The Best Hiking Backpacks for Children
With more families looking to rediscover the great outdoors, interest in hiking and backpacking trips with children seems to be growing exponentially.
Gear
HOW TO: Follow Trail Markers and Trail Blazes in Europe
As an experienced backpacker in the United States, I’m well-acquainted with how to read and follow trail blazes in North America. However, when I started hiking distance routes and trails in Europe,
Packing List: Backpacking Gear for England’s Pilgrims’ Way
I was first drawn to England’s ancient pilgrimage route to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket following my 2019 Camino de Santiago. With my eyes set towards Europe’s Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, I learned the history the Pilgrims’ Way from both Winchester and …
Review: Osprey Exos 58L Backpack
If I could only buy one backpack for all my varied hiking needs, it would be the Osprey Exos. Dollar-for-dollar and pound-for-pound, this go-anywhere, carry-anything pack remains one of the best (if not the singular best) backpack you can buy for the trail or distance …
How To Read and Follow Trail Blazes in North America
For many beginning hikers, the excitement of exploring a great trail is often tempered by anxiety about becoming lost along the way. However, you don’t have to be intimidated by the National Scenic Trail system or worried that you’ll be lost. Nearly every public trail …
The Ultimate Backpacking Gear List for Hiking the Florida Trail
Since 2018, I have been section hiking the Florida Trail, one of eleven congressionally-designated National Scenic Trails in the United States. At more than 1,300 miles, the FT has been called the “toughest hike you’ve never heard of” for its exceptionally diverse track over the …
PACKING LIST: First-Aid Kit for Blisters and Foot Care
One of the questions I get from both experienced and newer backpackers alike is: what first aid and foot care items should I carry in my backpack in case I get blisters or have foot pain? This is a really serious topic for hiking, whether …
HOW TO: Five Tips for Urban Hiking
Nearly all of my pilgrimage trips have included some amount of urban hiking through modern cities, including the Camino de Santiago as you arrive at the Cathedral and the California Mission Trail through the major metro areas of San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. …
PACKING LIST: Backpacking First-Aid Kit
As a lifelong Scout and Scout Leader, I’ve probably created and carried more than 30 unique first-aid kits over the years. I say “created” because – more often than not – retail first aid kits are not specialized enough for backpacking – lacking a few …
The Top Hiking GPS Apps for iPhone and Android
Looking for the best GPS apps for your iPhone or Android smartphone for your next hike? As a solo hiker and pilgrim, I never leave home without a GPS map and guidebook. Since your phone contains a GPS chip that does not require cellular or …
Packing List: My Recommended Gear for Walking the Camino de Santiago
In the summer of 2019, I set out on my first Camino de Santiago pilgrimage along the ancient route from Portugal into Spain to Santiago de Compostela. As an experienced hiker, I spent a lot of time researching my backpack and clothes to ensure I …
Gear Hack: Refill Your Backpack Hydration Reservoir from Water Bottles or Filters
As I’ve explained before, I use hydration reservoirs almost exclusively over water bottles when I’m hiking. For me, I drink more, stay hydrated, and make better time along the trail when I can easily drink from the tube without stopping. One of the biggest challenges …
The Best Hiking Poles for the Camino de Santiago
Hiking poles (or trekking poles, as they are known throughout much of the world) are one of the most hotly debated items for pilgrims on the Camino. Some peregrinos swear by them; others swear at them. Let’s settle the debate quickly: Hiking poles are …
Review: Sea to Summit Coolmax Adaptor Traveller Liner with Insect Shield
Whether I’m walking the Camino de Santiago or hiking the Via Francigena, one of my essential pieces fo backpacking gear is the Sea to Summit Coolmax Adaptor Traveller Liner with Insect Shield. Designed as a lightweight, packable addition to your sleeping kit, this breathable barrier …
PACKING LIST: Trekking The World
By far the most frequent question I receive relates to how to pack for an international hiking trip. With that in mind, I’m sharing my packing list for anyone who is considering a distance hike internationally, such as the Camino de Santiago, or planning to …
Review: Garmin inReach Explorer 2-Way Satellite Communicator
Of all the gear I own, the only one item I will NEVER leave home without is the Garmin Inreach Explorer 2-Way Satellite Communicator. Why? Because – quite simply – the Garmin inReach is an essential life-safety device that keeps me connected anywhere in the …