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Titcomb Basin Backpacking Guide – Wind River Range, WY

Titcomb Basin Backpacking Guide – Wind River Range, WY

The Wind River Range, or the Winds, as they’re commonly known, are jammed with bucket-list day hikes and backpacking trips that reward you with epic views and unbelievable beauty.
Does Bear Spray Really Work?

Does Bear Spray Really Work?

Bear spray is a must-have in many wilderness areas, but it’s only effective if you know how to use it. Read on for helpful deployment tips, buying considerations, and more.
A Guide to Hiking in Torres del Paine: W, O, and Q Treks

A Guide to Hiking in Torres del Paine: W, O, and Q Treks

If it’s your first time visiting Patagonia, Torres del Paine should be on your itinerary. Here’s how to enjoy some of the best trekking in the world:
How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide
the tools for pooping in the woods (trowel, hand sanitizer and a baggie of toilet paper

How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide

When nature calls, we’ve got steps to turn a backcountry bathroom break into a five-star experience. Plus, properly disposing of your #2 keeps our wild places and waterways clean and pristine.”
A Guide to Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia

A Guide to Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia

We’ve been fortunate enough to hike and backpack extensively in Patagonia. Here’s what we’ve learned about this magical region after many years of travels to South America.
Best Hiking Daypacks of 2026
A person with a black dog looks out over a rocky landscape filled with pines. An EXPED brand pack is on their bag and a fly fishing rod is strapped to the side.

Best Hiking Daypacks of 2026

From fast summit missions to gear-heavy winter hikes, these are the daypacks that stood out after extensive side-by-side trail testing.
Pinhoti Trail Guide
A person wearing a rain jacket is sitting on a rock on the edge of a ridge looking out at the ridge on the other side of the valley. There is a small terrier standing next to them and the day is overcast.

Pinhoti Trail Guide

Stretching across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, this thru-hike offers an extended hiking season, unique trail towns, and relatively gentle terrain.
Santa Cruz Trek, Peru – A Guide to Hiking the Cordillera Blanca

Santa Cruz Trek, Peru – A Guide to Hiking the Cordillera Blanca

Nestled in the white-peaked Cordillera Blanca range in the Andes, the classic 4-day Santa Cruz backpacking trip may be one of the most beautiful treks in the world. Here’s how to hike this overlooked hiking mecca north of Lima, Peru.
Exped Skyline 20 Review
A person packs items into a green EXPED Skyline 20L Daypack. A black lab watches from the background.

Exped Skyline 20 Review

A durable, versatile 20-liter daypack with strong materials, useful ventilation, and an included rain cover, though comfort varies by body shape.
Osprey Daylite Plus Review
Close up of a backpack on a person's back in the desert.

Osprey Daylite Plus Review

A light, compressible commuter and travel pack that handles casual hikes well but gives up the support and ventilation of dedicated hiking daypacks.
REI Flash 22 Review

REI Flash 22 Review

A remarkably light, inexpensive daypack for minimalist hikers and travel, with simple storage and a removable sit pad but limited load support.
REI Trail 25 Review
Closeup image of a man wearing a backpack with a foam sleeping pad on the bottom and two hiking poles attached.

REI Trail 25 Review

A cushioned, durable budget daypack with a useful rain cover and lots of lash points, but limited ventilation, support, and on-the-go access.
Cotopaxi Batac 16L Review
Person wearing a colorful Cotopaxi daypack squats by a riverside to watch the rapids.

Cotopaxi Batac 16L Review

A colorful, highly packable 16-liter bag for travel and casual outdoor use, best for light loads rather than serious day hiking.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2026
A man sits up in a sleeping bag with the hood over his head. He is smiling and looking off camera.

Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2026

Our top backpacking sleeping bags cover ultralight thru-hiking, cold-weather trips, roomy side-sleeper designs, synthetic wet-weather options, and genuinely affordable beginner picks.
Best Backpacking Tents of 2026
The NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 and Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 backpacking tents pitched in a campsite surrounded by granite peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains

Best Backpacking Tents of 2026

We put the top-performing backpacking tents on the market through the wringer to find the best balance of comfort, weight, weather protection, ease of use, and durability.
Osprey Talon 22 / Tempest 22 Review
A person wears a backpack facing away from the camera in a snowy setting.

Osprey Talon 22 / Tempest 22 Review

A highly organized, supportive daypack with an adjustable fit, excellent trail access, and a durable build for frequent hikers.
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