Hiking and Backpacking
Archive
Stay safe in the wilderness and shave down pack weight with this customizable setup
Together, Outside and Cairn have expertly curated three limited-release gear boxes, for travel, fitness, and water pursuits
The 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail soaks backpacks and drowns tents with swampy water and sweat. It is not for the feint of heat.
Together, Outside and Cairn have expertly curated three limited-release collections for travel, fitness, and water pursuits.
More organizations are cropping up to help everyone find a community in the outdoors. Here are seven of our favorites.
You know that special feeling when you meet a stranger during an adventure, form a bond, vow to keep in touch—and then the whole thing fizzles out? Don’t feel alone. As Chuck Thompson explains, firefly relationships are an outdoor rite of passage, and in their own strange way, they’re magic.
After several months and thousands of miles, Outside's Taylor Gee knows what works and what doesn't
Thinking about tackling the big thru-hike? Consider these four things first.
Stay comfortable on the trail, whether you're out for two days or ten
Everyone's quick to tell you all the reasons to go lighter. Allow me to explain why they're wrong.
A Rubbermaid bin stocked with everything you need for camping is one of the best ways to organize your gear
Hikers around the world pulled on their boots and packs and not much else
I've spent almost two months testing this tough midweight load hauler. Here are my impressions.
Seattle has a lot to offer city folk—a thriving job market, world-class culture, and all the pour-over coffee you can drink. But for those who need frequent and fast escapes from the metropolis, the shores and woods of Puget Sound's islands are only a boat ride away.
How to share your passion for solo adventure without feeling judged or defensive
A jacket, a daypack, a water bottle, and some seat-back storage that we couldn't be more excited to test out
Adjusting your pack seems like it should be simple, that is until you're struggling down the trail after not correctly dialing in the fit
From ice cream to carnival rides, there’ve been new surprises at every turn
John and Alyson Kirk have crushed a long list of records in the mountains. This summer, they're chasing another one.
Making your way over an 800-mile trail through deserts and mountains in less than 16 days is no picnic—except for those gas-station resupply stops
Our editors regale us with their favorite memories of dad outside
This short video features countless hikers on trails across 17 countries, showcasing the diversity of our planet
Guthook Guides' maps and crowdsourced information have made hiking the PCT and AT immeasurably easier. But is that a good thing?
The best way to deal with the wild winter's lingering snowpack
From the Canadian Kootenay Rockies to Southwest hot springs, we found the most scenic stretches of road for epic summer adventures
Gear hacks for a good backpacking trip when the weather goes bad
'Scotland—Be a Part of It' shows how Scotland is still a place of wildness and adventure, as long as you're willing to look
Mary Davison didn't catch the thru-hiking bug until she was 60. Since then, she's completed the Appalachian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest trails, and is now adding the 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail to her list.
The low-budget jaunt has an encouraging message for anyone intimidated by getting outdoors
'Thru' is an upcoming documentary about thru-hiking and why it's such a painfully enjoyable activity
A new report found that towns near plenty of outdoor recreation attract new residents and higher incomes. But this could also mean higher costs of living, affordable housing challenges, and encroachment into vulnerable landscapes.
Celebrate the national trails holiday this Saturday by volunteering at one of these events
Kris Newby dives deep to unearth a secret history of government cover-ups in the spread of Lyme disease, but her research rests on shaky ground
Despite an attack that left one hiker dead and another injured, the experience and fellowship of the trail perseveres
Five days after an ad hoc army of volunteer searchers rescued hiker Amanda Eller, the yoga teacher missing for 17 days on Maui, the same crew located missing person Noah "Kekai" Mina just 20 miles away. This time, the ending was not so happy.
Sometimes, able-bodied partners need to be sat down
Outside editor Emily Reed went to Walmart and bought a full camping kit to spend a night under the stars. Here's how it performed.
The 1,900-mile-long thru-hike winds through the southern Andes from Santiago to the climbing mecca of Mount Fitz Roy. To complete it, adventurers need a lot more than physical stamina.
The 17-year Army vet was stabbed to death when he and another hiker were attacked on a section of the Appalachian Trial last weekend. The trail had been his path to recovery from PTSD.
Stuff to keep you comfortable for a day (or a month) on the trail
Stuff to keep you comfortable for a day (or a month) on the trail
You can set up your own, off-the-cuff version of summer camp in one of these stellar settings
My first backpack trip of 2019 is this month. These are the critical and interesting items that I'm taking with me.
Nadia Iris Mercado grew up in nature but not in the traditional-summits, red-rocks, and deep-canyons kind of nature
Beyond Clothing is turning protective combat uniforms into stylish outdoor gear
Perfect (but pricey) underwear for long days on the trail
The logic behind requiring permits on Yosemite's famed Half Dome was sound: smaller crowds equals fewer accidents. In this case, the opposite is true.
The sweeping John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act could mean great things for our national trail system, but it may take a while
Don’t bring a tree tent to Antarctica, and other sound advice
Frequent fliers spend a lot of energy trying to avoid long layovers. But with these tips, the right attitude, and a bit of ingenuity, you can turn your layover into another adventure.
This new calorie calculator uses an equation developed by the U.S. military to estimate energy expenditure while hiking
Inspiring stories by badass adventurers
Make your kids love the trails as much as you do
Proper storage means you get outside faster—without forgetting anything important
How a father-son trip to Yosemite conquered my fear of hiking, bears, and falling off chairlifts
We asked hikers for advice on how to readjust to life after the trail
New to backpacking, or never been? Make your next trip (or your first) a success by answering these questions beforehand.
Don't rely on convenience stores and junk food to fuel your miles
Alpine scrambles and beachfront strolls; multi-day singletrack adventures and quick urban escapes; soaring trees and rolling sand dunes—every state in the country has something to offer intrepid hikers. So we rounded up a bucket-list-worthy, best-of-the-best guide.
Olde Virden's Red Hot pepper flakes turn even the rankest dehydrated meal into mouthwatering fare
The Garden State doesn't usually bring to mind bucolic wilderness. But if you ask people in the know, that's only because you've been looking in the wrong place.
New owners are revitalizing Shaw's, the beloved hostel on the Appalachian Trail
Looking for a vegan gorp recipe? We've got you covered. Classic gorp recipe? We've got a delicious version of that, too. These DIY trail-mix recipes will supercharge your next hike.
As outdoor-recreation tourism booms, these places have been forced to find innovative (and sometimes desperate) ways of adapting to and curbing the steady stream of tourists each season
Katie Arnold, author of the new memoir Running Home, talks about the unique healing power of endurance sports
These babies keep you warm, block wind, and shout from the depths of your closet, “Let’s go already!”
From Yosemite to the Green Mountains, these are our favorite lodge-to-lodge treks this side of the pond
How will a snowy winter affect your summertime high-country plans in the High Sierra and southern Rockies?
The beloved max-cushion brand is branching out with its new Sky collection
Ancient European pilgrimages. Coastal treks along jungle isles. Surprising Rocky Mountain summits. Checking off any of these bucket-list hikes is sure to be the experience of a lifetime.
Companies like Outdoor Voices and Nike have already signed up for the new in-app shopping platform
It's so good that you'll start making it at home, too
On July 17, 2017, thru-hiker Joe McConaughy set out to claim the fastest known time for a self-supported traverse of the Appalachian Trail