backpacker magazine

Go light but stay sturdy with this hybrid tent from Sierra Designs.

Learn how to create a lightweight, functional backcountry stove for less than a few dollars.

Head into the Cascades to track elusivs grizzies.

Learn to find food in the wild.

Learn how to craft a pair of emergency goggles to prevent snowblindness.

Drop Dead Ted builds an emergency shelter using a blanket, some duff, and his bare hands.

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter gives the scoop on winter yurt living

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter on packing the right foods for winter camping

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter shows how to fix a leaking fuel stove

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter shows how to melt snow when camping.

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter explains the new innovations in down insulation technology. See what our team thought of these two water-resistant down jackets.

Executive Editor Dennis Lewon shows how to anchor your tent in the snow.

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter demonstrates how to safely cook inside a tent's vestibule

Editors Tracy and Kristin share tips to make winter camping just as cozy as any other season

Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton reviews the lightweight Snow Junkie boots from Vasque

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter reviews the ski-specific, multi-day Ymir 55 pack from Sierra Designs

Andrew Bydlon reviews Sierra Designs' TOV Jacket which utilizes the innovative DryDown technology

Contributing Editor Tracy Ross shows off the remarkably light Scarpa Alien

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter with Patagonia's breathable and packable Troposphere hard shell jacket

Executive Editor Dennis Lewon reviews The North Face's Enzo Shell Pants

Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton shows off La Sportiva's bullet-proof Storm Fighter pants

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter shows the versatile and collapsible Vario 4 poles from Komperdell

Executive Editor Dennis Lewon with First Ascent's Katabatic Tent

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter demonstrates First Ascent's thermal down jacket in action

Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton raves about Cabela's Thermal Zone Baselayers.

Our yurt-dwelling test team shares the goodness of Bear Creek Country Soup Mixes

Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon reviews Black Diamond's killer Carbon Megawatt Skis

Ski tester Crystal Sagan shows the Arc'teryx Quintic 28 backpack

Learn to cook eggs with this in-the-bag demo.

What do you do with a soggy Bic? Learn how to dry it out in a hurry on the trail.

A profile of Brenna Fisch, who fell and broke her skull while hiking.

A profile of Danelle Ballengee, who fell 60 feet off a cliff while trail-running, which shattered her pelvis.

A profile of Melissa McQueen, who was trapped overnight on a fourteener and lost eight toes from frostbite.

A profile of Justin Harris, who broke his leg and survived two days after a fall while canyoneering in Utah.

How to responsibly store, equip, release, and dispose of bear spray.

How to improvise a flotation device using your pants.

How to decide if a campsite is safe from deadfall and "widow makers."

What to do in the event of a sudden lightning storm.

Turn one amazing trail snack into a lifesaving firestarter.

Avoid the most common backcountry first-aid mishap--hot water burns. Use these stove safety techniques to reduce your backcountry burn risk.

How can you cut weight? Learn how to, literally, shave ounces or even pounds from your pack.

If you don't have any water, you may need to wring it out of the land around you. Find out how as Ted teaches you how to use a transpiration bag. If you don't have any water, you may need to wring it out of the land around you. Find out how as Ted teaches you how to use a transpiration bag.

Have a puddle of putrid water--or nothing to drink besides your own pee? Drop Dead Ted shows you how to build a backcountry solar still that'll make pure water out of just about anything wet.

Drop Dead Ted's demonstration and tips for collecting water from moisture-covered leaves and grass.

Drop Dead Ted explains the basics of rescue signaling and picks his favorite survival whistle from his testing lineup.

Backpacker's survivalist everyman, Drop Dead Ted, explains how to aim and signal for help with a reflective mirror.

Watch night-sky photographer Ben Canales explain how to use light to make more dynamic photos.

Which method of making cowboy coffee works best? Deputy Editor Anthony Cerretani discusses the brew-worthy results of our findings.

Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton reviews the steps to safely catching a bolt of lightning on film.

Drop Dead Ted shows you how to carve a feather stick to help start a fire in a surivival situation.

Drop Dead Ted shows you how to carve a feather stick to help start a fire in a surivival situation.

Drop Dead Ted puts the latest and greatest survival knives to the test.

A cozy bag for two

Beat the backcountry blahs with this aromatic curry dish Beat the backcountry blahs with this aromatic curry dish.

An ultralight tent for two that's under two hundred bucks.

A headlamp that doubles as a hanging lantern A headlamp that doubles as a hanging lantern.

An ingenious water filtration system - no pumping required.

A multifuel stove that burns liquid gas and canister fuel with ease.

The ultimate in lightweight traction The ultimate in lightweight traction.

Our zip-off pant hater has become a believer with these stylish convertibles.

Upgrade your car camping menu with this pioneer pot.

Running-shoe comfort with hiking-boot stability.

The BACKPACKER editors head to the ultimate gear testing ground: Chile's 3,600-meter Volcano San Pedro

Two ultralight, ultracomfortable backpacks - one with a top lid and one without.

Send and receive messages from the backcountry

Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide

Navigate through unruly terrain with these helpful tips

Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.

Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.

The only backpacking t-shirt you'll ever need. See why this shirt stands out from the rest.

The best carbon poles we've ever tested.

A family-size tent that weighs as much as some two-person shelters.

Ultralight, waterproof hikers that have all-day comfort and superb traction.

Call for emergeny help and stay connected back home with these two high-tech gadgets.

A lightweight pack with best-in-class suspension for heavy loads.

A 2.5-inch, full-length mattress that's insulated with open-cell foam.

Midweight hikers that can scramble and haul 45-pound loads.

An ultralight shelter that's affordable.