From refusing to use inflatable sleeping pads to packing enough just-in-case gear for our whole group, here are the things Backpacker's editors don't plan to change in 2026 even if we should.

From bringing back the hiking boot to declaring war on Recreation.gov, these are the most thought-provoking opinions our writers and editors shared this year.

For too long, hikers have suffered under the yoke of trails that we have to do twice. I say: enough.

It takes a lot to spook a hiker—but it's not impossible. From widowmakers to Appalachian Trail shelter rodents, these costumes are guaranteed to spark fear in any of our hearts.

What happens when a lifelong solo backpacker decides to try sharing the trail?

Trapped and boiling alive—how did we get here?

Grooming standards in the outdoors are low. A little wipe down won’t hurt.

On a recent hike of the Trans Catalina Trail, I left camp around 11 a.m. each day. And I loved it.

My backcountry teapot doesn’t save weight—but it saves my sanity.

The market for ultralight gadgets has exploded in recent years. Has innovation gone too far?

For one hiker, balancing time for the trail with the obligations of a job and fatherhood means relying on ungodly amounts of caffeine.

And it’s even better when you make it yourself.

Hiking is no place for the fashion police.

The cardinal rule of hiking with your dog: don't take them up any mountain you can't get them down.

I can live with a sub-par tent or a Walmart shell. But cheap shoes? That’s a trip-ruiner.

A year ago, I flew to British Columbia for a week in the woods punctuated by scenic hikes, gourmet food, and treatments ranging from massages to sound baths. It fundamentally improved my life, but it's a shame we’ve let that kind of wellness become a luxury.

Congratulations on your big day. Can we please talk about something, anything, else?

Have you ever tried…cold soaking? Here's why the warm season is the best time to try leaving the stove and pot at home.

We get it: Trail runners are cool. But some rough terrain calls for a little more ankle support.

Your partner doesn't hike. So what?

Millions of campers and hikers around the U.S. are using recreation.gov to book their next vacation—and by the time they’re done dealing with its confusing navigation, broken interface, and inflated fees, most will need one.

Is it OK to dig a cathole with your spork? Should we all start hiking barefoot? Is bug spray a scam? Watch Backpacker's editors react to your wildest hiking takes.

Seeing Balto, a dog from my local animal shelter, experience true joy on the trail helped me process an unexpected future.

The most dominant group in hiking history is fading to gray. But they’re not disappearing just yet.

After her trail runners caused excruciating blisters, one would-be thru-hiker ditched them for sandals. It was a decision that would have serious consequences.

Could your worst miles create your best memories? After a hike on a rocky Pennsylvania segment of the Appalachian Trail, our editor ponders.

Camp chairs have gotten small enough and light enough that's it's easy to bring one backpacking. But should you?

The floodwaters may have receded, but for outdoor businesses and residents in trail towns, there are more challenges ahead. Writer and guide Steven Reinhold reflects on his own experience riding out Helene—and the surprising support and community North Carolina's Appalachian Trail towns found in the wake of it.

An on-camera killing, infanticide, the disappearance and probable death of two fan favorites: 2024 was the year that fans of Katmai National Park and Preserve’s annual bear beauty contest got an uncomfortable dose of reality. And maybe that’s a good thing.

I brought my new-to-backpacking friend to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park for an overnighter. Here's what I got right and what I'd do differently next time.

Here's why I'm bringing an inner tube, playing cards, and all the snacks on my next backpacking trip.

Sometimes, imposing limits on a hike can open up a whole new world of discovery.

After counting switchbacks, I like to count sheep.

The long trail legend reflects on her mind-blowing unsupported hike of the 800-mile Arizona Trail in May of 2024.

Walking from terminus to terminus is a thru-hiker’s dream, but what about when circumstances—or a really cool side trail—lead you on a detour?

Big Tech firms push their AI chatbots as shortcuts for campers trying to plan trips and brush up their skills. But, when it comes to AI, you still have to do your research.

Some of our readers love trail singalongs. Some hate them with an unmatched passion.

Embracing the pee bottle is the secret to getting through cold nights on trail comfortably. So why do so many hikers fight it?

A backpacker discovers the joys of scenic commodes on trails around the world.

Choosing not to thru-hike was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.

Catholes are still the gold standard according to Leave No Trace—but maybe they shouldn't be.

