Skills

A home dehydrator might be the handiest kitchen tool you never knew you needed. Upgrade your backcountry cooking with these drying (and rehydrating) tips.

You've learned the basics and know enough to keep yourself safe. Want to take the next step toward honing your backcountry skills? Maggie Slepian explains why hitting the trail alone is the way to do it.

For his 3-day, fastest known time-setting hike of the JMT, Jeff Garmire had one rule: bring as little as he could carry and still make it to the finish.

Check out Christopher Tedeschi's author page.

Keep your cool in the backcountry—no matter how high the mercury climbs—with these key lessons from one of the hottest places on Earth.

Hikers around the globe can agree on one thing: Snacks are essential.

Thru-hiking is for everyone—but if you really want to build your life around the trail, some careers make it easier than others.

You don't have to spend hours and hours on the trail to get prepared for your next big hike. It's more efficient to train with a loaded pack.

When there’s nothing to write home about, you might be doing it right.

Everything you need to find a last-minute backpacking adventure before the leaves turn and the air turns frosty.

Wildfire season is getting longer and more intense. What does that mean for backpackers who have to breathe the smoke it generates?

Next time you have to resupply your gear, make one of these swaps to reduce your waste and impact on the planet.

Bigfoot sightings continue to capture the imagination of monster-lovers everywhere. Despite being particularly unphotogenic, we've gathered ten of the best-known photos of the elusive simian.

Catch the Perseids with these smart skywatching tips.

Despite their eponymous appearance, cow chips, a rich cookie, taste divine.

Whether for breakfast, lunch, or an after-dinner treat, these make-ahead crepes add a touch of class to any campsite.

Hatchets, saws, and axes have a place—and it's not in the backcountry.

Check out Lee Welton's author page.

From "good old raisins and peanuts" to trail mixes spiced with hot peppers, Michigan cherries, beer nuts, and dried carrots, the ultimate backwoods snack comes your way, courtesy of Backpacker readers.

Want to make your hike better? A little time before you depart will save you a lot of hassle later.

Backpacking really isn’t that complicated. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Bad weather. A heavy pack. Blisters. Bears. Hazards big and small can sabotage any trip. Avoid common mistakes with these 100 tips and tricks for planning, hiking, and camping, and make your first—or next—trek problem-free.

Check out Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Check out Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Read these tips from expert soloists to gauge your readiness and learn how to enjoy an unfettered adventure.

Use long exposures to reveal the beauty of celestial motion.

Stop settling for the same blah menu. With these tips, all hikers can prepare trailside Michelin-star-worthy meals. Even the lazy ones.

Knowing how to prevent and treat burns should be in every backpacker's toolkit.

One hiker combines her loves of cooking and backpacking.

If your feet ever become numb while hiking, don't worry. This common hiking ailment has a few potential causes and easy fixes.

Leapfrogging, following benchmarks, and more.

Dogs can get hurt on the trail just like you. Here's how to treat 5 common problems.

Snakes and heat shouldn't keep your little one locked inside all summer. Here's how to keep them safe in the backcountry.

If you haven’t snagged a reservation to the growing list of timed-entry parks, it might seem like a trip there this summer is out of the cards. But fret not—we found some legal ways to visit.

Hiking big miles every day can make your legs tired and crispy. Not if you've prepared. Here's how to develop invincible trail legs.

You don’t need to “get in shape” to enjoy hiking season. Here’s how to savor it from the start.

And what to do when you get athlete’s foot on your pack.

Dayhikes are wonderful, but you’ve decided to make the leap and sleep outside. No car, no campground, just you, your hiking partner, and a tent. Here’s how to pull off your first backpacking trip without a hitch.

Bring home dreamy after-dark photos of your starlit camp.

Add four low-carb recipes to your trail cookbook

Not satisfied with stopping at the river’s edge? Unlock new wilderness with this lightweight waterfaring setup.

Ditching the baggage and streamlining your life can be easier said than done.

You really want more granola? Get your carbs in a tasty, new way.

Don't let a small scrape send you off trail for some antibiotics. You can prevent getting an infected cut with these tips.

Short answer: It depends. Here’s everything that goes into your regular hiking pace.

Yes, it's time-consuming and expensive. But you don't want to be unprepared when a wilderness emergency strikes.

Sometimes you're compatible as friends, but not hiking partners. These tips will preserve your relationship and keep it off the trails, for good.

No, you don't have to hang up your pack for good. Recovery is possible, but here's what you have to prioritize before hitting the trails.

Whether you're a Mountain House fanatic or dehydrate your entire menu yourself—here's how to keep your energy levels stable on trail.

We've been warned against hitchhiking our entire lives—but on a long trail, sometimes it's the best option.

Irrigation is the most important step you can take to prevent a cut from going south.

Most thru-hikers are careful about LNT rules—but a few scofflaws can make us all look bad.

Forgetting to plan ahead, leaving social trails, and 3 more ways errors backpackers make.

We talked to Leave No Trace about the best ways to bushwhack.

Perfect your camping setup with these tips.

Prep for this no-mess treat is more complicated than boiling water—barely.

Get to know your rainbows from your double rainbows from your moonbows.

Want to avoid growing a science project in your water bottle or hydration bladder? We’ve got the cleaning tips and tricks to keep them squeaky clean.

It’s not just a bag. It’s a lifetime’s worth of beauty sleep. Learn what features you need, shop accordingly, and keep your bag in good repair, and it’ll keep you sleeping soundly.

Home is where you stake it out. Understand the ins and outs, pick the right shelter, and treat it like you would your bedroom.

Understanding suspension and construction is key to finding the right fit—and proper maintenance and repair will ensure your load-hauler lasts thousands of miles.

Footwear tech is more complicated than it looks. Maximize your mileage by learning how to pick the right boots and make them last.

Can science—and a fine-tuned gear setup—help you sleep better? Let's give it a try.

Find the perfect spot to pitch your tent with these tips.

Bad weather, horrendous blisters, endless hills—it’s all fun if you look at it the right way.

The easiest way to lighten your pack isn’t to buy new gear, but to leave a few things you already have behind.

You don’t have to learn the hard way, because we already did.

Being alone in the wilderness doesn't have to be frightening. With these tips, you can fine-tune your mind for an empowering solo journey.

Camping with kids can be unpredictable and messy. But, with a lot of love (and sometimes, a little blackmail), it can be a lot more fun.

Can a novice navigator make the leap to confident cross-country hiker?

Kickstarting a workout habit starts with reexamining your motivations.

For how dangerous the backcountry can be, it's sometimes the smallest accidents that become the biggest injuries. Stay safe with these tips.

Stay itch-free this summer with these guide-tested tips.

From weight changes to growing feet, hiking 2,000 miles can have a big impact on you physically.

Dotted, dashed, and curvy. Red, blue, and brown. All these colors and styles criss-cross a topo map. Here's what they mean.

Go way beyond Slim Jims with these flavorful, make-ahead snacks.

No dehydrator? No problem. Jury-rig your oven to make this tangy, smoky snack at home.

We dive deep into this backpacking cultural phenomenon.

Those familiar aches that arise from hauling a heavy pack can force you into bad posture and take all the fun out of hiking. Fight load fatigue by strengthening the muscles that surround your spine, hips, and shoulders