GEAR GUIDES
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Looking for the best women’s hiking pants for hiking and backpacking? In this guide, I share my top hiking pant recommendations based on 6+ years of hiking and testing. From lightweight, breathable options to durable, sun-protective fabrics, find the perfect women’s hiking pants for your next adventure.
Looking for the best women’s hiking shoes or boots? After thousands of miles of hiking, I'm sharing my favorite hiking shoes, hiking boots, and trail runners for day hikes, backpacking, and thru-hiking.
Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor lover in your life? This Outdoorsy Gift Guide has over 80 gift ideas for adventurers of all kinds, from hikers and backpackers to campers, photographers, skiers, National Park lovers, and more.
Here is my complete Sunshine Coast Trail gear list from my 2025 thru-hike. See everything I packed for this 111-mile hike in British Columbia, Canada.
In search of the best hiking shorts for women? After thousands of miles of hiking, I'm sharing my favorite shorts for day hikes, backpacking, trail running, and more – including the best lined, unlined, and biker shorts for hiking.
Discover the best deals at the REI Anniversary Sale 2025 from May 16th to May 26th! Save up to 30% on hiking, camping, and backpacking gear during REI Co-op’s biggest sale of the year. Whether you're a beginner or upgrading your equipment, this sale is the perfect time to invest in top-quality outdoor gear.
Looking for the best sun hoodies and long-sleeve shirts for hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking? In this guide, I share my top picks based on 6+ years of testing. From lightweight, breathable options to durable, sun-protective fabrics, find the perfect sun hoodie or shirt for your next outdoor adventure.
I go through my top 4 methods for carrying your camera while backpacking and thru-hiking, including the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod, Peak Design Capture Clip, fanny packs, and storing your camera inside your backpack.
In this Kari Traa base layer review, I go into detail about the best women’s merino wool base layers for winter activities, from skiing to hiking and more. From comfort to style, I break down the features of Kari Traa's base layer tops, pants, and accessories.
Staying hydrated when backpacking and thru-hiking is crucial and the right water filter or purifier can make all the difference. In this post, I break down the best options—Sawyer Squeeze/Micro Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree, and Aquamira—sharing when I use each and why they’re my go-to choices for backpacking and thru-hiking.
Looking for the perfect camera bag for your hiking adventures? Here is my comprehensive review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) Camera Pod, which is an ultralight and weatherproof camera bag. I go over its specs, features, and how it performed on my thru-hike of the Wonderland Trail.
Learn about the ultralight backpacking gear I used on my 2024 Wonderland Trail thru-hike in this detailed gear and packing list. The Wonderland Trail (WT) is a 93-mile loop around Mount Rainier, also known by its original name, Tahoma, given by the native Puyallup Tribe.
Discover the best deals at the REI Anniversary Sale 2024 from May 17th to May 27th! Save up to 30% on hiking, camping, and backpacking gear during REI Co-op’s biggest sale of the year. Whether you're a beginner or upgrading your equipment, this sale is the perfect time to invest in top-quality outdoor gear.
In this backpacking quilt guide, discover what quilts are, learn about quilts vs. traditional sleeping bags, and explore the advantages of quilts for backpacking and thru-hiking. I go over technical aspects like footboxes and fill power, and also provide my top recommendations for backpacking quilts.
In this blog post, I'll explore the various options for ultralight backpacking gear available at REI Co-op. REI has a wide selection of quality gear, customer-friendly return policies, and knowledgeable staff. This guide will help you navigate the essentials for a more enjoyable and efficient hiking experience.
When I set out to thruhike the 3,000-mile-long Continental Divide Trail, I knew I needed just the right pack for this adventure, and for that, I chose the Nashville Pack Cutaway 30L Backpack. This review goes over the Nashville Pack Cutaway specs and how it performed throughout my thruhike.
Want to know what to wear and bring winter hiking? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential winter hiking gear, from layering techniques to insulated outerwear, waterproof gear, and accessories. The goal with winter hiking gear is to stay warm, dry, comfortable, and safe.
In this post, learn about all the ultralight backpacking gear I used on my southbound thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail in 2023.
In this post, learn about all the ultralight backpacking gear I’m taking with me on my southbound SOBO thru-hike of the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail in 2023.
Wondering what to pack for a backpacking trip? This post has you covered. I’ve backpacked over 7,000 miles and put a lot of time into finding the best backpacking gear that is durable, quality, and ultralight. In this post, I provide an overview of both ultralight and lightweight backpacking gear, along with budget-friendly options and some higher-priced items.
Are you interested in hiking, but not sure what to bring with you? Safety and comfort are my top priorities when choosing what to pack. This guide goes through everything I bring with me on a day hike, from the gear I bring to my favorite backpack to what I wear and more!
Learn about everything I ate and put in my resupply boxes on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. I break down all the food I ate by breakfast, lunch/snacks, and dinner, along with the total calories of each item.
In this post, learn about all the ultralight backpacking gear I took with me on the Arizona Trail in fall 2022.
Check out this post to discover all the ultralight backpacking gear I relied on during my 2022 Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike, complete with a comprehensive packing list.
In this post, explore all the backpacking gear I'll be starting my Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike with, including a comprehensive packing list.
In this post, learn about all the backpacking gear I took with me on my thru-hike of the John Muir Trail (JMT), complete with a detailed packing list.
Whether you are not looking to splurge on gifts this holiday season or you are looking for some stocking stuffers for your outdoorsy family and friends, this list of 25 affordable gifts for hikers, backpackers, and outdoors lovers is for you!
Discover the best deals at the REI Anniversary Sale 2026 from May 15th to May 25th! Save up to 25% on hiking, camping, and backpacking gear during REI Co-op’s biggest sale of the year. Whether you're a beginner or upgrading your equipment, this sale is the perfect time to invest in top-quality outdoor gear.