Backpacking leads us to amazing places we otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience, and sometimes these special locations allow for off-trail activities. Enhance your next backpacking trip by trekking to a mountain lake for a day of backcountry fishing or by climbing a technical roped route to bag your next peak. Learn essential multisport skills with fishing, rock climbing and water sport tips and how-tos from the editors at Backpacker Magazine.
The ability to unlock multisport adventures gave one hiker renewed verve for the trail.
On via ferratas, climbers use permanently-installed iron rungs and cables to ascend soaring cliffs without the need to carry heavy rock climbing gear. Want to try one? Here's what you need to know.
Here's what a lifelong backpacker learned when she ventured into bigger terrain.
'Tis the season for a wintry multisport adventure. Here’s how to take to the ice safely.
Not satisfied with stopping at the river’s edge? Unlock new wilderness with this lightweight waterfaring setup.
Can a group of novice packrafters make it out of Canyonlands in one piece?
Like the backcountry in the summer? You'll love it in the winter. Take your first steps into the world of backcountry skiing the safe and fun way with this advice from Backpacker.
Many of the skills involved with long hiking also lend themselves to going faster on trails.
Don't get stuck in the mud. Learn to evaluate road hazards, overcome obstacles, and navigate the unpaved passages between your front door and your next adventure.
Why settle for just one pastime? Add a sport that’s simultaneously exciting and relaxing to your backpacking trips by catching your first trout.
Going off-trail on steep, rocky terrain? There's a way to do it safely.
Taking your first unguided step onto a big mountain is a leap of faith. Backpacker editor (and retired guide) Shannon Davis tells you how to do it right.
You don’t need a rope and harness to explore nature’s labyrinths. Fall is prime time in canyon country—take advantage of the dry weather and take your hiking to a new level.
A longtime hiker faces her fears to level up her adventure resume.
Looking for the fastest route to deep backcountry? Lace up your sneakers, ditch the heavy pack, and run your favorite trails with advice from Gina Lucrezi, two-time winner of the Leadville Silver Rush 50 and holder of the women’s fastest known time on Mt. Whitney’s Standard Route (5 hours, 29 minutes, 22 seconds car to car).
Going slow on the snow can help you relish the smallest details.
Gear up for trips on all types of water.
It’s just like backpacking, but with a paddleboard instead of boots. Right?
Grab a paddle to access quiet coves, mirror lakes, or exhilarating rapids. Best part: You can pack like you’re car camping when you trade boots for a boat.
The best backpacking game is the one you don't have to carry.
See more—and have more fun—this winter with these gear and technique trips.
Learn how to find a great backcountry skiing zone and create a custom map with this guide to CalTopo.
Snow opens up new options for hauling gear, but that doesn’t always mean you should use them.
Who needs an off-season? Take on the challenge with Colorado mountain guide Jason Antin's top tips for alpine travel in the fourth season.
Triple the mileage with next to nothing on your back? A longtime hiker tries two-wheel camping to figure out the catch.
Whether you’re visiting a mountain town or moving in, it’s only natural to want the natives to accept you. But how far out of your comfort zone are you willing to go to get there?
Learn more about what goes on beneath the surface by casting a line.
This is one tough packraft.
Can a landlubber learn to paddle—and like it?
Don’t let Mother Nature keep you inside. Take it from these pros who adventure rain or shine. With their tips, there’s no such thing as bad weather.
Trading your boots for a boat? Heed these hints to makes sure you’re never up a creek without a paddle.
Customizable PFD
Best storage
Canoe paddle
Self-bailing packraft
Leg-powered paddlecraft
Packable SUP
Touring kayak
Inflatable Canoe
Load-bearing Cart
There’s no surer way to ensure a successful trip than hitting the mountains for charity.
Join the standup paddleboard craze and enjoy an above-water vantage for everything from rising trout to streamside wildlife.
Need an excuse to spend all day exploring an idyllic mountain stream? Grab a rod and get hooked on fly fishing with these 10 tips to get you started.
Start right with this bargain kit—helmet, harness, shoes, rope, and belay device—assembled by the editors of Climbing magazine.
This starter setup costs less than $1,300 and will last for years.
This PFD offers flotation and fit without spendy extras.
It’s exactly what an entry-level paddle should be: simple, light, and affordable.
Keep your maps and permits dry and organized in these clear urethane cases.
Portages are easier with this giant, tough, leakproof dry bag.
A new three-layer material makes the Journey 167 canoe family-tough and budget-friendly.
The best skiing helmets are equal parts warm, breathable, and streamlined—but you shouldn’t have to break the bank to get one. Our backcountry skiing expert rounded up the best brain buckets for an easy $100. Money in the bank!
Check out Casey Lyons's author page.
Learn to identify the terrain hazards of glaciers to stay safe in ice country.
Use canyoneering techniques to hike, scramble, and swim through a red-rock wonderland.
Don't (always) shell out for specialty gear.
Paddle through any conditions with this durable canoe from Wenonah.
Stay dry and comfortable with this breathable paddling jacket from Immersion Research.
Combine all the benefits of a dry bag and compression sack and you get the Airpurge Dry Compressions Sacks from Outdoor Research.
Go lightweight with this adjustable kayak paddle from Bending Branches.
Get flexibility for a bargain with this sea kayak from Perception.
Re-think your preconceptions with this comfortable PFD from Kokatat.
This inflatable kayak from Innova combines storage benefits and a hard-shell-like deck.
Grip and draining combine in this hybrid shoe from Sperry Top-Sider.
This sea kayak from Wilderness Systems gives you the comfort and storage space necessary for a multi-day journey.
If you're hiking deep into the mountains where lakes abound, you're missing the boat if you don't catch your supper. Here are seven items that perform and pack well for excellent backcountry fly fishing..
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is plenty hard with two strong legs. Imagine crawling to the top, like the first congenital quadruple amputee to reach the summit.
This budget-friendly boat made from durable thermoformed polyethylene offers a plush ride for everyday paddling.
The low-profile, adjustable PFD features soft, PVC-free foam, which molds around your body for custom-fit-like comfort.
Keep your butt happy on long canoeing trips with this add-on seat.
An inflatable kayak with multiday gear-carrying capacity and legit whitewater stability
A one-person pack raft
A 17-foot boat for paddlers who rank long-haul performance over short-course speed.
Shoes that stick, rope worth investing in, and a Grigri 2 overhaul.
Explore wildly sculpted rock.
A summer snow slope gives this reader the scare of his life.
Perfect this move for on-a-dime turns in steep, rugged terrain.
Stay safe with these six ski-down tips.
Use telescoping shafts for stability on any angle.
Change your technique and style to manage any snow conditions.
All conditions affect avy potential. Check forecasts and assess risk.