Skills

Dehydrating your own backpacking food opens up a world of gourmet possibilities for fueling up on the trail. Here's how to make your favorite foods backcountry-friendly with advice from Good To-Go founder Jennifer Scism.

You train your legs for the trail, right? Now do the same for your upper body and make your days on the water easier. Bonus: These exercises work the same muscles that help you carry a heavy pack.

With little preparation, any fit canine can handle the alpine. Here's what you need to know.

Less oxygen? No problem. Crush your alpine goals—whether ski-touring in winter or hiking in summer—with these tips from Peter Hackett, MD, founder of the Institute for Altitude Medicine.

We explored the Austrian hills with Komperdell’s famed mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner to get the inside scoop.

Gear up for trips on all types of water.

Doing a number two outside can be a fraught topic for kids. But it doesn't have to be.

Keep your gear going season after season with these tips from Boulder Mountain Repair technicians Sam Goodhue and Matt Wintston to prevent little problems from becoming big (and expensive) ones.

Chow down on these edible plants, all found across the U.S. Briana Wiles, author of Mountain States Foraging and owner of Rooted Apothecary, and Kat Mackinnon, RH (AHG), Botany Program Director at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, give you the goods.

It’s just like backpacking, but with a paddleboard instead of boots. Right?

The 3,000-mile long trail has plenty of alpine highlights, and this one in northern Colorado is my new favorite.

Going meatless shouldn’t mean going hungry. These protein-packed vegan recipes will satisfy any hiker.

Birding adds a new dimension to every hike.

Find trail bliss with expert advice from Hike It Baby's Jessica Carrillo Allatorre

Choose the right challenge with expert advice from Family Channel editor, Lisa Jhung

Expert advice on choosing trails for families with babies to teenagers, and all ages in between.

Get your teens psyched on hiking with expert advice from BACKPACKER Editor-in-Chief, Dennis Lewon

Experience begets skill—and blind spots, ruts, and inefficient routines. Just because you’ve taken to doing something one way doesn’t mean it’s the right way. From crossing a river to leading a group, there’s a better way.

Unlearn your bad hiking habits today with these simple, instant changes to your routine.

Plan your trips better and enjoy yourself more.

Battle blisters and learn to pack a sensible first aid kit.

The wilderness can be a hazardous place, but the biggest danger to you is, well, you.

Stay away from bears and show some respect for the humble mouse.

Your gear is your lifeline. Pack it right and maintain it correctly for a fun, hassle-free trip.

Everyone has their own special slice of the backcountry. For BACKPACKER Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon, it's a slice of beach in Northern California.

Use pressure-point stretching, known as myofascial release, to loosen key hiking muscles and boost recovery.

Grab a paddle to access quiet coves, mirror lakes, or exhilarating rapids. Best part: You can pack like you’re car camping when you trade boots for a boat.

Outsmart the weather with these tricks from our experts.

Can two hikers keep their feet happy while splashing through creeks for days?

Even with no agenda, a spontaneous day trip serves up many rewards

This backpacking staple can do more than make sandwiches.

Follow these guidelines so you don't have to cut your trip short.

Tomatoes: tasty food, lousy fireworks.

Cook and imbibe better by learning how to shop, transport, and use your spirits, wine, and beer.

Leave the freeze-dried meals at home and treat yourself to a gourmet trail meal with our most popular recipes.

The best backpacking game is the one you don't have to carry.

Capabilities vary widely. Use these questions to make the best choice for your needs.

Nothing quite says "warm weather" like wild snake orgies. Here's everything you never wanted to know about trailside tangles of slithering serpents.

The two great sins of packing are overdoing it and leaving important stuff behind. Follow these tips to make sure you and all the essentials get where you’re going.

How to make it more bonding than battle zone.

Strengthen your legs for early-season hikes, which often involve postholing in lingering snow up high and crossing run-off swollen rivers down low.

Out of every 100 people who attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, 73 will give up. Beat the odds—and save your budget—by following these rules from a gear shop owner who sees thousands of hikers every season.

Use these tips and trips to find backcountry peace and quiet, no matter where you live.

Navigation tips from an Appalachian Trail pro.

Finding adventure inside and outside will keep the kids entertained all season long.

For versatility and affordability, nothing beats a tarp. With an 8-by-10-foot piece of nylon, some paracord, stakes, a trekking pole, and a little ingenuity, you can make a shelter to withstand any weather.

One backpacker shares her secret to maintaining a decades-long hiking streak.

Prepare the first meal of the day at home and you'll start hiking sooner—and have on-the-go snacks.

Are mother and son ready to trade the crib for a tent?

Turn a day at the beach into a trip to the magical world of ocean life.

Say good-bye to food overflows and ineffective bear bags, and fend off unwanted visitors with these tips.

How much do you really know about the creatures that you're sharing the wilderness with?

You don’t have to be a planner to start a thru-hike, but you’ll turn into one if you want to finish. Such is the wisdom of Amanda “Zuul” Jameson, who has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Grand Enchantment Trails and now helps fellow trekkers dial in their gear.

Do your shoes actually fit properly? We asked Oboz how to know you’re getting the right fit before you hit the trail with your brand-new hiking boots.

The answer is more nuanced than one might think.

Get the whole family excited about the outdoors by spotting newborn animals in the wild.

Don’t stay inside just because it's messy outside But you can make cleanup easier with these simple tips.

Make the most of every outing by knowing what your kids can and can’t do.

From your muscles to your meal planning, all it takes is a little fitness to make your hikes longer, better, and more fun than ever.

See more—and have more fun—this winter with these gear and technique trips.

Learn how to find a great backcountry skiing zone and create a custom map with this guide to CalTopo.

If you want a great family camping vacation in summer, you'd better make reservations in winter.

Humans aren't the only species making moves this month. Hike these five trails to see wildlife trying to get a little action.

Make these flavorful dishes and you won't need to dump Tabasco on your dinner.

Turn snowy hikes into (responsible) treasure hunts by learning to recognize wildlife prints

How to find the right camp for your kids—and how to know if they're ready.

Whether you’re walking thousands of miles or just a few, every ounce counts. Keep your pack weight down with this seven-step process from expert thru-hiker Liz “Snorkel” Thomas.

First of all, should you?