backpacker magazine

An 800-fill-down puffy that packs small and is under $200.

Maximum warmth, minimum weight Maximum warmth, minimum weight.

An ultralight water purifier that eliminates all microorganisms, leaves no aftertaste, and works fast.

Skiing in the backcountry generally requires different skis, boots, and bindings than skiing at a resort. Tracy Ross walks you through the basics.

After 8 years, this tent is still the best deal out there. Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Dorn shows you why.

These perfect pots have stood the test of time and earned our coveted Editors' Choice Gold Award.

BACKPACKER editors cap their Swiss gear-testing trip with a climb of the 13,474-foot Monch.

This uncommonly comfortable boot tackles the biggest terrain in our video review.

Carry the biggest loads with shocking comfort with this backpack that loads like a suitcase.

Cook anywhere, anytime with this innovative ultralight stove.

Hike far and fast in these light, versatile hybrid hiking boots.

Get ready for the hike of a lifetime as our editors take you up the best trail in the Alps. Get ready for the hike of a lifetime as our editors take you up the best trail in the Alps. (Download the tracklog for this hike here!)

Attention, ultralighters who want a legit two-person tent: This is it.

If you use trekking poles, you should use this tent.

Settle the wool-versus-synthetic debate once and for all: Get the best of both.

Make your iPhone trail-ready with this protective case that doubles as a rechargeable battery pack.

Turn a disposable lighter into a weatherproof flamethrower.

These alternative energy snacks combine buffalo meat and cranberries.

Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter demonstrates the basic clothing to wear on top to stay comfortable in any conditions.

Rocky Mountain editor Steve Howe helps you pick the right jacket for any weather condition or exertion level.

Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe dispels a few camping myths and drops some dirtbagging tips in this primer.

Editor in Chief Jonathan Dorn heads deep into the Alaskan backcountry to fish the most bountiful streams in the world.

Live from Alaska's Castner Glacier, Rocky Mountain editor Steve Howe shows you the basics for putting on crampons

Use this fun and fruity backcountry recipe to make a tasty dessert that the kids (and you) will love

Spice things up around the campfire with this take-out style meal in the backcountry

Spice things up around the campfire with this take-out style meal in the backcountry

Can any hiking boot survive 15 minutes in a cement mixer filled with rocks, sticks, dirt, and bricks? Gear Lab aims to find out.

Who wants a mountain tent that buckles under pressure? Not us--so we blasted four top tents with a carwash pressure washer to see which one comes out on top.

Can any sleeping bag survive getting squished by a 4,000-pound car? Find out in this video.

Yes, we know that dragging a pack down dirt road at 60 mph is excessive. No, that won't stop us from doing it anyway to find out which top packs can survive a serious case of road rash.

You heard us right: Wow your campmates with this classic gourmet dessert made right outside your tent.

You heard us right: Wow your campmates with this classic gourmet dessert made right outside your tent.

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joins us to talk about the people, places, and lasting importance of his latest project, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

Explore homesteads and winding ridgelines on this classic 50-mile trek.

Our Trail Chef shows you how to make no-mess backcountry pancakes using–you heard us right–beer.

Our Trail Chef shows you how to make no-mess backcountry pancakes using–you heard us right–beer.

Meet the ultimate GPS: simple enough for beginners, powerful enough for experts. Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe gives you the tour.

If you've caught a fish in the backcountry but forgot the pan, don't despair: Trail Chef shows you how to improvise a skillet with a rock. Also, learn Trail Chef's Spicy Southwest Marinade--perfect for any food with fins.

If you've caught a fish in the backcountry but forgot the pan, don't despair: Trail Chef shows you how to improvise a skillet with a rock. Also, learn Trail Chef's Spicy Southwest Marinade--perfect for any food with fins.

Backcountry fishing is easier than ever thanks to new lightweight, compactable rods. Our contributor gets you started with a how-to on setting up your rod and reel, plus the basics of casting.

BACKPACKER staffers tackle paddling, mountain biking, trail running, and road biking races during the Ultimate Mountain Challenge at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, CO. See how our team did at the games.

Explore the quieter side of Rocky Mountain National Park with writer Dougald MacDonald on this historically inspired route up Longs Peak.

Watch as BACKPACKER weighs in on the newest trend in protein rich and ultralight hiking snacks. You guessed it: Bugs. On the menu: Raw scorpions, tarantulas, and other crawly creatures.

BACKPACKER editors get muddy and bloody while ascending the slippery Lockwoods Chimney, a half-climbing-half-caving route cut deep into the craggy Welsh mountainside.

