Ten ways to safely trim the pounds off your backpack without sacrificing camp comfort or investing heavily in new gear.
Safely explore winter trails with the kids, and have fun doing it. Here are a few tips to successfully winter hiking and snowshoeing with children.
Take your toddler on the trail and avoid temper tantrums with these hiking tips about gear, snacks, safety, and more.
From building wildlife habitats to applying compass activities to geometry, these backyard learning activities keep kids healthy, engaged, and curious.
When you are out on a search, the last thing you want to think about is your pants falling down. This review of the Klik Belts 2-Ply tactical belt tests out a trouser-securing device that won't let you down. From a search and rescue perspective, this may be the ultimate outdoor belt.
As snow recedes and wildflowers bloom, the trail calls to hikers in springtime. Follow these five safety tips for safe hiking in spring.
Though the paisley diaper bag is stocked with supplies, some fathers may feel awkward carrying it while they are on baby duty. Check out these alternatives for manly diaper bags for dads.
How do you get your caffeine fix while backpacking? This article explores several methods for making coffee while camping.
From slippery leaves and disease spreading ticks to potentially being mistaken for a deer, hikers must take care when hitting the trails in autumn.
If you depend on a map and compass for wilderness navigation you should learn about declination. This article teaches you how to compensate for magnetic declination while traversing the wild.
How can you easily install topographical maps on a Garmin GPSmap 62 series global positioning system? Find out in this tutorial.
In this 100-mile review, the Keen Marshall hiking boot is thoroughly tested during backpacking and hiking trips.
Why do my sandals stink? Find out why those stinky sandals are so funky and how to remove the smell from your favorite summertime footwear in 6 easy steps.
What is a trail register? It is more than a ledger tracking the comings and goings of backcountry users. It is a chronicle of adventure, detailing the impressions of time well spent in nature.
Hike to the Eternal Flame Falls and see the wonder of a waterfall passing over a natural gas flame! Here's how to reach this treasure at Chestnut Ridge Park in New York.
With impending changes to the TSA prohibited item list, small knives will now be allowed in airplane cabins. This article offers tips and selection advice for the best knife to carry on a plane.
Do you love your Keurig, but hate the expense of buying K-cups? In addition to the price tag, there are environmental concerns with disposing these coffee pods. In this article, we explore a few ways to reduce the monetary and environmental costs of a delicious cup of Joe.
If you love the outdoors and want to help other people when they need it most, you may want to join a Search and Rescue team. This article provides tips and explains some of the training involved.
Who knew that cooking SPAM could be dangerous? A young Scout leaves out a crucial step in making his favorite meal on a camping trip.
Ever wonder what to include in a wilderness survival kit? Be prepared for any outdoor emergency by assembling the right equipment into your survival gear. With a little preparation, you can survive with just a few things in your pockets.
Cook an omelet in a freezer bag for a delicious camping breakfast with minimal clean up and maximum taste.
Sleeping under a tarp is an act of rebellion, a rebellion against a world that hides behind walls. From ultralight backpacking to swinging in a hammock, tarps are the best way to lighten your load and lighten your mind.
The Esee Izula neck knife is the perfect companion for wilderness adventures. Backpackers will love the simple elegance and survivalists will admire the stout construction.
Make it harder for bears to find an easy meal by packing all of your camping food into a bear-resistant container.
Hike further and faster by adopting lightweight backpacking. These are my top tips for carrying a lighter pack.
If you are looking to save money and help save the environment, think about mowing your grass with a push reel mower like the Husqvarna Evolution.
What's it like to backpack in Sawteeth, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, Gray, and Dix Mountains over a 3-day period? My experience involved a slight fall, a bad weather bivy, an unplanned ceremony, and a meeting with a bear.
Looking for a review of the Keen Gypsum hiking boot? From my experience, this tough new waterproof hiker conquers the trails while cushioning your feet. Here are the results after several months of field testing throughout my outdoor adventures!
Can the Angstrom 30 pack from The North Face hold up to months of abuse? In this review, I show how this pack fares as a carry-on travel, hiking, and work pack.
Looking for a jacket to push to the limits of outdoor adventure? Check out this review of the Victorio jacket from Mountain Hardwear. In this review, I test the durability, breathability, and waterproofness of this new Dry.Q Elite jacket.
The meaning behind the term "cotton kills" and why you shouldn't wear it for backpacking or hiking clothing.
Does your backcountry rain jacket need to be waterproofed again? Here's how to clean and condition the DWR on Gore-tex, Mountain Hardwear's DryQ Elite, and other garments.
Giardia and Crypto to Hepatitis A and E. coli can lurk in water gathered while camping/hiking or in an emergency. Be prepared by knowing how to purify water.
Are you attempting to camp on a budget while still having fun? Get ready for an outdoor adventure with a camping equipment list and instructions for making foil dinners!
Are you looking to buy new hiking or backpacking boots? A footwear manager and backpacker guides you through the boot-buying process.
Even though hiking is a rewarding activity, it also has potential risks. A slippery rock can turn a simple day hike into a complex rescue mission. Outbound Dan offers ten tips to hikers on how to stay safe in the outdoors.
Ever have a pair of boots that leaked, blew out a seam, or fell apart after only a few months of use? Read more to see if the defective boots can be replaced per their warranty service.
