Field-tested guidance

Know before you go.

Practical wilderness skills, safety advice, and honest gear reviews — written by people who’ve spent real nights out.

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Essential skills

All guides
How to purify water in the backcountry
Water Safety

How to purify water in the backcountry

Boiling, filtering, and chemical treatment — when to use each, and the mistake that sends hikers home sick.

7 MIN READ
How to start a fire in any conditions
Survival

How to start a fire in any conditions

Site it right, gather three sizes of fuel, give it air — and drown it cold before you leave.

6 MIN READ
A pre-trip safety plan
Safety & Planning

Know before you go: a pre-trip safety plan

The four steps that prevent most backcountry emergencies before they ever start.

6 MIN READ
AllCampingFirst AidHikingNavigationSafety & PlanningSurvival SkillsTool UseWater SafetyWeatherWildlife

Browse our guides by topic — pick a category to see every article in it.

Before every trip

Tell someone your plan.

The single most effective piece of safety gear you carry weighs nothing: a route and return time left with a reliable person.

Plan your trip
Share your route & expected return
Carry a way to purify water
Pack map & compass — not just GPS
Know basic first aid for your group
Tested & rated

Top-rated gear

All reviews
Überleben Hexå ferro rodTop rated
Tools

Überleben Hexå ferro rod

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
UCO Stormproof Match Kit
Tools

UCO Stormproof Match Kit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
Tools

Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
Surviveware Small first-aid kit
First aid

Surviveware Small first-aid kit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
Jetboil Flash
Cooking

Jetboil Flash

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
LifeStraw Personal water filter
Water

LifeStraw Personal water filter

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
Suunto MC-2 compass
Navigation

Suunto MC-2 compass

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
MSR PocketRocket 2 stove
Cooking

MSR PocketRocket 2 stove

★★★★★★★★★★4.8
Read our review →
BearVault BV500
Accessories

BearVault BV500

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
SABRE Frontiersman bear spray
Accessories

SABRE Frontiersman bear spray

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
HotHands Hand Warmers
Accessories

HotHands Hand Warmers

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Bahco Laplander folding saw
Tools

Bahco Laplander folding saw

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Outdoor Research Aspire 3L (women’s)
Apparel

Outdoor Research Aspire 3L (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
ESEE-4
Tools

ESEE-4

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Morakniv Garberg
Tools

Morakniv Garberg

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Morakniv Companion
Tools

Morakniv Companion

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Nalgene 32 oz Wide-Mouth
Water

Nalgene 32 oz Wide-Mouth

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
TheTentLab Deuce
Tools

TheTentLab Deuce

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Leatherman Surge
Tools

Leatherman Surge

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Leatherman Wave+
Tools

Leatherman Wave+

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
ACR ResQLink 400
Navigation

ACR ResQLink 400

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Navigation

Garmin inReach Mini 2

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Surviveware Comprehensive first-aid kit
First aid

Surviveware Comprehensive first-aid kit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Suunto M-3 compass
Navigation

Suunto M-3 compass

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Petzl Swift RL
Accessories

Petzl Swift RL

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
MSR WindBurner
Cooking

MSR WindBurner

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Grayl GeoPress
Water

Grayl GeoPress

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT
Sleep

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Osprey Atmos AG 65
Packs

Osprey Atmos AG 65

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Potable Aqua water purification tablets
Water

Potable Aqua water purification tablets

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Adventure Medical Ultralight/Watertight .7 first-aid kit
First aid

Adventure Medical Ultralight/Watertight .7 first-aid kit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
Sawyer Squeeze water filter
Water

Sawyer Squeeze water filter

★★★★★★★★★★4.7
Read our review →
S.O.L. Emergency Bivvy
Shelter

S.O.L. Emergency Bivvy

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Fresnel lens fire starter
Tools

Fresnel lens fire starter

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Agawa Canyon BOREAL21
Tools

Agawa Canyon BOREAL21

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Smartwool Merino 250 (men’s)
Apparel

Smartwool Merino 250 (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Columbia Steens Mountain (men’s)
Apparel

Columbia Steens Mountain (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Columbia Powder Lite (men’s)
Apparel

Columbia Powder Lite (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Merrell Moab 3 (women’s)
Apparel

Merrell Moab 3 (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Lowa Renegade GTX (women’s)
Apparel

Lowa Renegade GTX (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Columbia Arcadia II (women’s)
Apparel

Columbia Arcadia II (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (women’s)
Apparel

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Columbia Benton Springs (women’s)
Apparel

