In the world of long-distance hiking, most people set their sights on the Triple Crown: the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). These stalwarts of the thru-hiking world have long captured the imagination of backpackers around the world, however, many of us want more solitude, more remoteness, …

Let’s face it: unless you’re already a culinary mastermind at home, the thought of cooking a gourmet meal for yourself when you’re in the backcountry for days or weeks on end can seem a bit daunting. Indeed, even the most kitchen-savvy among us often opt for freeze-dried meals and nutrition bars instead of cooking up …

Keeping your van warm in the winter plays a critical role in your well being. However, decent insulation is far more important than deliberating over which type of heating system you want to use. Ignore it and you’ll be fighting a losing battle with the elements, pumping precious heat through the walls just as fast …

Front Runner released their first roof top tent nearly 15 years ago, and theirs continues to be one of the most weight-efficient and affordable models on the market.  Originally nicknamed the Feather-Lite, Front Runner’s RTT (model number: TENT031) weighs only 93lbs, when most other RTTs weigh twice as much. The Feather-Lite is a minimalist’s dream, …

Knowing that a well-constructed taper can improve my running performance by as much as 3%, I set about researching and putting together a plan. The most common taper plan for a trail marathon to an ultra-distance run starts two to three weeks before race day. The idea is to reduce the training load gradually over …

My first, rugged sleeping bag was the bulky, cotton bag issued by the Army. Like most military gear, it was nearly indestructible, until it got wet. I’ve since owned several bags, and especially like my current synthetic 20-degree bag. (Even the Army finally upgraded to a synthetic system.) But my bag is nearly 15 years …

The Toyota Tacoma has been produced since 1995, with the first generation (1995-2004) classified as a compact pickup and the second (2005-2015) and third generation (2016-present) classified as a mid sized pickup. The Tacoma has long been a favorite for offroading and overlanding due to its small size, capability, and reliability. In this article, we’ll …

My first trail meals were in the Army years ago, where we begrudgingly squeezed our dinner out of foil packs. The options were limited, and trading always ensued for the more coveted flavors. Fortunately, prepared trail meals have come a long way, with some meals mimicking those of a gourmet restaurant. Now, as my daughter …

The Appalachian Trail twists and turns for 2,190 miles through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. And it has become so popular that 3 million people a year step foot on it, in some form or another. But just how dangerous is hiking the Appalachian Trail, and what are those potential dangers? In this article …

Bears stalking your roof top tent campsite at night can cause your gut to drop with anxiety and fear, especially when you know exactly why they’ve chosen your camp over others. So, are roof top tents safe from bears? While not a completely bear proof and solid sided structure, roof top tents are still able …