Editors' Choice Snow Awards 2012: Cabela's E.C.W.C.S. Thermal Zone Baselayer
Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton raves about Cabela's Thermal Zone Baselayers.
Videos & Photos
Videos & Photos
Editors' Choice Snow Award 2012: Bear Creek Country Kitchens Dry Soup Mixes
Our yurt-dwelling test team shares the goodness of Bear Creek Country Soup Mixes
Editors' Choice Snow Award 2012: Black Diamond Carbon Megawatt Skis
Editor-in-Chief Dennis Lewon reviews Black Diamond's killer Carbon Megawatt Skis
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Quintic 28 Backpack
Ski tester Crystal Sagan shows the Arc'teryx Quintic 28 backpack
Maps and GPS Webinar
Map Editor Andrew Matranga gives a sneak peak into our popular navigation course.
Test Kitchen: No-Mess Scrambled Eggs
Learn to cook eggs with this in-the-bag demo.
How to Dry a Damp Lighter
What do you do with a soggy Bic? Learn how to dry it out in a hurry on the trail.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Brenna Fisch
A profile of Brenna Fisch, who fell and broke her skull while hiking.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Danelle Ballengee
A profile of Danelle Ballengee, who fell 60 feet off a cliff while trail-running, which shattered her pelvis.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Melissa McQueen
A profile of Melissa McQueen, who was trapped overnight on a fourteener and lost eight toes from frostbite.
Profiles in (Dis)courage: Justin Harris
A profile of Justin Harris, who broke his leg and survived two days after a fall while canyoneering in Utah.
How to Use Bear Spray
How to responsibly store, equip, release, and dispose of bear spray.
How-To: Use Your Pants as a Flotation Device
How to improvise a flotation device using your pants.
Choosing a Safe Campsite: Considering Trees
How to decide if a campsite is safe from deadfall and "widow makers."
Stay Safe in a Lightning Storm
What to do in the event of a sudden lightning storm.
How to Make a Cheese Wax Candle
Turn one amazing trail snack into a lifesaving firestarter.
Cookstove Safety
Avoid the most common backcountry first-aid mishap--hot water burns. Use these stove safety techniques to reduce your backcountry burn risk.
Trim Your Pack to Save Weight
How can you cut weight? Learn how to, literally, shave ounces or even pounds from your pack.
Survival Lab: Set up 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. 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.
Survival Lab: Build a Backcountry Solar Still
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.
Survival Lab: Harvest Dew
Drop Dead Ted's demonstration and tips for collecting water from moisture-covered leaves and grass.
Survival Lab: Signaling Devices Roundup
Drop Dead Ted explains the basics of rescue signaling and picks his favorite survival whistle from his testing lineup.
Survival Lab: Use a Signaling Mirror
Backpacker's survivalist everyman, Drop Dead Ted, explains how to aim and signal for help with a reflective mirror.
Use Your Camera to Paint With Light
Watch night-sky photographer Ben Canales explain how to use light to make more dynamic photos.
How to Make Cowboy Coffee
Which method of making cowboy coffee works best? Deputy Editor Anthony Cerretani discusses the brew-worthy results of our findings.
Photo Tips: Capturing Lightning
Staff Photographer Ben Fullerton reviews the steps to safely catching a bolt of lightning on film.
Survival Lab: Carve a Feather Stick
Drop Dead Ted shows you how to carve a feather stick to help start a fire in a surivival situation.
Survival Lab: Carve a Feather Stick
Drop Dead Ted shows you how to carve a feather stick to help start a fire in a surivival situation.
Survival Lab: Ultimate Knife Test
Drop Dead Ted puts the latest and greatest survival knives to the test.
Backpacking Gear Found on Kickstarter.com
Five new new products funded through Kickstarter.com...some great, some not so great.
Editors' Choice 2012: Hungry Hikers Murray's Hurried Curry
Beat the backcountry blahs with this aromatic curry dish Beat the backcountry blahs with this aromatic curry dish.
Adult Campfire Drinks
Drinks and accessories for a relaxing backcountry happy hour.
Lighten Your Tent by 22 Ounces
Six easy ways to lighten your tent load.
Gear Roundup: Tiny Gear
Good things DO come in small packages, and these little widgets are too useful to leave at home in the gear closet.
Editors' Choice 2012: L.L.Bean Microlight FS 2 Tent
An ultralight tent for two that's under two hundred bucks.
Editors' Choice 2012: Snow Peak SnowMiner Headlamp
A headlamp that doubles as a hanging lantern A headlamp that doubles as a hanging lantern.
Editors' Choice 2012: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
An ingenious water filtration system - no pumping required.
Gear Review: Stoic Arx XL 2 Tent
If spring finds you in the market for a tent that's lightweight and bombproof, check out this two-person, two-door, three-season shelter.
Editors' Choice 2012: MSR WhisperLite Universal Stove
A multifuel stove that burns liquid gas and canister fuel with ease.
Editors' Choice Gold 2012: Kahtoola MICROspikes
The ultimate in lightweight traction The ultimate in lightweight traction.
