A 19-year-old hiker died on Utah's Mount Timpanogos and several others suffered injuries while sheltering from a storm in a mountaintop structure.

One hiker’s hack is just another hiker’s smart idea. Backpack for long enough and you’ll find yourself with your own bag of tricks—smart moves that make things easier, lighter, cheaper, or just more ...

Books are a contentious item among ultralight backpackers. Sure, a little entertainment can help pass long hours in the tent during storms or help you settle into camp at night. But reading material ...

September 2026: The best women’s rain jacket overall is the Outdoor Research Aspire 3L Jacket for its combination of weatherproofness, breathability, smart features, affordable price, and matching ...

Breathability can make or break a budget shell, and the Marmot PreCip outperformed all others when it comes to that key measure. “Best in class,” says one tester who wore it during a three-day trek ...

Once the sole domain of thru-hikers, fast-packers, and ultrarunners, trail runners have replaced traditional boots for most casual backpackers. With out-of-box comfort, breathable, quick-drying uppers ...

At Backpacker, we throw the term “thru-hiking” around a lot. But if you’re just dipping your toe into the world and been afraid to ask, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a primer on this special ...

There aren’t many paths that stoke dreams like the Pacific Crest Trail. On its more than 2,600-mile journey from Mexico to Canada, the PCT crosses some of the west’s most gorgeous landscapes, from the ...

Hiking was the most popular outdoor activity across America last year and is still growing, according to a new report from an outdoor industry trade group. In the latest edition of its annual Outdoor ...

The nameless lake sits at 11,400 feet in Wyoming’s Fitzpatrick Wilderness, tight up against a ridge known as the Brown Cliffs. This high in the Wind River Range, there is no gentle fringe of trees, no ...

Winter is an especially great time to go hunting for animal tracks in the snow. In summer, animals’ prints can be difficult to spot on packed dirt trails. But snow preserves them, allowing hikers to ...

At $200, the Ultra 6.5R starts at the same price as both the Xlite and Tensor All-Season. But the Ultra 6.5R has one big upside here: every size of the pad is the same price. If you want the largest ...