Blog

In my opinion, speed valve technology is the future of sleeping pads. Therm-A-Rest’s new NeoAir XLite MAX SV is the most convenient air pad I’ve ever used by a landslide.

If you’re a backpacker who likes to pack light, but you still want to enjoy the comforts of a hammock in the wilderness, then the Hummingbird Single Hammock and Tree Straps are for you.

Most camp chairs are far too heavy and bulky for backpacking. At only 7oz, Therm-a-rest Compack Chair Kit is light enough to pack deep into the backcountry and comfortable enough to make all your buddies jealous while sitting around the campfire.

Starting this Friday (March 18th – April 4th), you’ll be able to get 20% off one full-price item at REI. Here are 10 of my favorite big-ticket REI products that will make excellent discount purchases. 

10 BEST BACKPACKING TENTS OF 2016 Earlier this week I updated my Gear Guide to include a list of the 10 Best Backpacking Tents. If you’re in the market for a new bombproof, spacious, and lightweight shelter, I highly recommend having a look. Enjoy! 

7 BEST BACKPACKS OF 2016 Last week I updated my Gear Guide to include the 7 Best Lightweight Backpacks of 2016. It’s a list of fantastic hiking packs for thru-hiking, long-distance trekking, or just getting more comfortable on shorter backcountry trips. I hope you find it helpful!  

The Patagonia M10 Jacket is a fantastic rain shell for any lightweight adventurer. It has quickly become my all-time favorite backpacking jacket, and I expect you’ll feel the same. 

Mountain House recently released three new flavors – Biscuits and Gravy, Chicken Fried Rice, and Italian Style Pepper Steak with Rice and Tomatoes. We really enjoyed the new flavors, so I thought I’d write a quick post to spread the word and share our thoughts.

Earlier this week, Annie and I took a trip to the east side of Mount St. Helens to explore a 28-mile backpacking loop a friend had recommended. We were blown away by how remarkably beautiful, surprisingly diverse, and unexpectedly secluded the route was.

Hey Dave, I’m looking to buy the LightHeart Gear Duo tent. Could you elaborate on some the pros and cons you have experienced as well as how it compares with other two person single wall tents? 

Short backcountry trips are a fantastic way to reboot your system and cleanse weekly stress. It’s always amazing to me how quickly I feel my body relax when I begin a hike. It often only a few steps before I start to feel the peace of the wilderness wash over me.

Spikeball is a ridiculously fun beach & park game played with 4 people. It’s like a warped version of 2 v. 2 volleyball that’s heavy on spikes, drop shots, trickery, and diving around. It’s great for players of all skill levels. If you enjoy active outdoor games, you’ll love Spikeball.

Below is an email from a reader I received this week. Den from Berkshire, UK brings up a problem I hear about all the time, so I thought I’d share my response. Also, if you want more info on the hiking boots vs. running shoes debate, check out my article 5 Reasons To Ditch Your Hiking Boots. A big thanks to Den for the great question! 

On April 25th, Nepal was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, devastating much of Kathmandu and killing over 6,200 people. It crushes me to see the struggle that Nepal is going through in the aftermath of such a powerful earthquake, especially having experienced their culture first hand. The people of Nepal are incredibly generous and kind. They need help now more than ever, so I’m urging my readers to please support them however you can.  

I often get fantastic emails from readers with really great questions. I try to answer them to the best of my ability and I frequently wish that others could read my responses. So today I’m trying out a new idea and I’m going to publish a recent reader email. If you like this type of content – please let me know with a “like” or “comment” below. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful notes and questions. You guys rock!

It’s time to start getting pumped up about backpacking season again! For many of us that means dusting off our trail gear to see what upgrades we can make. To help make your job easier this year, I’ve created a list of can’t-miss gear upgrades. Here are seven must-own backpacking tools to boost your comfort while keeping your pack nice and light.