Blog
Red Castle Lakes Backpacking Guide – High Uintas
Red Castle Lakes Backpacking Guide – High Uintas
Published:
July 5, 2018
Gorgeous alpine meadows and pitch-perfect backcountry camping make this area, especially at sunset, a wonderland. It gets its name from the red castle-like peaks that stand like a fortress above the basin.
New HMG Hip Belt Pockets Review
New HMG Hip Belt Pockets Review
Published:
July 2, 2018
Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes some of our favorite ultralight backpacking gear and their Southwest 2400 and 3400 backpacks have been at the top of our Best Lightweight Backpacks list for almost three years running.
Mosquitos & Hiking: How to Protect Yourself
Mosquitos & Hiking: How to Protect Yourself
Published:
June 8, 2018
Few things can ruin a backpacking trip quicker than relentless swarms of buzzing mosquitoes…
Jetboil MiniMo vs. MSR WindBurner
Jetboil MiniMo vs. MSR WindBurner
Published:
May 31, 2018
In the world of integrated stoves, two models stand apart in our opinion: the Jetboil MiniMo and MSR WindBurner. While both stoves perform very well and are worth recommending, we wanted to put the two systems up against each other to see which one wins out in a range of performance categories.
Goat Rocks Wilderness Backpacking Guide
Goat Rocks Wilderness Backpacking Guide
Published:
May 30, 2018
The Goat Rocks Wilderness drapes over the crest of the Cascade Range in South-Central Washington, offering endless views of iconic Cascade peaks and volcanoes. Numerous snowfields flank its craggy ridges and peaks, while steep drainages open into basins filled with alpine meadows and glacial lakes.
25 Great Deals in REI’s Anniversary Sale
25 Great Deals in REI’s Anniversary Sale
Published:
May 18, 2018
The sale we wait all year for is finally here – REI’s Anniversary Sale. Running from May 18th-28th, their biggest sale of the year includes some of our favorite backpacking and hiking gear. We put together this list of items we’re most excited about. Enjoy!
Backpacking in Patagonia: Gear Checklist
Backpacking in Patagonia: Gear Checklist
Published:
May 16, 2018
Whether you’re preparing for the W Trek in Torres del Paine or chasing sunrises on Fitz Roy, packing the right gear to ensure you’re safe and comfortable is essential. Our gear checklist will help you keep your weight to a minimum so you can see and do more.
Big Agnes Insulated AXL Sleeping Pad Review
Big Agnes Insulated AXL Sleeping Pad Review
Published:
April 16, 2018
The new Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air Pad is among the lightest sleeping pads ever created and one of the very few pads that can…
Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt Review
Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt Review
Published:
April 15, 2018
The Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt is expertly designed, built with high quality materials, and works great for spring, summer, and fall backpacking trips. We love the versatility, warmth, comfort, and weight savings of the Flex 22, and we’ve been impressed with its performance on the trail.
Big Ticket Gifts
Big Ticket Gifts
Published:
November 15, 2017
View fullsize Big Ticket Gifts GIFT GUIDE SECTIONS STOCKING STUFFERS MID-RANGE GIFTS BIG TICKET GIFTS POPULAR CONTENT: Need a new tent, backpack, sleeping bag/pad, etc? Find our favorites in the CleverHiker Gear Guide. REI CO-OP Magma 10 & 17 REI’s new Magma 10 (men’s) and Magma 17 (women’s) sleeping bags have a combination of weight, warmth, and cost that is hard […]
10 Great Deals at REI’s November Sale
10 Great Deals at REI’s November Sale
Published:
November 10, 2017
Before REI shuts its doors and encourages everyone to #optoutside on Black Friday, they’re having a big sale. They’ll also be offering members a 20% off coupon, which we’ve all grown to love. The Gear Up-Get Out sale runs from November 10-20 and includes some of our favorite backpacking gear.
CleverHiker Gift Guide 2018
CleverHiker Gift Guide 2018
Published:
November 8, 2017
Outdoor adventure gifts are the best kind around. The items listed in our 2018 Gift Guide are can’t miss recommendations for anyone that enjoys backpacking, hiking, and camping. We have stocking stuffers, mid-range gifts, and big ticket gifts to choose from. So give a gift that gets someone outdoors this year!
Sawback Trail Backpacking Guide, Banff National Park
Sawback Trail Backpacking Guide, Banff National Park
Published:
November 1, 2017
The Sawback Trail in Banff National Park is a 74 km (46 mile) traverse through the rugged and beautiful Sawback Mountain Range. With most people flocking to crowded trails on the west side of the Trans Canada Highway, this trek provides a true backcountry feel in a stunningly beautiful wilderness.
REI Launches Online Used Gear Program
REI Launches Online Used Gear Program
Published:
October 23, 2017
REI recently launched their new online used gear website, making shopping for discounted gear even easier. The idea is that it will keep used equipment out of the dump, minimize the loss to the retailer, and increase outdoor accessibility for adventurers on a budget.
Sierra Designs Nitro UL 20 Sleeping Bag Review
Sierra Designs Nitro UL 20 Sleeping Bag Review
Published:
October 9, 2017
Sierra Designs just launched their new Nitro UL 20 Sleeping Bag (available in 0°F, 20°F, 35°F, Women’s 0°F, and Women’s 20°F models) and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on a pre-launch model to test it out. We’ve been using the Nitro UL 20 for a few weeks now and we think it’s a solid offering in the sleeping bag world.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Backpack Review
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Backpack Review
Published:
October 3, 2017
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest is one of our all-time favorite lightweight backpacks. We’ve been hiking with HMG…