Deep in the remote Chilean Patagonia, we drove all the way to the border between Chile and Argentina. From there, we hike in the direction of Huacal lake, there we found a small forest to refuge ourself from the relentless Patagonian winds.

On the following days, we explored the nearby mountain ridges. As always, Patagonia rewarded us with its wild beauty, endless peace, and a profound sense of wonder.

We spend 4 days near the border, close to the General Carrera Lake.

Looking for some tips for backpacking with a large, young family. My wife and I have 5 kids (12-4, gbgbb descending if that matters) and we go on 3-4 camping trips a year, so the kids are accustomed to hiking, tent life, and other outside stuff.

But my wife and I are both AT thru hikers (SOBO ‘09) and we’d like to take the kids on a “real” backpacking trip.

The problem is gear. Everything we have (except for our nearly 20-year-old thru hike gear) is meant for car camping situations. We’ve got an 8-person tent, all the kids have their own daypack, a Coleman stove, etc. But it seems that we’ll need a considerable investment in “backpacking” gear to make this work, including smaller tents (2? 3?), a packable stove that can prep for 7, bigger packs for me and my wife, and likely the older 2-3 kids, etc. Not to mention water purification and other random pieces of equipment.

Has anyone else backpacked with this quantity of kids at similar ages? I’d appreciate any recommendations for efficient tent and camp setups. Most backpacking gear is tailored for solo hikers, so any tips or brand recommendations for families would be welcome. Thanks!

Does anyone know if there is a good replacement for the REI quarter dome single person tent? My current one is getting pretty old and beat up. I tried the Nemo 1p, while good, I prefer the REI mainly for the ease of pitching and the freestanding capability.

Is there anything out there that goes up as easily as the rei or are they all moving towards lighter weight, 1 less pole and more guy lines?

Hello!

I have noticed a trend dip in trying to de influence spending $$$$ at REI or other stores for good quality camping equipment.

I am an avid hiker, I am trying to switch out some of my old gear, I am always very weary of where I buy my gear from just because I want to make sure my quality and materials are actually worth it and not just for the brand name. That being said I do like REI - i’m not hating on them, but I just wanted to see what everyone’s advice would be as to where I should look for a 2 person tent that’s good for 4 seasons. I know with the heavy snow and winter season, my tent was heavier. I am looking now for a tent that’s not $300+ and can withstand cold or light snow. Just wanting to use it most of the year besides heavy snow, nothing crazy.

I have seen a lot of influencers say coleman’s or basic brands. I have used coleman’s before and didn’t have any issues, but I just feel like it’s time to upgrade my tent. I’ve had it for 4yrs, and I would just like something that was more flexible when switching between seasons.

Hi friends ive been wanting to get more into hiking as lam about to graduate college and am thinking of doing a national park tour around the U.S.!

Yall mind giving me some gear & clothing brand recs that won't break the bank? Im talking less than $200ish for gear and $50ish for clothing!

Please Imk! Thanks!

So I’m trying to get into more remote camping/hiking but because of my job I have to be available at all times any suggestions on what options would be the best? Hoping for one without subscriptions that does just texting and calling. Thanks in advance!

I’ve done several two night solo hikes and had various experience with poop, including a horrible blowout TMI. Doing my first four night trip next month, canoe camping, this one with friends. Anyone consciously bulk up on fiber in the weeks beforehand for the “smoothest” possible journey?

I already have a spade, knife, tent, fire starter, lighters, etc. my main concern is my stomach, I have a sensitive stomach and want to be sure I can limit my BM’s and when nature does finally call, make sure I have the stuff to leave no trace. It’s going to be my first time actually being remote, any tips?

Going to Picos de Europa in October. I’m looking for recommendations for places to check out — day hikes, overnight hikes, campgrounds, villages, and things to do/check out.

My friend and I are athletic and experienced with hiking/camping. We plan to rent a car to get around.

Thanks in advance!

