Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides
Loowit Trail Loop – Mount St. Helens Backpacking Guide
Loowit Trail Loop – Mount St. Helens Backpacking Guide
Published:
July 20, 2018
Similar to Rainer’s Wonderland Trail, Adam’s Round-the-Mountain Trail and Hood’s Timberline Trail, the Loowit Trail around Mount St. Helens is nothing short of spectacular. If you enjoy solitude, navigation challenges, eye-popping vistas, and fascinating geology, consider adding the Loowit Trail to your list.
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.
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.
Reflection Canyon Ultimate Backpacking Guide
Reflection Canyon Ultimate Backpacking Guide
Published:
April 5, 2018
A place made iconic by a National Geographic photographer (and subsequently a screen saver), Reflection Canyon, located on the Escalante arm of Lake Powell, perennially entices hikers far and wide. Though stunningly beautiful, we only recommend this hike to experienced backpackers with expert off-trail navigation skills.
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.
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…
Lake O’Hara Hiking and Camping Guide
Lake O’Hara Hiking and Camping Guide
Published:
September 29, 2017
If we had to choose one location to illustrate the immense beauty of the Canadian Rockies, the Lake O’Hara backcountry would be the place. Eighty kilometers of well-maintained trails wind through this breathtaking alpine wilderness filled with turquoise lakes, stunning meadows, and expansive views.
Mount Margaret Backpacking Guide, Mount St. Helens
Mount Margaret Backpacking Guide, Mount St. Helens
Published:
August 29, 2017
Lying just north of the Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument, the Mount Margaret Backcountry provides sweeping views of the blast zone caused by the 1980’s eruption and the surrounding peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. With spectacular views, abundant lakes and wildflowers that persist into early August, the Mount Margaret Backcountry provides an incredible chance to get away without having to travel far from either Portland or Seattle.
Summer Backpacking Gear Favorites 2017
Summer Backpacking Gear Favorites 2017
Published:
July 30, 2017
We’ve spent the last few months hiking hundreds of miles through Oregon, Utah, Peru, Bolivia, and California testing a bunch of new gear. We were surprised by how much we liked some of our new equipment, so we thought we’d put together a post to highlight our favorite summer backpacking gear, big and small.