The Nail the Trail website was launched in 2014 and since then we have been regularly writing about various hiking topics. The team behind the website is our little outdoorsy family of three. We created this website with the purpose of providing you with helpful knowledge and inspiration for hiking trips, skills and outdoor gear, regardless if you are new to hiking or more seasoned in various outdoor sports. Things we we publish on this website are based on our own experience from various hikes and ascents.
Here are the 5 easy steps to the website.
1. Read our hiking tips
Read our hiking tips
Our hiking tips cover all sorts of topics within hiking. You can for example learn how to calculate how much food or water to bring with you, or how to use GPS tracks for navigation on your hike. You can also get an overview on how various outdoor clothing materials and garments compare to one another, and what you should bring for hiking in Iceland, the Alps and on Via Ferrata trails. If you are new to hiking, also check our Beginner’s Guide to Hiking. Feel free to browse around our hiking tips and let us know if there is a topic that you would like us to cover!
2. Check out our guides to hiking clothing and equipment
Check out our guides to hiking clothing and equipment
Our guide articles are great to read for both beginners and those who want to refresh the basics. If you are completely new to hiking, you might want to start off by reading the article A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking, but everybody might be able to learn something new in our articles on how to dress for hiking, and how to choose the right accessories, backpack, footwear and sleeping equipment. Finally, we have made a guide on how to use crampons, gaiters and ice axes for winter hiking. All these guides are based on our own experience from various hiking trails.
3. See our hiking gear recommendations
See our hiking gear recommendations
When you are looking to buy a new piece of gear or apparel for hiking, you usually have hundreds, if not thousands of options. Our selections of recommended products list the five best options within each category, for example daypacks, men’s underwear, hiking watches, women’s shell layers etc. More importantly, however, each article first describes which features you should look for in that particular product type, for example lightness, durability, breathability etc. So, even if you don’t agree with the product selection we have made, you will be better equipped to make your own choice. We tend to list products from established high-quality brands, so if you put a low price above performance you will probably have to make your own research to find the best options. You can read more about how we select the products on our recommended list here.
4. Have a look at what gear we use in the gear tests section
Have a look at what gear we use in the gear tests section
Our reviews of outdoor gear and apparel are thorough, comprehensive and honest. Some of the products have been given to us from the manufacturer, others we have bought ourselves (each review will state how we got the product). In any case, we don’t receive any payment or compensation for the reviews we do. You can read more about our principles for product reviews here. We test each product for a couple of months or more under various conditions and activities, and usually write about the material(s) it’s made of, it’s features and potential shortcomings, how it fits and performs, and finally come with a verdict on the product as well as rate it on the parameters design, quality, comfort, and functionality.
5. Get some inspiration in the hiking trails section
Get some inspiration in the hiking trails section
We hike on a weekly basis, but the hiking trails we have written articles about are usually the longer and more special trails. Each of our hikes provides you with a GPX track that you can download and use for your GPS watch or device. We have done trails in both very popular hiking areas (like Iceland and the Italian Dolomites), and less known areas (like Denmark and Slovenia). In each article we provide you with general info about the area of the trail, how to reach the starting point by car and/or public transport, how the trail develops from start to finish and which equipment you need (the bare minimum is usually a pair of good hiking boots). We of course describe conditions as they were at the time of our hike, so be aware that there might have been changes, and always check the weather forecast before setting out. Most of our hikes were conducted outside the snowy season, so be sure to pack winter hiking gear if you are setting out on a snowy/icy trail.