Avoiding and handling wildlife encounters
Bears, moose, bison, and mountain lions each need a different response, and some are opposites. How to avoid the encounter, read the animal, and act correctly when it matters.
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Reading backcountry weather and staying ahead of storms
How mountains make their own weather, how to read a forecast that actually applies to your route, and how to turn it into decisions while you still have options.
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Map and compass navigation (and what to do when GPS fails)
A complete guide to map and compass navigation: reading contours and scale, setting declination, orienting the map, taking and following a bearing, fixing your position by resection, pacing and timing distance, and the route tricks that keep you found when GPS fails.
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How to cross a river or stream safely
Force rises with the square of speed, which is why crossings fool people. How to judge one, time it, cross it, and recognise the one to walk away from.
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Potable Aqua water purification tablets review: the backup that belongs in every kit
We tell every hiker to carry two ways to treat water, and water-purification tablets are the lightest, cheapest insurance you can add to any kit. Potable Aqua with PA Plus is the classic: a tiny two-bottle set that treats water when your filter clogs, freezes, or gets left at home.
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Suunto MC-2 compass review: a real navigation tool, not a backup toy
A GPS runs on batteries; a compass runs on the planet. When the electronics die or the sky closes in, a map and a good compass are what get you home — which is exactly why “map & compass, not just GPS” is one of the ten essentials. The Suunto MC-2 is the compass we recommend to hikers who want a real navigation instrument.
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Adventure Medical Ultralight/Watertight .7 first-aid kit review: prepared, not heavy
A first-aid kit is the one piece of gear you hope to never open. The trick is carrying enough to handle real problems without so much weight that you leave it behind. The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 hits that balance about as well as any kit we know — comprehensive, genuinely waterproof, and light enough to live in your pack.
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Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol review: the sleeping pad that never fails
Sleep is safety gear. A cold, sleepless night in the backcountry saps your judgement and your body heat, and the pad under you matters as much as the bag over you. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol is the pad we recommend to anyone who wants something that simply will not fail — closed-cell foam, nothing to puncture.
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Merrell Moab 3 (men’s) review: comfort straight out of the box
Nothing ends a hike faster than unhappy feet. The Merrell Moab 3 has been the default answer to “what hiking boot should I buy?” for years, and the Mid Waterproof version is popular for one big reason: it is comfortable almost immediately, with very little break-in.
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Osprey Talon 22 daypack review: the do-everything hiking pack
A daypack is the bag you actually live out of on the trail, so fit and comfort matter more than any single feature. The Osprey Talon 22 is our pick for an all-day hiking pack that also doubles as a travel carry-on: it carries beautifully, adjusts to your back, and is built to last. Owners keep coming back to the brand.
