Guide to Planning Backpacking Trips
Learn how to plan a backpacking trip, from choosing a destination and route to considering your experience, seasonal conditions, and creating a detailed trip plan.
Guide to 2026 Backcountry Permits for Oregon & Washington
When you are considering a backpacking destination, you’ll need to know whether permits are required for backcountry camping and how to obtain them.
DIY Lightweight Backpacking Gravity Water Filter Setup
No more pumping or squeezing! Convert a Sawyer Squeeze or Hydroblu Versa Flow water filter and let gravity do the work of filtering water.
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.
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.
Personal Hygiene for Backpackers
You don’t have to be dirty and smelly on a backpacking trip. Say goodbye to at least some of the funk by carrying a few toiletry items and learn tips for staying clean in the backcountry.
How to Lighten the Load of Your Backpack
Like pretty much everyone who backpacks, I learned that I needed to lighten my load to take less of a toll on my body.
How to Store Food on Backpacking Trips
Proper food storage is critical while backpacking — not only to protect your food supply, but also to prevent wildlife from associating humans with food.
Gear Basics: How to Choose a Backpack
A backpack will be one of the most important purchases you make since it is what you use to carry all of your gear, ideally in well-balanced comfort.
How to Pack a Backpack
There’s no one way to pack a backpack, instead, practice loading until you find a method that works best for you. A well loaded backpack will feel balanced and won’t shift around when hiking, providing stability on trail.
How to Choose a Backpacking Campsite
Finding a suitable campsite can make the difference between getting a good night’s sleep, or tossing and turning most of the night. Where you set up camp also can have impacts on the natural environment, so it’s good to be aware of a few guidelines.
Backpacking Basics: Campfires
Having a campfire is often synonymous with backpacking, but before you build a campfire, consider the potential wildfire danger as well as the impact on the local environment.