Learn how to easily make an inexpensive do-it-yourself climbing gear sling in about 30 minutes. Perfect for climbing, mountaineering, and search and rescue.
So you want to go night hiking? Taking a hike in the darkness is more complicated than just grabbing a flashlight and heading down the trail. Use these trail-tested techniques for a safe night hiking experience.
What is the best backpacking stove for your next wilderness adventure? This article covers the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of camping stoves.
The 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia attracts millions of hikers each year. Explore the history and culture of hiking the Appalachian Trail.
It's the dead of winter, 20 below zero, you're zipped securely in your sleeping bag, and it's only 6 PM. You have another 12 hours until the sun comes up. This article explores some nontraditional activities to keep boredom at bay while keeping warm in your winter camp.
Did you know that it's possible to have a safe and enlightening wilderness experience as a solo backpacker and hiker? Here's how you can manage your risk appropriately along with other skill sets you'll need to navigate the wilderness alone.
Join Outbound Dan for a winter backpacking trip into the Adirondack High Peaks. Dan hikes up Cliff and Colden mountains and takes in the beauty of Avalanche Lake. Though a spell of unseasonably warm January weather makes for interesting challenges, it is those obstacles that make cold weather...
Are you stressed out looking for ideas how to host this year's Groundhog Day party? Never fear, from traditional dress and what to serve for supper to the latest games like pin the tail on the groundhog, this article gets you started planning your own fest.
This article explores the origins of Groundhog Day and the deep relationship between man and groundhog throughout the ages. It is time to credit this burrowing rodent with inspiring advances in human civilization and science.
Do you know how to wash and waterproof your softshell jacket? Take care of your technical garment and restore breathability and waterproofness with these helpful hints to properly maintain the DWR on your softshell apparel.
Backpackers and hikers must change their water gathering and treatment tactics for winter adventures. This article explores the best ways to treat water and melt snow while in the backcountry.
In this gear review, Outbound Dan Human evaluates the Epic glove from Mountain Hardwear and tests its waterproof claims. From mountaineering to search and rescue, the Epic glove is put to the test.
Do you dread parties and the threat of meaningless social interaction? Though your presence is mandated, avoid an antisocial appearance by using one of these techniques. Yes, you may never have to talk to another person again. Caution: Extroverts may find difficulty understanding this article!
Outbound Dan Human reviews the Verto Jacket from The North Face Summit Series. This lightweight jacket holds up to the rigors of backpacking, hiking, snowshoeing, and paddling adventures.
Are you looking for a fun and easy way to lose weight without going to the gym? Try hiking! Hiking is a fantastic fitness exercise for the body and the soul.
Use these suggestions to spice up your party life on the craziest night of the year. You'll surely have a happy New Year.
Snowshoeing is a fun way to explore the snow covered backcountry. If you ever wondered about how to start walking on snowshoes, getting started is easier than you think.
Each year our children are intentionally misled into believing that an omniscient chubby man in a red suit is responsible for delivering presents to them at Christmas.
Join outbound Dan Human on a short loop hike into the Niagara Falls Gorge from Devil's Hole State Park, down the Whirlpool Stairs, and into the gorge past the iconic Giant Rock.
Though Street and Nye are amongst the most unimpressive of the Adirondack 46 High Peaks, they are still majestic mountains in their solitude.
A well-made knife can be a great hiking companion. Outbound Dan reviews several knives from multi-tools to neck knives for backpacking.
In what began as a simple solo snowshoeing trip in the Adirondack backcountry, a momentary lack of safety protocol pits a backpacker against potential death. Only a knife can change his fate.
In the search for the perfect Search and Rescue 24-hour pack, here's why Outbound Dan finds the Terra 35 from The North Face a durable and comfortable option.
Are you heading up to the Adirondack High Peaks to climb Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain? Join me in my climb up the Snow Princess Cascade slide.
Be prepared for the perils of winter travel with this survival kit list. Use this roadside gear list to avoid disaster, dig out your car, stay the night, or walk out.
An experienced backpacker shares his winter backpacking list of all the gear you need for cold-weather camping.
What's it like to do a 2000-mile backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail? I recount my memories of the southbound thru-hike through a collection of pictures.
From local day hikes to extended backpacking trips, everyone should carry these 10 essentials while outdoors.
If you need grea gift ideas for an outdoor enthusiast, check out these suggestions for presents any backpacker would love.
The Oswegatchie River winds 137-miles through the Adirondacks and Northern New York and is a terrific place to paddle. This poem explores a canoeists relationship with that river.
The Cranberry Lake 50 trail is a 50-mile wilderness backpacking route that passes through the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the Adirondacks, offering solitude and great scenery.
This guide shows how even a complete moron can learn to carve their own jack-o'-lantern without doing major harm to themselves and others around them.
Backpacking offers a complete physical, mental, and spiritual experience however it can be expensive. Have backpackers become too obsessed with gear? Is there a way to backpack on a budget?
Be prepared for the next hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood, or disaster with a portable survival kit. Every family needs a portable survival kit for any emergency.
A knife enthusiast and collector muses upon National Knife Day on August 24th. He vividly recounts why he started collecting, how Scouting helped his knife passion, and why he carries a knife daily.
GPS units are essential to successful search and rescue teams. This step-by-step guide illustrates the most common SAR GPS tasks. Directions work well for a Garmin Map 60 and other units.