Hiking can be a blast, but it won’t be if you're struggling every few feet. Here’s how to get ready for trekking, from easy day hikes to the longest thru-hikes in the world.

Sometimes the biggest threat in the wilderness is another human

Hiking was in vogue in 2020, but COVID-19 closures decimated the thru-hiking ranks. What did prospective hikers do with their unexpected time back home?

Monica and Vince Strawbridge and their four children hiked the PCT in 2018 and the CDT in 2020. Now the family has begun the AT.

What happens when a lifelong fraidy-cat sets out into the wilderness alone?

Staying in hiking shape during the off-season is a serious challenge, but it’s not impossible

We featured the Odyssey Triple Crown in our Summer Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best men’s hiking gear. “A wide toe box accommodates trail-swollen feet, while the stiff, cushioned midsole doesn’t pack out quickly,” our tester wrote.

Lots of people say they hike to change their lives. For some, that starts by changing their love lives.

Many hikers hope their treks will make them better at other sports. Instead, mine kept me from distance running for a year—a common side effect we don't discuss enough.

After devoting their spring to COVID-19 patients, two West Virginia brothers became the first identical twins to earn the triple crown of American hiking

Make their exploits that much better

From Washington to California, here are nine of our favorite short treks along the famous route

A pair of protective, breathable, comfortable bottoms is foundational to any adventure kit. We're here to help you find ones with the right features and fit.

Grizel is using her rising social media profile to spark a more nuanced conversation on nature's power to heal

Plus, how to make up for missing an important day

After months of trespassing and hiding from rangers, two hikers completed the Appalachian Trail in June. Their sagas raise questions about what it means to be outdoors in the United States right now.

Thru-hiker traffic on this western trail is growing faster than the volunteer community's ability to handle it

What a locked-down Outside travel editor has been making to eat her way around the world during the pandemic

In his latest video for Backpacking TV, Eric Hanson breaks down what kind of shoe might be the right choice for your hiking style

For Warren Doyle, who has thru-hiked the trail nine times, it comes down to mental—as much as physical—preparedness

In the South, a series of hostels have welcomed hikers, defying trail closures and guidelines. They say they're acting on behalf of their communities.

We've been married 13 years and backpacked more than 12,000 miles together. This is what we've learned.

I watched 40-plus hours of thru-hiking vlogs. These are the ones that are worth your time.

In our comprehensive review of the best sleeping pads, the Z Light SOL was our favorite closed-cell foam option. “It’s light and durable, and no Z Lite user has ever had their night ruined by a leaking pad,” tester Ryan Stuart wrote. Bonus: the pad doubles as a seat…

Walking away from the adventure of a lifetime is hard, but it makes coming back to it especially rewarding. Here, five thru-hikers share their stories of failing and coming back for more.

Hostels are closing, volunteers are staying home, and trail organizations are advising hikers to cancel their plans

Despite the coronavirus, you can legally thru-hike the Appalachian Trail right now. But should you?

A wilderness medicine expert and former AT thru-hiker shares her tips for tackling a long-distance backpacking trip

Lucy Parks found trail culture far from fully accepting but refused to let fear stop them from thru-hiking the AT

An argument for supported hiking

Doctors told Trey Cate he'd never walk again after Iraq. Now he's organizing the most ambitious thru-hike of the decade.

The Juliana Trail takes hikers through remote villages and settlements in a 167-mile loop around the country's stunning Julian Alps

“If you’re a backpacker who obsesses over ounces and grams, the Platypus SoftBottle is the one for you,” wrote our Gear Guy in his roundup of the best plastic reusable water bottles. It weighs just 1.2 ounces and rolls up when empty, so it doesn’t take up too much…

Ten books that sparked debate, started conversations, and launched movements in the past ten years—and what to read next

Hitting the trail has been a lifeline for the record-setting thru-hiker's ongoing battle with depression

Proving, once again, that kids don't have to slow you down

Cory McDonald's main goal was to restore his health on the Pacific Crest Trail. Becoming a YouTube star, getting stalked, and meeting the perfect girl were just exhilarating extras.

