Backpacking Skills

Kahtoola Nanospikes are a lightweight winter traction device compatible with trail runners, most street shoes, and winter boots. They weigh about half as Kahtoola Microspikes and have much smaller traction points, resembling tire studs, that are designed to provide traction on trails …

An ice axe is an essential safety tool for winter hiking and climbing. With proper instruction, it is easy to learn the basics and serves as a foundation for all subsequent winter hiking and mountaineering skills. If you’re new to winter hiking …

The MSR Revo Explore Snowshoe is a recreational snowshoe that features the new Hyperlink ratchet binding system (also available on the MSR Lightning Explore Snowshoe) which is much easier and faster to put on than the plastic strap binding used on MSR’s backcountry snowshoes, …

There’s no doubt that Kahtoola Microspikes revolutionized winter traction and opened up winter hiking to a much wider audience. Before microspikes came along, most hikers had to purchase mountaineering boots and crampons if they wanted to hike on icy trails, which required …

For winter hiking in the White Mountains, you’ll want need to learn about the weather patterns in the region and what forecasting tools are available for planning hikes. While many of these same techniques are useful for planning three-season hikes in the …

Oboz Sawtooth II Insulated 8″ Hiking Boots (new in fall, 2020) have 200g Thinsulate insulation and are rated to -25 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for hiking in cool, wet weather and milder winter conditions. They’re comfortable but quite supportive with a …

If you’re a Gear Junkie, then Ice Climbing and high-angle mountaineering may just be your kind of sport. The sheer amount of new gear you need to get started is dazzling and confusing. It’s one thing to take an ice climbing class …

Most MSR Snowshoes have a rear binding that closes with a stretchy ski-style strap. It’s designed that way so that the snowshoes lay flat when lashed to a backpack, making them easier than snowshoes with bulky ratchet-style bindings. They’re also compatible with …

Sleeping in a hammock has some real advantages over sleeping in a tent once you get used to it. Chief among them is mobility: you can pitch camp just about anywhere below treeline. This is handy if you want to beat the …

If you’re not familiar with crampons, here is an excellent introductory video that will help you to understand how to attach them to your boots and the basic techniques required to use them on ice. If you think that using crampons for …

When winter arrives and we start to get snow, I like to get outdoors and go snowshoeing on the local trails near my house. In just a few hours, I can get a great workout and enjoy the solitude of the winter …

I always bring a fleece pullover or hoodie on my hiking and backpacking trips. I’ve never found a mid-layer garment that insulates as well, stays warm when wet, and that I can dry with my body heat if it gets soaked with …

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is surprisingly common and an estimated 10% of the US population suffers from this condition (source: Johns Hopkins Health Information Library.) If your toenails are yellow, brittle, or unusually thick, you may have a case of …

When it comes to gear list weight reduction for lightweight and ultralight backpacking, the biggest gains come from lightening the big three, including your backpack, tent, and your sleep system which includes a sleeping pad and sleeping bag or quilt. These are …