Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

This is where we highlight a wide range of exceptional choices, and talk about our personal favorites.

Mountain House recently released three new flavors – Biscuits and Gravy, Chicken Fried Rice, and Italian Style Pepper Steak with Rice and Tomatoes. We really enjoyed the new flavors, so I thought I’d write a quick post to spread the word and share our thoughts.

Earlier this week, Annie and I took a trip to the east side of Mount St. Helens to explore a 28-mile backpacking loop a friend had recommended. We were blown away by how remarkably beautiful, surprisingly diverse, and unexpectedly secluded the route was.

Hey Dave, I’m looking to buy the LightHeart Gear Duo tent. Could you elaborate on some the pros and cons you have experienced as well as how it compares with other two person single wall tents? 

Short backcountry trips are a fantastic way to reboot your system and cleanse weekly stress. It’s always amazing to me how quickly I feel my body relax when I begin a hike. It often only a few steps before I start to feel the peace of the wilderness wash over me.

Below is an email from a reader I received this week. Den from Berkshire, UK brings up a problem I hear about all the time, so I thought I’d share my response. Also, if you want more info on the hiking boots vs. running shoes debate, check out my article 5 Reasons To Ditch Your Hiking Boots. A big thanks to Den for the great question! 

I often get fantastic emails from readers with really great questions. I try to answer them to the best of my ability and I frequently wish that others could read my responses. So today I’m trying out a new idea and I’m going to publish a recent reader email. If you like this type of content – please let me know with a “like” or “comment” below. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful notes and questions. You guys rock!

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of exploring this beautiful section of the Oregon Coast Trail with one of my best friends. The trip was a spectacular reminder of how rewarding and diverse backpacking can be. James and I were both blown away by the pristine seclusion of this 30-mile stretch of Oregon coast. I highly recommend placing this trip on your Oregon backpacking to-do list. You will not be disappointed. 

It’s time to start getting pumped up about backpacking season again! For many of us that means dusting off our trail gear to see what upgrades we can make. To help make your job easier this year, I’ve created a list of can’t-miss gear upgrades. Here are seven must-own backpacking tools to boost your comfort while keeping your pack nice and light.

Sawyer has built a complete game changer with the Sawyer Mini. The ability to drink clean water directly from the source without having to carry a bulky filter or harsh chemicals is ideal for backcountry travelers. The Mini is an effective, small, lightweight, and versatile water filter that retails for under $25. If that doesn’t do it for you, no filter will.  I highly recommend you pick a Sawyer Mini today. You won’t be disappointed!

The price tag on the ZPacks Duplex Tent may seem like highway robbery, but if you’re an avid backpacker, it’s worth every penny and then some. This tent is incredible, here’s why:

If you’re the type of backpacker that’s into big views, lush forests, stunning peaks, and craggy volcanic landscapes (and who’s not!), then you’ll absolutely love the 50-Mile Three Sisters Loop. Here’s a quick guide on how to make the most of your trip. 

Today Gossamer Gear announced the launch of their new Mariposa Backpack. The Mariposa has been around for years and it’s the most popular pack design in Gossamer Gear’s arsenal of lightweight backpacking products. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for a new pack. 

One of my core beliefs is that people are more willing to protect natural areas once they get out and experience their beauty. That’s one of my key motivators with CleverHiker and one of the reasons I’m so excited to partner with the PCTA on the Essential Trail Skills video series.

This summer CleverHiker is looking to team up with 2-3 thru-hikers setting out on the AT, PCT, or CDT to help us create a video chronicle of their trips. Our goal is to publicly post real-time video updates of the sights, sounds, and stories from America’s long trails. We want to link up with creative, enthusiastic, and dedicated thru-hikers for this project. We’ll ask our CH thru-hikers to film 60 seconds from every day of their adventure. They might choose to film stunning scenery, progress updates, funny stories, shout-outs to friends/ family or whatever strikes their fancy. This project is all about empowering creative backpackers to film what’s most important to them and creating inspiring and entertaining content for those of us who want to follow along at home.

This past Saturday, CleverHiker was thrilled to attend the first ever ALDHA West Cascade Winter Ruck in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The purpose of the event was to bring together a mix of veteran thru-hikers and aspiring long distance backpackers to swap stories and build community. It was a learning and networking opportunity for backpackers of all levels and CleverHiker was on hand to soak up the weekend’s events and share some tips and techniques. The program included a variety of long-distance backpacking presentations, equipment evaluations, a gear raffle of UL goodies, great food, and cheap handcrafted beers. By all accounts the event was a massive success.