Guides

Buyer's guides, how-tos, and trail guides.

Newest Top picks Under $200
Sleeping Bags

Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

The right ultralight sleeping bag is not just the lightest mummy bag you can find. It is the one whose comfort rating, fit, down fill, and shell fabric match the nights you actually expect. This guide is for backpackers who already want a sleeping bag instead of a quilt, but still want to cut weight

Brooke Wilder 5 min read
Trail Guides

Vermont Long Trail: The Complete Thru-Hiker's Guide

The Vermont Long Trail runs the length of Vermont along the main ridge of the Green Mountains, from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border. It is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States and the Green Mountain Club is still the route's central steward. The Appalachian Trai

Brooke Wilder 8 min read
Backpacking Quilts

Best Backpacking Quilts: What to Buy and What to Avoid

Backpacking quilts are lighter than mummy bags and sleep warmer in most conditions, but only if you know how to buy one. The market is full of temperature ratings that do not mean the same thing across brands, footbox options that matter only in specific conditions, and no standard for comparison ac

Brooke Wilder 9 min read
Trail Guides

PCT Washington: White Pass to Stevens Pass (Sections I and J)

The stretch of Pacific Crest Trail from White Pass to Stevens Pass covers roughly 170 miles of Washington's most varied high-country terrain. This is two full PCT sections end to end: Section I from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass (about 98-99 miles), and Section J from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass

Brooke Wilder 31 min read

Get one honest gear take every Friday.

No spam. Just gear picks, packing lessons, and notes from this week's research.