Hiking and Backpacking
Archive
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
These are the products worth snagging at REI’s Holiday Warm Up Sale, which lasts now through December 20.
The energy bars and hydration mixes our editors swear by, on sale at Backcountry
Lo Phong La Kiatoukaysy, a.k.a. Lil’ Buddha, started thru-hiking America’s trails after 9/11. He hasn’t stopped yet.
Our testers gave these products their stamp of approval
A writer with a few such times under her belt ponders whether or not speed enhances or detracts from the experience
When Maggie Shipstead set out to report on women-only expedition travel, she was driven by a desire to learn new skills in a low-bro-factor environment. But six days exploring Alaska with the state’s first woman-owned adventure outfitter turned out to be regenerative in ways she didn’t expect.
What started as a Instagram account has boomed into a community of Muslim hikers taking on trails around the world
I tallied the waste I created for a month of my thru-hike. It was embarrassing. Now I know how to begin fixing it.
We’ve beat these pieces up in the field, and now they’re steeply discounted during REI’s Cyber Week sale, which lasts now through December 6.
Looking for some thoughtful gift ideas for the adventurer in your life? Save up to 40 percent on gear and apparel at Huckberry’s Black Friday sale, now through November 27.
Check something off your wish list with these discounts on tents, apparel, lights, backpacks, accessories and more
I own a men’s Fitz Roy puffy that doesn’t really fit and got damaged by hot grease during a campout. Here’s why it’s my most treasured clothing possession.
These are our favorite pieces that won’t break the bank
What’s a surefire way to ruin an outdoor adventure? A selfish partner.
How to balance freedom and adventure with safety and security
Stories about kids who break hiking or climbing records feel like the continuation of an outdated and unhealthy attitude toward outdoor recreation
Whether you want to explore public or private lands, these maps demonstrate landownership lines for the entire U.S.
Don’t let your old stuff gather dust or go to the landfill. Put it to work doing good.
Yes, this flannel is expensive. But judging by its effect on our writers, it’s worth every penny.
Pursue your favorite activities with color-coded trails in Gaia GPS’s U.S. Forest Service roads and trails layer
A new Complex series takes Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, and Quavo on short hikes. Each episode gets vulnerable in wonderfully unexpected ways.
If you sent me this question before the pandemic, I probably would have a very different answer. But we’re all in a different time now.
Even the runner-up hikers from this year’s test are pretty great
We only have space for six pants in the print magazine, but there are plenty more worthy pairs you should know about
A couple and their one-year-old child were found less than two miles from their car in the Sierra National Forest, with no obvious trauma. Authorities finally determined the cause of death.
Scientists take their equations for the energy demand of hills and rough terrain out into the real world
From campsite to nightlight, BioLite’s AlpenGlow sets the perfect vibe
Common mistakes you’re probably making when your best friend takes off, and what to do next time
In the words of Brendan Leonard: “I did perhaps underestimate it a tiny bit”
Maintenance is easy with these eight items that won’t break the bank
The outdoors are all around you, no matter where you live
Pawel Szafruga recently did the unthinkable by summiting all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in a single thru-hike. Will others follow?
Even if you don’t climb Washington’s highest peak, the spectacular views and scenery in Mount Rainier National Park will leave you invigorated, says our 63 Parks columnist of the 42nd stop on her quest to visit every U.S. park
Stories are about how human connections are made and kept in the outdoors, and how they’re evolving now—when community has never been more important or more at risk
Smart tips to make sure your new adventure partner has a blast and feels welcome outside
We’ve sweat in them, worn them on muddy trails, and through countless miles on pavement. Now they’re discounted.
Stock up for fall adventures with these killer deals on gear we’ve tested in the field
Now is one of the best times of the year to save on camping essentials
A long-distance rambler named Bearsun is walking from L.A. to New York, dressed like a very large Pokémon. This is his story.
With an innovative hipbelt and pockets (almost) everywhere I need them, this backpack is a quiver killer for multiday treks
An athlete and adventurer wants to summit the world’s highest peaks while advocating for inclusivity in the world of outdoor recreation
In the same way that backcountry skiers read avalanche reports and whitewater kayakers check water levels, anyone hiking in the West needs to start planning for fires as a baseline safety precaution
Hiking is for everyone—but as Kara Richardson Whitely, a.k.a. Mama Kubwa, discovered, not everyone has gotten the memo
Your partner’s planning an epic adventure with his ex, but you’d rather be his go-to travel buddy
Here are some foolproof ways to ward off ticks, no-see-ums, mosquitos, and fleas—and to find relief if they get you anyway
As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report made clear this week, we’re going to need to give up some of the things we love if we don’t want much more taken away
Those instructions on the brownie box? Feel free to ignore them. This simple technique will get you a chocolatey dessert in just a few minutes.
At Olympic, you can go from luscious rainforests, to snowcapped peaks, to the stunning Pacific Coast—all in one park. What more could you ask for?
Injury forces ultra legend Scott Jurek off the trail
Leaf peeping in New England. Surfing California’s coast. Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage (yes, Alaska, in fall). We scoured the world to find the absolute best destinations to satisfy your autumn wanderlust—especially this year, when we all have a little cabin fever.
Leaf peeping in Colorado. Surfing the Azores. Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage—yes, Alaska, in fall. We scoured the world to find epic adventures and stunning destinations to satisfy your autumn wanderlust, especially this year, when we all have a little cabin fever.