North America offers countless backpacking options. Without much fanfare, hiking and backpacking have become two of the country’s most popular outdoor activities. According to the 2022 Outdoor ...

The best backpacking sleeping pads aren’t just lightweight and portable to keep your pack weight down. They’re comfortable, too. Between hauling gear and trekking up different terrains, you need a ...

Beyond the innovative Sunflower X radiant stove/heater we looked at a few weeks ago, Fire Maple makes a full lineup of gear essentials that rank among the market's most portable. Another of its clever ...

The backpacking meals you eat on the trail can make or break the experience, which is why trail food is one of my priorities when planning. Quality food is not only necessary to maintain energy and ...

Backpacking is just like day hiking. Except instead of finishing the day by going home to a shower and a home-cooked meal, you camp alongside the trail, don’t shower, and eat someone’s best attempt at ...

When hiking in the backcountry, you need a good backpacking water filter to ensure access to safe, clean water. A functional water filter (and often a water purifier , too) can’t be missed on a ...

There’s nothing like getting away from daily life and embracing the beauty of nature on a camping trip. Arguably, the further you delve into nature, the more magical the experience. That said, ...

There’s nothing better after a long day of hiking and setting up camp than a hot cooked meal—and for that you will need a decent camp stove. These days you can find options that are lightweight, ...

Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and Outside’s Sweat Science columnist, covering the latest research on endurance and outdoor sports. The results of these studies are ...