April is the hardest month to climb 4000 footers in the White Mountains because winter conditions often prevail past the end of calendar winter. More often than not, there’s at least one major winter storm that hits the region in late March …

With spring hiking and backpacking season on the horizon, here are some important gear maintenance tasks for you to perform to prepare for your next trip. If you have other spring gear maintenance tips you’d like to share, please leave a comment …

As ultralight backpacking gear has gotten lighter weight, so have ultralight backpacks. So much so, that many thru-hikers, section-hikers, and long-distance backpackers are turning to frameless ultralight backpacks for their adventures. Designed for loads of 20-25 pounds or less (including food, water, …

The REI Flash Air 2 Tent is a two-person, single-wall trekking pole bikepacking/ backpacking tent that weighs 2 lbs 4.5 oz on our digital scale. It has two doors and two vestibules and comes with 2 black collapsible poles to pitch the …

Backpacking packs and backpacking gear have gotten much lighter weight in recent years due to innovations in the materials and fabrics available to backpack manufacturers. Most 40-60L ultralight backpacks now weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. The ones we list below all …

One of the great hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is called a Presidential Traverse. It’s so-called because hikers climb all of the mountains in the  Presidential Range of the White Mountains in one continuous hike that’s nearly 23 miles …

The REI Flash Air 1 Tent is a single-wall ultralight pyramid-shaped tent with a deep bathtub floor and a large front vestibule. Weighing 27.2 oz / g, it’s an affordable ($299) ultralight trekking pole tent (optional pole included) designed for backpacking that’s quite …

Google Maps announced today that it will add a new mud-mode to its industry-leading navigation app so that drivers can bypass muddy unpaved roads when navigating through rural areas. With this new feature, drivers will be able to filter out driving directions …

Trail runners and hiking shoes have become increasingly popular with hikers and backpackers because they’re lighter weight than hiking boots and dry faster. The biggest difference between trail runners and hiking shoes is that (low) hiking shoes, which tend to be heavier …

The North Face Vectiv Enduris 3 is a maximum cushion trail runner with a highly rockered (curved) sole that is designed to channel your momentum forward and make walking or running easier. They have a wide toe box that provides plenty of …

Many hikers and backpackers carry camp shoes to help their feet recover after a hot day of hiking or to change into for stream crossings to keep their socks and hiking footwear dry. Sandals, water shoes, slides, clogs, and minimalist footwear are …

Railriders Bone Flat Pants are thin lightweight long pants with mesh vents running down the inside and outside of the leg. I discovered them last summer when we had record heat and humidity in New England and I wanted long pants that …

Hiking pants are an important piece of hiking gear but one that men often take for granted. Hiking pants have to be highly breathable, durable, quick-drying, and easy to vent when you get too hot, but warm when the temperature drops. Fit, …

Permethrin is a pesticide that you spray on clothing to kill black flies, ticks, and mosquitoes but has no harmful side effects on humans if used properly. It is the active ingredient used in the Insect Repellent Clothing sold by Outdoor Research …