Skills

How to choose an effective, safe sunblock.

Get in your best hiking shape with trail running. It strengthens the right muscles, builds cardio fitness, and can be done all year–better yet, it hardly costs a dime.

In a Utah mash-up of adventure racing and wilderness medicine, everyone wins.

Spice up your backcountry menu with this flavorful and satisfying Asian staple.

In 20 minutes, you can have Asian in the backcountry.

Spice up ramen noodles with this easy Thai dish.

Learn to identify three families of clouds and you'll be able to forecast rain, sun, and deadly storms.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

Enter our 2011 "Your Best Shot" photo contest for a chance to win a Crumpler camera pack.

Whether you want to make a slick family-trip memoir or a movie worthy of a film festival, shooting high-quality video takes more than pushing "record." Sign up for our webinar and our expert team will show you how to shoot like a pro.

Just like at home, there's clean-up to do after every meal in the backcountry. Here's how to get your dishes clean.

No sink? No problem. Here's a step-by-step guide to backcountry dish scrubbing.

Test your knowledge of cloud types, and how you can use them to predict the weather.

Maximize your thermos's heat retention capacity with these easy preheating steps.

No one takes a to-go cup on the trail. Unless it's one of these hardy thermoses or hot/cold bottles.

These are some of our favorite wildlife photos you've submitted to the Reader Photo Contest.

Everyone gets it. But the BACKPACKER editors aren't afraid to take their hats off and flaunt it. Check out this slideshow complete with details on how to submit your own (or an unsuspecting friend's) horrible camp hair pics.

Become an official BACKPACKER Map Correspondent and get FREE GEAR!

Suffer no more: instant cheesecake for the backcountry.

Claim a corner of your garage or basement to create this ultimate setup for storing, maintaining, and repairing gear.

Your pre-trip shopping just got a whole lot easier.

Take the hassle out of menu planning with these fast meals.

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, don't leave camp without inhaling one of these tasty options.

Upgrade any camp dinner with this medium-bodied wine.

A fork, knife, and spoon for the green and ultralight crowd.

The four Herbal Oats granola bar varieties are all-natural, preservative-free, and delicious.

What does it mean to be utterly, hopelessly, truly lost? In this video series, author Jim Thornton takes you step by step through his bid to find his way out of the Frank Church Wilderness.

These bear canisters have been making bears sad since 1982.

Pots for the masses–and the ages.

Get all-day protection without the greasy white tint with this chemical-free sunscreen.

This sweet and savory sandwich is a staff favorite.

The best instant coffee ever

A disposable grill for backcountry feasts

Supreme stickiness on rock in a lightweight hiking shoe

Kids will love this dessert.

Dress up any meal with these condiments.

A great two-pot cookset

A ceramic coated cook pot with a fry pan lid

The perfect solo cookset

The ultimate winter camp shoe

An all-natural sunscreen with bug repellant

Stop blisters in their tracks.

Build this light, affordable kit to repair any backwoods blowout.

Upgrade your navigation skills under the tutelage of BACKPACKER's map editors.

Learn the proper belay and safety technique for scrambling on steep terrain.

Just getting started? Master these basic rules to improve all of your pictures.

Wilderness paddler Mike Stavola sets a record on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Learn how to enhance your photos using several photo software programs including Photoshop and Lightroom.

Clif makes wine? Yup, and good wine at that.

Want strong knees when hiking season starts? Work your hamstrings now.

Double your trail miles–or just boost your energy–with protein-rich snacks.

Final words on the luxury side of winter

Rocky Mountain Editor and survival blogger Steve Howe gets you out of the house on your first winter camping trip with this seven-part how-to guide.

Add security on steep terrain with the simple hip belay.

This satisfying whole grain is filling, fiber-rich, and ready in less than five minutes.

With couscous, beans, and veggies this is a complete, and tasty, trail meal.

Salmon jerky and curry powder are key to this hearty dish.

Cross the steeps safely and avoid avalanches with these guide-approved tips.

It's a big step. Here's how to do it right.

Plan right and you're bound for the best winter camping experience possible.

Party of two? Your cookware is ready.

Picking the right equipment is key to having fun in the snow.

Paula Patterson learns how to share the trail–but not her tent–with the wildlife.

We drop some wisdom and gets you inspired in this beginner's guide.

Backpacker readers share their hiking, camping, gear, bear bagging, and firestarting tips.

We taste-tested a stack of your recipe submissions–everything from pasta to pub food. These four winners emerged as the best of the bunch.

A spicy Asian dinner with satisfying crunch.

A simple dish from two thru-hikers.

Think the classic campfire treat can't be beat?

Classic, pubworthy flavor for camp.

Fresh pasta in less than five minutes.

Reader Leon Nelson has shared literally hundreds of tips gleaned from his 60-plus years on the trail. Here's a sampling of his best.

Check out Cheryl Knapp's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER readers's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER readers's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER readers's author page.

Meet five of BACKPACKER's most inspirational heroes–they're also readers.

Check out BACKPACKER Editors & Contributors's author page.

From boots to bindings to skis, this rig will have you set for the backcountry.