We’ve heard a lot of people lately touting the relative merits of hammock camping, so we decided to try it out for ourselves. It helped that I recently wrote an article for popsci.com about hammock camping, so I learned all about the scientific benefits and couldn’t wait to see if it was all it was…
Holy crap we love ultralight tents. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a new tent so we’re completely smitten with the options available these days, but we can’t get enough. Maybe you saw our review of the Big Agnes Fly Creek? Well, allow us to bring you a Big Agnes Tiger Wall…
So you’re in the backcountry and you’re swearing up a storm because a thorn bush just tore a hole in your puffy jacket or there’s insulation popping out of your sleeping bag or you can’t figure out how a tear in the shape of Michigan managed to appear in the bottom of your tent. It…
When it comes to backpacks, I’m an Osprey fan. I’ve had other packs, but it’s been a while. Josh has only had other packs. So when it was time for him to upgrade (his weird Coleman pack that isn’t even made anymore is starting to wear and tear pretty significantly), I was all for him…
We wouldn’t think of going on an intensive hike without our trekking poles. They’re immensely beneficial during tough climbs and descents and really take the pressure off your knees. Plus, you know, keep your arms in the game so they don’t turn into limp noodles on a long hike. But trekking pole prices are all over the map. You can get a pair of cheap ones for $20 or less on Amazon, or you can spend upwards of $200+ on an ultralight model. But are expensive trekking poles worth the money? We put a few to the test. Check out our trekking pole comparison to find out.
We’ve all had that disheartening moment when we’re traveling or out on the trail or setting up camp for the night and the dark clouds roll in. It’s not a great feeling. Especially if you know your gear it’s repelling the rain and wind like it used to. Or when you throw on your rain…
I’m addicted to coffee. It’s a problem, I know, but there are worse things to be addicted to, right? Thing is, we have a habit of drinking some pretty bad coffee on the trail. Instant was a staple for quite some time. I blame it on the fact that I am a minimalist when it comes to backpacking and I don’t like to carry the extra weight of complex devices (like this personal press that weighs more than I’m willing to carry). However, there are plenty of ways to make a cuppa on the trail and many of them don’t take up that much room in your pack or weigh a ton. Here are 5 ways to make coffee while backpacking or camping.
When most people head to their local outdoor store to stock up on socks, one thing you’ll see everywhere is wool, which is a no-go for vegan hikers who eschew animal by-products on an ethical, environmental, or animal welfare basis (check out our post on why we avoid wool). But synthetic hiking socks can be trickier to locate. Fortunately, we found 9 vegan hiking socks made entirely without wool so you can explore blister free.
We love gear. Especially ultralight gear. Because who wants to clomp around in the backcountry with 50 pounds on their back? Not us. Certainly not I, whose pack weight maxes out at 33 pounds if I’m following the rule of thirds (your pack shouldn’t weigh more than 1/3 your body weight). But because we try…
We love backpacking and camping. And we frequently hear other folks say they think they’d love it, too, but that it’s just too expensive to get into. We get it. When you pick up Backpacker magazine or wander into REI and look at the ultralight gear and name brands and then check the price tags,…