Hiking Essentials

A backpack can look almost perfect on a gear list and still become the one thing you think about all

A backpack can feel perfectly comfortable for five minutes in a store and completely different after three hours of climbing

Cold-weather hiking gets much easier once you stop thinking about staying as warm as possible and start thinking about staying

The trail looked obvious at the last junction. Twenty minutes later, the path has faded beneath pine needles, the slope

A good headlamp is one of those small pieces of gear that quietly saves the day. It helps with early

A good hiking water bottle is one of those simple pieces of gear that quietly makes every trip better. It

Hot-weather hiking can turn simple sun exposure into the most exhausting part of the day. The trail may be mellow,

A water bottle works perfectly well on many trails. But once the miles start adding up, reaching behind your shoulder

A good hiking rain jacket is one of those pieces of gear that may sit quietly in a pack for

There are few things better than reaching a cold mountain stream after a hot climb. The water looks clear. It

Choosing the first real pair of hiking shoes should make getting outside feel easier. But it usually starts with a

Figuring out what to wear hiking can feel oddly confusing at first. The trail itself may be simple: a few

A blister can make a short trail feel twice as long. It usually starts quietly: a little warmth on the

Trekking poles are easy to overlook when you’re just getting into hiking. Boots feel essential. A daypack makes sense. Water,

A good hiking daypack does more than hold snacks and a rain jacket. It keeps water close, layers easy to