The Gear that Changed Backpacking Forever

Trend-setters and trailblazers from the last 50 years

Airlines Count on Business Travelers to Keep Recovery Going

With summer vacations winding down, airlines are counting on the return of more business travelers to keep their pandemic recovery going into the fall.

The Tug Trip

Chasing grizzlies and pushing deep into coastal British Columbia aboard a uniquely Canadian touring vessel.

A Matter of Perspective

Regular backpacking trips are the key to contentment.

Sand, Moon, and Stars

The white beaches of Florida's Gulf Islands National Seashore are the perfect place for a moonlit pre-dawn hike:

Thru-Hiking, Canadian Style

When the pandemic shut down my plans to hike Europe, I found a world-class trail right on my doorstep.

Allie Weill

Weill is a California fire ecologist and the lead author of a study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire about how hikers relate to landscapes scarred by flames. She takes pains to prevent fires, but once the smoke clears, she's among the first out there to study, learn, and appreciate the beauty in the blackened landscape.

Let The Rivers Run Free

A set of 10 bills currently in Congress will protect 7,000 miles of American waterways— if they pass.

Finding Life on the Edge of Death

In June 2021, Andrew Devers disappeared for nine days after setting out for a dayhike in Washington's Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

ΤΟ WALK ALONE

Backpacking by yourself unlocks a powerful wilderness experience. If you're scared to solo, you're on the right track.

SIERRA TIME

Before he won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for his science fiction, Kim Stanley Robinson was a hiker in the Sierra Nevada. He still is. Walk with him in this exclusive excerpt from his new book, The High Sierra: A Love Story.

America's Other Best Idea

Let the crowds stampede the national parks-in the U.S., you're never far from state lands that boast sublime beauty, natural seclusion, and endless adventure. These 14 just scratch the surface.

Across the Pond

Overseas adventure camping gear shouldn't weigh you down

SEIZE THE MOMENT

The best gear for capturing your adventures

POWER UP

These motor-equipped rides are both fun and functional

POCKET ACES

Masterful sleds for a variety of conditions

FINE DINING

A five-star kit for base-camp meals

FEET FIRST

Quality rubber is the most important part of your crag bag

Power to the People

This compact solar panel will juice up your next long-distance trek

Training Station

There's a great new wearable for every kind of athletic goal

Cast Away

Leave the heavy lifting to these pieces

Head Game

These top-notch lids won us over

Home Base

These shelters score major comfort points

Let's Go!

After more than two years of a pandemic and unprecedented rates of burnout, just thinking about a vacation can nourish your body and mind. But the thing is: Actually taking that trip is very much encouraged now too. Because travel isn't just a getaway for getaway's sake anymore. We're exploring again for all the right reasons-and each motive has the power to be truly transformational. It's time to change your life with a trip, starting with the inspiration to get going, plus tons o' recommendations and revelations to guide you along the way.

13 Things Home Sweet Vacation Home

We found a fix

5 Myths About Summer

We're here to throw cold water on these warm-weather health tales.

CAN SQUID TENTACLES AND PINEAPPLE LEAVES SOLVE THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY'S SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM?

APPAREL-MAKERS ARE TURNING TO EVER-MORE EXOTIC MATERIALS IN THE SEARCH FOR PLANET-FRIENDLY FIBERS. BUT WHETHER YOUR FLEECE IS MADE FROM WILDFLOWERS OR RECYCLED WATER BOTTLES, THE TRUTH MAY NOT BE AS GREEN AS YOU THINK.

CRYSTAL GAIL WELCOME

After a long battle against a rare brain disease, Crystal Gail Welcome, a 41-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, took up running as a spontaneous celebration of her health and perseverance. Then a friend invited her on a short day hike, where she had a profound encounter with, well, a tree (tale below). She later went on to tackle the Pacific Crest Trail and other cross-country jaunts. Now, Welcome seeks to bring the healing power of hiking to those who need it most.

Processing Trauma, Step by Step

When the memories of combat refused to fade, a former army medic found healing in thru-hiking.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

A hike through Panama's Parque Internacional La Amistad highlights wonders, both of the natural world and within the hikers themselves.