Hiking and Backpacking
Archive
With the right tent you can protect yourself from the weather, spread out in luxury, and settle into a home away from home
Keep your pup safe and stylish on the trail with these seven accessories
This shelter is a versatile three-season performer
This pack bridges the gap between ultralight and ultracomfy
A beginner friendly backpacking pack with everything you need—and nothing you don’t
From the backcountry to the airport, this pack has you covered
A lightning-fast water filter makes staying hydrated on the trail easier than ever
These accessories might not make or break your trip, but you’ll sure be glad you packed them
This compact solar panel will juice up your next long-distance trek
Shoulder the load and make miles with these trail-ready rucksacks
These hikers will help you carry your load and stay comfortable and secure, no matter the terrain
One month and 26,000 votes after kicking off our favored footwear tournament, we have a victor
Amy McCulloch went to the Himalayas looking for adventure. She came back with an idea for an epic novel.
Lessons learned at camp sometimes do come in handy
The 440-mile route goes from the third-deepest lake in the U.S. to the jagged peaks of the North Cascades and the tulip-filled Skagit Valley
We’ve come a long way from the chlorine troughs of yesteryear
Six contenders have fallen from the mix. It all comes down to this. Your vote decides the outcome.
These seven destinations are the perfect summer base camps, with plenty of adventure on and off the water
This retired professional ultrarunner has found (almost) every waterfall along this wild stretch of central California coast. And, no, he won’t tell you where the best ones are.
This Central American destination is the adventure traveler’s dream, from its jungle-covered peaks to a coastline where 450 islands stretch across the world’s second-largest barrier reef. It’s beautiful, accessible, culturally diverse, and home to historically significant Maya sites.
To become one of those people who joyfully hikes, bikes, and skis in the nude, she’d have to train for it
After finishing the Appalachian Trail, I experienced severe pain in my lower right leg. Little did I know, toe socks and spacers would be my saving grace.
It’s time to settle a longstanding debate once and for all. Which sandal will be crowned king?
They’re essentially adventure flip-flops and therefore superior to every other sandal
This simple sandal has everything you need and nothing you don’t
Eight fan favorites. Three head-to-head rounds. Only one winner.
From routes that have been rebuilt after wildfires to newly constructed singletrack, we can’t wait to get trekking on these trails around the country
A growing body of research suggests that it’s no longer sustainable to bury our waste in the wilderness
Score sunglasses, fire pits, water bottles, and more at a discount until midnight tonight
Next to having a little time to themselves, these are their top wish-list items
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio turned a canalway into a 90-mile trail perfect for hiking and biking, and our 63 Parks columnist highly recommends a ride
Backpacking when the weather forecast is anything but optimal can be intimidating, but with some modifications to your kit, you can turn it into an enjoyable four-season activity
Get ready to cover more ground, more quickly
Don’t assume a noise deterrent will save you from a run-in with a wild animal. Do your homework before you head out into the wilderness.
It’ll take some miles to reach these eight remote, high-elevation lakes, but what better way to cap off a strenuous trek than diving into cool, crystal-clear water?
The phone feature can be a convenient safety tool. But for one writer, it served as a crutch for anxiety.
In the ten years since she published her memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, her life has changed dramatically—and so has the trail itself
GPS units sometimes fail—you owe it to yourself to know how to use a trusty compass
Water weighs a lot, audiobooks weigh nothing, and more semi-philosophical tips to guide rookie trekkers to a strong finish
Join us for a live Zoom Q and A with the beloved author, presented by the Outside Book Club, on Tuesday, April 5
Wisdom gained by trying, and sometimes failing, to stay comfortable outdoors
Heading out on your first overnight? Use this handy list as your guide to packing for a three-season backpacking trip.
Missoula, Montana’s M Trail is many things. But mostly it’s just steep.
Outside Learn has more than 2,000 videos across 450 lessons, covering topics ranging from fitness and nutrition to running and cycling to survival and gear repair
But is it worth the $700 price tag?
These three pairs of size-inclusive hiking pants stood up to all sorts of outdoorsing
From a scenic path that extends the entire length of New York to a new route connecting Yellowstone to Grand Teton, here are the most scenic ways to experience America’s wilderness by bike
Our March pick is Cheryl Strayed’s classic memoir of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. We’ll conclude the conversation with a live Zoom Q and A on April 5.
After a driver struck and nearly killed me, I had to relearn how to walk. Hiking the trail outside my front door became a goal I never thought I’d achieve.
Family vacation? Find fun for all ages with these kid-friendly activities in and around the park.
The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege
The parks on this list span six continents and tens of millions of acres, offering excellent fodder for any nature-addicted international traveler looking to jump-start their wanderlust
“The world and how it interacts with me changed the day I came out as trans”
I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I’m the main caregiver in my household
In their fifties, Marcia and Ken Powers began long-distance hiking. Lessons they learned on trail prepared them for the next phase of their lives.
Initially I was drawn to before-and-after photos of thru-hikers, but after I finished my first long trail, I saw these posts for what they were: unhealthy
Cap off a day on the trail with a soak in a steamy mineral pool. We found the best from Alaska to North Carolina.
Tips for being a backpacking beginner and a woman adventuring alone
On this stunning trip in northern Patagonia, you’ll explore towering peaks, a new ten-million-acre national park, and pristine rivers and lakes. And did we mention the delicious barbecue?
Stunning and easy-to-access vistas to bookmark for your next road trip
In six years, Constantine and Magpie have collectively hiked 30,000 miles. What do they do now that they’ve learned their lessons from—and found love on—the trail?
People are disabled in countless different ways, so there are few practical tips that will apply to everyone. Yet a few key things can improve your experience.
After moving to Salida, Colorado, one writer decided to get to know her area by traveling on every trail on the map
Our gear-reviews editor will be joining you on a hike through the most iconic mountains in the French Alps, fueled by spectacular views, gooey cheese, and red wine
Make sure to order monthly and quarterly boxes with expedited shipping by December 20 to receive your gear by Christmas…
More than just stocking stuffers, these nine outdoor gifts may make the day
Gaia Topo lets you download an entire state map in a matter of minutes without hogging your phone’s precious storage space
Rahawa Haile set out on the AT during one of the most tumultuous periods in our political history. The story she wrote about it for Outside in 2017 hit a nerve, and encouraged many others to get out on the trail. We followed up with her to find out what scared her the most, the one piece of gear she couldn’t live without, and why thru-hiking is always worth it in the end.
After moving to San Diego, one writer took her husband and sons on a five-day urban hike to explore and better understand their new stomping grounds