Hiking Science

Whether because of poorly-fitting shoes, moisture, or just bad luck, every hiker’s tangled with those raw, fluid-filled bumps. Science can tell you how they form—but can it stop you from getting them?

A group of researchers from University of California, Irvine investigated the link between SAR incidents, park visitation, and Twitter posts. Their conclusions could inform how hikers portray their own adventures—and view those of others—online

Can the most common bear deterrent work in heavy wind and sub-zero temperatures? A group of researchers set out to test it.

The "Ten Essentials"—ten items supposedly necessary for a safe hike—are a widely-accepted dogma in backpacking. But they don't necessarily stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Exercise may not be enough to make up for thru-hikers’ bad diets, a new paper suggests.