Early Spring Wildflowers at Memaloose Hills
Early-season wildflowers and sweeping Gorge views define this Memaloose Hills loop — a quiet spring hike with oak woodlands, breezy hilltops, and fewer crowds before peak bloom arrives.
Your Guide to Hiking, Backpacking & Camping in the Pacific Northwest
My Favorite Camping Gear of 2025
As an outdoor gear reviewer, I test new items year-round. These are my top camping picks from 2025 — favorites I’ve personally used and recommend.
White River Winter Backpacking Trip – Mount Hood
I took two friends on their first winter backpacking trip at the White River SnoPark at Mount Hood. We spent one night and snowshoed up Boy Scout Ridge for great views.
Review: RightOnTrek Meals
I tried out several freeze-dried meals from RightOnTrek – whose meals are more affordable than most packaged options.
Exploring the Southern Oregon Coast: Camping at Cape Blanco & Bullards Beach
A winter camping trip along the Southern Oregon Coast, from Cape Blanco near Port Orford to Bandon, filled with coastal hikes, dramatic headlands, sea stacks, and unforgettable beach walks.
Review: Zenbivy ZipBed Overland Bundle
If you’re looking for better sleep while car camping, the Zenbivy ZipBed Overland Bundle combines warmth, comfort, and freedom of movement in a simple, practical system.
Blacklock Point & Floras Lake Beach Hike – Oregon Coast
A coastal forest-to-beach adventure near Cape Blanco, this loop leads to Blacklock Point’s dramatic cliffs, a remote sandy shoreline, and hidden gems tucked beneath towering sandstone walls.
Review: Salewa Pedroc 2 Powertex Shoes
For this review, I tested the Salewa Pedroc 2 Powertex shoes to see how they stack up against my trail runners in fit, traction, and overall durability.
Exploring the Oregon Dunes: A Three-Day Camping & Hiking Trip
Sutton Campground, located just north of Florence, provides outstanding access to the Oregon Dunes. Here, the shifting sands blend with forested trails, creating a unique coastal landscape for camping and hiking.
Review: Tarptent Moment DW backpacking tent
The Tarptent Moment DW is a lightweight one-person double-wall tent. This is the pre-2019 version that I purchased at the end of 2016 and have used on over 20 backpacking and camping trips.
Review: Durston X-Dome 1+ Backpacking Tent
The Durston X-Dome 1+ is a fully freestanding, double-wall shelter that offers a rare combination of lightweight design, high-quality construction, and generous interior space for one person.
Review: Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt
The Enlightened Equipment Revelation is a highly customizable and ultralight sleeping quilt for backpacking.
Review: Tarptent Aeon Li backpacking tent
The Tarptent Aeon Li tent is an ultralight single-wall one-person tent that utilizes trekking poles and stakes for setup. This is my go-to tent for most backpacking trips due to the low weight.
Review: Big Agnes Bunk House 4 tent
The Big Agnes Bunk House 4 tent is like having a cozy cabin for camping. It's large enough to stand up inside, has plenty of room for two cots, and the attached awning makes a great front porch for hanging out.
Review: Exped Megamat Sleeping Pad
With a supportive structure and well-designed features, the highly rated Exped MegaMat delivers impressive comfort, bringing a high level of sleep quality to camping trips.
Review: GSI Bugaboo Base Camper Cookset
With ceramic non-stick surfaces and a compact nesting design, the Bugaboo Base Camper Cookset is ideal for campers looking for high quality cookware that doesn’t take up unnecessary space.
Review: Hele Box Solo bed platform
The Hele Box Solo is a versatile bed platform with adjustability for use in almost any type of vehicle. It's also easy to assemble and store, and is more affordable than other options.
Review: Kelty Sideroads Car Awning
Camping in a SUV can be a bit cramped for space, so adding a car awning to my setup has given me a lot more room.
Review: One Bottle Hydration System
In order to stay hydrated while hiking, I like the ease of using a hydration hose so I can take frequent sips without stopping. The One Bottle Hydration System works with wide mouth Nalgene bottles that can be carried in the side pocket of a backpack.
Ultralight and Innovative Backpacking Essentials from Igneous Gear
Lightweight, practical, and thoughtfully designed, these ultralight backpacking items simplify common camp tasks and make life on the trail easier without adding extra weight.
How to Use the Bathroom in the Backcountry
One of the biggest obstacles for new backpackers is figuring out how to go to the bathroom in the backcountry. Putting together a lightweight, well-thought-out bathroom kit makes the process straightforward and stress-free.
Review: UST Fillmatic Sleeping Mattress
The UST Fillmatic Sleeping Mat provides the ultimate in cushy comfort for sleeping on camping trips at a much lower cost than similar sleeping pads.
Review: REI Norseland Down Parka
The REI Norseland 2 Parka is an extremely warm insulated layer for the coldest conditions in the Pacific Northwest
How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
The ideal backpacking tent should have the combination of features, weight, comfort, and durability for the type of trips you plan to do. Learn more about what to look for when making a purchase.