Skills

This fun treat is no-bake, dead easy, and oh-so addictive.

The scariest trails, spookiest tales, and tastiest recipes for October backpacking.

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

You know that feeling: the hush and sway of a forest towering stories above you. Now bring it home.

Great food doesn’t have to mean slaving away over the camp stove. Here are four delectable dishes that slash cleanup from the to-do list.

Attention ultra-lazy cooks: This no-mess meal raises the bar on instant mashed potatoes.

Upgrade this no-mess pasta dish by roasting the olives and sausage ahead of time. Or don't--it'll still be delicious.

Backpacking with your best friend? Keep him—and others—safe with these tips.

Consider this list merely a starting point for this fun take on Spanish small plates. Raid your pantry for other ideas, and don’t forget to bring some sherry to sip on the side.

Even without a stove, there's no need to skip your coffee; mint tea adds depth to this cold brew.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

This simple, no-mess meal is hearty, tasty, and oh-so-easy.

Skip the camp clean-up by letting plastic bags do all the work.

Hiking's best season is here, and we've got everything you need to make the most of it.

Here's the gear we used to make the next-level camp food in our story Hike Hard, Eat Well.

Summer's blooms can last forever - if you know how to capture them.

Whip up this easy trail meal for luxurious fine dining under the stars.

Good old raisins and peanuts feeling…well…old? Mix it up with one of these innovative combos. Jealous friends guaranteed.

Take your camp food to the next level with these essential items.

What’s better than a perfect alpine sunset? Seeing it doubled. Here’s how to nab the shot.

How to fix zippers, wash a sleeping bag correctly, waterproofing and make boots last.

Add a bit of fresh flair to your camp meals with this healthy side.

This decadent, creamy dessert will make you feel like you're at a fancy bakery, but requires no cooking and is super-easy to make.

These juicy, saucy, super-simple mini sandwiches bring hearty home cooking to camp.

Yes, we’re recommending a bacon-marshmallow combo. Trust us. Bonus: They make a great quick breakfast when paired with a trail shake.

What's more American than apple pie? Baking apple pie over a campfire of course.

Enhance your next hiking trip with these local craft brews that (handily) come in cans.

Close encounters of the serpentine kind from BACKPACKER Forum users

<p class="sub_header">You sent us your best flower shots from Switzerland to California. Here are the ones that really blew us away.</p>

Nice job. You’ve forgotten your sunglasses and your hat. Lucky you thought ahead and brought duct tape and beer. Here’s how to put them to use keeping the sun out of your eyes.

Up your game with this gourmet, one-pan breakfast.

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.

Open up a new door to adventure–by leaving the well-trod route behind.

Learn how to orient yourself for when it really counts.

Want to do ultralight right? Check out these tips.

Treat yourself to kid-style cereal in this blend that'll actually get you through a grownup day.

Bread pudding is the ultimate way to end your day. Bonus: This decadent treat requires almost no cleanup.

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

Two skills to take with you to the backcountry

Construct a solid emergency kit with these medical must-haves.

The best way to avoid getting lost? Always know your location. Study up on these key techniques for identifying terrain features,translating GPS data to a map, and triangulating your position.

From hypothermia to heatstroke, the elements kill in myriad ways. Protect yourself with 34 tips on wind, rain, snow, and more.

From Rialto Beach to the Roan Highlands of North Carolina, our readers captured these stunning sunrises and sunsets.

Four recipes for camp cocktails on different occasions.

A great ending to a good day on the trail? A tasty cocktail in camp. We consulted trail-savvy bartenders for their top recipes and tested more than 100 varieties of beer, wine, and liquor to find the most pack-friendly picks.

Use canyoneering techniques to hike, scramble, and swim through a red-rock wonderland.

Protein-packed and calorie-dense, nuts are a classic backpackers' superfood. We taste-tested 96 spreads, mixes, and bars to bring you the healthiest (and tastiest) options for the trail.

Discover secret campsites and total solitude with this expert guide to safely navigating untracked wilderness.

Help us decide the winner of the next photo contest

Is hiking and yoga the ultimate path to rejuvenation? Our man takes his bad back and troubled soul to Yosemite to find out.

Salts and other electrolytes help regulate cell function and nerve impulses, so when you sweat them out, you need to replace them. From Grand Gulch to the Grand Canyon, we tested 27 different gels, powders, and chews - and found the best ways to stay charged this summer.

Snag a last-minute permit for a popular national park trail, ease the itch from a poison ivy/oak encounter, navigate successfully in a canoe, and pack the right amount of food for your big groups backcountry trip.

Apply mountaineering basics to adapt to thing air, avoid high-altitude hazards, and make smart decisions.

Here are the ten finalists from the latest photo contest. Vote for your favorite to help us choose the winner. The winning photo will be published in Backpacker's September's issue and the winner will receive a Tamron zoom lens*.

How to choose a campsite, set up camp. and sleep comfortably.

Tips on packing and planning for your first night under the stars.

Dodge these common errors with our prevention primer.

Learn how to set up your kitchen, store food, and wash dishes in the backcountry.

Learn how to treat water in the backcountry.

How to dress comfortably and stay fueled while hiking.

Outdoor experts have refined the list of key safety and survival tools into these 10 categories. Don't leave home without them.

Use these tips to advance your cooking skills and improve your camp grub's taste and nutritional value.

Noodles are easy-prep crowd pleasers. Learn about the trail-worthiest types and cooking methods.

Improve your balance on uneven terrain, figure out if your water filter is still working, and determine the crossability of a questionable river or stream during spring and early-summer.

We tested 40 new energy bars flavors and culled these five top picks.

Master these easy repairs to save on shop costs and replacement gear.

Stay warm and fight the rain with three simple projects using this waterproof/breathable material.

Use extreme-distance hiker Andrew Skurka's plan to construct an ultralight, ultracheap cooking system.

Whether you're buying maps or park passes, there are easy ways to save a few bucks.

Save and make money with these tips from experts at the country's best secondhand gear shops.

Don't (always) shell out for specialty gear.

What to choose when buying water bottles, batteries, water treatments, and midlayers.

Four handy tips for getting the most for your money.

By shopping strategically, planning smart, and maintaining your gear, and making easy repairs you can save big. These 75 tip are here to help.

Here are our favorite pictures from this month's photo contest. Vote for your favorite to help us choose the winner. The winning photo will be published in Backpacker's August issue and the winner will receive a Tamron zoom lens*.

Cook better - use the best tools.