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.
The Osprey Aether 85 is one of the manufacturer's larger options: 30.5 inches high, 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep. This translates to a volume of around 5200 cubic inches and a capacity of about 85 liters. The Aether also comes in small and l...
A topo map, short for topographical map, can be intimidating upon first glance. These maps contain a wealth of information about the land features of a particular area. Thanks to contour lines, which show elevation, a flat topo map gives you a "t...
Although camping can seem like a moneysaver in comparison to the cost of staying at a hotel, the start-up costs of "roughing it" can add up quickly. Below are three camping items that will get you into the wilderness without breaking the bank.
Packing for a backpacking trip largely depends on how long you will be gone and the terrain you will be covering. Before packing food for your trip, you need to consider how many calories you will expend daily. Many companies specialize in backp...
As with any type of sleeping bag, choosing one with a polyester lining will require some thought.
Polyester bags hold up better than down, especially if your camping habits include warmer and wetter conditions. They are also more economical and p...
Mountain Hardwear's Trail Gaiters cover your ankles, calves and shins in stretch nylon Oxford fabric with a polyurethane coating when you go jogging, hiking or backpacking. The gaiters attach to shoes and boots with a shock cord that straps under...
Olympic curl bars come in a variety of sizes and styles, but are typically between four and five feet long and weigh between 10 or 20 lbs. without any weight plates added. They're a useful tool for fine-tuning muscle strength and function in the ...
You have loaded your pack, filled your camping stove with fuel and marked the trail on the map. Now the only thing missing is the food! Sometimes, figuring out what food to bring on a camping trip can be the most overwhelming aspect of trip prepa...
Hiking shoes and hiking boots may seem to share a similar function, but they are vastly different. Hiking boots are heavier and offer more protection on long excursions in extreme terrain. Hiking shoes generally offer less protection from the ele...
Sleeping pads add a measure of comfort to the great outdoors. While useful for keeping heat in and the elements out, sleeping bags and tents don't do much to protect you from the odd protruding rock or root while you sleep. A good sleeping pad is...
Los Angeles has an image as the gridlocked urban center of Southern California. It's known for its million dollar homes and celebrity sightings. The glitzy, glamorous and smoggy reputation of this fair city precedes it, but outdoor enthusiasts or...
A topographical relief map is halfway between a map and a model. Instead of using contour lines to show elevation changes, a relief map actually has raised and lowered sections to model mountains, valleys, rivers and other features. A well-made t...
Topographic or landform maps, which represent elevations and physical features of a given swath of the Earth, are immensely useful cartographic tools. Backpackers use them to plan cross-country treks, hunters and fishers to stalk remote drainages...
A tent is the outdoorsman's home away from home. Tents provide shelter from the elements and a modicum of privacy. If you don't have the right tent, your time outside can be an arduous experience. Depending on what type of experience you're look...
Outdoor enthusiasts are active, and replacing the calories expended by a full day in the outdoors isn't always easy. Backpacking food has a tall order to fill. It needs to be calorie-dense enough to satisfy an appetite charged by an active day bu...
Energy bars are a convenient way to get some food in your system. They're light, they pack well and they are usually packed with calories. They are a favorite among backpackers, cyclists and people who find the need to eat on the run. And nowaday...
The Osprey Luna 85 backpack is a women's-specific pack designed for multiday backpacking trips. Weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz. with a capacity of 85 liters or 5,100 cubic inches, you will have plenty of room to carry everything you need. The backpack com...
Part of what makes backpacking enjoyable is eating a good meal after a long day of hiking. Planning a menu takes time, and it is a balance between nutrition and weight. You don't want to carry too much weight when hiking, as it will slow you down...
Water bottles and canteens have evolved significantly from the old canvas-covered steels ones that you could buy at an Army-Navy store. There are many options available to the backpacker and mountaineer, and savvy outdoors-people will often bring...
Camping in the backcountry means operating a backpacking stove. There are a bevy of options on the market, but the most reliable types of stoves include butane stoves, alcohol stoves, and the JetBoil. All three options require different procedure...
The Kelty Red Cloud backpack is a large pack designed for hauling heavy loads on extended multiday trips. Its durably is constructed of 600D polyester and features a large main compartment, two side compartments, a removable top compartment that ...
If you're visiting Maui for the first time or the 10th time, you'll find plenty of new things to discover. Maui offers numerous water-based activities, like scuba diving or kayaking, or you could stay on land and discover the many waterfalls alon...
Backpacking stoves come in a variety of sizes and designs. Non-pressurized stoves use a liquid fuel such as alcohol and pressurized stoves use a canister of fuel such as propane. When choosing a backpacking stove, consider its weight, ease of get...
