Hiking boots are one of the most important outdoor purchases you’ll ever make. Choosing the right pair isn’t easy—boots vary greatly in quality, weight, traction, and breathability. To help, we’ve selected six of the best hiking boot brands known for high-quality materials, decades of experience, and reliable performance. While these boots are not inexpensive, they’re…
If you are buying a new rain jacket or any other waterproof garment, you may have come across terms like hydrostatic head and MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate). While clothing brands and online shops are usually great at listing the values of these two parameters for their products, they rarely explain what MVTR and hydrostatic…
A jacket keeps you warm in cold weather by trapping body-warmed air within its fibers. Insulated jackets typically use either down or synthetic insulation. While both insulations can provide good warmth, they do differ in weather resistance, drying time, durability, price and more. In the following we will explain what the differences between down and…
If you are into hiking, you have probably already heard about GPS tracks also known as GPS routes, GPS trails etc. GPS tracks are very useful for hiking because they make it simple and hassle-free to navigate on trails. A GPS track contains information about the trail such as geographical coordinates, altitude and distance. You…
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…
While you probably love to spend time in the outdoors, it is less likely that you love spending time shopping for the equipment and apparel you need. Physical stores have their advantages if the staff is well-educated and stock is varied and plenty but online shopping from home is the natural choice for more and…
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…
Backpack enables you to easily carry water, food, additional clothing and other necessities. Hiking backpacks vary greatly in design, capacity, fit and features. Therefore it can be hard to decide which backpack to buy. In this guide to hiking backpacks we first explain different types of backpacks and then help you figure out your needs…
Hiking trips will take a toll on your feet and legs because you will walk long distances and often on uneven if not downright rocky terrain. Therefore, you should wear good hiking footwear which will protect your feet from injuries and enhance your performance. Because hiking footwear varies greatly in weight, design, support and cushioning,…
Hiking requires good clothing so you are comfortable on trails, no matter the weather. Many beginners are in doubt about what garments to use and how to properly layer them. Therefore, we made this hiking clothing guide where we explain the concept of layering and give you information about different garments and how to best…
A shell is the last (outer) layer of a layered clothing system and is thus worn over a base layer and a mid-layer. In warm weather the shell can also be worn directly over a base layer because insulation, which is normally provided by a mid-layer, is not required. The term “shell” is sometimes confusing…
In 2016 I conducted seven very different hiking trips in the eastern part of the Alps; two in Italy and five in neighboring Slovenia – a small Central European country with great possibilities for hiking and mountaineering. In the following I will describe some of the characteristics of alpine hiking as well as give you…
While it might be easy as cake to pack a backpack for a short hike where you carry only water and a snack, it becomes more of an art when you need to pack additional clothing, extra gear (climbing harness, helmet, via ferrata set etc.) or even sleeping equipment in case you plan to spend…
Since their introduction in the early 90’s, hydration bladders (also referred to as hydration reservoirs and hydration systems) have become increasingly popular among hikers, trekkers, mountaineers and other outdoor enthusiasts. This is mainly due to the fact that they, unlike water bottles, allow easy access to water and you have your hands free when drinking….
Mid-layer is an important part of a layered clothing system because it provides insulation and thus keeps your warm in cold conditions. The term “mid-layer” is often confusing to those who are new to hiking because it can apply to various garments. Fleece jackets, woollen sweaters, down jackets and jackets with synthetic insulation are all…
Layered clothing system is the norm when it comes to hiking, mountaineering and similar activities. Wearing multiple layers enables you to add or shed layers according to the conditions like changes in temperature, precipitation, wind and your activity level. The base layer is probably the most important part of the layered clothing system because it…
Via ferratas (“iron trails”) are steep and exposed trails running up and along abrupt hills and mountain sides, where the risk of a fatal fall is minimized by having a steel cable run along the trail – to which you can attach yourself with a via ferrata set. In addition to that via ferrata trails…
Iceland is a beautiful country with many unique and interesting landscapes, which makes it a gem for hikers of all kinds whether they prefer the toughest hills or more recreational trails around the country. However, Iceland is expensive – even compared to the States or other Scandinavian countries and not least when it comes to…
