Backpacking trips have been something of a rite of passage for young people for almost 70 years. Whether you’re setting off around the world, or exploring a particular region, country, or city, taking ...

The best backpacking sleeping pads aren’t just lightweight and portable to keep your pack weight down. They’re comfortable, too. Between hauling gear and trekking up different terrains, you need a ...

You always hear the saying that we are living in a digital age. And sure, that digital world makes tons of things easier, from working to dating. But there’s no virtual substitute for the value of ...

There’s nothing quite like slipping into a warm sleeping bag after a long day of hiking. Whether you’re heading out for an overnight camping trip, or backpacking the entire length of the Appalachian ...

Most parents in America would agree that monitoring screen time for kids is a big challenge, especially because playing games and getting online is how many teenagers socialize and communicate with ...

What’s the best backpacking stove? To answer this question, I tested 29 stove models from six different brands, interested only in those that I’d be happy to carry for an extended outing in the ...

Backpacking can seem intimidating to newcomers, but it doesn’t need to be: Here are the best backpacking trails across the country to get started on. For some, it’s hard to imagine an easy intro to ...

I first encountered the ideas of ultralight backpacking in 1994, in an article in now-defunct (and much-missed) Backpacker magazine. It was titled “Less is More,” by Mark Jenkins. (I still have a PDF ...

The backpacking meals you eat on the trail can make or break the experience, which is why trail food is one of my priorities when planning. Quality food is not only necessary to maintain energy and ...

I had just awoken to the sounds of a gurgling stream. The previous night, a thundershower had ushered its way through our lush, temporary home in the Great Smoky Mountains. As I slowly got out of my ...