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.
Dark chocolate, tart cherries, walnuts and turmeric-with-pepper are the best trail-friendly anti-inflammatory foods to reduce DOMS and speed recovery.
Read articleFinland has 40 national parks, all free to enter. The Karhunkierros Bear Trail (80 km, 5–7 days) is the flagship route, with midnight sun June–July.
Read articleWeak hip flexors cause uphill fatigue, anterior pelvic tilt and IT band pain. Six targeted exercises fix the deficit in 8–12 weeks of 2x/week training.
Read articleThe Great Glen Way is a 127 km waymarked trail from Fort William to Inverness. Complete in 5–8 days, no permit needed, best walked May–September.
Read articleDurmitor's 5 best hikes: Bobotov Kuk (2,523 m), 48 glacial lakes and Tara Canyon from Žabljak. Entry €3/day, best June–September.
Read articleThe best new backpacking gear releases of 2026 include packs built with Aluula fabric under 550 g and sleeping pads with R-6.5 at a lighter weight.
Read articleThe South West Coast Path is England's longest National Trail at 630 miles. This 2026 guide covers stages, best sections, kit and costs.
Read articleSnowdonia holds 15 peaks above 900 m, 2,000 km of trails and the highest summit in Wales. This 2026 guide covers the best routes and scrambles.
Read articleThe lightest hiking rain pants in 2026 weigh just 100 g. This guide compares 2.5-layer and 3-layer options for every budget and conditions.
Read articleA dry bag is the cheapest insurance against wet gear. This 2026 guide compares ultralight options by weight, material and price.
Read articleThe best camp dinners pack 600–900 calories and cook in under 10 minutes. This 2026 guide covers DIY and commercial options for long trail days.
Read articleEnergy gels work on hikes over 4 hours but are overkill for casual days. Learn when they help, what to choose and how much to carry in 2026.
Read articleGermany's Black Forest has about 24,000 km of waymarked paths and the iconic 285 km Westweg route. This 2026 guide covers the best hikes and planning tips.
Read articleReduce training volume 40–60% in the final two weeks before a long hike to peak performance. This 2026 guide covers the full taper protocol.
Read articleWhich bike sessions build aerobic base, VO2 max and uphill power for hiking — what cycling cannot train, and how to combine it with hike-specific work.
Read articleHike the 450 km Kungsleden in the Swedish Arctic — 5–7 days from Abisko to Nikkaluokta with STF huts every 10–20 km and midnight sun in July.
Read articleFitz Roy hikes from El Chaltén are Patagonia's best free day trails — no permits, granite spires and free camping on route. Complete 2026 planning guide.
Read articleThe best backpacking hammocks of 2026 weigh 280–570 g and set up in two minutes. ENO DoubleNest, Kammock Roo DL and Dutchware Chameleon compared in full.
Read article