Skills

You have gotten so smelly before, you've stopped noticing. You have a "nice" pair of Lone Peaks for when you want to look presentable. You own too many sporks. If this sounds like you, then congratulations: you are definitely a hiker.

When it comes to bragging, actions speak louder than words. Show off your expertise to your hiking partners with these tips.

Learning how to talk about problems you're having on the trail—and how to listen—can be the difference between a frustrating, demoralizing hike and a fun, fulfilling one. What can psychology teach us?

What’s one more vehicle at a bustling trailhead? Our columnist weighs in.

The cold months are the perfect time to dream about—and prepare for—adventures ahead.

Experimenting with your dehydrator is a fun and productive way to while away the cold months.

Honing your sewing skills will help you repair your favorite gear—or unleash your creative side.

Yeah, your iPhone camera may have a million megapixels. But packing a pencil allows you to capture memories from the trail, and see the landscape in a new way.

Because there's snow doubt that winter hiking rules.

When it comes to packing for a winter camping trip, separating good advice from falsehoods can be difficult.

Drifts got you down? Use these tips to travel efficiently in even deep pow.

If you're dreading the impending frosty temps, now's the time to teach your body how to handle it through deliberate cold exposure.

Raynaud's Phenomenon stings (literally). Here's how to manage the condition so you can hike comfortably all winter long.

Those little crispy cookies your grandma gave you when you were a kid don’t seem like they’d be packed with energy. But they aren’t just shockingly calorically dense: They’re durable and delicious, too.

The weather's getting colder, and that means your packing and planning strategies have to change. Steer clear of these backpacking mistakes for a smoother transition to fall.

Think you only need to strengthen glutes and quads to be a better hiker? Think again.

Make your headlamp pull double-duty as a warm, inviting light for camp gatherings with these low or no-weight techniques.

Just finding their way to their journey's starting point is a challenge that few new thru-hikers think about until they have to do it. But there are resources—and generous people—to help them.

An outbreak of norovirus on the Pacific Crest Trail proves that hikers’ hygiene routines need an upgrade.

Can you educate other hikers without being a mansplainer? Our ethics columnist weighs in.

Enjoy an easy-to-make spin on a classic campfire treat—no kindling necessary.

This vegetarian campfire dessert comes together with two convenience-store ingredients.

Nothing powers me up the trail like the promise of lunch with a view.

From choosing the right water filter to evaluating your gear list, AT hiker Michael Perry shares his advice for getting trail-ready

It doesn't matter if you're hypermobile or move within the normal range of motion. After these exercises, everyone will feel more stable in their body.

Call him crazy, but our hiking columnist loves climbing hills. A fifth of the way into the epic Continental Divide Trail, he’s got some ways to improve your form, function, and mental performance on the ascents.

Use this series of squats, leg bridges, planks, and calf raises to keep track of your training and you'll have trail-proof full-body strength in no time.

When soreness crosses over into genuine pain, it can turn the most pleasant hikes into teeth-gritting tests of endurance. Fight back with expert advice and exercises for tackling 8 different types of ache.

Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of trail-tested recipes, and these are our favorite to cook over an open flame.

Our ethics columnist weighs in on hiking with a four-legged friend.

You've seen chaga, a rough-looking, bumpy fungus that grows on tree trunks, before. But we bet you didn't know you were looking at one of the wilderness's best firestarters.

They don’t necessarily save energy, but a new study suggests they might save your legs

Four hikers reveal every morsel that's fueling them for thousands of miles.

More and more long-distance hikers are having to get creative when fires, floods, or heavy snowpack shuts down their trail. What should you do when you can’t keep going?

A stripped-back list of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when hiking in the buff

How to find some of the country’s best campsites—and stay for free

Hitting the road with your family offers plenty of good times in the moment—plus important takeaways for the future

Fine-tune your muscle imbalances with this workout finisher series from physical therapist assistant and personal trainer Lee Welton.

With its warm temperatures and long days, summer is the perfect season for backpackers to try going ultralight. Here’s how to make your pack lighter now without spending a fortune on new gear.

Our ethics columnist addresses a common hiker dilemma.

A heavy pack and poor posture while hiking can lead to a creaky neck, but you don't have to suffer through it.

If you’ve never forgotten an important piece of gear, you will someday. Here’s how to make do without your tent poles, sleeping pad, and more—and how to decide when it’s time to give up and go home.

With smoke choking much of the US, we sourced some expert tips for staying safe on the trail.

Follow these tips to help you get into the zone and unlock your true potential.

Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.

Scanning the closet but not sure what to pick? We've got you covered from head to toe. Here's what to wear hiking in every season.

Yes: You can make pancakes on literally any stove, including a Jetboil. And you don't need a frying pan to do it, either—just a mug and this trick.

If your hands and fingers swell up while hiking, don't worry. This common hiking ailment has several potential causes and easy fixes.

Creaky joints? Learn how to strengthen your knees with these supine leg lifts, best performed with 3- to 5-pound ankle weights.

Writer and outdoor adventurer Elisabeth Kwak laces up her HOKA Anacapas and embarks on a challenge that helps her redefine success and discover a new identity as an outdoor athlete

Ramp up your speed for hiking, trail running, and reaching the views faster with this all-in-one cardio and stabilizing workout.

Don't let a poorly-loaded backpack put a damper on your next adventure in the backcountry. Learn how to pack it the right way—with efficiency, convenience and comfort in mind.

Social media is full of ridiculous “camping hacks” that won’t help you do anything but create a bunch of extra garbage. Embrace these editor-tested tricks for staying comfy in the backcountry instead.

Don’t want to run out of cash midway through your dream thru-hike? You need to spend some time figuring out your finances up front.

Reap all the physical and mental advantages of mindfulness without ever setting foot inside a class.

Rushing rivers pose one of the backcountry’s biggest threats. Do you know how to cross safely—or when it’s best to not cross at all?

A rainy trip doesn’t need to be a miserable trip.

Mental toughness is more than just pushing through pain to reach the summit. It’s also about learning to walk the tightrope between confidence and humility.

You already know packing more stuff isn’t always better. These tasty, three-ingredient, simple backpacking recipes apply that same philosophy to your menu.

Food trends and tastes have changed over the last 50 years—and backpacking fare is no exception.

Want to improve your next trek, guaranteed? Master these key skills for hiking, climbing, and camping in comfort.

We narrowed down the best of the best of America’s favorite trail snack.

Your big adventures are right around the corner. Is your cardiovascular strength up to snuff?

Your tent will withstand anything with these tips.

Erratic, joy-filled exercise could make you a fitter—and happier—athlete.

You hate oatmeal? We don't blame you. It may be the easiest trail breakfast, but more often than not, it also ends up as a tasteless, textureless goop that hikers have to choke down. But suffer no more: These 10 trail-tested oat recipes are easy to make (just mix the ingredients in) and will satisfy even the pickiest eater.

As multiuse trails get more crowded, we can all do our part to avoid conflict.

Are you in good shape but still struggling with steep hikes? The culprit could be how you're breathing.

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

Record-setting thru-hiker Jeff Garmire suffered for years before discovering he had exercise-induced asthma—but the struggle taught him a thing or two about sticking with it.

A double dose of chocolate and spice will keep your taste buds hopping this winter.

For one hiker, the secret to recovering from a chronic overuse injury was falling in love with hiking in the muck.

Does your back feel beaten-up after a long day toting a pack? These simple tactics from trainer and guide Jason Antin can help fight the pain.

Learn how to battle the aches and pains of hiking with an expert's tips for staying healthy.