Skills

Whether you want gas station-fast or cafe-gourmet, there's a way to do it right.

If you feel knee pain while hiking, don't ignore it. With these tips from a physical therapist, you can remedy and prevent injury.

Burning fuel in confined spaces can lead to lethal carbon monoxide poisoning.

This tempo workout strengthens your tendons and ligaments while creating long-lasting muscle endurance for injury-free hiking in season.

Winter is the perfect time to learn how to track animals. Get started with these tips.

Don't let your water bottle turn into ice on the trail. Keep it flowing with these tips.

An expert personal trainer shares tips on a post-hike recovery regimen that'll keep your trail legs strong.

Tasty enough for food bloggers, but portable enough for the trail: These homemade hiking snacks will quickly replace any pre-packaged bars from the store.

We collected all of your burning questions and consulted our field experts on everything from winter gear to screaming barfies to hibernation.

Secure permits before they sell out, convince your boss to give you time off work, make a foolproof meal plan, and more.

Wow your friends with this campfire cooking trick.

Many backpackers depend on their phones as cameras, GPS devices, e-readers, and more. Keep yours running for longer with this advice.

Sunny, warm days can actually be bitterly cold. The culprit? Wind chill. Here's how to calculate real-feel temps for windy hikes.

Get a headstart with these workouts that hit every major muscle group.

Stay upright no matter how icy or snowy the trail conditions get this winter. The key: carefully select what you're wearing on your feet.

Hiking isn’t just for the young. Take care of yourself and your body, and you can spend the rest of your life on the trail. It helps to have a plan: Avoid injuries and stay strong with this age-group-by-age-group guide to trail fitness.

Build your fitness foundation with this essential physiological info, tips on eating right and exercises for staying in prime hiking shape.

Get trail-fit fast! This 4-week program was designed specifically for hikers by trainers Melissa Racouillat of San Francisco's Stone Clinic and Darren Flagg of Boulder's Animal Strength Human Performance Lab.

Use these proven exercises to get in the best hiking shape of your life.

Hike your way through your golden years with these specially-crafted fitness tips.

Get into the winter spirit with 11 custom recipes for the most classic backpacking dessert.

Get ready for the long fitness haul with these skills, workouts, and essential info.

Don't get stuck in the mud. Learn to evaluate road hazards, overcome obstacles, and navigate the unpaved passages between your front door and your next adventure.

It's like the old saying goes: there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Get ready for whatever nature throws at you with this guide to layering strategy.

Check out Zoe Gates's author page.

In 5 months, a new class of thru-hikers will start the trip of a lifetime. If you hope to be one of them, there are a few things you should start doing now.

More than half of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers reported dealing with a bout diarrhea along the trail. Here's what you need to know to avoid the trots.

Can't sleep? Fight back with these six tips.

Guarantee yourself a great adventure– every time–by adopting these proven routines for planning and pulling off the perfect trip.

Everyday activities can put a strain on the complex muscles in your shoulder. Give them the care they need with these postures.

Don't let an asthma attack ruin your hike. Breathe easy with these tips.

Class up your camp with these backpacker's crepes.

Don't fear the freeze: Learn to love the cold and feel the whole winter wilderness open up to you.

Sunny and 70 is nice, but makes for a mighty short hiking season. Hit the trail all year long by learning how to thrive—not just survive—in wet, cold, hot, and windy conditions.

Make a home for the night wherever there's snow with these blueprints to snow caves, trench shelters, and quinzees.

The Best Tips to Prepare You for Your High Elevation Vacation

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a painting? Nikki Frumkin walked us through watercolor art for backpackers.

Choosing which foods to eat in the wild can either make or break you. If you're starving and don't know what's safe to eat, follow this protocol.

Instant sweet potatoes and mini marshmallows make this a unique twist on pizza.

Cold injury can lead to disability or even gangrene and amputation. But advances in its treatment over the last few decades could be a big help.

Instead of gorging on pasta, backpackers should focus on consistency in nutrition, says Adventure Performance Training’s founder and head coach James Fisher.

Roasted marshmallows aren’t just for s’mores: Use them to top this delicious, easy berry treat.

They were nearly America's national bird. This November, celebrate the humble turkey in its natural habitat.

Take the holidays outdoors with this easy, delicious menu.

Getting outdoors to give thanks doesn’t have to mean dehydrated meals.

There’s a lot of first aid advice out there, and take it from a doctor: Not all of it is good.

Learn the easiest way to hang a bear bag and keep your camping snacks safe from rummaging paws.

Ending too many hikes with sore, wobbly legs? Trekking poles can help you make it that extra mile.

Hikers are all about leg strength, but don’t forget about training your arms and shoulders in order to avoid aches on the trail.

Backpacking rule number one: Pack enough to eat.

Barre, the strength training regimen derived from ballet, could be your key to improved stability and injury prevention on the trail.

What's a surefire way to ruin a hike? A selfish hiking partner.

Why settle for just one pastime? Add a sport that’s simultaneously exciting and relaxing to your backpacking trips by catching your first trout.

Build strength for loaded backpacking hill climbs and descents.

One hiker reflects on the backpacking lessons she learned during a particularly memorable first overnight.

Getting ill on the trail happens, and it can be scary. Here's how to prevent sickness and ride it out when it happens.

Cervical spine injuries are serious, and immobilizing them has become gospel. But in the wilderness, where conditions can change in an instant, is it a waste of rescuers' time?

Ending a long trek takes its toll on your mental and physical health. Here's how to ease back into your home routine.

Go big with these expedition trip planning tips.

And how to tell if a polar bear is aggressive or just passing through the area.

With a little ingenuity, one hiker improvises shelter.

It takes more than a pedicure to truly care for your feet. Here’s how to find more stability in yoga—and in life—by giving your feet some TLC.

We've made the mistakes so you don't have to.

Lingering COVID symptoms—such as fatigue and shortness of breath—can make it hard to hit the trails, even months after getting sick.

Winter camping is super rewarding, but convincing others to join you isn't always easy. It's best to have a few tricks.

Companions can make or break a trip. Here’s how to choose one wisely.

The best way to ruin your first backpacking trip? A pack that’s too heavy. Lighten your load with these tips.

If you play your cards right, you can turn your non-hiker friends into lifelong backpacking partners

The trail is your happy place. Here's how you can keep it that way for others, too.

Going off-trail on steep, rocky terrain? There's a way to do it safely.

Snow travel requires more technique and precautions than regular hiking. Here's how to do it right.

Poked, scratched, or worse: Getting a hurt eye on your hike can be a serious emergency.

If you think TikTok is just for viral dance moves and lip-syncing teens, then you’re missing out on a lot.

Campgrounds may be closing for the season but you can still camp from the comforts of your own home.

No one wants a dental emergency in the backcountry. Learn how to avoid and deal with them.

Backcountry Foodie’s Aaron Owens Mayhew explains what you should eat and when to best suit your individual body and hiking needs.

Thru-hiking is a wonderful experience, but it’s not the only way to see a long trail. And for a lot of people, it might not even be the best.

No, your way is gross.