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.
Finding helpful reviews of camping gear can be challenging. One of the best strategies is to speak with the experts who work for outfitters and camping stores. It's best to stay away from the big box stores because as employees often are not qual...
Global positioning systems (GPS) are popular accessories for cars and boats and can be very helpful when hiking and backpacking. Handheld GPS systems are portable and built for rugged country. Many backcountry hikers have come to appreciate handh...
Learning to pack an internal frame backpack correctly can help reduce fatigue and injury while on a trail. There are several strategies that work well, but some general tips should be heeded. However, depending on your gear, you may find that str...
Knowing how to make your own snowshoes can come in handy when are stranded and have to cross a landscape of deep snow. But snowshoes are just not survival tools. They can be a fun recreational activity allowing you to explore hard-to-access place...
To those who don't know it, Mexico is not often thought of as an outdoors destination. However, this large and varied country is actually full of a range of outdoor adventure opportunities. It has a variety of distinct regions that combine ancien...
The Scarpa SL hiking boot is Scarpa's classic design. Its features are found in many of their other boots. Scarpa's hiking boots feature silicone impregnated leather for durability and waterproofing. The sole is Vibram, and the lining is Cambrell...
To increase the enjoyment of your camping experience, you should plan all meals before setting out. The food you decide to prepare will ultimately come down to personal preference, but you should eat properly even in the woods. Similarly, if you'...
Therm-a-Rest's NeoAir Sleeping Pad is a lightweight, three-season air-cushioned sleeping pad that is built for the needs of back country enthusiasts who want to combine comfort and light weight into one sleeping pad. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir regis...
Trekking poles are becoming more popular in the American hiking community. Poles offer support and balance and can substantially reduce the amount of shock absorbed by your joints--specifically your knees. There are several strategies to use trek...
Camping in the backcountry does not mean eating tree bark, leaves and suspicious berries. Instead, with an action plan, you can make delicious, nutritious meals -- similar to home. The key to eating while camping is preparation. Also, if you're c...
Camping in the wilderness does not mean you need to sacrifice your daily cup of java. Instead, you'll need to develop a technique to make your precious brew over an open fire or on a grill. While the resulting beverage would probably not make the...
The spirit of backpacking is synonymous with venturing into the wilderness and getting far from civilization. Although no one wants to get hurt, it pays to be prepared for the worst. And backpackers typically have a strong do-it-yourself spirit a...
The Catskill Mountain range is a ridge in southern New York state, just north of New York City. Because of its proximity to one of the largest cities in the world, the Catskill area is heavily traveled. While there are many opportunities for camp...
The Black Diamond Firstlight tent weighs just 2 pounds, 11 ounces. For that you get 27 square feet of space, suitable enough for two. The footprint is 82 x 48, perfect for the narrow spaces one might encounter in mountain passes. The Firstlight a...
The Big Agnes Crater down mummy bag is built for the weather conditions you'll encounter in fall and early spring backpacking trips. The bag is rated to 15 degrees and filled with 600-fill goose down for maximum warmth and minimal weight. An inte...
Hotel 81 is a chain of value hotels with more than 20 locations throughout Singapore. The hotel chain was designed to accommodate the needs of seasoned travelers who spend most of their time away from the hotel sightseeing or conducting business,...
Some outdoor enthusiasts enjoy spending time in the woods in all seasons--including winter. Winter camping in New York is for the real hardcore backpackers. Winter temperatures in New York--especially upstate--can reach well below zero. Additiona...
The Sierra Designs Sirius 2 tent is designed with lightweight yet durable materials to make it the perfect three-season backpacking tent. Sierra Designs uses 40D nylon taffeta material and aluminum DAC press-fit poles to minimize the tent's weigh...
Rebuilt after a major earthquake in the mid 1960s, Agadir is a thriving fishing port and tourist town, and one of Morocco's most modern cities with both French and German influences. However, it has a storied history that revolves around its coas...
The Black Hills are a large area jutting out of the Great Plains, occupying much of western South Dakota and a fringe of eastern Wyoming. The region encompasses two of America's best known outdoor attractions and many lesser sites as well.
The Mountain Hardware Switch sleeping bag is an advanced backpacking sleeping bag known for its warmth and compressibility. The Switch comes in three separate temperature ratings, differing in size and warmth. The Switch 5 is rated for temperatur...
