Gear
The Best Backpacking Packs of 2021
Your backpacking pack is one of the most important components of your backpacking setup. Your style of pack goes hand in hand with your style of hiking. They need to...
Patagonia Strider Pro Wind Pants Review
Your Big Three, footwear, resupply strategy, puffy jacket, rain jacket, water treatment, headlamp, map app, nail clippers, taxes. What do all these things have in common? They are more exciting...
Gear Wars: Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layers
I'm not going to pretend that I can get through a "merino wool vs. synthetic base layer" article without saying "it's all about that base" at least once. So there,...
Announcing the 2021 Badger Sponsorship: A +$20,000 Gear Giveaway to Benefit the National Scenic Trails
Calling all hikers, backpackers, day adventurers: we need you! Each year, The Trek lavishes some lucky upcoming thru-hikers with thousands of dollars worth of gear. This year, with the pandemic
The Best Backpacking Tents of 2021
Choosing a tent for your thru-hike is a big deal, but it's also probably the least stressful house shopping experience you'll have over the course of your lifetime. Enjoy it....
SPOT X Two-Way Satellite Messenger Review
It's not your grandpa's Blackberry: The SPOT X Two-Way Satellite Messenger is a contender for one of the best personal GPS/communication devices on the market today. What sets the SPOT...
Zpacks Free Duo Freestanding DCF Tent Review
The Free Duo tent from Zpacks can go anywhere. This freestanding shelter changes the script with ultralight materials and practical design.
The Trek and Garage Grown Gear Present the Thru-Hiking Giveaway!
Welcome to your next gear kit, courtesy of Garage Grown Gear, yours truly, and 19 top-of-the-line cottage-industry backpacking gear brands. This is the Thru-Hiking Giveaway. Here we go. The
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2021 (Thru-Hiker Friendly)
It may not be as sexy as a tent, backpack, or sleeping bag, but the humble backpacking sleeping pad is just as critical (and often just as expensive) as the...
Jetboil Stash Ultralight Backpacking Stove Review
On the JMT, I had the pleasure of meeting a hiker who was eating cold-soaked ramen with M&Ms mixed in. Though I admired his dedication to the ultralight ethos, I...