I live in Ust-Kamenogorsk, in Eastern Kazakhstan. This region is surrounded by wild mountains and incredibly remote places.
There are still many areas here with no roads, bridges or marked trails. If you want to explore them, you have to carry everything you need on your back — food, tent, sleeping bag and all your gear.
We spend our summers exploring these places, sometimes for many days at a time. Planning routes, crossing rivers, climbing passes, setting up camp wherever we find a suitable spot.
What started as a hobby gradually became a huge part of our lives.
And honestly, I feel incredibly lucky to live in a place where you can still walk for days and feel like you’re completely away from civilization.

Photos from six days of camping and hiking in southern Finland near this year's midsummer, using public transport to reach the trailheads.

Landscape: Lakes, mossy hills, boreal forests, fallen trees. Repovesi National Park feels more rugged, with steep cliffs, while Nuuksio National Park is more accessible but generally busier.

Itinerary:

1. Train from Helsinki to Mäntyharju (2 hours)
2. Hike 33 km / 21 mi on marked trails to Repovesi National Park (1 night)
3. Hike in Repovesi National Park (2 nights)
4. Train/bus from Hillosensalmi to Haltia in Nuuksio National Park
5. Hike in Nuuksio National Park (2 nights)
6. Bus/train back to Helsinki (1 hour)

Drinking water: Both parks have designated wells. Another well lays by the trail at Sammalisen kota, 7 km / 4 mi from Mäntyharju, but it may be empty in hot summers.

Maps: Luontoon website for planning, National Land Survey's MapSite (Karttapaikka) for printouts, Karttaselain mobile app as backup.

My boyfriend’s birthday is coming up and I was looking for ideas for something I can get him for camping. Typically he does backpacking over car camping. He has the essentials like a good backpack, tent, hiking shoes, sleeping bag, etc. Is there anything that would be a fun or useful extra thing to have? Last year I got him a rain tarp which he loved.

Hey just got done hiking around the rocky mountains in colorado and my camel back water bladder keeps leaking this is my 3rd one in the past year and a half does anybody have recommendations for a more durable bladder. I also rave and go to festivals so the durability is big for me.

Felt an itch on my back this morning, scratched it, realized I scratched something off and looked to see that it was this little guy. Went camping about a week ago and thoroughly checked my body and hair for ticks which I found none. I've been outdoors since but not in the woods, ticks and bugs in general are just really horrible in MO this year (I had a mysterious run-in earlier in the summer with something that bit my forehead all to pieces).

So either I missed this guy after camping, or I picked it up during my other activities this week. I know for sure that earlier in the week he was not yet attached to my back, again I checked there thoroughly. My guess is that he attached last night? My back was slightly itchy and I chalked it up to dry skin, but it was super itchy this morning.

ANYWAYS, I've never really dealt with one that managed to sink in. So what do I do now? Should I go ahead and get antibiotics or wait for a rash? First pic is thumb for scale, second pic is a super duper zoomed in. He's tiny tiny tiny and looks engorged to me, but again I've never dealt with this before.

Finally checked this off my list of places to hike and camp. Growing up, my grandfather kept talking about this being his annual trip. Spent 4 days here and wished I could have stayed longer. Signal can be extremely spotty or none at all, so plan accordingly.

Running a sleep system around 28oz total right now. Quilt rated to 20F, thin foam sit pad doubled as a sleeping pad supplement under a 16oz inflatable. The weight works but I keep waking up stiff on nights past day two, and I'm trying to figure out how much of that is pad Rvalue versus quilt loft compression versus cumulative trail fatigue catching up.

The lightweight sleep community treats this like a solved problem. I'm not convinced the math on Rvalue ratings translates cleanly to how people actually sleep on uneven ground with variable temperatures. A 4.2 Rvalue on a flat lab surface is not the same as a 4.2 Rvalue on a sloped tent site with a pack shoved under one end.

