After years of testing, we found that certain gear picks change the way we interact with each other and make it easier to coexist on the trail.

Materials: Thru hiking exposes your gear to a range of environmental conditions. Look for backpacks constructed from durable, water-resistant materials like Dyneema, Cordura, and ripstop nylon.

But one of the most important pieces of gear thru hikers should invest in is a quality pair of hiking shoes. Long gone are the days when thru hikers wore heavy leather boots.

Fear and overzealousness often lead to an overstuffed pack, which you’ll regret for hundreds of miles. Our thru-hiking columnist has advice on what not to take when you’re heading out.

I personally hiked the PCT in 2018 and stopped by PCT Days during my hike. I returned this year to check on the Class of 2025, and see the gear that has been getting them down trail, and what they ...

We rounded up the best status backpacking gear for thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. We talked to thru hikers and gear experts about the most coveted and popular items on the trail and at camp.

A thru-hike — yes, “thru,” not “through” — is the ultimate test of any piece of gear. Hikers who undertake these treks total their miles in the thousands, and push backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and ...

On a journey up the Appalachian Trail, Maggie Slepian learned just how hard it can be to have to weather other people's judgement—and how difficult it is to stop worrying about it.

How Thru-Hiking Changed One Iraq War Vet’s Life — and All the Gear He Swears By The subject of a new REI Presents short film, Brandon Kuehn shares his favorite trail-tested gear.

"Ultralight" is a new category of gear centered around carrying the most lightweight and simplest equipment, typically while on a thru-hike. In theory, ...