Add to your outdoor wilderness skills arsenal with expert advice and survival tips from Backpacker Magazine. We cover it all: how to get in shape for hiking, pre-trip planning, backpacker-friendly recipes, how to raise backpacking kids and more!
Add to your outdoor wilderness skills arsenal with expert advice and survival tips from Backpacker Magazine. We cover it all: how to get in shape for hiking, pre-trip planning, backpacker-friendly recipes, how to raise backpacking kids and more!
Whether you’re just getting into using a GPS to navigate in the backcountry, or have had a unit for a year but still don’t fully understand how to use it, BACKPACKER’s intro to GPS navigation online course is the place to start.
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Tired of staring at knot illustrations to teach yourself?
Downtime in camp has never been so fun.
Power your thru-hike with the right food, snacks, and resupplies for the long haul.
Hike with efficiency, speed, and intention, and you’re sure to accomplish your thru-hiking goals. Here’s how to plan your pace and fight lollygagging tendencies to reach the terminus before winter does.
Go from couch potato to trail monster with these simple tips from a personal trainer.
Gear up for the United States' toughest long path with these expert picks.
Headed out on the Pacific Crest Trail? Expert thru-hikers Liz “Snorkel” Thomas and Nathan Pipenberg break down the gear you’ll need.
Get ready for your AT thru-hike with this gear checklist from expert thru-hikers Liz "Snorkel" Thomas and Nathan Pipenberg.
See exclusive photos and videos as you listen to season 2, episode 5 of Out Alive
Who says you need water in your food? Dehydrate your vittles and you'll carry less weight, save money, and eat better.
An early-season snow sends a hiker into delicate territory.
Just because you're packing in dinner shouldn't mean you have to skip the best course. These sweet treats are well worth the extra ounces.
A strong body helps you get out into nature, but a well-trained mind makes the time count. Use these three exercises to derive more rejuvenation from your next hike.
Going slow on the snow can help you relish the smallest details.
Can our writer get in the best hiking shape of his life—without doing a single hike over 10 miles?
Start reconnecting with Mother Earth by learning to forage your dinner in the wild.
How much do you know about camping, cooking, and surviving in the cold? Let's find out.
The most memorable trails can be the hardest to find. New Editorial Director Shannon Davis reflects on a trip through canyon country.
Lacking inspiration in your life? Look no further. These accounts will enrich your feed with enchanting landscapes, creative artwork, activism and authentic stories that are sure to leave you feeling encouraged and energized.
Get toasty from the inside out with these hot beverages.
A forgotten WAG bag leads to a smelly situation on Mt. Whitney.
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.
These key features will help you make the most of navigating with a GPS.
Learn two crucial navigation techniques to make the most of your GPS.
Eric Larsen teaches how to use a crucial navigation tool.
Polar explorer and expedition guide Eric Larsen explains the basics of GPS navigation and how to get started with your new device.
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.