Always wanted to nail the downhill? In this guest post, Asen Stoyanchev from Gear Up Hiking explains how to hike downhill to protect those muscles and joints. Because you know what they say: what comes up must come down.
Ready to start backpacking? Here’s our intro to backpacking guide to get you started out on the right foot. Or the left foot. Whichever foot you want to start on is fine. We don’t discriminate between feet.
Winter and cold-weather camping is still far from over in most parts of the country. So if you’re done being stuck in the house and are ready to spend a few nights out of doors, then don’t be afraid of a little cold! Grab a winter camping tent, a warm synthetic sleeping bag, and one of these cozy sleeping bag liners to give that bag’s temperature rating a much needed boost!
Whether hiking, backpacking or traveling, water filtration and purification is important. But not all portable water filters do both. So we’re gonna compare three portable water purifiers and filters in one and explain why it’s important to do both (and simultaneously avoid dysentery and giardia…)
Camping just isn’t camping without a comfy place to park your tush around the campfire (also, it’s a heckuva lot better than sitting in the dirt). But not all camp chairs are created equal. So here are the best of the best, including camp chairs for every type of outdoorist, from lakeside loungers to backcountry explorers.
Snow, wind, sub-freezing temperatures…it’s enough to turn most people off to winter camping. Add to that the high prices of 4-season tents (also called expedition tents), and a whole new group of potential campers fall out of the running. But if you want to go camping or backpacking in the colder months and reap all the benefits of recreating during the fourth season (empty trails, peace and quiet, animal encounters…), we’ve got good news: there are plenty of tents for winter camping out there with price tags that don’t include commas.
The number one reason people don’t want to go camping in the winter? The cold. But don’t let the thermometer dictate when you get outside and play; learn about R-values and how to sleep warmer while winter backpacking with these insulated sleeping pads designed for the fourth season (and to keep your butt from freezing).
Winter is coming. And yeah, that oft-quoted phrase carries extra negative connotations this year (thanks, COVID). But the one thing it’s always mean: it’s gonna get cold. Even down here in Texas where, I kid you not, the high today is 44º. (Don’t laugh! That’s cold for those of us who can’t run far enough south to escape cold weather!) And though winter means more people will likely be hiding indoors this season, that’s certainly not necessary. In fact, for quiet, secluded trails and lots of vacancies at campgrounds, winter is a great time to get outside and beat the crowds. But the key to keeping the cold at bay during outdoor activities this season: our outdoor guide to layering.
I’m a sucker for a good outdoor blanket. A soft, cozy, durable blanket that can accompany me on all of my adventures. Fortunately, there are several brands making not only high quality outdoor blankets, but sustainable ones, too. And since so many of the are so much more than basic rectangles of fabric, you better believe they’ll be perfect for everything from backpacking in the mountains to weekend camping trips to picnics in the park and outdoor movies on the lawn. So if you’ll be adventuring outdoors this season (or any season), check out these sweet sustainable outdoor blankets designed with adventure in mind.
We love to eat. That includes on the trail. In fact, that’s how you know it’s a good hike: when you’re working so hard you can’t wait to get to camp to set up and make dinner. And while we tend to take charge and prepare our own backpacking meals when we’re out in the wilderness (find a whole cookbook full of our plant-based backpacking recipes here), sometimes you just want to grab-and-go. By which we mean grab a pre-packaged meal off the shelf and hit the trail without all the measuring and prepping and bagging. So if that’s you, here are 7 pre-packaged vegan backpacking meals so you can fuel up without all the forethought.