Skills

Make your campsite a sanctuary with these tips.

You’re in the local gear shop and you have one job: find a comfy but durable shell that will keep water out. But there are so many options—and the product hangtags seem to be written in code. Don’t worry. Here’s everything you need to know.

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.

A good backpacking stove will be your dinner date for hundreds of meals. Here’s how to pick the right one.

Developed by a college outdoor program, this may be the best bar you’ll ever eat.

Precipitation on the menu? Use these tips to cook comfortably in a dry backcountry kitchen.

Keep your body healthy and fueled on long-distance hikes.

When you’re hiking in a place that might never be the same, make sure you bring home a story you can share.

From simple carbs to detox diets, we bust four common food fables.

Skip the dumbbells and the gym membership. This year, whip yourself into shape with nothing more than your backpack.

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).

Tennessee or not, here are our testers’ picks for the best flask-fillers found in most liquor stores.

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.

Our staff and writers share their favorite backcountry eats.

Get the flavor of pizza on the trail with a fraction of the effort.

Experts share how drone content can bring videos to the next level.

Leaving a cozy sleeping bag takes its own brand of liquid courage. Find the brew style that suits you best, and use these recipes to serve it with a flourish.

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?

Learn the best practices for flying your drone so you never miss a shot again.

Knowing how to fly your drone is half the battle when taking photos from above.

Learn how to get the most out of your drone photography with these pro tips.

Getting out too much is a good problem to have. Stinky clothes from all the mileage? Not so good. We tested 16 cleaning products to find the best treatments to prolong the life of your favorite layers.

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.

Sorry, pasta and rice: Potatoes are the best comfort food. How, you ask? Let us count the ways. They’re packable, versatile, and nutritious. You can cook them in actual fire and use them for any meal. Going light? Bring instant flakes. Basecamping? Treat yourself to the real thing. No matter your style, the potato is right for you.

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.

Skip the spendy pet treats and make your own. But careful: You might end up eating them yourself.

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.

You’re prepared to get yourself out of trouble in a survival situation. What about your dog?

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.

Yes, yogurt. Laurie March, author of A Fork in the Trail: Mouthwatering Meals and Tempting Treats for the Backcountry, serves up her three favorite yogurt-based recipes.

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.

These five animals are looking for love this month. Hit the trail to watch them go wild.

Nail a once-in-a-lifetime shot with these tips from professional photographer Lucas Gilman.

You’re an adult: Eat like one. Upgrade your mac and cheese by swapping fluorescent powder for old-world flavors, veggies, and spices.

Train like a pro to perform like one. Bryan Pope of Earth Native Wilderness School recommends these exercises with high reps and low weight to build the strength and endurance of a mountain guide.

No oven? No problem. Here’s how to put cookies, muffins, and brownies on the menu.

Escape crowded summer picnic grounds and head to the backcountry—without having to settle for freeze-dried fare. Follow these tips and recipes for your best BBQ yet

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?

Tasty, fast, easy: What makes tacos great at home also makes them great on a backpacking trip.

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.

Trading your boots for a boat? Heed these hints to makes sure you’re never up a creek without a paddle.

OK, so you blew off your preseason training plan. Now what? Start the season right with this 10-minute-a-day workout, and you’ll be ready for the trail in no time.

We can't promise that they're all good. But these five trail cocktails are all memorable.

When you’re swallowed by night, the celestial show begins.

Never choose between comfort, safety, and views again. Here’s how to have it all.

Got a camp full of hangry hikers? After years of leading teens, BACKPACKER staffers, and his own family, Editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon has fed more than his share. Here are his favorite easy-prep appetizers.

It's good for your dog—and good for you, too.

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.

Fight the sedentary lifestyle and get a move on with these exercises and essential skill.

Take good care of your sleeping bag, and you could use it for years to come.

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

A little TLC will keep your hiking boots in shape for years to come.

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.

Upgrade a cold campout with a recipe that warms the insides.