Editors' Choice 2012: Kühl Liberator Zip-off Pants
Our zip-off pant hater has become a believer with these stylish convertibles.
Editors' Choice Gold 2012: Lodge Cast Iron Camp Dutch Ovens
Upgrade your car camping menu with this pioneer pot.
Editors' Choice 2012: Salomon Synapse Mid
Running-shoe comfort with hiking-boot stability.
Editors' Choice 2012: Climbing Chile's Volcano San Pedro
The BACKPACKER editors head to the ultimate gear testing ground: Chile's 3,600-meter Volcano San Pedro
Editors' Choice 2012: Boreas Buttermilks 55 & Lost Coast 60
Two ultralight, ultracomfortable backpacks - one with a top lid and one without.
Editors' Choice 2012: inReach 2-way Satellite Communicator by DeLorme
Send and receive messages from the backcountry
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Summit Sack
Snag this pint-sized, ultralight, frameless pack for dayhikes, quick, after-work cross country ski laps, or pack it as a stuff sack/summit pack on your big trip.
Backpack Belt Buckle Repair
Fix a broken pack buckle on the fly - no sewing needed!
Sleeping Bag Longevity Tips
A well-maintained bag can last for years. Learn how to keep your bag in top shape.
7 Worst Blister Photos
We asked to see your worst blister photos. Here's the best of the worst.
Go Higher with Tips from Senior Editor and Professional Mountain Guide Shannon Davis
Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide Tackle that big mountain with tips from our in-house mountain guide
Outdoor Products Firefly Pack
The Firefly is a multipurpose entry-level performer, at a low price.
Skills 101: Bushwhacking
Navigate through unruly terrain with these helpful tips
Gear Review: Granite Gear Nimbus Core
Love traveling in bear country, but dread carrying bear canisters? Try a pack that's specifically designed to make carting a bear can a pleasant experience.
Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day
Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.
Gear Review: The North Face Phoenix 2 Tent
With The North Face's new Drywall tent fabric and external clips, you can pitch the Phoenix 2 in the middle of a downpour without spilling a drop on the tent floor.
Gear Review: MSR Hubba Hubba Tent plus Gear Shed
How do you improve on a tent that's already received an Editors' Choice award? Try adding a detachable vestibule, or "gear shed", that practically doubles the tent's footprint and its versatility.
Gear Review: Craghoppers Bear Grylls Line
Backpacker went wild and bush beat Craghoppers Bear Grylls line of clothing, survival style.
Gear Review: The North Face Zealot 85 Backpack
Big adventure awaits with this comfortable, large-capacity waterproof pack
Gear Review: MSR E-wing 2011
A lightweight two-person tarp with multiple setup options.
Gear Review: Granite Gear Meridian Vapor Pack
Is this the summer you vowed lighten your load? Pick up this sequel to a previous Editors' Choice winner and start the season off right.
Adjust Your Pack Straps on the Trail
Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.
Gear Review: REI Hobitat 4 Tent
This four-person tent offers room in all directions, sky view ventilation, and a bone dry fly.
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Theta SL
Two waterproof/breathable fabrics paired with a stowable hood for durability and solid performance in a lightweight, compressible package.
Gear Review: Terra Nova Solar Photon 2
Tax return burning a hole in your pocket? How about blowing it on a feathery-light shelter for two?
Gear Review: Geigerrig Hydration System/Pack
Never suck again with this unique hydration system.
My Toughest Gear: Gregory Z65 Backpack
If you lack the cash, storage space, and/or desire to own a quiver of packs, get the ultraversatile Gregory Z65.
Gear Review: Dirty Girl Gaiters
Ultralight, simple design for light-and-fast hiking
Editors' Choice 2011 Gold Award: Icebreaker Hopper T
The only backpacking t-shirt you'll ever need. See why this shirt stands out from the rest.
Editors' Choice 2011: Black Diamond Ultra Distance Z-Poles
The best carbon poles we've ever tested.
Editors' Choice 2011: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL4 Tent
A family-size tent that weighs as much as some two-person shelters.
Editors' Choice 2011: TrekSta Evolution Mid GTX
Ultralight, waterproof hikers that have all-day comfort and superb traction.
Gear Review: MSR Evo Tour Snowshoes
They're nimble, versatile, and by far the easiest snowshoe binding I've ever used.
Editors' Choice 2011: DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator
Call for emergeny help and stay connected back home with these two high-tech gadgets.
Editors' Choice 2011: Rab Aurora/Boreas Pull-On Softshell Jacket
A softshell made for backpackers.
Editors' Choice 2011: Granite Gear Blaze AC 60
A lightweight pack with best-in-class suspension for heavy loads.
Nemo Astro Insulated Sleeping Pad: Editors' Choice Gold 2010
A 2.5-inch, full-length mattress that's insulated with open-cell foam.
Gear Review: MSR Fury Tent
Easy to pitch + easy to carry + easy to stay warm = Easy to love.
Editors' Choice 2011: Salewa Alp Trainer Mid GTX
Midweight hikers that can scramble and haul 45-pound loads.