The tiny Garmin inReach Mini 3 packs two-way satellite messaging, interactive SOS, and reliable Iridium coverage into 3.5 ounces. Worth it for remote or solo hiking?
Brooke Wilder
7 min read
Three very different pack approaches that serve completely different backpackers. Here is how to pick yours.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
The MSR Switch earns its weight with true simmer control and two cookware modes. It is a strong pick for trail cooks, but overkill for boil-only backpackers.
Brooke Wilder
6 min read
Three very different pack approaches that serve completely different backpackers. Here is how to pick yours.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
The Salomon wins for wet protection and support. The Lone Peak wins for adapted zero-drop hikers who want less foot weight and faster drying.
Brooke Wilder
10 min read
A thoughtfully packed freestanding shelter for bikepacking pairs, but the premium and thin long-term evidence make it a niche buy.
Brooke Wilder
5 min read
Stories worth packing
Editorial gear notes drawn from manufacturer specs, lab tests, and the long-form reviews we trust most.
The tiny Garmin inReach Mini 3 packs two-way satellite messaging, interactive SOS, and reliable Iridium coverage into 3.5 ounces. Worth it for remote or solo hiking?
Brooke Wilder
7 min read
Three very different pack approaches that serve completely different backpackers. Here is how to pick yours.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
The MSR Switch earns its weight with true simmer control and two cookware modes. It is a strong pick for trail cooks, but overkill for boil-only backpackers.
Brooke Wilder
6 min read
A reservation-first plan for a 22-mile Smokies backpacking route from Newfound Gap to Icewater Spring and Pecks Corner shelters.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
A thoughtfully packed freestanding shelter for bikepacking pairs, but the premium and thin long-term evidence make it a niche buy.
Brooke Wilder
5 min read
A 37-mile out-and-back from Olympic's Hoh rainforest to the non-glacier Lateral Moraine viewpoint above Blue Glacier, with permits, camps, hazards, and itineraries.
Brooke Wilder
12 min read
The tiny Garmin inReach Mini 3 packs two-way satellite messaging, interactive SOS, and reliable Iridium coverage into 3.5 ounces. Worth it for remote or solo hiking?
Brooke Wilder
7 min read
Three very different pack approaches that serve completely different backpackers. Here is how to pick yours.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
The MSR Switch earns its weight with true simmer control and two cookware modes. It is a strong pick for trail cooks, but overkill for boil-only backpackers.
Brooke Wilder
6 min read
A reservation-first plan for a 22-mile Smokies backpacking route from Newfound Gap to Icewater Spring and Pecks Corner shelters.
Brooke Wilder
9 min read
No spam. Just gear picks, packing lessons, and notes from this week's research.
