All the gear for the climb, hike, run or bike up and down that trial.
How do you separate good gear from great gear? Six months of backpacking around the globe will do it. Columbia Outdry Ex Diamond Hard truth: Even the best hard shells have a weakness. Eventually, the durable water repellent (DWR) on the fabric’s exterior deteriorates. Instead of beading off the surface, water soaks in. And while…
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Sat, 3/3, 9:30 am-Sun, 3/4, 4 pm Group: Atlanta Outdoor Club When: Saturday March 3, 9:30 am to Sunday, March 4, 4 pm Where: Lake Burton, GA Cost: Free; carpool donation requested (registration required) Details: It looks like we’re going to have some great backpacking weather this weekend, so let’s get out and enjoy it with a…
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Thurs, 3/1, 5-7 pm Group: Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association When: Thursday, March 1, 5-7 pm Where: Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, Mammoth Lakes, CA Cost: $10 (tickets required) Details: Joshua Cripps started making remarkable photos while he was still in the womb. His first significant image, titled Sonogram, was praised for its graininess, deliberate blurring of details,…
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The environment all too often pays the price for high-performing gear. But these 10 products save waste from landfills, ditch harmful chemicals, and allow you to adventure guilt-free. 1. Big Agnes Sandhoffer 20°F Until now, there has generally been a tradeoff between sustainability and performance. But Big Agnes’s Sandhoffer 20°F is now friendly on both…
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In these backcountry paradises, rain is part of the adventure. 1. Iceland: Hesteyri to Latrar to Straumnes Iceland’s Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is far less traveled than the Ring Road and Golden Circle, but it’s no less epic. It’s just harder to get to, which is why you want to be here. Constant rain and snow…
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The best local trails, as selected by BACKPACKER Local scout Brad Stapleton. The City of Angels: land of brunch, tanning, and of course, celebrity sightings at the local coffeeshop. For those of us looking to travel off the beaten path to places that don’t start with “Runyon,” there are tons of options that are all…
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Fri, 3/2-Sun, 3/4 Group: Arizona and Beyond When: Friday, March 2-Sunday, March 4 Where: Superstition Wilderness, AZ Cost: Free (registration required) Details: BCH adopted a few trails Peters & Hoolie Bacon Trails! Now we have to keep it cleaned up and shiny. We are asking Az Beyonds help to join us in giving back to the…
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Headed out on the Pacific Crest Trail? Expert thru-hiker Liz “Snorkel” Thomas breaks down the gear you’ll need. A light shelter will go a long way on the PCT.On a PCT thru-hike, you’ll be spending months with your gear. Pick it wisely, and you’ll have a friend who never lets you down. On the other…
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The best local trails, as selected by our BACKPACKER Local scout Scott Jones. No question: Phoenix is a desert kingdom, and the best trails near the city track into some of the country’s finest red-rock, cacti-studded wildernesses. From plunging canyons to desert oases to the tippy-top of Arizona, here are the premium goods within striking…
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The writer and hiker shares her favorite local trails—and the one article of clothing she doesn’t leave home without. Follow Stasia’s adventures on her I Don’t Live in a Van blog. Age: 26 Hometown: Breckenridge, CO Day job: I work for a lodging company in Breckenridge and freelance write on the side. All-time favorite local dayhike: Mt. Evans…
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