Outdoor Gear Buying Guides & How-Tos

Comprehensive 2025 guide to the best backpacking boots, ranking high-end, mid-range, and budget models by comfort, durability, waterproofing, performance under load, weight, and overall value.

We compared 7 top backpacking tarps for 2025, focusing on durability under tension, waterproofing, and weight. From ultralight Dyneema to heavy-duty nylon and budget polyester, these tarps hold up when wind and rain move in.

We reviewed and ranked the best backpacking-ready power banks of 2025, focusing on weight, durability, real-world efficiency, and ability to keep critical devices powered on day hikes and multi-day treks. From ultralight carbon-fiber designs to rugged waterproof units, these are the best options for reliable trail power.

A practical guide to purifying water outdoors using boiling, filters, chemical tablets, and UV pens with clear pros and cons for each method.

A practical, beginner-friendly guide to sleeping comfortably while car camping in a tent. Includes simple explanations, temperature-to-gear cheat sheets, and campground-specific comfort hacks.

Learn how to choose the right tent for backpacking or car camping, evaluate ease of setup, understand weather ratings, and pitch on soil, sand, or rock with confidence.

A complete guide to modern and primitive fire starting methods, tinder, carrying strategies, and detailed fire lay structures for all conditions.

Learn how to pick a safe, comfortable campsite, orient and stake your tent correctly, and organize camp zones for food, cooking, and waste. Includes regional wildlife precautions and a field-ready checklist.

Guide to compact (~301–600 Wh) portable power stations in 2025. We highlight models with reliable inverters, quick AC charging, and practical runtimes, then explain how to choose the right capacity and chemistry for your trips.

A clean 2025 guide to mid-size (~700–1,200 Wh) portable power stations for camping. We compare output headroom, recharge speed, weight, and practical runtimes, then recommend the best options from EcoFlow, Bluetti, Jackery, Anker, and Goal Zero.

We reviewed and ranked the best backpacking-ready power banks of 2025, focusing on weight, durability, real-world efficiency, and ability to keep critical devices powered on day hikes and multi-day treks. From ultralight carbon-fiber designs to rugged waterproof units, these are the best options for reliable trail power.

We reviewed and ranked the top ultra-portable (≤ 300 Wh) camping power stations for 2025, focusing on carry weight, recharge speed, AC output strength, and real-world runtimes for common camping devices across high-end, mid-range, and budget tiers.

Comprehensive 2025 guide to the best backpacking boots, ranking high-end, mid-range, and budget models by comfort, durability, waterproofing, performance under load, weight, and overall value.

A complete 2025 guide to the best hiking shoes for every budget, featuring lab-measured weights, waterproofing options, expert field reviews, and comparative tables. Covers high-end, mid-range, and budget picks, with advice on fit, terrain suitability, and when to choose waterproof vs. breathable models.

Comprehensive 2025 guide to the best backpacking boots, ranking high-end, mid-range, and budget models by comfort, durability, waterproofing, performance under load, weight, and overall value.

We reviewed and ranked the best backpacking-ready power banks of 2025, focusing on weight, durability, real-world efficiency, and ability to keep critical devices powered on day hikes and multi-day treks. From ultralight carbon-fiber designs to rugged waterproof units, these are the best options for reliable trail power.

A practical guide to staying safe and comfortable on day hikes. Covers water, first aid, bugs, ticks, bear safety, weather prep, and what to do if stranded overnight.

A complete 2025 guide to the best hiking shoes for every budget, featuring lab-measured weights, waterproofing options, expert field reviews, and comparative tables. Covers high-end, mid-range, and budget picks, with advice on fit, terrain suitability, and when to choose waterproof vs. breathable models.

A practical, beginner-friendly guide to sleeping comfortably while car camping in a tent. Includes simple explanations, temperature-to-gear cheat sheets, and campground-specific comfort hacks.

A practical guide to staying safe and comfortable on day hikes. Covers water, first aid, bugs, ticks, bear safety, weather prep, and what to do if stranded overnight.

Learn how to choose the right tent for backpacking or car camping, evaluate ease of setup, understand weather ratings, and pitch on soil, sand, or rock with confidence.

A practical guide to purifying water outdoors using boiling, filters, chemical tablets, and UV pens with clear pros and cons for each method.

A complete guide to modern and primitive fire starting methods, tinder, carrying strategies, and detailed fire lay structures for all conditions.

A practical guide to purifying water outdoors using boiling, filters, chemical tablets, and UV pens with clear pros and cons for each method.

A practical guide to staying safe and comfortable on day hikes. Covers water, first aid, bugs, ticks, bear safety, weather prep, and what to do if stranded overnight.

We compared 7 top backpacking tarps for 2025, focusing on durability under tension, waterproofing, and weight. From ultralight Dyneema to heavy-duty nylon and budget polyester, these tarps hold up when wind and rain move in.

We compared 8 top camping tarps for 2025, focusing on durability under tension, waterproofing, and versatility. From premium Dyneema models to heavy-duty nylon and budget polyethylene, these are the tarps that hold up when the wind and rain move in.

Learn how to choose the right tent for backpacking or car camping, evaluate ease of setup, understand weather ratings, and pitch on soil, sand, or rock with confidence.

A practical, beginner-friendly guide to sleeping comfortably while car camping in a tent. Includes simple explanations, temperature-to-gear cheat sheets, and campground-specific comfort hacks.