stg-sectionhikercom-buttons.kinsta.cloud Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs

Whether you are a hiker, bird watcher, hunter, or armchair explorer, a high-quality set of binoculars is essential to the success of your pursuit. Binoculars are one of the most important pieces of gear I use when hunting big game. A good set of binoculars allows you to scan for animals that are hundreds of yards away and that are …

One of the biggest challenges faced by winter hikers is figuring out a clothing layering system that keeps them warm and dry across a wide variety of temperatures, wind chills, and exertion levels. It takes a lot of experimentation to dial in a system that works for you and it’s something I’ve been tweaking for years. In this post, I …

Band-Aid Hydro-Seal Blister Bandages are hydrocolloid gel bandages that are the state-of-the-art for modern wound care. They’re very sticky and waterproof, so you leave them on until they fall off, usually after 3-5 days. You can even shower with them on or do a stream crossing. They’re designed to be used by themselves, without the use of extra antibiotic ointment. …

I broke the binding on a pair of MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoes when the pins that hold the binding to the snowshoe frame busted. I’ve used these snowshoes pretty hard for the past 10 years, so it’s not like they’ve let me down. But the pins broke two miles into a tough eight-mile winter hike where we had to do …