Articles & guides
Gear reviews, safety, knots, foraging — all the field-tested stuff that makes the difference between a good hike and a story you tell at the ER.
The Considered Ultralight Backpacking Gear Guide
Weight is comfort. A field-tested guide to the big three — shelter, sleep, and pack — for hikers who want to go farther without going spartan.
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The Vertical Archipelago: Finding Soul Above the Arctic Circle
In Norway's Lofoten Islands, a dramatic spine of granite rises from the sea, offering a profound encounter with the raw elements. Between vertiginous hikes, silent paddles through ancient fjords, and the surreal glow of the midnight sun, one finds a landscape that doesn't just challenge the body, but reshapes the soul.
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The Last Verse: Finding Silence in Iceland's Westfjords
In the remote, fjord-carved peninsula of Iceland's Westfjords, time slows to the rhythm of the tides and the cry of the Arctic tern. It’s a land at the edge of the world, where silence speaks volumes and the raw power of nature rewrites your soul.
Read full article →The Granite Kingdom: In Search of Scale and Silence in the High Sierra
Beyond the reach of cell service and deadlines lies a world carved from granite and light. A journey into California's High Sierra is more than a trek; it's a pilgrimage to a quieter, grander version of ourselves, a recalibration of the soul against the immense scale of the wild.
Read full article →The Unwritten Songs of the Faroe Islands
In an archipelago adrift in the North Atlantic, the line between myth and landscape blurs. It's a place not to be conquered, but to be listened to—a land of vertical oceans, whispering mist, and a silence that speaks volumes.
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A Year in the Salomon X Ultra 4: The Boot That Quietly Won
Twelve months, four national parks, and one very honest verdict on the most-recommended day-hiking boot of 2026.
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Cascade Canyon: The Quiet Side of the Tetons
Skip the elbows at Jenny Lake and take the early boat. A field report from one of the most underrated valley walks in the American West.
Read full article →How to Actually Train for a Rim-to-Rim
Twenty-four miles, eleven thousand vertical feet, and one extremely hot canyon. A twelve-week plan from people who have done it the hard way.
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In Defense of Merino: Why We Stopped Buying Synthetic Baselayers
It costs more, it dries slower, and we will never go back. A long answer to a short question.
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The Kalalau Permit, and the Art of Patience
Eleven miles, five river crossings, and one of the hardest permits to draw in the United States. A practical guide to getting on the trail.
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Hypothermia: How to Recognize It Early and What to Do
It's not just a winter problem — most backcountry hypothermia happens between 30°F and 50°F. Here are the warning signs and the fix.
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9 Wild Berries That Can Kill You — Learn These First
Before you forage a single edible, memorize these. Several look identical to safe species and have killed experienced hikers.
Read full article →The Modern Hiking Safety Checklist: 12 Habits That Keep You Alive
Most search-and-rescue calls trace back to the same handful of mistakes. Here's how to avoid being a statistic in 2026.
Read full article →The Trail Kitchen: A Manifesto Against Cold Soaks
Two ounces, one canister, and dinner that does not taste like punishment. Our short, opinionated case for cooking on the trail.
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8 Wild Edible Berries Every North American Hiker Should Recognize
Trailside snacks that won't kill you — plus the lookalikes that will. Identification photos and dead-giveaway features for each.
Read full article →The Best Hiking Boots of 2026, Tested on 400+ Trail Miles
We field-tested 18 pairs across desert slickrock, alpine scree, and Pacific rainforest. Here's what actually holds up.
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Lightning Safety on the Trail: What to Do When the Sky Turns
More hikers die from lightning than from bears, snakes, and mountain lions combined. Here's the real protocol.
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5 Beginner-Safe Edible Wild Mushrooms (and How to Be Sure)
A short list of mushrooms with no deadly lookalikes — the only kind beginners should ever pick.
Read full article →A Beginner's Guide to Day Hiking: The Ten Essentials, Simplified
You don't need $2,000 of gear to start hiking. You do need these ten things in your pack — every single time.
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How to Cross a River Safely on the Trail
Drowning is one of the top causes of backcountry death. The right technique — and the right decision not to cross — can save your life.
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8 Essential Knots Every Hiker and Backpacker Should Know
From hanging a bear bag to lashing a splint, these are the knots that actually earn their place in your skillset.
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7 Wild Mushrooms That Can Kill You (Including Some That Look Edible)
The Death Cap alone causes 90% of mushroom fatalities worldwide. Here's the deadly seven every hiker should recognize on sight.
Read full article →Are Trekking Poles Actually Worth It? (Spoiler: Yes, on Descents)
We were skeptics. After two seasons of testing, we won't hike without them on anything steep.
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Leave No Trace, 2026 Edition: The 7 Principles in Plain English
With record trail traffic, LNT matters more than ever. Here's the updated guidance every modern hiker should follow.
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How to Treat (and Prevent) Blisters on the Trail
The single most common reason day hikes get cut short — and a fix that takes under five minutes.
Read full article →A Satellite Messenger Probably Saved My Friend's Life Last Summer
Why a $399 device and $15/month subscription is the cheapest insurance in the backcountry.
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Bear Encounters: What to Actually Do (Black vs Grizzly)
The advice changes completely depending on the species. Knowing which is which can save your life.
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How to Actually Read a Topo Map (in 10 Minutes)
GPS dies. Phones break. The hiker who knows the contour lines is the one who walks out under their own power.
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