Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

Exped Lightning 50 Review

A man wearing a blue backpack stands in front of a river gorge

Exped Lightning 50 Review

Last Updated: October 7, 2026

Backpackers who value premium construction and thoughtful technical features get a lot to like here, but awkward bottle access, a fiddly Y-strap, and compressed rear storage keep the experience from feeling seamless.

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

Last Updated: October 6, 2026

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:

Titcomb Basin Backpacking Guide – Wind River Range, WY

Titcomb Basin Backpacking Guide – Wind River Range, WY

Last Updated: October 6, 2026

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?

Last Updated: October 6, 2026

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.

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

Last Updated: October 6, 2026

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

Last Updated: October 6, 2026

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.

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

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

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

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.

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

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

Stretching across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, this thru-hike offers an extended hiking season, unique trail towns, and relatively gentle terrain.

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

Last Updated: October 2, 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

Last Updated: October 1, 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.

REI Trailmade 2 Review