I’m a big fan of trekking poles for hiking because they help reduce the strain on my knees when I walk downhill, they improve my balance when I’m hiking over rough ground or crossing streams, and they are useful for establishing a …
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How to Choose a Packrafting PFD
Packrafting with an inflatable raft is a fun way to enhance your backcountry adventure by giving you the ability to travel over water, not just overland by foot. However, water-based travel introduces a new set of risks and the need for additional …
Read More »Soto Outdoors OD-1R Microregulator Stove – Long Term Review
The Soto OD-1R is an outstanding little canister stove for three season backpacking and it’s the stove I usually bring on a backpacking trips. Despite being small and ultralight, this stove really packs a wallop in the BTU department (11,000 BTU). It …
Read More »Vargo Titanium Triad XE Alcohol/Esbit Stove
The Vargo Triad XE Alcohol/ESBIT Triad Stove comes in two pieces. The stove itself is a hockey puck-lik capsule, perforated on the top with a ring of tiny holes. The puck holds up to 1.75 oz of fuel and burns for 30 …
Read More »Hiking Hydration Systems vs. Water Bottles – Survey Results
Hydration reservoir pockets and drinking tube ports are a common feature on most daypacks and overnight backpacks. But as far as we know, no one has ever studied how prevalent their use is and whether using a hydration reservoir and hose is …
Read More »Good To-Go Dehydrated Backpacking Meals
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get take-out asian food delivered to your campsite on backpacking trips that has some kick to it and tastes fresh? Now you can. The gourmet dehydrated backpacking food company Good To-Go has added two more gluten-free …
Read More »Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp Review
I originally bought the Black Diamond Spot headlamp for use on winter backpacking trips where I need extra light for melting snow after dark, but I like it so much I use it the rest of the year. It is great for …
Read More »10 Outdoor Herbivore No Cook Meals
I have been experimenting with no cook backpacking meals from Outdoor Herbivore for the past six weeks to see if I want to bring them on a big backpacking trip I have slated for this year. I’ve been burned by bringing food …
Read More »Black Diamond Ion Headlamp Review
The Black Diamond Ion is a cute little headlamp powered by two AAA batteries that has a built-in dimmer switch, red light mode, strobe, and an electronic lock. Getting a headlamp with a locking on/off switch is a must-have if you know …
Read More »Voile Telepro Avalanche Shovel Review
When you go backpacking or climbing in winter, it is important to bring along an avalanche shovel for prepping tent sites or digging a snow shelter in an emergency. If you’re in a group, a shovel can often be shared unless you …
Read More »Best Backpacking Water Filter and Treatment Systems
What are the best water filter and purification options for backpacking? We put that question to 565 backpackers in a recent survey on SectionHiker.com to get an updated view into the types of solutions that backpackers use today. Most Popular Water Treatment …
Read More »RailRiders Eco Mesh Pants: A Love Affiar
I just bought another pair of Railrider’s Eco Mesh Pants. This will be my tenth pair and the 9th year in a row that I plan on wearing them for hiking and backpacking trips. Going through one pair of hiking pants per …
Read More »Vapor Barrier Clothing and Sleeping Bag Liners
If you’ve done any backpacking, you should be familiar with the practice of layering your clothing: you take layers of clothing off when you get too hot and start to sweat and you put them back on again when you start to …
Read More »What Do You Think About Waterproof Down Now?
It’s just been three years since waterproof down became available in sleeping bags and jackets, but in that short time it’s become a defacto standard across the outdoor industry. The big gear and clothing companies and most mid-sized manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon with the …
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