SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs

A backpacking or camping sleeping pad’s R-value measures its resistance to heat loss to the ground when you lie on it at night. Pads with higher R-values do this more effectively than pads with lower R-values. R-value isn’t a measure of warmth …

Mt Ellen is a 4000-footer in Vermont that’s located on the Long Trail and at the top of the Sugarbush ski resort. I led a Green Mountain Club hike to it with three other experienced winter hikers on Saturday, completing the 8-mile …

The Meindl Comfort Fit Salo Trail Mid is a specialized hiking boot designed to address a common, often painful issue for hikers: the need for more room in the forefoot for wide feet or bunions, without compromising heel stability. With a price …

The REI Campwell Rain Jacket is a reproduction of a vintage raincoat that’s not suitable for hiking or backpacking. While it repels rain, it’s a casual piece of clothing that’s good for closer-to-home use or commuting. It’s also heavy as all get …

The pain started in June 2024. It wasn’t bad at first, more of a discomfort radiating across the top of my right butt cheek, but it got worse with each passing week. I’d been to my doctor, who’d prescribed a narcotic for …