Camping Gear Reviews & Expert Tips
REI Grand Hut 4 Tent Review
REI Grand Hut 4 Tent Review
Published:
July 19, 2019
REI Co-op designed the affordable, yet high-quality Grand Hut 4 and Grand Hut 6 to make camping comfortable while keeping nasty weather out. The Grand Hut has lots of headroom and will allow you to fully stand up inside, but it also comes in a compact, easy-to-pitch package.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol vs. NEMO Switchback Review
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol vs. NEMO Switchback Review
Published:
July 10, 2019
Closed-cell foam sleeping pads are a popular option among thru-hikers and lightweight backpackers on a budget, and the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol has dominated that market for many years with very little competition. New in 2019, the NEMO Switchback offers some long overdue updates. We were curious to see how the two matched up, so we tested them side by side to determine a winner.
Big Agnes Q Core SLX Sleeping Pad Review
Big Agnes Q Core SLX Sleeping Pad Review
Published:
June 13, 2019
The Big Agnes Q Core SLX is a super cushy sleeping pad that differentiates itself from other pads with its large side rails that help keep users centered.
Therm-a-Rest Vesper Quilt Review
Therm-a-Rest Vesper Quilt Review
Published:
May 29, 2019
Therm-a-Rest’s new Vesper Quilt is one of the lightest, most packable quilts on the market. Therm-a-Rest accomplished this by using a simple, effective design with a trim cut, free of all non-essentials, and by using the highest quality materials available.
Feathered Friends Flicker Quilt Sleeping Bag Review
Feathered Friends Flicker Quilt Sleeping Bag Review
Published:
May 28, 2019
The Feathered Friends Flicker Quilt Sleeping Bag is an excellent trail quilt with a great design that will help you sleep comfortably in the wilderness under many different conditions. We absolutely love how it can be opened fully like a blanket or cinched up tight like a mummy bag to hold in heat on chilly nights. It’s a very smart, comfortable, effective, and well-designed quilt sleeping bag.
Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20°F Sleeping Bag Review
Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20°F Sleeping Bag Review
Published:
May 22, 2019
The Hyperion is the newest sleeping bag in Therm-a-Rest’s Fast and Light line and it’s one of the lightest and most compressible bags we’ve ever tested. The Hyperion comes in two temperature ratings (20°F and 32°F), which both use very high-quality 900-fill-power down to make them extremely warm while keeping weight to an absolute minimum.
Does Bear Spray Really Work?
Does Bear Spray Really Work?
Published:
January 21, 2019
You’ve packed a can of bear spray and are heading off to your favorite wildlife-populated backcountry. But somewhere in the back…
How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide
How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide
Published:
November 16, 2018
The problem of human waste in the outdoors was highlighted last May when a glacial geologist with the National Park Service…
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nepal Trekking Gear Checklist – What To Pack
Nepal Trekking Gear Checklist – What To Pack
Published:
March 15, 2017
Nepal is an unbelievably beautiful country with a radiant culture and some of the most fantastic scenery you’ll ever lay eyes on. Making a pilgrimage to this trekking mecca should be on every backpacker’s bucket list.