Trekking poles are a commonly misunderstood piece of gear. Sometimes thought of as unnecessary, they can act as an essential tool to get you hiking faster, safer, and with less…

Finding free camping in the US is difficult if you don’t know where to look. As a general rule, the further East you go, the more difficult finding free campsites…

A Walk for Sunshine: A 2,160 Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail recounts Jeff Alt’s 1998 northbound thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Jeff (trail name ‘Wrongfoot‘) sets out…

I came across the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer while on the hunt for a lightweight insulating layer. I needed a thin down jacket to add to my layering system for…

During a week long family trip in Alaska, Andrew and I break off from the group for a single day to do what we do best — adventure. It’s day…

Choosing a high quality women’s sleeping bag presents a daunting task, especially as a beginner backpacker and hiker. It’s also an investment, since a durable and lightweight sleeping bag will…

Photo credits to Lindsay Resler (@lindsii_) and Tolin Hessell (@mrtolin). Check out Tolin’s Etsy store for awesome t-shirts and designs.  We left Wisconsin on a chilly Thursday night in mid-May. Planning to…

Ladies! I can’t tell you how important it is to have a proper sleeping bag when hitting the trail. Women’s sleeping bags are being made by top outdoor retailers, and…

My name is Ashli, AKA ‘Katniss Neverclean’. In 2014, I completed a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. My initial pack weight was about 25 pounds without food. That’s pretty darn good…

REI’s women’s specific sleeping bag, the Magma 17 meets all of my standards for an excellent women’s backpacking sleeping bag: ✓ Lightweight ✓ Down insulated ✓ Rated to 17 degrees…