Backpacking Skills

In cold weather, the temperature of white gas, or liquid fuel as it is also known, can dip below freezing (0 centigrade) but still remain in liquid form. If it touches your skin, it will evaporate immediately, causing frostnip or frostbite. In …

We called off our hike up to Mt Adams (5774′) this past Monday because conditions were just too severe. With subzero temperatures, -40 to -50 degree (f) wind chills, and winds blowing over 100 miles per hour, it would have been too …

Ultralight backpacking requires an extreme form of self-reliance where backpackers compensate for bringing less gear by having more advanced backcountry skills. While many other backpackers and day hikers have these same skills, “going ultralight,” or the less extreme “lightweight” is more committing, since ultralight backpackers carry less …

Winter stream crossings can be dangerous if you slip off a rock or fall through an ice shelf and get your boots and clothing wet. However, you can often cross safely with a little extra planning or by bushwhacking along the bank …

I use 9 clothing items (not including hats, socks, or gloves) for three season hiking and backpacking. It’s amazing how many different scenarios they are sufficient for. Environmental Needs Most of the hiking and backpacking I do is in New Hampshire and …

Dachstein’s Arctic Boiled Wool Gloves are very warm, three-ply, boiled wool gloves (more on this below) that make exceptional liners in waterproof shell mittens. When the mercury drops to near zero or below, these are the gloves you want to be wearing. …

When you’re hiking through snow, gaiters are an essential piece of gear because they help keep your socks dry. Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters are so-called because they’re built tough like the skin of the animal. Toughness is important, especially around the ankles when wearing …

Winter bivy sacks were first developed as solo shelters for mountaineering and climbing where participants were interested in lightweight and highly compressible camping gear. Bivy Sacks are also an attractive option for backpacking hunters, backcountry skiers, and winter backpackers who want the …

Winter can be a dangerous time to hike or camp in the backcountry, but with planning and proper preparation, a winter hike can be a safe and enjoyable experience. Please keep the following in mind when planning an outing: For safety, never …

STABILicers Hike Macro Winter Traction Spikes are a traction device in the same vein as Kahtoola Microspikes and Hillsound Trail Crampons but with a very different binding and spike design. Instead of free-floating chains suspended from an elastomer harness, they have a …

Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range Boots are winter boots rated down to -40F with 400-gram Primaloft Aerogel insulation.  They’re not specifically designed for winter hiking and lack some of the features found on good winter hiking boots like a curved rockered sole designed …

If you do a lot of winter hiking in high gaiters, sooner or later, they’re going to get punctured by self-inflicted crampon strikes or get hung up on vegetation and torn. Many people repair them with duct tape when this happens, which …

Here are 10 hiking and backpacking gear maintenance tasks to put on your to-do list this December. With the winter hiking and backpacking season starting, it’s worthwhile to repair your existing hiking gear and to switch to a few winter-specific items. Winter …

This is a serious issue because I see a lot of people do this improperly, opening themselves to a potentially serious injury. To remedy that, I’m going to demonstrate how you should do this safely, in a way that prevents the axe …