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Strategies for Backpacking in the Heat: Daily Routine and Gear Considerations

In this article, Jeff Podmayer discusses strategies for daily routine and choosing your gear when backpacking in the heat.

Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy: A Crash Course for Backcountry Podiatry

Knowing how to properly care for your feet can make or break a hike, especially on longer trips. In this article, I examine available data on common foot and ankle injuries and discuss how to prevent them, as well as what to do when they occur in the field.

How do tent stakes interact with soils to create holding power?

Tent stake holding power, especially in adverse wind conditions, relies on principles of engineering and physics, including cross-sectional shape, length, soil interaction, and insertion angle.

Why You Should Spend a Few Ounces of Pack Weight on Rainwear Ventilation Features (Updated)

In this article, we make the case for spending some extra weight on rain jackets and rain pants that offer more ventilation features (and durability) than typical ultralight rainwear styles (updated July 2024).

Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Backcountry Water Sources

In this video presentation, we dive into a critical topic to raise awareness about the increasing problem of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in backcountry water sources.

Backpacking gear attributes: the relationships between weight, cost, durability, versatility, and performance

Ryan discusses the relationships between weight, cost, durability, versatility, and performance in ultralight backpacking gear.

Backpacking in Grizzly Country

Backpacking in grizzly habitat: considerations and best practices for bear spray use, food storage, safety, and ethical considerations.

The Dirt Catwalk: Modern Layering Ensembles for Backpackers

In this article, I discuss some of the challenges that an effective layering system needs to address. In addition, I highlight a handful of the layers that I use the most and how I combine them into various ensembles for different use cases.

How to Choose Backpacking Gear (Shelter Case Studies)

In this video, we walk through a framework for making decisions about how to select gear based on benefits, features, and design attributes, with a focus on shelter systems.

Stove Systems for Winter Backpacking

Ryan discusses how you build and utilize your stove system for winter cooking and snow melting to maintain hydration.

Animal Encounters in the Backcountry

Ryan shares some principles about how to manage wildlife encounters, based on his own encounters with wild animals in the backcountry.

Bear and Food Storage Policy in the National Parks

America’s National Parks each have different food storage requirements for backpackers. This article discusses the requirements, various options, and focuses on what bear canisters are exemplary options, and why.

Hypothermia

What is hypothermia, and how do you treat it with an ultralight backcountry gear kit?

Handling the Heat: How to Use Your Palms to Stay Cool

Learn how to manage thermoregulation while hiking through effective utilization of your palms.

Can backcountry fishing save carried food weight?

This article explores the benefits of backcountry fishing (especially tenkara), including the incorporation of fish in your diet and potential food weight savings.

Home Freeze-Drying vs. Other Trail Food Preparation Strategies

Drew Smith talks about the place of home freeze-drying in the wider context of trail food strategies, and attempts freeze dried french toast!

Is Buying a Home Freeze-Dryer Worth the Money?

Home Freeze-dryers are handy but expensive. Are they worth the cost? We show you how to find out.

Walking With Marcus: How Stoic Philosophy Informs My Ultralight Backpacking

Can an ancient Roman philosophy make you a better backpacker? It all depends upon your application.

How to Plan and Execute a Successful Backpacking Trip in Developing Nations

A few suggestions for your next out of the ordinary adventure.

How to Practice Leave No Trace Principles at Hot Springs

Camping near hot springs can be a magical experience for backpackers, but these unique natural features require special care to minimize human impact.

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