional wisdom and guns for a 14,000-foot summit by sundown—instead of sunrise.

Be your own beer master with this guide to matching trail meals to craft brews.

Leave it to the pros to have the outdoor world figured out. These tips are what turn hikers into guides—and guides into heroes. Learn from their experiences with gear, skills, and people.

How do you find the best secret spots to take a dip? When is it OK to go naked? Backpacker answers all your summer swimming questions.

Don't fall for these food fibs.

Get your babe into the woods.

Your kids are old enough to remember this. Make some magic.

These kids are ready to become genuine trip partners.

In a season of change, a new mom finds comfort on the trail.

A young climber rewrites the relationship with his dad.

Some parenting dogma is made for breaking and the backcountry is the place to do it.

The best trail is the one you build. Take the work out of trail work and look like you know what you’re doing with these tips.

Is it possible to have the real thing on the trail?

Going on a long hike is complicated under the best of circumstances—but kids and a partner open up a whole new world of challenges.

Want to take your pups hiking? Keep them safe—and make them good ambassadors for caninekind—with these basic training tips.

Maximize comfort, convenience, and fun by scouting out your campsite with care.

Your miniatures already love to explore. Help them do it with this checklist from Hike it Baby.

Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, or another long path? Make the most of your time before you blast off.

Want to check an epic hike off your life list? Start ticking off these boxes and make it happen.

Have the thru-hike itch, but don't want to ditch your career? A short long trail may be just what you need.

Put in enough miles, and feet hike on their own.

The trail can be a challenging place for parents and kids. Set aside your expectations of how a hike should go and learn what you can.

Seven rules to keep you going all day, every day.

Tent, igloo, or quinzhee? Our testers head out into the cold to settle the debate.

Quitting your job for the trail doesn't necessarily spell doom for your career.

They don't charge for their help—but that doesn't mean you don't owe them.

Keep yourself (and your supplies) from freezing this winter with tips from Philip Werner, an Appalachian Mountain Club leader and founder of sectionhiker.com

What do you do when you find yourself committed to a non-hiker? Sweeten the deal for them with these strategies.

Want to go on a thru-hike but not sure where to start? Take our course to learn how.

Use your head to start checking adventures off your list.

Remember these tips for a safer summer.

Are your plans bigger than your pockets? These grants could help fund your next big effort.

Yes, the idea of carrying out your nasty, used toilet paper is a little gross. But in many places, it's also the right thing to do. Here are some tips to make it painless and smell-free.

How to stay warm in your bag, keep your water bladder's tube from freezing, fuel your furnace, and more

These six long-distance trekkers have no problem hitting the trail alone—and often prefer it. We rounded up their best tips for female solo hikers.

New research shows that women are less likely to see themselves as leaders in the outdoors. That's everyone's loss.

Let’s set the record straight on some of the hiking world’s worst myths about women. First one: It’s not just men who believe these things.

More than half of women say they use toilet paper after peeing outdoors. We say it's an unnecessary hassle. Try one of these alternatives.

Follow these women's backcountry hygiene rules from a wilderness doctor to stay clean and healthy on your next backpacking trip.

Roxanne Fleming took her first hike at age 57, then went to Everest Basecamp and summited the Grand Teton. Here’s her best advice for late bloomers.

Guys, we're sure your intentions are good. But the women you run into on the trail need to know that. Here's how to help solo female hikers feel safer.

Many people fear that women hiking alone are particularly vulnerable to getting lost, hurt, assaulted, or raped in the wilderness. They're wrong.

If you're already a backpacker or hiker, you should be able to continue backpacking while pregnant. Here's some advice to get you going.

I tried outdoor experiences in Girl Scouts—and learned they were no fun. But thanks to new efforts, there’s still hope for the Brownies of the future.

Don’t let nay-sayers stop you from going exploring with your infant.

It’s messy, noisy, and twice the hassle of hiking by yourself. But take your toddler on the trail, and the memories will last you the rest of your life.

Want to pass on your love of hiking to your munchkins? Start them early.

Death, taxes, and blisters? Not so fast. Here are ten ways to avoid every backpacker's pet peeve.

Never hike alone again with this handy guide to convincing key people in your life to hit the trail with you.

Our veteran hiker takes on the ultimate tricky guest: her never-been-backpacking, 64-year-old father.

The military has spent years studying the best way to move under a load (aka “rucking”). Here are 5 military rucking rules that translate well to hikers.

From feeling too tired to eat to finally giving up on personal hygiene, if you've been on a backpacking trip, you know what we're talking about here.

Just because you haven't showered in 5 days doesn't mean you can't feel like a million bucks. Use these 9 tips to stay fresh in the wilderness.

Backpack into the heart of Sequoia National Park to the beautiful snow-melted Pear Lake in Tokopah Valley.

Have a bun in the oven and love hiking? Here are some tips to continue hiking throughout pregnancy.

Jump into the way-back machine and check out this packing advice from November 1977.

Choose the best backpacking food with these simple tips from an expedition meal-planner.

Go beyond granola bars and make these energy-rich essential foods part of your trail diet.

Choose your adventure - pack animal style.

Learn three different positions for answering nature's call in the backcountry.

Essential winter camping tips from a polar explorer.

Can our guy construct a winter shelter that’s strong, roomy, and warm? (Hint: No.)

Your imagination is required to think about the future of our wilderness.

The only thing you'll regret about taking the brood backpacking is not doing it sooner - and more often.

Close encounters of the serpentine kind from BACKPACKER Forum users

Hiking with others can be a blast—as long as your partner isn't making one of these egregious gaffes, that is. Here's a taxonomy of the worst backcountry offenders.

Go beyond granola bars and make these energy-rich essentials part of your trail diet.

The land changes come winter, and so should your route finding techniques.