Skills

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trouble crossing the trail? Try the creek.

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

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

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

What causes pain on the trail?

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

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

Some trailworthy soups can even help you heal.

Tips to improve your hiking stride.

Just to be safe, keep that compass handy.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Rice and pasta are nice, but if you want variety, add some millet, kasha, or quinoa to your trail menu.

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?

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

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

Here's a quick tip for finding blazed trails.

Texas reader says plastic-coated wire ties are essential item for backcountry emergency kits.

Keep fresh and cool with this clothing tip from one of our readers.

Eight reasons to pack baking soda on the trail.

Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.

Your daily cups of java seem innocent-until you hit the trail and don't get your normal caffeine buzz for a couple of days.

Think crypto comes only from polluted water? Your healthy camp mate could be a carrier.

Your 3 million sweat glands can make for a sweaty, smelly hike.

Body odor can get pretty bad on the trail. Here's how to make sure you never again hear the words, "What's That Smell?"

Tuck a folded square of aluminum foil in your pack and it may come in handy as a...

How to improve your tolerance for cold and enhance your outdoor performance.

With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.

Hikes with a lot of elevation gain and loss are prime for getting tendinitis in the Achilles tendon.

Here's our guide to environmental etiquette while horsepacking.

New trail-tested advice for shading your face from the sun.

We're not saying you need a pedicure, but a toenail trim doesn't hurt on the trail.

Follow this cover-up advice before you head into the desert.

Your finger got crushed between a rock and a hard place. Here's what to do.

Should we pave the wilderness and install escalators for the disabled? No, says a former backpacker.

Wind chill can nip noses or lead to frostbite. Here's what you should know.

Tired of freeze-dried? Try hardtack and corn dodgers for a tasty change of pace.

Startling research reveals the backcountry melts tension.

This vegetarian burger recipe will suit your palate and clean-up the environment.

Rice takes on the flavor of whatever you add to it, so no wonder it's such a tasty, versatile trail food.