News
I've Carried a Pocketknife for 40 Years. Here's Why You Should, Too.
3+ hour, 57+ min ago (289+ words) Better to visit a knife store instead. You never know when you might need a pocket blade to hack your way out of a tight spot. Your EDC should be as much at home in your pocket as it is…...
These Are the 9 Most Controversial Hikes in the U. S.
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (351+ words) You can tell yourself you hate drama'but you'd probably be lying. Deep down, everybody loves a little gossip, and trail controversy proves an eternal wellspring. While we at Backpacker truly wish that trails would never close and hikers would always…...
Would You Hike With Polar Bears? On This Trip, You Can Do it.
3+ day, 3+ hour ago (401+ words) Sound scary? Or thrilling? Here's how they offer an intimate wildlife experience while keeping travelers safe. There's added exhilaration, too. Fitzgerald reminisces about her Churchill Wild experience in 2019 during which she witnessed several bears: "I felt'equally excited and apprehensive. It's…...
The 7 Best Deals for Hikers and Backpackers at REI's Biggest Sale of the Year
3+ day, 14+ min ago (410+ words) $90 (50 percent off) at REI'Women's "They look like moon shoes," one tester remarked after checking out these chunky kicks. They kind of feel like walking on the moon, too: The ridiculously thick EVA foam underfoot felt cushy but never squishy, and…...
Researchers Put POV Cameras on Grizzlies. The Footage Is Amazing.
3+ day, 3+ hour ago (301+ words) When Ellery Vincent saw the clip, the Washington State University Ph D student "literally jumped out of [her] chair." In the 5-second video, four wolves pace across the snow before the camera. A long, furry grizzly bear snout overhangs the…...
The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads to Keep You Warm and Supported
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (1656+ words) May 2026: Our favorite backpacking sleeping pad overall is the Exped Ultra 6. 5 R for its category-leading warmth-to-weight ratio and relative comfort. Our value pick is the NEMO Eclipse All-Season, a very lightweight and plush pad that's $50 cheaper than the competition. All…...
Taking Wilderness First Aid Wasn't What I Expected. Here's Why I'm Still Glad I Did.
6+ day, 3+ hour ago (429+ words) But when I noticed that NOLS was offering a WFA class in my town this spring, I finally took the plunge. It wasn't everything I thought it would be, but I'm still glad I did it. I had the notion…...
Deal of the Week: Share Photos From Anywhere With This Pocket-Size Satellite Communicator
6+ day, 17+ hour ago (22+ words) Backpacker Magazine $300 (25 percent off) at REI...
I've Spent My Life in the Desert. I Still Made This Dangerous Camping Mistake.
6+ day, 22+ hour ago (803+ words) Backpacker Magazine I Thought I Understood How Fast Canyons Flooded'Until I Saw it For Myself From the canyon country of Moab to the arid mountains and valleys of Santa Fe, I've spent my entire adult life in one kind of…...
Everything I Wish I Knew Before I Hiked the Long Trail
1+ week, 3+ hour ago (601+ words) That's what Katie Jackson, a CDT thru-hiker and gear reviewer based in Colorado, discovered when she set out to do the Long Trail in 2025. "I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, so this was…...