Online Courses

Access the most comprehensive online education available for hikers and other backcountry travelers.

Self-paced online webinars and video courses about the philosophies, ideas, gear, skills, and technology of lightweight hiking, backpacking, and other forms of backcountry travel.

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Fringe Season Backpacking: Gear Systems, Skills, Risk Management, and Route Planning
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Learn fringe-season backpacking skills for October to December: gear systems, risk management, and planning for safe, cold-weather trips.

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Fabric Technologies for Shelters and Backpacks
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

This masterclass provides a technical overview of shelter and backpack fabric technologies, including silnylon, silpoly, PU hybrids, UHMWPE-reinforced fabrics, and composite laminates. Designed for backpackers, product developers, and outdoor professionals seeking to understand how material properties influence performance, durability, and design outcomes.

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Backcountry Hunting: Ultralight Gear & Strategies
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Learn how to optimize your backcountry hunting setup with ultralight gear and proven strategies for remote, self-supported hunts. This course covers lightweight packing systems, mobility-focused tactics, and gear selection to increase efficiency, endurance, and success in the field. Designed for serious hunters navigating rugged terrain.

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Ultralight Gear & Strategies for Search and Rescue Professionals
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Master ultralight gear systems and field-tested strategies tailored for search and rescue professionals. This online course teaches weight-efficient loadouts, mobility-enhancing techniques, and backcountry readiness to improve SAR performance, endurance, and safety in demanding environments. Perfect for SAR team members, wilderness responders, and tactical planners.

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Lightweight Footwear and Traction Systems for Snow Travel
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

In this webinar, you'll learn about the skills and gear systems for footwear and traction for lightweight backcountry snow travel in all seasons.

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Avalanche Awareness & Safety for Hikers and Backpackers
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Learn the foundational knowledge of avalanche terrain and risks to become a more-informed winter hiker in the backcountry.

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Flashlights & Headlamps: Technology, Design, and Performance
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

This webinar explores the science and technology behind backcountry headlamps, including LED efficiency, beam pattern design, battery performance, optical engineering, and durability in field conditions.

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Outdoor Fabric Technologies – Merino vs. Alpaca Fibers
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Outdoor Fabric Technologies: Merino vs. Alpaca Fibersย provides hikers with a comprehensive understanding of the fibers that make up outdoor performance textiles, focusing on how merino wool vs. alpaca wool fiber properties impact the performance of outdoor apparel with respect to thermoregulation, heat, and moisture transport.

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Outdoor Fabric Technologies – Synthetic vs. Natural Fibers
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Outdoor Fabric Technologies: Synthetic vs. Natural Fibersย provides hikers with a comprehensive understanding of the fibers that make up outdoor performance textiles, focusing on how synthetic vs. natural fiber properties impact the performance of outdoor apparel with respect to thermoregulation, heat, and moisture transport.

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Outdoor Fabric Technologies: Fabric Structures and Thermoregulation
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Outdoor Fabric Technologies provides hikers with a comprehensive understanding of fabric (textile) knowledge, focusing on how fabric structure and different fabric types impact the performance of outdoor apparel with respect to thermoregulation, heat, and moisture transport.

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Minimalist Footwear for Multi-Day Backpacking
Masterclass $100.00 (USD)

Explore the science and practical application of minimalist footwear for backpacking in this new online course โ€“ the most comprehensive education ever developed around the topic of minimalist footwear and using trail running shoes for backpacking.

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Water Treatment and Backpacking Hygiene
Masterclass $150.00 (USD)

In Water Treatment and Backpacking Hygiene, youโ€™ll learn the science behind various water treatment methods, how and when to use them, water treatment best practices, and information about health and hygiene on the trail and in camp.

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Aquamira
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

A comprehensive webinar about Aquamira and other chlorine dioxide treatment methods โ€“ chemistry, efficacy data, best practices for on-the-trail and in-camp treatment, pre-mixing, and more.

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Managing Sun Exposure in the Backcountry
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

Explore the essentials of sun safety in this comprehensive webinar, which delves into the scientific underpinnings of UV exposure, dispels prevalent myths, and offers expert guidance on selecting appropriate sunscreens, protective clothing, and eyewear for enhanced outdoor protection.

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Using an Ursack: Techniques and Supplies for Packing, Using, and Securing an Ursack
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

In this masterclass, you'll learn how to use an Ursack properly - learn about its design, limitations, proper use cases, and best practices.

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How to Pitch an Ultralight Tent
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

In this 90-minute online webinar, youโ€™ll learn why ultralight tents require a unique skill set to pitch, and how to properly pitch different types of ultralight tents, from tarps to mids to trekking pole tents.

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Your Tent, Your Campsite, Your Comfort
Masterclass $50.00 (USD)

This webinar will include discussions about the processes that control condensation and warmth, how tent designs cope with them, and what you should consider when selecting a campsite. We'll close the webinar with an audience Q&A.

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Backcountry Tenkara Fishing
Masterclass $150.00 (USD)

Backcountry Tenkara Fishing is an online course that will help you save weight and complexity while fishing in the backcountry. Learn about the gear, skills, and tactics that will help you master the art of tenkara fishing.

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Women’s Backpacking
Masterclass $150.00 (USD)

In this online course, you'll learn about the unique perspective of backpacking gear, skills, and philosophy from the viewpoint of women.

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