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.
The best camp shoes for backpacking weigh 160–280 g per pair and double as water-crossing footwear. Top picks for 2026 compared by weight, sole and cost.
Read articleThe West Highland Way is a 154 km route from Milngavie to Fort William. Complete 2026 guide with 8 stages, accommodation costs, essential kit and midge strategy.
Read articleMaking dehydrated backpacking meals at home costs $2–4 per serving vs $10–15 for commercial pouches. Here is how to start with a basic dehydrator and hit 100+ kcal per 100 g.
Read articleThe Laugavegur Trail is a 55 km route from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through Iceland's highland interior. Full 2026 guide with hut booking, river crossings and gear list.
Read articleEffective altitude preparation combines aerobic base training, VO2 max intervals and progressive load work. Here is a complete 10-week plan for mountain trekkers in 2026.
Read articleThe best hiking mid-layer jackets of 2026 weigh 200–350 g and pack to fist-size. Arc'teryx, Fjällräven and Norrøna tested and compared.
Read articleThe Azores offer volcanic calderas, summit ascents and jungle gorges unlike anywhere else in Europe. Complete hiking guide for São Miguel, Pico and Flores in 2026.
Read articleThe best backpacking foods hit 120–200 kcal per 100 g. This calorie density guide shows which foods to pack for 4,000 kcal days at under 1 kg of food weight.
Read articleHiking in Norway: the best trails and fjord hikes (Trolltunga, Besseggen, Romsdalseggen), distances, difficulty, the best season and how to get there.
Read articleRucking — walking with a weighted pack — is 2026's fastest-growing hiking training method. A 10-week program improves VO2 max 6–8% and builds the posterior chain needed for mountain days.
Read articleMerino wool wins on multi-day odour control; synthetics dry faster and cost less. Here's how to choose the right hiking base layer for 2026.
Read articleThe Dolomites offer Europe's most dramatic hiking, from the iconic Tre Cime circuit to the 120 km Alta Via 1 multi-day traverse. Here's how to plan your 2026 trip.
Read article500 g per day hits 100–130 kcal per ounce for a full 3-day supply under 1.5 kg. Complete calorie-density table, meal plan and cost comparison.
Read articleThe W Trek in Torres del Paine covers 80 km in 4–5 days and is one of the world's great multi-day hikes. Here's everything you need to plan and book it for 2026.
Read articleStair climbing and treadmill incline sessions are the most effective gym-based hiking prep. This 6-week progressive plan builds uphill power and knee-saving descent strength.
Read articleThe best GPS watches for hiking compared on battery life, navigation, accuracy and weight — top picks for day hikes and long thru-hikes, at every budget.
Read articleMadeira has 1,862 km of official trails including UNESCO-listed levada walks through laurel forest. Here's how to plan the best hiking trip to the island in 2026.
Read articleMost hikers eat only 40–60 g of protein per day on trail, far below what's needed to prevent muscle breakdown. Here's how to close that gap with real food.
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