May 12, 2013

The Latest

May 12, 2013/ Dave Collins

We're proud to announce the launch of our new website and the launch date for our inaugural video series - Lightweight & Ultralight Backpacking Foundations! Our new website is a work in progress so please excuse any initial bugs that you might run into.

We're building up for a big launch on June 3rd. We'll be releasing two more teaser videos and giving away free CleverHiker merch from our Facebook and Twitter pages, so make sure to "like" and "follow" us. We'll even be releasing the first full video in our series for free! It's going to be a busy few weeks so stay tuned!

GEAR GUIDE 2018

TOP GEAR PICKS 2018

The CleverHiker Top Picks page is reserved for our personal favorite backpacking gear. When we hit the trail, this is what we carry in our packs.

10 BEST TENTS 2018

Packing a top-notch tent is one of the best ways to increase comfort, safety, and enjoyment on backcountry trips. So when you're in the market for a new shelter, pick up one of the Best Backpacking Tents of 2018.

7 BEST SLEEPING BAGS 2018

Looking for some deep trail sleep? Then snuggle up with one of the Best Sleeping Bags & Quilts of 2018.

10 BEST BACKPACKS 2018

If you're planning to hit the trail this year, you’ll probably want one of these badboys on your back. Here's my list of the Best Backpacks of 2018.

8 BEST SLEEPING PADS 2018

Nobody likes waking up with numb hips. Get the restful trail sleep you’ve earned with one of the Best Sleeping Pads of 2018.

10 best shoes & boots 2018

Choosing your footwear will be one of the most important gear decisions you'll make. Check out the Best Hiking Shoes and Boots of 2018 to find the shoe for you.

7 BEST STOVES 2018

A steamy cup of java on a crisp, quiet morning is just about the perfect start to any day in the wilderness. So pick up one of the Best Backpacking Stoves of 2018 and make that moment happen.

6 BEST WATER FILTERS 2018

Staying hydrated and avoiding parasites in the backcountry is critical. We explain the key differences of each water treatment method and share our personal favorites in our list of the Best Water Filters of 2018.

BEST JACKETS 2018

A reliable rain jacket and a warm down coat will protect you against the elements, keeping you dry, safe, and warm in the wilderness. Check out our list of the Best Jackets of 2018.

10 BEST HAMMOCKS 2018

Take your backcountry chillin' game to the next level with one of the Best Backpacking Hammocks of 2018.

Best Daypacks 2018

A solid daypack should be a staple of every outdoor enthusiast's gear collection. Ranging from minimalist to fully featured, we bring you our trail-tested Best Daypacks of 2018.

BEST WOMEN'S GEAR 2018

We explore several key differences in women-specific gear. Check out some of our favorite items in our guide to the Best Backpacking Gear for Women.

Best lightweight bACKPACKING FOOD

Your backcountry meal plan should balance weight, nutritional value, caloric density, and convenience. We outline critical considerations and our favorite food choices in our Best Lightweight Backpacking Food Guide.

7 Best Trekking Poles

Trekking poles can add a lot of stability and comfort to your hike. We tested dozens of trekking poles to narrow the list down in terms of durability, comfort, weight and value to determine this year's Best Trekking Poles.

6 Best Budget Tents

We put together this list to showcase some solid budget tents that strike a good balance between cost, weight, weather protection, and durability. If you’re on a tight budget or new to backpacking, check out our Best Budget Tents of the year.

100 Gifts for Backpacking, Hiking & Camping

Outdoor adventure gifts are the best kind around. The gift ideas listed in the CleverHiker Gift Guide are can’t miss recommendations for anyone that enjoys backpacking, hiking, and camping. So give a gift that gets someone outdoors this year. Give the gift of adventure!

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8 Iconic Pacific Northwest Backpacking Trips

The Pacific Northwest is an adventure junkie’s paradise. It’s a breathtakingly diverse playground of craggy granite peaks, high alpine lakes, meadows socked with wildflowers, rugged windswept coastline, and more shades of green than your eyeballs can handle.

