Your clothing for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike doesn’t have to be overly complicated—in fact, simpler is better because you don’t want to carry anything you’re not going to use. What you do want is clothing that is durable, doesn’t chafe or rub …

One of the biggest questions when choosing a sleeping pad for the Appalachian Trail (AT) is deciding between a closed-cell foam or inflatable sleeping pad. Before we get into the details, the biggest takeaway is that you can either use a foam …

Fastpacking is a hybrid form of backcountry travel—think of it like a combination between trail running and backpacking—which means there’s no simple, satisfying answer to this question. Fastpacking means the athlete can cover big miles in the backcountry with a combination of …

Zero-drop shoes have become popular with hikers and backpackers over the past few years, thanks in part to Altra Running Shoes, a brand known both for their oversized toe-box and zero-drop style. Before Altra, many hikers had never considered the drop of …

The Zpacks Free Duo is an ultralight, single-wall freestanding tent made from strong, waterproof, Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF). Built for two people, this tent weighs just 30.1 ounces and has two doors and two vestibules. It has two separate H-pole units that …

The Feathered Friends Petrel 10  UL is the nicest sleeping bag I own. This is a women’s sleeping bag packed with 950+ fill goose down, made in the USA by Feathered Friends in Seattle, Washington. It weighs 32.3 ounces and is rated …

Women’s sleeping bags differ from those designed for men because women sleep colder then men, they’re not generally as tall or heavy, and they’re shaped differently with curves and body mass in different places. While the key design elements such as the …

The thru-hiker or backpacker in your life is probably busy saving for their next long-distance adventure, and we can pretty much guarantee they have a long list of items on their wish list. This collection of thru-hiker and backpacking gift ideas under …