The Story Behind Colorful, Custom Fleeces from Sambob
SamBob fleece started with a dream of making outdoor gear… four months in, he can’t keep up with the custom, colorful fleece pullovers orders
Maggie Answers Your Backpacking Questions Part I: Backpacking Gear
How do I save money on backpacking gear without sacrificing quality? What’s the best sports bra for thru-hiking? What should I put in a DIY first-aid kit? Maggie answers reader-submitted gear questions here.
Overnight Backpacking Gear List
Overnight trips are one of the best ways to get into backpacking. Here’s the gear you should always have in your pack.
The Ten Essentials: What are They and Why are they Important?
While every hiker will develop their own gear list, the ten essentials are considered the bare minimum that every hiker or backpacker should carry
5 Pieces of Gear Maggie Started Using Over the Past Year and Really Liked
My gear switches a lot, but I do have a core setup that I typically don’t change. This year though, I discovered a new tent, sleeping pad, and favorite inexpensive, noise-cancelling earbuds that kick my AirPods’ butt.
The Most Popular Backcountry GPS Units
A simple overview of three of the most popular GPS satellite communicators for backpacking, including Garmin, SPOT, and Somewear.
Striving for a <10-Pound Base Weight: It's Not For Everyone
Hugh adds up what it would take to go ultralight, and decides it’s probably not for him.
Maggie’s Winter Recreation Apparel, Plus How to Layer for Each Sport
Maggie’s overview on the clothing she’s been wearing for winter hiking, running, classic cross-country skiing, and skate skiing. Plus, tips on how to layer for each sport.
What You Need to Know About the New Sleeping Pad R-Values
This year, all sleeping pad manufacturers began using the same testing method to assign R-values to pads. As a result, the R-value for some pads increased, while it dropped for others, although no structural changes were made in the pads. Here’s the breakdown.
Hugh’s 40-Year Journey to Lightweight Backpacking
BPR editor Hugh Owen started backpacking in the 1970s with a massive external-frame pack, heavy boots, and an 8-pound tent. Here’s his gear transformation over the past 40 years.