New backpacking videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring stories and more.
The REI Co-op Trailmade 2 replaced one of REI’s best-selling tents, the Passage 2, earlier this year. With a similar design, a very affordable price point, and exceptional durability, we decided to put the new Trailmade to the test to see how it stacks up against the competition.
Read MoreThe Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of our all-time favorite backpacking tents and one of Big Agnes’ best selling designs. The Copper Spur strikes an excellent balance between weight, livability, convenience, and weather protection. It’s an excellent choice for backpackers wanting to keep their packs light without giving up convenience and comfort.
Read MoreNepal is one of the most spectacularly beautiful countries on the planet. It’s a place where towering white peaks touch the sky, monks peacefully meditate in ancient mountainside monasteries, and lumbering yaks haul goods to quaint villages largely disconnected from the outside world. To put it simply, Nepal is a backpacker’s dream come true.
Read MoreThe John Muir Trail is one of the most spectacular stretches of trail in the world. One of the most important considerations for those hiking the JMT is determining what gear to bring. In this guide, we’ll help you channel your inner thru-hiker in order to minimize your gear weight and maximize your enjoyment on the trail.
Read MoreHigh-quality camping and backpacking tents can be expensive, but they’re well worth the cost if you use them for years of adventures. Here are a few tricks we’ve learned over the decades about properly maintaining, repairing, and storing tents to keep them in peak condition.
Read MoreWe love hiking with an ultralight kit because it allows us to spend less time worrying about aches and pains and more time enjoying side trails and the beautiful scenery around us. Whether you’re new to backpacking or you’re a traditional backpacker looking to lighten your load, we’ll break down everything you need to know about getting started with ultralight backpacking.
Read MoreMost backpackers and hikers don’t wash their rain gear nearly enough, if ever. This leads to wetting out and hikers may even buy new rain gear because they think their old shells are worn out. Washing and retreating your rain jackets and pants is a surprisingly simple task.
Read MoreThe Teton Crest Trail is a 40-mile high route that traverses ridges offering spectacular wide-angle views of towering granite peaks, glacier-carved canyons, crystalline lakes and wildflower-pocked meadows. It's truly one of our nation's most scenic and iconic trails.
Read MoreWith over 700 miles of trails winding through Glacier National Park, it can be hard to choose what areas you want to explore. The good news? You can’t go wrong in Glacier. With towering peaks, glistening turquoise lakes, wonderful wildlife sightings, and the possibility to get up close to a glacier, your options are endless.
Read MoreWith more than 700 miles of backcountry trails traversing lush alpine meadows, glacier-carved peaks, deep valleys, and moss-fringed cirques cradling stunning azure lakes, Glacier National Park is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is physically and mentally demanding.
Read MoreWhether you’re day hiking to a favorite waterfall or bagging a difficult summit, carrying the proper equipment is absolutely critical. For first-timers and sage backcountry traveler alike, dialing in essential day hiking gear is an important part of any pre-trip preparations.
Read MoreWashing a down sleeping bag is actually surprisingly simple. Don’t let your trusty down sleeping bag get ruined with grit and grime from the trail. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to revitalize and refresh your sleep sack.
Read MoreA quality sleeping bag may be one of the biggest backpacking investments you ever make. Your sleep sack will likely cost hundreds of dollars, but if you treat it with care, it’ll last for many years, possibly even decades. That said, nothing will ruin a quality sleeping bag faster than neglect.
Read MoreHiking footwear is a really personal choice, and people often have differing opinions on what type of shoe works best for hiking. Here are some things to know that can help you decide which style will work best for you.
Read MoreA lightweight down coat should be at the center of any good backpacking list. You’ll wear it just about every night on the trail. It’ll keep you toasty warm, even after spending hours jammed into the bottom of your pack. So, considering how essential your down coat is and how often you use it, let me ask you this; when was the last time you washed it?
Yeah… that’s what I thought.
Read MoreIf it’s your first time visiting Patagonia, a visit to Torres del Paine will most likely be on your itinerary, and for good reason. This spectacular Chilean region offers some of the best trekking in the world - dramatic granite spires, immense glaciers, glistening turquoise lakes - all the ingredients for an unforgettable and rugged adventure.
Read MoreFor many of us, it’s been drilled into our heads since day one that backpackers wear boots. That’s just what you do. You need the toughness and the ankle support and the water protection, right? That’s why it blew my mind a few years back when I learned that thru-hikers cover thousands of trail miles every year in running shoes. Now, after many years and many miles, I feel very confident saying: Ditch the boots and don't look back.
Read MoreThe Wind River Range in Wyoming is a place you truly have to see to believe. It’s an outdoor adventurer's dream come true. Where immense glacier-carved granite spires tower over crystal-clear lakes, rolling meadows, and fields choked with high-alpine wildflowers.
Read MoreWe love giving and receiving gifts during the holiday season as much as anyone. However, this year, instead of adding to the mountain of garbage the holidays create, let’s look for ways to show some real kindness and connection to those closest to us. Be an inspiration to your family and community this year by joining us in promoting sustainable gifting and taking action in caring for the places you love.
Read MoreWhile you may be in the “embrace the stink” camp, there are a few tips and tricks to make yourself feel fresh in the backcountry. After all, nobody likes going to bed sticky with sweat from the day. In this post, we’ll outline what hygiene essentials to pack, which ones to leave at home, how to keep as clean as you can in the wild, and how to deal with certain health hazards resulting from letting things slide a bit.
Read MoreLightweight backpacking video guides and reviews of the best ultralight tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, and more.
We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. We love backpacking, international travel, useful gear, and all things nature. Read more on our About page.
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