Backpacking Articles and Videos
Whether you’re planning a weekend summit trip or a month-long trek on the Appalachian Trail, Trails.com has all the backpacking information you could possibly need to see your next trip from start to finish. Covering rail trails, trail-less excursions, and scrambles, as well as offering reviews on gear, Trails.com is your index for the backcountry. Learn to read a topographic map, clean sap off a jacket, pack a backpack, travel light or just pick out hiking boots -- all the information is at your fingertips.
Europe is blessed with an extensive network of long-distance hiking trails. Usually, these are national trails that have been extended and linked together into a trans-continental route. This web of paths makes it plausible to tour all of Europe ...
Sleeping in a two-person tent can be an exercise in diplomacy; there's usually only just enough room for you each to set up your sleeping bags side by side. Sometimes you can't even sit up straight without hitting your head on the inside of the tent.
Yorkshire is home to some of the most picturesque countryside in England, centered on Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is a place of quaint villages, hedge rows, heather and wildflowers and secluded river and creek valleys. Two of the best long-...
The handheld GPS has become a fixture in many rucksacks for its navigational assistance in remote country. The technology hinges on communications between the portable unit and a satellite system.
France is crisscrossed by over 61,000 miles of trails and walking paths--most prominently, the GR network. Known as the Grande Randonnée system in France, each of these long-distance hiking trails crosses not only much of France, but also co...
Gore-Tex outerwear is treated with a durable water repellent (DWR), which causes water to bead up and runs off the garment's surface. Regular use and launderings wear the DWR treatment off a garment, and this inhibits the breathability. A garment...
Avid hikers, campers and backpackers know that packing in freeze dried foods decreases the weight these items would usually have without processing. Once at the campsite or on the trail, simply reconstitute the food with water. Outdoor enthusiast...
Scotland presents a special treat for hikers, which only begins with the majesty of the Scottish Highlands. Hiking is a popular past-time in Britain, as can be seen from the development of Scotland's trails and hiking services. The region has fou...
The Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS) is a portable camp stove designed to be used with isobutane gas. The PCS comes complete with a one-liter canister that will boil water at normal altitudes in two minutes. The system lights by simply turni...
Caving (or "spelunking") is a pursuit that brings together many of the best aspects of outdoor fun. Many of the best caves are in remote locations that require some hiking and camping to get to. Some of the skills involved are shared with rock cl...
The Jetboil Group Cooking System is a camp stove powered by isobutane fuel. The 1.5 liter canister fits securely to the stove base via a slotted flux ring, making the transfer of heat between the stove and canister highly efficient. The entire ca...
Unwelcome incidences of black toenail are not limited to hiking. Athletes and participants in many sports where repetitive foot strikes occur also face this issue. Toenails that become bruised or blacken are often damaged in a way that causes ble...
Backpacks for women, which generally have a shorter torso section and shoulder straps spaced closer together to accommodate a woman's narrower shoulders, are a significant portion of the backpack market. Women's backpacks are available in daypack...
Backpacking is an enjoyable pastime for any outdoor enthusiast. Innovations in backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents have increased the ease and comfort of backpacking, yet effective pillows have not been designed to maximize the comfort of the exp...
Available in an array of designs and sizes while remaining lightweight and compact, no matter what style you choose, gasoline backpacking stoves are a convenient way to cook up a warm meal after a long day of trekking.
A GPS (Global Positioning System) is handy in the outdoors, but there are advantages and disadvantages of using the one that comes in your cell phone.
Clear Clinical is a line of skin-care products designed to help treat and prevent adult acne and excessively oily skin. Clear Clinical includes a sunscreen in their product lineup, intended to provide protection to the skin without excessive clog...
At some point or another, many hikers are hit with a case of chafing on their inner thighs. This is a common occurrence resulting from your skin's repeated rubbing against clothing or, sometimes, other skin. This can be a painful skin development...
A career as a forest ranger may be an ideal choice for those who enjoy spending time outdoors and have an interest in protecting natural resources. Forest rangers manage public and for a variety of interests, including the timber industry, recrea...
Almost all photography enthusiasts like to use a lighter, portable tripod to take backpacking. But the lightest backpacking tripods with a quality head usually weigh around three pounds---almost the weight of two days worth of food. The extra wei...
With so many people becoming more environmentally conscious, one of the big trends is to "go green." Nearly any activity, project or item can be altered to help you go green. This includes flashlights. Get the same amount of light from a flashlig...
The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 is a top-of-the-line ultralight backpacking tent made for two occupants for three seasons. At a pack weight of 3 lb. 6 oz., the Copper Spur UL2 is one of the lightest backpacking tents on the market, but Big Agnes do...
Every pound--no, every ounce--counts when you're backpacking. While you can cut down on weight through careful gear choices, food is always going to be one of the heaviest items you carry, especially at the start of a trip. To keep the weight of ...
Dog backpacks are essentially a harness that fits snugly over and around a dogs back that supports a backpack. The backpack carries supplies by providing adequate weight distribution on either side of the dog so they can safely transport items. O...
The Global Positioning System technology uses signals from satellites to pinpoint the latitude, longitude and altitude of any point on Earth. Hikers and backpackers use a handheld GPS unit to help them navigate in the wilderness.
