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Stories from the trail.

Trail guides, gear tips, nutrition advice and honest stories from hikers who live for the outdoors.

Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags of 2026: Six Down Bags Tested and Ranked

The best ultralight sleeping bags of 2026 weigh 340–510 g with genuine 15–20°F ratings. Sea to Summit Spark leads; Zpacks Classic is the lightest.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 06 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Rain Jackets for Hiking 2026: GORE-TEX and PFAS-Free Compared

The best ultralight hiking rain jackets of 2026 weigh 113–340 g. Patagonia Torrentshell 3L leads for value, Arc'teryx Alpha SL for GORE-TEX performance.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 06 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2026: Sawyer, Katadyn and HydraPak Tested

The best backpacking water filter of 2026 is the Sawyer Squeeze at 85 g, rated for 100,000 gallons. HydraPak UltraFlask leads for on-the-go drinking.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 06 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Headlamps for Hiking 2026: Petzl, Black Diamond and Nitecore Reviewed

Best hiking headlamps of 2026: Black Diamond Spot 400-R leads at 86 g with IP67 waterproofing. The Nitecore NU25 UL is the lightest at just 28 g.

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schedule 6 min read calendar_today 06 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Lightweight Backpacking Tents of 2026: Top 5 Shelters Reviewed

The best lightweight backpacking tents of 2026 weigh 650g–1.1 kg. The Durston X-Dome 1 and NEMO Dragonfly lead for weather protection and livability per gram.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 05 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads 2026: R-Value, Weight and Value Compared

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT at 340 g and R-value 4.5 leads our 2026 sleeping pad rankings. Full comparison across weight, warmth, and value.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 05 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents 2026: Tested and Ranked

The lightest backpacking tent of 2026 is the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV2 Carbon at 530 g. Compare the top 6 ultralight shelters tested this season.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 05 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Backpacks for Thru-Hiking 2026: Top 6 Tested

The Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L at 510 g leads our 2026 ultralight backpack rankings. Full comparison of weight, volume, and frame type for thru-hikers.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 05 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Backpacking Tents of 2026: Durston, NEMO and 5 More Reviewed

The best backpacking tent of 2026 is the Durston X-Mid 1 at 624 g and $269 — pitches in 2 minutes, handles 60 mph winds. Full comparison of 7 leading shelters.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Trail Runners for Hiking in 2026: HOKA Speedgoat 7 and Top Alternatives

The best trail runner for hiking in 2026 is the HOKA Speedgoat 7, updated with higher-energy-return foam. See how 6 top models compare on grip, cushion and durability.

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schedule 6 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Trekking Poles of 2026: Carbon vs Aluminium Tested on Real Trails

The best trekking poles of 2026 are the LEKI Micro Vario Carbon at 230 g per pole and $220 per pair. See how carbon compares to aluminium across 6 leading models.

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schedule 6 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Hiking Boots of 2026: HOKA, Salomon and La Sportiva Tested

The HOKA Kaha 3 GTX leads our 2026 boot test. Full comparison of the top four waterproof hiking boots by weight, grip and value.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Tents of 2026: Durston X-Mid vs NEMO Dragonfly vs Big Agnes

The Durston X-Mid 2 Pro at 680 g tops our 2026 ultralight tent test. Full comparison of weight, livability and storm performance.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Budget Hiking Gear of 2026: Complete Kit Under $400

Build a complete day-hiking kit for under $200 and an overnight setup for under $400 in 2026. Best budget picks by category, tested and ranked.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 04 May 2026
Gear Tips

Trail Runners vs Hiking Boots 2026: Which Should You Choose?

Trail runners weigh 300-490 g less per pair than hiking boots and dry 3x faster. Find out which footwear wins for your next hike in 2026.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 03 May 2026
Gear Tips

Best Ultralight Backpacks of 2026: 7 Packs Tested and Ranked

The best ultralight backpack of 2026 is the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L at 567 g. See how 7 top packs compare on weight, price and durability.

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schedule 7 min read calendar_today 02 May 2026
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