Skills

Got burgers on the brain? Learn why some experts say it's okay to indulge.

Sidelined by injury? Get back on the trail fast with this easy treatment plan.

Keeping a close eye on those binocular caps.

How to avoid slipping and sliding in your sleeping bag.

No need to bring along a big, bulky container for your water in camp when you have this great compact suggestion.

Keep water flowing with this simple technique.

Put some rocks in your socks.

Keep arms and legs warm with gear invented by cyclists.

Carrying around those little extras just got easier with this trick.

Always carry extra identification when traveling internationally.

7 ways to kick your stride into overdrive

Want to develop legs of steel and the balance of a mountain goat? Try yoga.

Three ways to salvage broken crackers and pulverized bread.

We tortured 51 trail snacks and staples to pick the longest lasting foods for backpacking.

The hungry hiker's foolproof plan for eating like a king in the backcountry.

No refrigerator, no problem, says this cooking instructor. Here's her secret to making every meal better.

Cuisine expert Emeril Lagasse shares eight tips on how to liven up your camp cooking.

How to complete your backcountry kitchen for $5 or less.

A soup-to-nuts guide that'll get you through the supermarket and on the trail faster than you can say "express lane."

Applying seam sealer neatly is easy with the right applicator.

Got a bum knee or ankle? Better treatments for post-hike joint pain are on the horizon.

Try this homemade, ultralight bowl for long distance treks.

Make your own dehydrated trail food with these simple techniques.

To keep trekking when you have the trots, feed your body the right fuel.

Getting a good night's sleep on the trail is easier said than done. Our experts show you how to get your 20 winks.

Feeling pooped at the end of the day? Try these relaxation and breathing techniques to put more pep in your step.

When water is scarce, minimize the amount your body expends.

The short list of what works and what doesn't.

Camping without stove or fire gains you freedom, flexibility, simplicity, and compactness, and sometimes a lighter load.

Here's a handy tip to avoid wildfires in the backcountry.

How light can you go? Six friends face off to determine whether carrying less gear makes you half as macho, or twice as smart.

While hiking light may seem like a new trail trend, nearly 20 years ago, many outdoor manufacturers were beating the ultralight drum.

Forgot a sponge? No worries -- clean your camp with these everyday wilderness substitutes.

Boy Scouts are at the forefront of teaching Leave No Trace ethics.

Experiencing a sore butt on the trail? Try these healing tips.

Here's how to Leave No Trace when you dump water in camp.

Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.

If water's in short supply where you're headed, know the secrets of dry camping.

How one perpetually disoriented hiker found her bearings, thanks to some backwoods navigation pros.

Some trailworthy soups can even help you heal.

Got a clogged stove? Try this cleaning method before eating that camping meal cold.

Tips to improve your hiking stride.

If you're caught in a lightning storm on the trail, head for the hills.

Take a look at what your sole is doing to the ground.

Just to be safe, keep that compass handy.

Trouble crossing the trail? Try the creek.

Stow your trekking poles to get an advantage when bushwacking a trail.

Cooking with aluminum pots in camp won't cause Alzheimer's.

Follow these six route-finding tips, and stay found.

What causes pain on the trail?

They're not just for catch. Cook a meal, fix a boat, or make a fire with this handy toy.

Use these navigational tricks, gleaned from champion orienteers and U.S. Army's Special Forces, to stay on track.

How to treat yourself if you gulp down stove fuel in camp.

A long-lasting bread that handles the rigors of backpacking.

If you have a problem with snoring (that is, if you have a tentmate who snores), try this remedy on your next night in camp.

With a little creativity, dairy-wary hikers can find tasty and satisfying alternatives to cheese.

We head for the hills to escape the tensions of everyday life. So why do our heads often pound like a drum soon after hitting the trail?

Put some past in your stomach for good trail food all the next day.

Eat right and you'll hike stronger.

Use these tips to bug-proof your clothes.

Help keep trails clean by picking up your own and other people's trash.

Face it: you aren't Moses and the waters won't part, so here are ways to cross wild rivers safely.

How to identify and treat swimmer's ear in the wilderness.

Create tasty trail meals like fish chowder, lasagna, and seafood with pasta.

Antibiotic ointment, a basic element of every first-aid kit, has gotten a bad rap lately.

Our medicine man gives his food suggestions for recovering in the backcountry.

Feeding a diabetic hiker takes planning and professional advice, but not necessarily a special menu.

Above treeline, there's no easy way to hoist your vittles.

Distances can appear farther in the tundra.

Even diabetes can't slow down hikers with these health tips.

Ginkgo helps with altitude sickness and cold.

Kick the coffee and toss the tea and try yerba mate.

High on a Montana mountain, the mystery of a long-lost climber continues to unravel for those willing to make the arduous trek and search for clues that literally lie at your feet.

Water treatments defined.

After a long, hard day, nothing is more disappointing than a stove that refuses to fire. Follow these 10 essentials for foolproof stove features and techniques.

To stem the pain, act fast when treating burns.

Some species look alike, but guess wrong and you could have a harmful mistake on your hands.

Is this health-food-store item really needed in those recipes?

With simple planning, you can turn your bare-bones backcountry meals into satisfying, energy-boosting successes.

Soreness and tightness in your shins (aka shin splints) can make every step along the trail painful.