recommended
15 All-Too Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes
We all start somewhere. We all begin as beginners, as novices. And even for experienced hikers, new gear constantly demands we play catch-up. An experienced backpacker in the early ‘90s...
21 Fascinating Appalachian Trail Facts
How well do you know the Appalachian Trail? You thru-hikers in the crowd probably think you know the AT like the back of your dirty, mud-stained hands. After taking those...
30 Thru-Hiking Truths You Won’t See on Instagram
The other evening I was having a conversation with a fellow thru and day hiker at camp. The day hiker asked us why the sudden boom in popularity of the...
Base Layers for Backpacking: What You Need to Know
The leaves have shifted from green to yellow to fiery red to—well, dead. The morning dew has been replaced by a white frosting of ice and snow. The Cleveland Browns are...
Should You Treat Water in the Backcountry? What Science Says.
The internet is a vast source of information, good and bad. It's easy to find information “proving” just about anything. I have been studying this topic for several years. This...
The Footwear Debate: Are Trail Runners Superior to Boots?
Is a big, heavy, pair of boots really necessary to hike on difficult terrain? Conventional wisdom says yes, but lately, this trend is being challenged.
13 Unlikely Appalachian Trail Hikers (If They Can, You Can)
Do you dream of hiking the AT, but believe the reality to be impossible? What's holding you back? Most people argue time or money, which is addressed, among other places, here. But...
3 Actual Threats on the Appalachian Trail (And How You Can Protect Yourself)
The sun sets in the west, water freezes at 32 degrees fahrenheit, and this dress is blue and black. These are but a few unescapable facts of life. Another such reality is the reaction one
12 Weird Backpacking Tips from a Thru-Hiker
There’s a lot of things you can’t buy at REI that will help make your week long backpack or thru-hike a lot more enjoyable. Below are a few tips for...
4 Must Have Supplements for Long Distance Backpacking
Let us first address the hyperbolic nature of this title. There really are no "must have" supplements. You can walk across the earth without taking a single pill, powder, ointment,...