Columbia Benton Springs (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Smartwool Merino 250 (women’s)
Apparel

Smartwool Merino 250 (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Marmot PreCip Eco (men’s)
Apparel

Marmot PreCip Eco (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Columbia Watertight II (men’s)
Apparel

Columbia Watertight II (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Opinel No.8
Tools

Opinel No.8

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide-Mouth
Water

Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide-Mouth

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
CNOC Vecto
Water

CNOC Vecto

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Platypus Big Zip EVO
Water

Platypus Big Zip EVO

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Garmin GPSMAP 67
Navigation

Garmin GPSMAP 67

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ
Accessories

Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles
Accessories

Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
NEMO Disco
Sleep

NEMO Disco

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Kelty Cosmic 20
Sleep

Kelty Cosmic 20

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
My Medic MYFAK Large
First aid

My Medic MYFAK Large

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Salomon Quest 4 GTX (men’s)
Apparel

Salomon Quest 4 GTX (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Platypus QuickDraw
Water

Platypus QuickDraw

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Sleep

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
MSR Access 2 tent
Shelter

MSR Access 2 tent

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Suunto A-10 compass
Navigation

Suunto A-10 compass

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
MSR Elixir 2 tent
Shelter

MSR Elixir 2 tent

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
Sleep

Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Read our review →
S.O.S. Rations 3600 Emergency Food Bar
Cooking

S.O.S. Rations 3600 Emergency Food Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Überleben FIREKIT
Tools

Überleben FIREKIT

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Estwing Sportsmans Axe (E24A)
Tools

Estwing Sportsmans Axe (E24A)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Fiskars X7 hatchet
Tools

Fiskars X7 hatchet

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
MERIWOOL Merino 250 (men’s)
Apparel

MERIWOOL Merino 250 (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (men’s)
Apparel

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Columbia Newton Ridge (women’s)
Apparel

Columbia Newton Ridge (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s)
Apparel

Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Columbia Powder Lite (women’s)
Apparel

Columbia Powder Lite (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
MERIWOOL Merino 250 (women’s)
Apparel

MERIWOOL Merino 250 (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Outdoor Research Foray 3L (men’s)
Apparel

Outdoor Research Foray 3L (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Black Diamond Trail trekking poles
Accessories

Black Diamond Trail trekking poles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
GearLight LED headlamp
Accessories

GearLight LED headlamp

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II (men’s)
Apparel

Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Klymit Static V sleeping pad
Sleep

Klymit Static V sleeping pad

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Merrell Moab 3 (men’s)
Apparel

Merrell Moab 3 (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Osprey Talon 22 daypack
Packs

Osprey Talon 22 daypack

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp
Accessories

Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Kelty Discovery Trail 2 tent
Shelter

Kelty Discovery Trail 2 tent

★★★★★★★★★★4.5
Read our review →
Mainstay 3600 Emergency Food Rations
Cooking

Mainstay 3600 Emergency Food Rations

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Light My Fire TinderSticks
Tools

Light My Fire TinderSticks

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Karecel Rechargeable Hand Warmer
Accessories

Karecel Rechargeable Hand Warmer

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Corona RazorTOOTH 10-inch folding saw
Tools

Corona RazorTOOTH 10-inch folding saw

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Thermajohn Thermal Set (men’s)
Apparel

Thermajohn Thermal Set (men’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Thermajane Thermal Set (women’s)
Apparel

Thermajane Thermal Set (women’s)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
HydraPak Force
Water

HydraPak Force

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Garmin eTrex SE
Navigation

Garmin eTrex SE

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
SOG entrenching tool
Tools

SOG entrenching tool

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Gerber Dime multitool
Tools

Gerber Dime multitool

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Emergency whistle & signal mirror
Navigation

Emergency whistle & signal mirror

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
BRS-3000T stove
Cooking

BRS-3000T stove

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
Read our review →
Datrex 3600 Emergency Food Bar
Cooking

Datrex 3600 Emergency Food Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
Accessories

Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
Garmin eTrex 32x
Navigation

Garmin eTrex 32x

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
Ultralight aluminum trowel
Tools

Ultralight aluminum trowel

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
TETON Sports mummy sleeping bag
Sleep

TETON Sports mummy sleeping bag

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
WATERFLY 35L packable daypack
Packs

WATERFLY 35L packable daypack

★★★★★★★★★★4.3
Read our review →
Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 (unisex)
Apparel

Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 (unisex)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2
Read our review →
SPOT X
Navigation

SPOT X

★★★★★★★★★★4.2
Read our review →