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

“If you need a headlamp (in the beginning of June), you’ve messed up your trip planning,” said a very experienced hiker I know. Even so, I still carry one in summer because there are many things that you can’t control on a hike that can prevent you from pitching camp or cooking dinner until after dark. Still, there’s no need to carry …

“That was a much bigger ass-kicking than I expected,” said Trey, describing the hike we did of the Belknap Range in Southern New Hampshire. We’d just climbed all 12 of the mountains required for the Belknap Range Patch in one 11 hour hike and we were exhausted. Trey had estimated the distance at 15 miles with 5600 feet of elevation, although I came out with …

The Golite Shangri-La 3 is a classic ultralight shelter that is lightweight enough that it can be pitched as a one person standalone tarp or used as a three-person double-walled tent. It’s rare to find a shelter that is so versatile, reasonably priced, and can be used for solo trips or group car camping. Pyramid shaped tarps like the Shangri-La 3 …

Grandma Gatewood is often cited at the first ultralight backpacker because she thru-hiked hiked the Appalachian Trail using a shower curtain as a shelter with only 12 pounds of gear. I doubt that’s the reason for her success. More than anything, she was a survivor, whose story has lessons for us all. The real Grandma Gatewood was a domestic abuse survivor …