Top 12 Beginner Backpacking Blunders

If you’ve spent any time in the woods, you’ve probably made some epic backcountry blunders. I certainly have. In fact, the only reason I’m able to give any “clever” hiking advice is because of all the laughably bad mistakes I’ve made over the years. At one point or another I’ve fallen victim to every one of the blunders listed below (and then some!).

21 Tips For the First-Time Thru-Hiker

Completing a thru-hike will be one of the most profoundly rewarding achievements of your life. You’ll spend months communing with nature, build jaw-dropping endurance, and develop lasting friendships along the way. Mustering up the courage to set out on your first thru-hike just might be the best decisions you ever make.

5 Reasons To Ditch Your Hiking Boots

For many of us, it’s been drilled into our heads since day one that backpackers wear boots. That’s just what you do. You need the toughness and the ankle support and the water protection, right? That’s why it blew my mind a few years back when I learned that thru-hikers cover thousands of trail miles every year in running shoes. Now, after many years and many miles, I feel very confident saying: Ditch the boots and don't look back.

How to Wash a Down Coat

A lightweight down coat should be at the center of any good backpacking list. You’ll wear it just about every night on the trail. It’ll keep you toasty warm, even after spending hours jammed into the bottom of your pack. So, considering how essential your down coat is and how often you use it, let me ask you this; when was the last time you washed it?

Yeah… that’s what I thought.

CleverHiker

Lightweight backpacking video guides and reviews of the best ultralight tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, and more.

Meet Dave & Annie

We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. We love backpacking, international travel, useful gear, and all things nature. Read more...

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10 Best Tents

7 Best Sleeping Bags

10 Best Backpacks

10 Best Shoes & Boots

8 Best Sleeping Pads

10 Best Hammocks

7 Best Stoves

10 Best Daypacks

7 Best Water Filters

Best Backpacking Food

Best Rain & Down Jackets

7 Best Trekking Poles

Best Women's Gear

Top Gear Picks

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CH On Instagram

Just finished up day 4 on our JMT thru-hike!! The weather has been lovely, our packs are feeling good, and we’re very excited for what lies ahead. At the moment we’re chillin at Red’s Meadow on mile 60 of the trail. Eating some good food and enjoying a cold brewski. About 160 miles left in our journey, which we’re expecting will take about 12-13 more days. Hope all is well in your world!! . #jmt2018 #johnmuirtrail

Lovely hike up to Wheeler Peak today, highest point in NM. 🤗

Had a stellar day yesterday. Got some solid work done in the morning, ate some delicious grub in Bozeman, and headed out to the mountains to camp. Any day with alpine lakes is a win in my books. 👌

Morning vibes from a great little trail run near Bozeman 🙌 🤗

Got to meet this guy at OR today! Pretty rad. We’re big fans.

Walked around Mount St. Helens last weekend on the Loowit Trail with one of my best buddies and had an amazing time. The trail is pretty tough, with quite a few wash outs and steep sections, but the rewards are well worth it. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip and we also posted a full backpacking guide on our website. Hope you enjoy! . Annie and I are back on the road again and feeling great. Our first stop is in Denver for Outdoor Retailer and then we’re off to explore. Glacier NP and the Wind River Range are at the top of our list right now, but we’re leaving things open. Just looking to get out and enjoy nature at its finest. 🏕🚐🌄😍 . #mountsthelens #loowittrail #washington #cleverhiker

Lovely evening at some quiet hot springs in the Oregon desert 👌 . #pnw #alvorddesert #cleverhiker

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Before REI shuts its doors and encourages everyone to #optoutside on Black Friday, they're having a huge sale.… https://t.co/xilaZjPZyN
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Annapurna Range - Nepal

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." - John Muir

Half Dome - Yosemite NP

At CleverHiker, we believe that backpacking adventures provide some of life’s most rewarding experiences. Our goal is to help make your adventures as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, and to inspire you to plan your next excursion.

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