Section Hikers Backpacking Blog Hiking and Backpacking for Beginners and Experts

The Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor (updated in Fall of 2019) is a top-loading backpack with a unique top lid and two side water bottle pockets. Designed by Andrew Skurka, it has wrap-around compression straps that let you shrink or expand its capacity from 40L to 60L so you can fit …

The Hammock Gear Economy Phoenix 30 Underquilt (“Econ Phoenix”) is a 3/4 length down-filled underquilt for hammock users. We found it very easy to use and the slight increase in weight over Hammock Gear’s Premium underquilts will be a good trade-off for many users for the significantly lower ($70 less) …

When choosing between lightweight multi-day backpacks, which is better: a backpack with an internal frame or one with frame stays? It’s a question that confuses many backpackers who want to lighten their backpack weight but want to retain the comfort and load-carrying abilities that an internal frame backpack provides. In …

The Montane Future Lite Hoodie is a lightweight, down hoodie that’s insulated with 750 fill power HyperDry RDS-sourced down. It has what manufacturers now call an “under-helmet” hood that’s thankfully tighter-fitting than the Godzilla-sized helmet-compatible down jacket hoods of yesteryear which were designed to fit over climbing helmets. Designed for …

The Kelty Escape 2 is a well-built but low-cost two-person tent that’s best used for car camping, base camping, and short backpacking trips. It’s compact and easy to set up with a free-standing inner tent, aluminum poles, and a roof vent for added ventilation. Sized for two people, it has …