Backpack Trail Guide

The Lowdown

The inside scoop from backpackers: what gear holds up on the trail, the hacks that make camp easier, and the stuff that isn't worth carrying.

Every post pulls together what experienced backpackers and independent reviewers have actually reported, from long-term gear tests to trail-tested tips, so you can pack smarter before your next trip. We name our sources in each post, so you can read the original reviews yourself.

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Stop Paying Freeze-Dried Prices for Dinner on the Trail Freeze-dried dinners are easy, but you pay a lot for the convenience. These five grocery-store swaps cook the same way for a fraction of the price. More Lowdown » November 9, 2026 A tall sea stack and low rocks stand in black silhouette against an orange sunset sky above a wet, dark beach A Rolled-Up Jacket Works. Until About 2 a.m. Plenty of backpackers sleep on a stuff sack of clothes. Here's who can get away with it, and what testers reach for when they can't. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A dirt trail winds through dense green forest above a rocky creek Bear Canister or Ursack? Where Each One Makes Sense One weighs less than half a pound. The other is the only kind some parks accept. Here's how to tell which one your next trip calls for. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Close-up of leather hiking boots stepping up onto lichen-covered rock Boots or Trail Runners? The Honest Answer Depends on Three Things Most long-distance hikers ditched their boots years ago. That doesn't mean you should. Here's how to tell which side of the debate you're on. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A snow-streaked mountain rises above dark spruce forest and a wide gravel river bar on a clear day in Alaska Does Your Phone Replace a Satellite Messenger Yet? Your phone can text from space now. Before you leave the satellite messenger at home, know exactly where phone SOS falls short. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A hiker with trekking poles and a daypack walks a snow-packed trail through burned trees toward snowy peaks Don't Let One Icy Switchback End Your Trip The trail looks clear at the trailhead. The shady switchbacks above are another story. What testers carry for ice, and when to turn around. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A backpacker relaxes in a lightweight camp chair at a granite campsite, looking out at a forested, rocky mountainside Five Backpacking Chairs Worth Their Weight Ultralighters love to tease the camp chair. Then they sit in one. Here's when a pound of chair earns its spot, and when 2 ounces does the job. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Three backpackers carrying full packs set out past Joshua trees and granite on the Boy Scout Trail Five Backpacks Backpackers Love, and Who Should Skip the Frame There's a weight where a frameless pack stops making sense, and it's lower than most people think. Five tester favorites, and who each one suits. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A dirt trail climbs through a grassy, boulder-strewn alpine basin with scattered pines toward jagged gray mountain ridges under a clear sky How Much Battery Does a Backpacking Trip Really Take? Your phone is your map, camera and maybe your lifeline now. Here's how much battery a trip really takes, and five power banks testers rate. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Morning mist drifts over a still pond that mirrors a steep, pine-covered hillside under a clear blue sky Quilt or Sleeping Bag? Who Should Make the Switch A quilt drops the zipper, the hood and the down you crush flat anyway. For some sleepers that's freedom. For others, it's a long, drafty night. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A hiker in a red cap bends to pull up his sock and boot beside his backpack at a trailhead The Cheapest Blister Fix Isn't in Your First-Aid Kit Most blisters start with what's on your feet, not what's missing from your kit. Here's what sock testers found, and who each pick suits. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A gravel towpath curves past a brown trail sign toward the dark stone mouth of a tunnel set into a leafy, rocky hillside The Headlamp Spec That Matters Less Than You Think The biggest number on the box is rarely what makes a headlamp good on the trail. Here's what testers reward instead, and five worth a look. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Three backpackers in hooded rain jackets walk a wet forest trail on Isle Royale Umbrella, Poncho or Budget Shell: Rain Gear for the Rest of Us An umbrella, a poncho or a cheap shell can keep you dry for a lot less. Each one has a catch, and which catch matters depends on where you hike. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A backpacker wades a knee-deep river carrying her hiking boots, toward a trailside tree signed FORD Waterproof Hiking Shoes: When They Help and When They Backfire Dry feet is the promise. Whether you get them depends on one thing most people don't consider before they buy. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A smiling hiker in a long-sleeve sun shirt, wide-brim hat and sunglasses carries a teal pack across the Joshua Tree desert Why Desert Backpackers Wear Long Sleeves in the Heat Long sleeves in the heat sounds backwards. Here's why testers reach for a sun hoodie anyway, and the five that earn a spot in the pack. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 A red food bag hanging high from a branch in a leafless forest at dusk, a PCT-style bear hang How to Hang a Bear Bag (and Why You Might Want a Canister Instead) Bears have learned to beat a lot of bear bag hangs. Here's how to hang yours right, and where you'll need a canister instead. More Lowdown » October 25, 2026 A hiker's hand squeezing a blue Sawyer Squeeze pouch through the filter beside a rushing creek Water Filter or Purifier? What Backpackers Actually Need Your water filter might not stop everything in the water. Here's when a filter is enough, and when you need something more. More Lowdown » October 25, 2026 A red backpacking tent pitched at a wooded campsite on a ridge, with misty hills through the trees Ten Mistakes That Can Ruin Your First Backpacking Trip Plenty of first-trip trouble starts before you ever leave home. Here's how to avoid the easy mistakes, from picking too big a trip to skipping the gear test. More Lowdown » October 20, 2026 A backpacker leans into a climb with two trekking poles across a frosty Sierra meadow at dawn Are You Using Trekking Poles All Wrong? There's a right way to use that wrist strap, and it isn't the obvious one. Here's how to get more out of your poles, especially on the way down. More Lowdown » October 18, 2026 Photo: Peretz Partensky, CC BY-SA 2.0 Two backpackers with trekking poles face upstream as they ford a cold, fast river below cloud-capped mountains Five Tips to Make Water Crossings Suck Less (The Fifth One Could Save Your Life) A cold, fast stream can stop a trip in its tracks. Five simple habits make crossings easier, and the last one could save your life. More Lowdown » October 18, 2026 A backpacker in rain gear climbs a misty, wildflower-covered hillside in fog Don't Waste Your Money on This Rainshell Before you invest in a high-tech rainshell, make sure you're not paying hundreds of dollars for features you don't need. More Lowdown » October 12, 2026 View from inside a tent doorway onto a snowy campsite with colorful tents and snow-covered pines Side Sleeper Waking Up Sore in Your Tent? Try These Fixes Sore hips don't have to come with backpacking. A few small changes to your pad, pillow and campsite can make a big difference by morning. More Lowdown » October 12, 2026 Are You Good in the Sack? The Sleeping Bags Backpackers Swear By Weight, warmth and price all collide in a sleeping bag. Here's how five tester favorites balance them, from a first bag to an ultralight splurge. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 An orange Big Agnes Copper Spur UL tent pitched at a forest campsite beside a granite peak and lake in Idaho's Rainbow Basin Before You Buy a Backpacking Tent, Hear This Your tent is the biggest decision in your pack, and the right one depends on where you camp. Here's who each of five tester favorites really suits. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 Five Camp Stoves Backpackers Love (One Weighs Less Than a Candy Bar) A great stove is about more than a fast boil. See how five tester favorites handle wind, fuel and weight before you buy. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 Why Your Sleeping Pad Matters More Than Your Sleeping Bag The cold ground steals your heat all night. Here are five pads testers keep recommending to fight back, from ultralight air pads to simple foam. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026