BACKPACKING GEAR GUIDES

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this post, I share a list of some of my favorite hiking, camping, and backpacking gear that is currently available at REI Co-op!

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.

In June 2019, I visited my 27th National Park: Isle Royale National Park. This post includes tips on planning your own Isle Royale trip, what gear to bring, and my experience backpacking the beautiful and rugged Isle Royale National Park.