Here's what the expanded regulations mean for thru-hikers next year

In 2016, writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer Pete McBride set out to thru-hike the Grand Canyon

We took a peek inside their packs and had a nutritionist grade their choices

The odds of dying from a falling tree are still small but maybe not as small as they used to be. Here's why—and what to do about it.

You can't technically finish the AT without a ride in Greg Caruso's canoe

Marion Mauran's documentary Elevation Change is an honest and compelling look at the ambitions of a young man thru-hiking to raise money for Parkinson's disease

After becoming the first African American male to complete the triple crown of thru-hiking, Robinson is sharing his own experience to encourage more people to get outdoors

In May, Kirby Morrill was nearly murdered during a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Four months later, she climbed Maine's highest peak, the route's terminus.

These simple packing steps will go a long way (like, 2,000 miles long) to making you a less burdened traveler

When Baltimore Jack died near Franklin, North Carolina, the news shook the Appalachian Trail community. Jack had left behind the real world to live on the AT, thru-hiking it seven times and helping countless others to reach their goals. To some, his choice to live off the grid was irresponsible. Others celebrated that he'd managed to break the shackles of convention. A look back on the life of an AT antihero.

'Thru' tracks the traverse of two thru-hikers on Lions Head Ridge in Idaho, an unforgiving part of their hike

But it is probably farther than you want it to be

Morgan's Diner doesn't charge a dime for a gourmet meal, but it'll still cost you

Before there was 'A Walk in the Woods' and 'Wild,' there was 'The Lord of the Rings'

From the mouths of hikers mid-trail

Five breeds that fit your lifestyle—and your condo

Philip Carcia hiked all of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot peaks every month for a year

New research suggests that the emotion has a singular ability to lower stress and improve our overall well-being. So how do we get more of it?

The answer isn't just throwing everything in your backpack all at once. Here's the right way to pack for a long haul in the wilderness.

This shoe is a multisport machine, tackling technical approaches, long hikes, and overnight backpacking trips

A proposed hydropower transmission line in Maine would impact the AT, wildlife, recreation, and tourism. Is it worth it?

The 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail just might be the hardest hike you've never heard of

After several months and thousands of miles, Outside's Taylor Gee knows what works and what doesn't

Thinking about tackling the big thru-hike? Consider these four things first.

Stay comfortable on the trail, whether you're out for two days or ten

Everyone's quick to tell you all the reasons to go lighter. Allow me to explain why they're wrong.

For the trail's most venerable volunteer group, retirement means hauling heavy equipment and sleeping outside for days on end

I've spent almost two months testing this tough midweight load hauler. Here are my impressions.

In 'Hike the Line,' from Corey Robinson, these hikers share an experience that's unlike any other thru-hike

The tastiest nutrient-dense options for backpackers on a budget

Making your way over an 800-mile trail through deserts and mountains in less than 16 days is no picnic—except for those gas-station resupply stops

Guthook Guides' maps and crowdsourced information have made hiking the PCT and AT immeasurably easier. But is that a good thing?

Mary Davison didn't catch the thru-hiking bug until she was 60. Since then, she's completed the Appalachian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest trails, and is now adding the 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail to her list.

'Thru' is an upcoming documentary about thru-hiking and why it's such a painfully enjoyable activity

Despite an attack that left one hiker dead and another injured, the experience and fellowship of the trail perseveres

Sometimes, able-bodied partners need to be sat down

'Constant Thought,' from Spruce Tone Films, chronicles Iraq War veteran Brandon Kuehn's attempt at the Pacific Crest Trail

The 1,900-mile-long thru-hike winds through the southern Andes from Santiago to the climbing mecca of Mount Fitz Roy. To complete it, adventurers need a lot more than physical stamina.

Retiree and trail angel Carl Springer fires up his Coleman propane stove to make batches of omelets for hungry thru-hikers

Plus the gear you need to do it

Inspiring stories by badass adventurers

A website from the snack company highlights the sweeteners that often fly under the radar on nutrition labels, and shows the percentage of sugar in other brands' offerings