23+ hour, 1+ min ago  (1866+ words) The Atom Packs Pulse EP40 hits a sweet spot between ultralight simplicity and real load-carrying support. With a removable frame and hipbelt, it adapts to everything from heavier resupplies to stripped-down day hikes " making it a compelling option for hikers who…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago  (341+ words) Over the years, I've turned into a gear nerd. When I first decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, I had never backpacked a day in my life. I mostly picked up gear on sale at REI. I didn't know what…...

2+ week, 23+ hour ago  (1581+ words) The Bear Vault BV ONE rethinks the most frustrating part of bear cans: wasted space. Its collapsible design and finger-friendly buttons boost functionality " though it's not quite big enough for long carries. Collapsible design. The can shrinks as you eat,…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago  (1396+ words) The HMG Ulta Mid 1 is a premium ultralight tarp that balances weight savings with real-world performance. If you're comfortable with a floorless shelter, its spacious interior, storm-worthy design, and tiny packed size make it a standout option for long-distance hikers....

1+ mon, 2+ week ago  (1880+ words) The Zpacks Free Zip 2 P is among the lightest truly freestanding tents available. If you want a sub-two-pound shelter that can pitch almost anywhere, it's a compelling option " so long as you're willing to accept a premium price and a…...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago  (2000+ words) My hope for my 2025 hike was to start off with primarily all new gear in order to extend the life a bit. But I also set out with nearly all of the same pieces of gear that I'd tested over…...

2+ mon, 3+ week ago  (542+ words) In 2025, I hiked 1, 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Lake Tahoe to Canada. Every few hours, I'd meet someone new, and the #1 question I got was: "Woah! What kind of pack is that?" To be fair, my pack…...

2+ mon, 3+ week ago  (441+ words) The following is a guest post by Tyler Jensen. Submit your own thru-hiking story to The Trek here." My pack weighed 60 pounds, and every hiker I met had something to say about it. In the Boy Scouts, they teach you…...

3+ mon, 1+ week ago  (1805+ words) We've established the best backpacking homes (tents!), beds (sleeping pads!), how to carry them (packs!) and now it's time to choose your comforter (sleeping bag) for the next five to six months of your life. It's a crucial piece of…...

3+ mon, 2+ week ago  (906+ words) Another year, another opportunity to pick apart the minutiae of backpacking gear! This time, I'm getting really scientific with it: I bet I can guess your personality traits based on which pack you use. How? In the same way that…...