On a slow-paced trip to Colorado's Ice Lakes, one hiker comes to terms with the value of doing nothing.

Hikers today can be harsh when they see one of our number screw up on the trail. But it's time to face facts: We all make mistakes, and if we were less judgmental about them, we might all be safer.

New year, new us? Not quite. From hiking crowded trails to carrying gear we know we will never use, here are all the bad habits we plan to keep nursing this year.

Grappling with loss and the singular desire to be a father, one hiker turned to the trail for solace.

To celebrate National Public Lands Day on September 23, the Secretary of the Interior reminds readers why protecting public lands is so important

It's the ultimate Leave No Trace dilemma for a backpacker: What will become of your mortal remains, once you reach trail’s end?

Social media and hiking can mix—as long as you're intentional about your usage.

I gave up having a career and a family in favor of seasonal work and the freedom to hit the trail any time. Do I regret the sacrifice? No, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about it.

Making your own camp stove out of a cat food or soda can used to be a rite of passage for backpackers. But with canister stoves getting lighter and cheaper—and fire bans getting more and more common—one Backpacker editor argues their time has come. (Plus: Another editor dissents.)

On England's 102-mile Cotswold Way, a hiker sets herself up to fail—and ends up surprised by how things turn out.

And while we're at it, stop saying these other phrases to me on the trail.

Witnessing a friend’s nearly fatal fall made one hiker rethink the way she talks about mistakes.

Over 7,000 miles on trail, our hiking columnist has tried coffee and caffeine in most every form imaginable. But the humblest one of all taught him something about himself.

The answer isn’t as obvious as it was five years ago

While planning a solo, analog trip, our writer discovers that ditching her phone comes with a cost.

Roughly 84% of visitors at one popular national park are in favor of its new reservation system—and it could be a sign of things to come.

Gear companies are constantly upgrading their products and pulling old ones off the market. But there are some advantages to being a few seasons behind.

A half-hour ramble to a local campsite may not be your idea of an epic backpacking adventure. But it might just give you a new perspective on what’s important in a hike.

It's been 50 years since we published the first issue of Backpacker. What will the backcountry look like in another half-century? Our editor speculates.

Personal air conditioning, new trails, a dozen new Leave No Trace principles: For Backpacker's 50th anniversary, we asked Triple Crowner and columnist Liz "Snorkel" Thomas to speculate about what thru-hiking could look like a half-century from now.

Backpackers carry ultralight tents, backpacks, and quilts. Is it really so weird to hike with an ultralight dog?

Americans live in one of the most individualistic nations on Earth—and it can be one of the most isolating, too. Could hiking be a way for us to find our way back to community?

Hikers love to share their opinions. That doesn’t mean it’s always useful.

No one likes having to jump through a bunch of hoops just to hike a popular trail or visit a national park. But with more and more areas reaching their carrying capacity, it’s time to consider our options.

Why even bag it if you’re not going to carry it out?

New Hampshire is one of the only states in the nation that regularly makes hikers it deems negligent pay for their own rescue. Now, legislators are considering suspending their driver's licenses if they don't pay. It's a dangerous policy, our editor says.

Faced with risk and loss in the mountains, our writer grapples with what it means to lead a life well-lived.

Bro, I'm straight up not having a good time.

Regular hiking trips are the key to contentment, as one outdoor journalist discovers on a trip in his backyard.

After fatal accidents on the trail, there are always a handful of hikers ready to tear apart the victims' choices—or even suggest they deserved their fate. What would it take to get us to choose compassion?

Long-distance hikers love to reach towns and binge. I temporarily gave up the cycle, and maybe it changed my life.

Take a walk in another hiker’s boots in these insightful pieces.

The trail is for everyone, even—especially—those of us who always got picked last in gym class.

Burnout can affect participants of any sport—including hiking. Here’s how to identify, prevent, and cure hiking burnout.

After a decade in Seattle, I grew tired of the Cascades. After gaining a new perspective, I love them more than ever now.

Backpacking’s changed a lot over the years. Is its heyday behind us, or is it yet to come?

Contrary to popular belief, wilderness is a made-up concept. Here’s why it could be harming our planet.

They offer rides, places to stay, food, and more, and never ask anything in return. But thru-hikers still owe a debt of gratitude to trail angels. Here are some ideas on how to repay it.