backpacking

Education

How to Pack Out Your WAG Bag Without the Ick Factor (Or the Smell)
ByAlisha McDarris October 28, 2025April 29, 2026

Ever pooped in a bag in the great outdoors? If you haven’t, you’re either lucky enough to live and hike where catholes are allowed and recommended (read about when to dig a cathole and when to use a WAG bag HERE) or you haven’t yet spent enough nights deep in the wilderness. Because if there’s one thing most seasoned outdoorists know how to do, it’s poop in a bag. But there’s a first time for everything, so if you’re looking for how to use a WAG Bag, what they even are, or need some tips for reducing the ick factor and the smell when packing them out, we’ve got you covered.

Read More How to Pack Out Your WAG Bag Without the Ick Factor (Or the Smell)
Gear | Sustainability Spotlight

Here’s How to Recycle Your Empty Backpacking Fuel Canisters
ByAlisha McDarris October 16, 2025April 6, 2026

When it comes to preparing meals in the backcountry, backpacking stoves that run on compressed gas–you know, those cylindrical metal canisters filled with fuel–are far and away the most popular option. They’re efficient, convenient, tolerably lightweight, and easy to find at pretty much any outdoor retailer. And while these fuel canisters are made of recyclable materials (steel), recycling them is more nuanced than you might think. Here’s how to recycle your empty backpacking fuel canisters the right way.

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Gear | Gear Reviews

Our 5 Favorite Wireless Earbuds for the Outdoors
ByJosh McDarris October 9, 2025April 2, 2026

When it comes to wireless earbuds for the outdoors, whether that be trail running, hiking, or solo backpacking, there’s more to consider than which ones sound the best. Things like water resistance, durability, and whether or not they’re actually going to stay in your ears as you’re bouncing down the trail. So today we’re going to take a look at 5 wireless earbuds, all of which we’ve personally tested, and let you know which stand out for outdoor recreation of all kinds.

Read More Our 5 Favorite Wireless Earbuds for the Outdoors
Gear Reviews

Ultralight Pad Pumps FTW! 3 Inflatable Pad Pumps, Ranked
ByAlisha McDarris September 11, 2025April 6, 2026

Love them or hate them, these ultralight pad pumps make quick work of setting up camp. Are they worth a few extra ounces? You decide.

Read More Ultralight Pad Pumps FTW! 3 Inflatable Pad Pumps, Ranked
Gear

Anti-Odor Fabric Put to The Test: These Hiking Shirts Stink Less and Dry Faster
ByAlisha McDarris September 9, 2025November 26, 2025

We’re no strangers to sweat. We live in Utah, after all, where the desert sun is hot and the air is dry and hiking up mountains regularly happens when it’s over 90ºF. Naturally, that means we’re no strangers to funky smells coming from our clothing, either. So we decided to run a little test to see what fabrics dry fastest and stink less when they get sweaty.

Read More Anti-Odor Fabric Put to The Test: These Hiking Shirts Stink Less and Dry Faster
Gear Reviews

Nitecore Offers the Only Two Ultralight Power Banks We Ever Want to Take Backpacking
ByAlisha McDarris September 2, 2025September 1, 2025

We’ve tested plenty of portable power banks, backup batteries and chargers over the years. But when it comes to keeping devices like phones and high-tech watches powered on backpacking trips, every ounce (and gram) matters. So we put two of backpacking’s most popular ultralight power banks to the test and weighed their pros and cons (literally) to find out which we’ll be taking on all our backpacking adventures from here on out.

Read More Nitecore Offers the Only Two Ultralight Power Banks We Ever Want to Take Backpacking
Education | Sustainability Spotlight

Zero Waste Backpacking?! It’s Possible! Here’s How.
ByAlisha McDarris August 26, 2025April 29, 2026

Backpacking involves tons of waste. Just think about when you come home from a trip and dump a giant bag of messy trash right in the garbage, appalled by the amount of waste you created over the course of a single weekend. There are the single-serve meals, dozens of individually wrapped snacks, tiny packets of electrolytes…And almost none of it is recyclable, reusable or compostable. That’s a lot of waste.

So I wanted to see if I could do better. Iike, a lot better. And find out if I could spend three days in the backcountry and create absolutely zero waste. Want to see how I managed? Whether it’s even possible? If I’d do it again and what products exist to make it easier? Read on.

Read More Zero Waste Backpacking?! It’s Possible! Here’s How.
Gear Reviews

The Best Synthetic Ultralight Backpacking Quilts and Sleeping Bags
ByAlisha McDarris August 14, 2025May 7, 2026

Down is often considered the superior insulator when it comes to sleeping bags for backpacking or camping. But it’s not the best choice for every adventure or every adventurer. If you’re vegan, down isn’t since it’s harvested from dead animals. If you’re on a budget, down is prohibitively expensive. Or if you want a versatile bag that’s suitable for all types of weather, down doesn’t insulate at all when it’s wet. The alternative? Synthetic insulation. But synthetic ultralight sleeping bags are often few and far between since the material is a bit heavier than down. So what’s an ultralighter to do? Try one of these synthetic ultralight bags on for size, of course!

Read More The Best Synthetic Ultralight Backpacking Quilts and Sleeping Bags
Education

How to Poop in the Woods: Catholes, Wag Bags, Bidets and More!
ByAlisha McDarris July 29, 2025April 29, 2026

New to the outdoors? Or just new to pooping in it? We’ve all been there. But don’t be nervous! There’s a first time for everything, as they say! But don’t worry; we’re here to help you loosen up and make pooping in the woods less taboo, less scary, and–dare I say it–more fun. So find yourself a bush, prepare to leave no trace, and learn how to poop in the woods the right way (yes, there’s definitely a wrong way)!

Read More How to Poop in the Woods: Catholes, Wag Bags, Bidets and More!
Gear

The 5 Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents According to UL Experts
ByAlisha McDarris July 24, 2025November 17, 2025

Tents are one of the four heaviest items you take backpacking (along with your backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad). And many backpacking tents out there claim to be lightweight, but weigh up to four pounds! Not these superstars. These five ultralight tents are not only some of our favorites (we’ve tested them all and have been packing UL for years), but help keep your pack light so you can go farther, faster. Take a look to see which one might be right for you.

Read More The 5 Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents According to UL Experts