Assistant Map Editor Kim Phillips shows you how to us a GPS and digital camera to map your trail and document your hike in this video tutorial. Kim Phillips shows you how to us a GPS and digital camera to map your trail and document your hike in this video tutorial.

Because you can't get delivery on the trail

Follow writer Kelly Bastone on a long-forgotten trail on Yosemite North Rim's for eagle eye views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and more.

Fry bacon and eggs in a bag with Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan and this unconventional camp cooking technique.

Fry bacon and eggs in a bag with Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan and this unconventional camp cooking technique.

Editor-in-Chief Jon Dorn shows you how to get a fire going with nothing but your cellphone, a piece of steel wool, and some tinder.

Four is not a crowd in this family-size featherweight.

Climbing guru Peter Whittaker gives Backpacker a preview of a new line of gear from Eddie Bauer.

Want a one-pack quiver? Our editors loved this versatile, lightweight pack on everything from fast-and-light weekends to overloaded weeks. Find out why in this exclusive video, shot on location in Wales.

With superior stability, breathability, and versatility, the all-purpose, midweight Kayland Zephyr hiking boot became an editor favorite after standing up to the worst weather Wales could throw at it. See it in action here.

Dive off the Grand Canyon's South Rim and explore a waterfall-rich grotto and the canyon's largest natural rock bridge on this classic, 34-mile trek captured in vivid 3-D detail.

Editor-in-Chief Jon Dorn discusses the past, present, and future of mountaineering with Everest's All-Star Team.

Are you ready for your best backcountry sleep ever? Carry less and sleep more with this light-and-luxe mattress.

Bright, light, and rechargeable--the perfect camp lantern is here. Green Editor Berne Broudy breaks down why this lamp made the EC cut. 2613919215001

Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe tackles a different kind of mountain in this video. Join him as he battles howling winds on the highest peak in Wales.

Follow BACKPACKER editors on a misty mountain hop through steep slopes, huge waterfalls, and fog-shrouded vistas in Wales' Brecon Beacons National Park.

From suspension to pockets, gear editor Kristin Hostetter details what to consider when shopping for a new pack.

Our resident gear expert looks at down vs. synthetic, mummy vs. rectangular, zipper options, and more. Our resident gear expert looks at down vs. synthetic, mummy vs. rectangular, zipper options, and more.

Get salty on a tour of the lochs and islands on the western coast of Scotland. Backpacker Deputy Editor Anthony Cerretani scores a bottle of scotch and jumps aboard a converted fishing vessel.

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. Alaska wolves are prized for their pelts. Here, trapper and tanner Al Barrette skins a wolf and makes the case for continued hunting and trapping.

Join wildlife scientist Gordon Haber on a trip into Denali to track down the threatened Toklat pack's den, where he hopes to see wolves thriving in their natural environment.

Coke Wallace lives to hunt wolves. Follow him into the Alaskan backcountry to learn how wolf hunters find, catch, and kill their prey.

Track caribou on Lake Superior's Slate Islands with our writer and photographer.

Frigid temperatures are hard to find in the middle of the summer (when we shot this video) so after soaking three sleeping bags, we chilled out at a local liquor store.

Yeah, we know you probably won't ever get fully submerged in a raging river while in your sleeping bag, but that's not good enough for us.

In this gear test, Shannon Davis jumps in three sleeping bags and we hose them down to see how each one handles high-force rain.

Jeff Chow spent 10 months mapping every mile of the AT for BACKPACKER. Learn about his favorite spots and hard-earned tips here.

Prevent the deep chill by learning how to spot and treat hypothermia in the backcountry.

Whether you're solo or with a group, the BACKPACKER editors show you how to safely cross a raging river–no bridge necessary.

Learn what to put in a bear canister–and where to hide it–to keep your meals safe.

It's OK to admit it: you've logged hundreds of miles in the backcountry without really knowing how to use your compass and topo map together. Watch our video tutorial to catch up on this essential backpacking skill.

Find your way using only a topo map and a GPS.

Our Editor in Chief schools you on his packing secrets for long-trail comfort.

Get the basics dialed. Our Editor in Chief shows you how to put together the perfect homemade survival kit. Get packing basics dialed. Our Editor in Chief shows you how to put together the perfect homemade survival kit.

Follow these steps and you're guaranteed the perfect campfire in no time.

In the wilderness, a broken leg can you leave you stranded–or worse. But if you know how to diagnose, treat, and build a splint with camping gear, you'll better your odds for survival.