The Trek

The best backpacking stoves for thru-hiking weigh little, burn fuel efficiently, and boil water quickly.

The 2025 thru-hiking season is around the corner, now’s the time to begin thinking seriously about your fitness, gear, and the logistics of your hike.

If you’re looking for the perfect budget-friendly gift for the hiker in your life, never fear — we’re here to help.

Jennifer Pharr Davis describes life after Hurricane Helene swept through Asheville.

A guide for resources and needs for rural communities damaged during Hurricane Helene.

The Appalachian Trail hiking community has long drawn support from these small towns, and now it’s time for hikers to return the favor.

You can check out my gear list to see exactly what I’m carrying.

When considering all non-essential pieces of gear, I weigh the joy it will bring me against the inconvenience and discomfort of the added bulk and weight

It’s that time of year again. If you’re looking for the perfect budget-friendly gift for the thru-hiker in your life, never fear: we’re here to help.

It’s that wonderful time of the year again. The peak of the summer heat has passed, the crispness of autumn creeps into the mornings, the kids are back..

It’s that time of year again. If you’re looking for the perfect budget-friendly gift for the thru-hiker in your life, never fear: we’re here to help.

Based off Liz Thomas’s wonderful gear chapter in Pacific Crest Trials, here’s a non-exhaustive list of suggested gear items for a Pacific Crest Trail...

Hey everybody, it’s time to talk about everybody’s favorite subject: gear! This is my first thru-hike, I had lots of research...

While some high-end ultralight gear is very expensive (think of all the ounces you could save by getting rid of your extra Benjamins!), it is still ...

Not all beginners make these missteps, and the mistakes listed are far from the only ones I’ve seen on the trail.

The purpose of this post is to share with you, the very smart and attractive reader, the contents of my gear.

Backpacking may be one of the most gear dependent activities a person can undertake.

With a little over a month left until I head to Baxter State Park, I’ve spent a lot of time honing in on my gear list. Here it is.

Horns Hooves and Coats: A 2022 AT Gear List

A gear list and guide to the Colorado trail

Another complete AT gear list by Jake Markland

Jasper's complete AT gear list

The big three gear items

Announcement of the 2022 Badger sponsorship winners

Hydration and cook systems gear list

Big 3 for the PCT gear list enjoying the classics

A summary of the 2021 Appalachian trail thru hiker survey

The Badger sponsorship of 2022 and how to enter

A 2021 thru-hiker survey about stoves, diet and water filtration on the Appalachian trail

The personal gear list and story and comparison of two trails: AT vs PCT

The Trek's top 13 posts from 2021

A young Haiku on his first overnighter in 2009: daunted by the prospect of how many Snickers bars he would be eating over the next 12 years

A comprehensive gear review post an AT hike

27 Things to do before starting the AT trail a thru-hike checklist

The best and worst gear from a 2021 AT thru-hike

A PCT thru-hike checklist with 29 Things To Do Before You Start

Thru-hiker gift guide for under $50

Learn gear first aid before your thru-hike

Time and money needed for a thru-hike

An evaluation on if we have been filtering our water wrong this whole time

A gear guide on the Tahoe Rim Trail

The Evolution of Backpacking Gear

Thru-Hiker’s Gift Guide 2019: Under $50

Two women holding sawyer squeeze filters with text sawyer micro squeeze vs sawyer squeeze

The Trek: REI Backpacker’s Holiday Gift Guide

Not Your Average Pacific Crest Trail Gear List

The Trek: Is Packing Your Bikini Ultralight? I’d Say So!

Emily Ford Completes Historic Winter Thru-Hike of Ice Age Trail

Beginner Backpacking Mistakes to Avoid

8 Things East Coast Hikers Must Know Before Hiking Out West

2021 PCT Ultra-Awesome Gear List

How Graphene Will Revolutionize Thru-Hiking from The Trek

Things I Actually ADDED to my Pack Once I Started LASHing the AT

Q&A with Joe “Stringbean” McConaughey: Smashing the Arizona Trail FKT

Calling all hikers, backpackers, day adventurers: we need you!

Top Stoves and Filters: The 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey from The Trek

Yeah, but How Much Does It Weigh?

White Mountains Direttissima FKT Gear List

What We’re Spending Our REI Dividends on This Year

Water… Need Water

Best Backpacking Stoves: Quick Navigation

As of June 1, the SHT Association recommends that SHT users #RecreateResponsibly.

Our Colorado Trail Gear Lists: The Comforts and Details

One Week Out – Colorado Trail Gear List

So what gear should you buy on the cheap and where should you splurge for the best? Let this list be your guide to getting the best bang for your buck.

My GDT Gear List – Living in Luxury

Great Gear for the Great Loop

It’s Dreaming Season

Here is my gear list for my self-supported thru-hike of the San Luis Loop.

Gear for the Land of Rain

Here’s everything I’ll admit to bringing for my 2021 thru-hike of the AT

Ten Main Items for a Northbound Thru-hike in 2021

Appalachian Trail Gear List for Older Hikers (Beginner-Friendly)

A Trip Down Memory Trail: My NOBO Route in Maine by Vehicle 2019 vs. on Foot in 2021

A Gear Gander for the CDT

9 Devilishly Simple Backpacking Hacks to Help You Win at Hiking

19 Things 2021 Appalachian Trail Hikers Need to Know

The Essential Day Hiking Gear List from The Trek