Hiking trail guides, gear reviews, packing tips and route planning advice. Everything you need to plan your next multi-day hike — from the HikeLoad team.
How to plan a multi-day hike from scratch in 2026: choosing a route, dialling in your pack weight, food, navigation, training and safety — with links to every guide you need.
Read articleThe best approach shoes for 2026, ranked by grip, weight and durability — from the 310 g Arc'teryx Konseal to the $120 Five Ten Guide Tennie.
Read articleFranconia Ridge has the better ridge walk; Mount Washington has the higher summit. Compare distance, gain and weather to pick your White Mountains day.
Read articleA head-to-head comparison of the Soto WindMaster and Soto Amicus canister stoves: weight, wind resistance, the micro-regulator difference, price and which...
Read articleMailbox Peak vs Mount Pilchuck: Mailbox gains ~4,000 ft over 9.4 mi, Pilchuck ~2,300 ft to a fire lookout. Which Washington climb to do first.
Read articleThe Jeju Olle Trail is a 437 km coastal route around South Korea's Jeju Island. Plan your routes, ride the island buses and budget it from EUR 30 a day.
Read articleThe best Grand Canyon hikes ranked for 2026 — from the easy Rim Trail to the 34 km Rim-to-Rim and the turquoise Havasu Falls, with distances and gear.
Read articleThe PCT runs 2,147 miles from the Campo terminus near San Diego to Cascade Locks, Oregon. How to reach the start and what the walk north really takes.
Read articleThe Carbon Z is the lighter fixed-length pole at 280g a pair; the FLZ trades 140g for FlickLock adjustability. Full weight, price and use-case verdict.
Read articleThe best ultralight backpack 2026: the 595 g Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 leads six sub-1 kg packs ranked by weight, frame, price and trail use.
Read articleSeven long-distance trails you can hike without a tent in 2026: Ireland's Kerry Way, the Camino Francés, Everest Base Camp and more, with nightly costs.
Read articleThe Durston X-Mid 2 weighs 819 g in standard polyester and 544 g as the Pro. Full weight breakdown, real packed numbers and how it compares in 2026.
Read articleHalf Dome permits for 2026: how the March preseason lottery and two-day daily lottery work, real odds by month, costs ($10 + $10pp) and smart backup plans.
Read articleHow hard is Half Dome? Yosemite's big 23 km round trip climbs 1,460 m and ends on 120 m of steel cables at 45 degrees — a 10–14 hour day, rated honestly.
Read articleHalf Dome packing list for Yosemite's 23 km, 1,460 m day hike: 3–4 L of water, ~3,000 kcal, grippy shoes, gloves for the cables and real storm layers.
Read articleBest time to hike Half Dome in Yosemite, USA: cables are up late May–mid October; June and September are the sweet spots. Permits, storms and start times.
Read articleThe best hikes in Yosemite National Park, USA for 2026: Half Dome, Clouds Rest, the Mist Trail and more, ranked with distances, gain and permit notes.
Read articleThe best backpack for the Wicklow Way in Ireland: 20–50L picks from a 290 g running vest to a load-hauling Osprey, matched to the 129 km inn-to-inn walk.
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