Gear
Gear Review: Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket and Pants
Enlightened Equipment released the Visp Rain Jacket last year, and added some updates this year. In particular, it now comes with (optional) pit zips for added breathability. Plus, EE added...
Gear Review: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes
MSR's Lightning Ascent snowshoes have been helping hikers navigate four-season conditions for years. Weighing in around four pounds, the Ascents are widely considered among the lightest and grippiest
The Best Rain Jackets for Backpacking of 2020
A rain jacket is pretty much nonnegotiable as part of your thru-hiking kit, like a down or synthetic jacket. Sure, it might stay stuffed in your pack during the dry...
The Trail Doesn’t Cost a Thing (But the Gear Does): How to Get Out There Without Blowing Your Paycheck
There comes a time in life that the desire to be “out there” hits. If you are anything like me, you’re probably in your late 20s—maybe even the latest part...
How to Pack a Backpack for Thru-Hiking
So you’ve got all this gear ready to go… but now what? While out backpacking, everything that you need is carried on your back, in this pack. You’ll pack and...
Gear Review: BioLite HeadLamp 200
Thanks to LED lighting, night-hiking has become a much more viable option than the days when your only choice was gripping a heavy flashlight that threw only a pale, yellowish...
Gear Review: Altra Tushar Boot
The brand new Altra Tushar is the next level ultralight hiking boot you didn’t realise you needed. The Tushar is lightweight, waterproof, breathable, grippy, rugged and tough – perfect for...
Maggie’s PCT 2020 Gear List: Big Three
Hi guys. Maggie here, Managing Editor of this site, finally ready to hike the PCT. Five years go by fast—at this time in 2015, I was putting the finishing touches...
Introducing the 2020 Badger Sponsorship Winners
This year, The Trek is revamping the Badger Sponsorship to support eight 2020 thru-hikers with altruistic intentions. We searched for aspiring PCT, AT, CDT, or other long trail hikers who...
Best Synthetic Jackets for Backpacking of 2020
While down insulation still owns the field for thru-hiking jackets, synthetic-filled layers are making a dent in the category. As synthetic technologies continue to be more eco-friendly, have a