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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.

I recently had the pleasure of testing merino wool products from a company called Woolx based out of upstate New York. So….

Today Gossamer Gear announced the launch of their new Mariposa Backpack. The Mariposa has been around for years and it’s the most popular pack design in Gossamer Gear’s arsenal of lightweight backpacking products. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for a new pack. 

One of my core beliefs is that people are more willing to protect natural areas once they get out and experience their beauty. That’s one of my key motivators with CleverHiker and one of the reasons I’m so excited to partner with the PCTA on the Essential Trail Skills video series.

CleverHiker is finally out of hibernation!Over the past few months I’ve built an entirely new website, completely changed my approach, and radically shifted the vision for all future CleverHiker content…