Before the Bushido II, I’d never owned a La Sportiva shoe. I’m a huge Salomon fan, and have stayed in that lane for years. But my last pair of shoes was pretty beat up, and when in preparation for hiking the Wind River High Route I saw the Bushido II’s on sale, I decided to …
La Sportiva Bushido II Review: A True Go-Anywhere Shoe Read More »
Hiking and Backpacking In Bear Country: What You Need to Know Where we live and hike in Idaho, the presence of black bears and grizzly bears is a constant reality. While I absolutely love that these living embodiments of wilderness still inhabit our mountain ranges, they also come with some concerns. Bears have the potential …
The Ultimate Guide To Backpacking In Bear Country: Everything You Need To Know Read More »
A big part of why I love hiking is that it gets me more connected with nature and less connected with technology. Sometimes, though, technology can enhance the outdoors experience rather than detract from it. So as long as I’m using apps that add value to my experience, I’ll give them a pass. In this …
The 9 Best Hiking Apps For Any Outdoor Adventure Read More »
When it comes to easy backpacking foods, ramen noodles still reign supreme. There might be hundreds of awesome freeze-dried meals out there, but the price, weight and ease of cooking keep ramen at the top of the list. Another great thing about ramen is that the flavor possibilities are endless. You don’t have to stick …
Next Level Backpacking Food: 4 Easy Recipes to Spice Up Ramen Noodles Read More »
The great thing about buying gifts for a backpacker is that backpacking items come in two types; a few big, expensive things, and tons and tons of small, inexpensive things. That means that the list of things you could give to a backpacker is just about endless. And seeing as backpackers (at least the ones …
The 20 Best Gift Ideas for Hikers and Backpackers under $30 Read More »
Since I became interested in backpacking, I’ve followed and read about the adventures of backpacking legend Andrew Skurka. He was named National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year for his 6,875 Mile Great Western Loop, and he has pioneered some of the most adventurous backpacking routes in the U.S. Among the best of these is the …
Right now we’re experiencing a renaissance in the world of trail-runners-as-hiking-shoes. There are more options than ever, and tons of companies are making great shoes for all types of hikers and runners. One company that often stands out (particularly among thru-hikers) is Altra. The Altra Lone Peak has been a thru-hiker favorite for years, and …
Altra Timp Vs. Lone Peak: A Detailed Breakdown (Updated For 2021) Read More »
When gearing up for a long distance thru-hike, there is a ton of planning involved. You need to get the right gear, plan for food, do some physical training, and understand how you’re going to map your route. All of those things are important, but none of them really prepare you for what it’s like …
The Art Of The Shakedown Hike: Why We Should All Do Them Read More »
The word “ultralight” is almost a bad word at this point. Head over to the subreddit r/ultralight_jerk and you’ll see what I mean; the term has been corrupted by folks who spend more time cutting handles off toothbrushes than actually backpacking (or at least that’s one way to look at it). But that doesn’t mean those …
How To Lighten Your Backpack: Ultralight Backpacking Tips For Average Hikers Read More »
Have you ever been hiking in trail runners on a hot, dusty trail and still felt like your feet were suffocating? Me too, and I’d bet money that a lot of other people have had the same problem. Enter: sandals. Switching from boots to trail runners is a foot-freeing step, so why shouldn’t switching to …
