If you’ve taken a recent interest in hiking and backpacking, you may have seen the term “thru-hiking” used before. Thru-hikes are a subcategory of backpacking – long-distance backpacking trips that cover hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. Get the low-down… Read More »What is thru-hiking? What it is, and why you should try it
Yes. Just to avoid any ambiguity, the answer is yes – backpacking is very safe, and, in many ways, it’s safer than living in a big city. While there are still a bunch of different ways to get yourself injured… Read More »Is Backpacking Safe? What the Numbers Say
Your first backpacking trip will never be your most successful, but it will always be your most meaningful. That said, the more you learn before your trip begins, the better your chance of having a perfect first time is. With… Read More »First Time Backpacking? Remember These 10 Tips
A tent footprint is a ground cloth, essentially a tarp, typically the size of your tent, that is placed between your tent and the ground. Tent footprints are crucial to protect your tent and yourself from outside factors. They are… Read More »What is a Tent Footprint?
Sometimes, the “backpacking vs hiking” discussion is mostly just about definitions. Other times, it’s about the various disciplines and skills that belong to each. On rare occasions, it’s about a pretentious backpacker who looks down on hiking as somehow less… Read More »Backpacking vs hiking: what’s the difference, and why should you care?
A sleep system – the items you use for sleeping on a backpacking trip – is one of the “Big Three” pieces of backpacking gear you need, alongside your backpack and shelter. Because it’s so important, and because you need… Read More »Backpacking: How heavy should your sleep system be?
Hiking is an incredible way to burn fat, tone muscles, and get healthy! Not only is it a great exercise, but it also is wonderful for your mental health. Working out doesn’t have to be a painful or dreaded experience.… Read More »If You’re Hiking to Get in Shape, You’ll Love These 12 tips
You hear this term all the time – but what does base weight actually mean? And, why does it matter in the first place? This guide will give you the answers you need to set a goal for your backpacking… Read More »Backpacking base weight: what it is, and what you should aim for
If you’re planning a hike in any sort of winter conditions, you need a good traction device. Knowing when to use microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes is a crucial task, as is choosing the right products. Yaktrax, makers of some of… Read More »Yaktrax Diamond Grip Review: Medium Price, High Performance
It’s easy to understand the unmatched level of connection with nature offered by backpacking. That said, there are a lot of people (like me a few years ago) who excitedly plan a backpacking trip without ever learning how to be… Read More »Backpacking Safety: Skills and Disciplines You Need