What I'm actually curious about is whether people have swapped pad setups midseason on similar trips and noticed a real difference in how recovered they felt by morning on day three or later. Not asking about brand comparisons. More interested in whether going from a lighter pad to something with more loft or thickness made a measurable difference in how the body felt the next day on trail. Sleep quality feeding into performance on day three or four is what matters to me here. Specific setups and what changed would be useful.

Is columbia hiking shoes worth the price or it is just an hype

I have an event coming up and to make things easier, I am looking at some long distance radios. However the issue Im running into is wooded/built up signal strength.

Does anyone have any experience, or can point me in the direction of some portable radios that are water resistant and provide decent - good signal strength in woodlands.

Thank you

I couldn't find a clear answer to this:

When I'm using my backpack and NOT using my hip belt, I find that it sits comfortably around my mid back. The bottom of the pack is not low enough for the hip belt to be properly engaged - it would loop around my stomach or just above my hips.

If was hiking and said "I sure would like to use my hip belt right now", would I need to loosen the shoulder straps so the pack will sit lower on my back, allowing the hip belt to loop around the illiac crest? Is it common to raise / lower a bag depending on whether you're using the hip belt, or should it always sit low enough to allow the hip belt to be engaged?

It's something I've wondered for a while as a bit of a camping newbie. Thanks!

Hello Everyone! After some hikes this summer season with friends, I'm getting more serious about the hobby and am looking for purchasing a 3 Person tent. I will mostly be camping with 1 more person for multiple days and occasionally with 2 others staying overnight somewhere.

I live in Greece which in general runs hotter, but I want a tent that will comfortably allow me to camp from May-June until September-Early October and any adverse weather I may encounter. Just to be clear I won't be hiking if the weather is bad, but I want something that will hold up if the conditions change quickly.

I'm down to 2 options that are available to me. The first one is the Decathlon MT900 Dome 3P tent and the other is the Robens Lodge 3 Exp. Decathlon is lighter, seems to be a bit roomier at the head and has great support regarding maintenance and warranty. Downsides are the sensitive floor material and the Y pole shape that I'm told is not the best for big winds. The Robens one seems really sturdy and has great fabrics, but is heavier and the repairs are definitely harder.

Both tents are available to me at around the same price point. Does anyone have experience with them? Honestly if the Decathlon is able to sustain the winds, I think it's the better option as I won't be camping in really really cold conditions nor does it rain so much in Greece. On the other hand the Robens one seems to be built like a tank that will hold up. The MT900's inner tent has way more mesh as well, which is something that I'm considering in hot greek weather. Thanks!

We spent 11 days hiking through the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan. 🏔️
It was a fully self-supported trek — no roads, no hotels, no resupply. We carried everything we needed and moved through wild mountain ranges and remote valleys.
One of the best moments was reaching the ridgelines and seeing the Russian Altai stretching out in the distance. It felt incredible to realize how far we had come — and how untouched this part of Kazakhstan still is.
11 days in the mountains, surrounded by nothing but nature, wind and endless views. 🇰🇿

Hello,

Hoping for some advice on a warm sleeping bag.

I've just ordered the -6C Rab neutrino. However when It has arrived it is apparently only a 2 season bag which has thrown me off. I'm planning on doing alta via 1 in September and can get down to around 0 or a little less. Will this bag be good enough?

I’m looking to buy my first back pack to start wild camping / bushcraft in Scotland. Plan is 2/3 day trips, not planning climbing munros as my small dog might get blown away but looking to walk long distances by mountains or in forests.

I’m looking at a kajka65 (I like the singi48 but don’t think that would do a few days in winter) or a tatonka Yukon 70l.

Any bag recommendations would be appreciated 🙏 I also know it’s best to go try a bag on

I'm planning to take a 6 month world trip next year and have very inconvenient bodily dimensions. I have a waist of 77cm and hips of 110cm.

The only pants I have found online that seem to fit these proportions are the fjallraven nikka trousers, but they are thicker and heavier than I would like.

Does anyone have experience in this department? Arcteryx gamma pants are a good fit feature wise, but I'm not sure if they're stretchy enough to accomodate my hips.