Hiking and backpacking are demanding activities that require high-quality gear. However, not all outdoor brands produce gear that stands up to the challenge. To help you narrow down the best of the best, we’ve selected 10 top outdoor brands that stand out through innovation, durability, and value. Keep in mind: no single brand excels in…
Here we selected and reviewed the best water bottles for hiking and backpacking. We only listed insulated water bottles as these keep your beverages cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather. Insulated water bottles are typically made of stainless steel and therefore very durable. Furthermore, as stainless steel doesn’t absorb flavors, they can…
Here we selected and reviewed the best winter sleeping bags for backpacking. A sleeping bag is probably the most important piece of sleeping equipment because it reduces the convective heat loss and thus keeps you warm and comfortable during nights. The warmth of a sleeping bag depends on the amount and quality of its insulation….
Stenar is a 2501 meters high mountain in the heart of the Julian Alps in Slovenia. Unlike many other mountains in this area, Stenar is not well-known among hikers and mountaineers and therefore the trail is typically not very busy. This is indeed an advantage as it allows you to set your own tempo without the…
Regular hiking pants might not provide sufficient warmth for your legs in cold weather. To keep your legs warm you can use either softshell pants or long johns. However, long johns are not the best option for hiking (except in super cold weather) as they restrict your movement and rub against your pants. Furthermore, they…
Polyester is the most widely used material for sportswear. However, Merino wool is due to its multiple benefits also becoming increasingly popular for sports apparel. Therefore, many outdoor enthusiasts and athletes are in doubt which material to choose. It’s indeed hard to say which one is better because both materials have advantages and disadvantages. For…
Here we selected and reviewed the best towels for backpacking and travelling. A regular towel is a bad choice for backpacking or travelling as regular towels are heavy, bulky and slow to dry. Therefore, they occasionally need to be packed moist/wet inside your backpack. This is not recommended because such moist environments are an ideal…
After climbing the 2236 meters high Stol peak on the border between Austria and Slovenia, I decided to continue my “Hiking the Alps” tour by ascending the 2054 meters high mountain Vrh nad Skrbino in the southern Julian Alps. Vrh nad Skrbino is a quite popular mountain because it offers a great…
After hiking in the French and Austrian Alps, I continued my “Hiking the Alps” tour by climbing the 2236 meters high mountain Stol (Hochstuhl in German) in the northwestern corner of Slovenia, close to the Austrian border. Stol is the highest mountain of the 120 kilometers long Karawanke mountain range which is a section…
Here we selected and reviewed the best expedition backpacks with a capacity of 70 liters or more. Such backpacks offer enough storage space for expeditions lasting more than five days. However, be aware that the required capacity of a backpack greatly depends on the equipment and supplies that you need/want to carry with you. For…
