Are Hiking Sandals Really a Thing? The Pros & Cons of Hiking & Backpacking in Sandals

Are Hiking Sandals Really a Thing? The Pros & Cons of Hiking & Backpacking in Sandals

Hiking boots are becoming a less common sight on trails as more and more people opt to hike in trail runners instead. Well, there’s a new trend gaining traction on the trail that might surprise you - hiking in sandals. There are a wide variety of technical sandals with lugged soles, arch support, and all the things that make a trail-worthy piece of footwear. Not a believer yet? Well, your author thru-hiked all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Chaco sandals.

Read More

Backpacking & Camping Tent Size Guide

Backpacking & Camping Tent Size Guide

Size is one of the most important considerations you’ll make when choosing a backpacking or camping tent. You’ll want a shelter that’s comfortably spacious, but you’ll also want to balance that against weight, bulk, convenience, and cost.

Read More

How to Stay Clean While Backpacking

How to Stay Clean While Backpacking

While 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 More

Do You Really Need a Footprint for Your Tent?

Do You Really Need a Footprint for Your Tent?

Let’s face it, tents are expensive. You want your tent to last as long as possible, but spending another $40+ on something you just dropped hundreds on is not ideal. When it comes to deciding whether or not you should get (or make) a footprint, it’s important to consider things like what fabric your tent is made of, where you do most of your backpacking, and how important saving a few ounces is to you.

Read More

21 Tips for Backpacking on a Budget

21 Tips for Backpacking on a Budget

Backpacking gear is expensive. It’s no secret that more expensive gear usually means lower weight, higher quality, and a better warranty, but we’ve found some pretty competitive alternatives to the pricier gear. We compiled this list of our favorite tips for backpacking on a budget, many of which don’t require any spending at all.

Read More

How to Use your Phone as a GPS Device for Backpacking

How to Use your Phone as a GPS Device for Backpacking

One piece of gear has recently revolutionized navigation in the backcountry and it’s right there in your very pocket. Your smartphone can easily double as an excellent wilderness GPS device. This guide will teach you how to stay safe and found on your next trip.

Read More

20 Tips for Backpacking in the Desert

20 Tips for Backpacking in the Desert

Hiking in the desert is often seen as drab when compared to majestic alpine meadows. However, we have fallen deeply in love with the vast beauty and intriguing surprises found in these often-overlooked places. We put together this guide to help you plan a safe and enjoyable desert adventure!

Read More

How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker's Guide

How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker's Guide

Sadly, improperly buried human waste (and soiled toilet paper) is by far the most common form of pollution we find in the wilderness. With more than 2 million hikers and backpackers roaming the backcountry at any given time, it’s imperative that we all use a responsible and safe method for pooping in the woods.

Read More

Ticks & Hiking: How To Protect Yourself

Ticks & Hiking: How To Protect Yourself

Few things in the outdoors make people squirm as much as ticks, and for good reason. Besides being carriers of some awful diseases, they’re pretty disgusting to look at and remove, particularly when they're attached and engorged. In this article we'll cover general information on ticks, prevention, removal, and how to best protect yourself. 

Read More

Top 12 Beginner Backpacking Blunders

Top 12 Beginner Backpacking Blunders

If you’ve spent any time in the woods, you’ve probably made some epic backcountry blunders. I certainly have. In fact, the only reason I’m able to give any “clever” hiking advice is because of all the laughably bad mistakes I’ve made over the years. At one point or another I’ve fallen victim to every one of the blunders listed below (and then some!).

Read More

21 Tips For the First-Time Thru-Hiker

21 Tips For the First-Time Thru-Hiker

Completing a thru-hike will be one of the most profoundly rewarding achievements of your life. You’ll spend months communing with nature, build jaw-dropping endurance, and develop lasting friendships along the way. Mustering up the courage to set out on your first thru-hike just might be the best decisions you ever make.

Read More