24 articles
From day hikes to long trails: planning a route, estimating hiking times, choosing gear and knowing the rules of public lands and parks.
A good hike often starts the night before, with a map spread out on the kitchen table. This section helps you plan every outing: reading a map and trail markers, working out a realistic pace that accounts for elevation gain, sizing up how tough a route is, building in a bail-out option and checking the official forecast. Each guide starts with a practical question, the kind you ask yourself while packing, and answers it up front.
Gear gets plenty of attention, minus the obsession. Hiking boots, backpacks, rain jackets, headlamps: we explain how to read a spec sheet, what the numbers on the box actually mean and what matters for the way you hike. Ultralight fans counting every ounce will find ways to trim their base weight; everyone else will find ways to stay dry without breaking the bank. To compare gear, we start from manufacturers’ published data and industry standards, and we cite our sources. When someone on our team has actually worn a piece of gear or hiked a trail, the article says so, and they tell it in their own words.
Hiking also means crossing land with its own rules. A national park, a national forest, BLM land or a state park can handle dogs, campfires, camping and off-trail travel differently, and permit requirements vary from one place to the next. Every rule we cite links back to the agency or official source behind it, with the date it was last checked, and we keep what’s prohibited apart from what’s merely tolerated. For long trails, our route guides pull the logistics together: sections, lodging and reservations, water sources and trailhead access. In the mountains, they stick to marked trails. For trips to Europe, we also explain how hiking works there, from booking huts to following trail markings and reaching the trailhead by train or bus.
This section is for first-time hikers and seasoned backpackers alike. If you’re just getting started, the basics cover choosing a loop that fits your level and packing for a day hike. If you’re on the trail most weekends, you’ll find more in-depth topics, from planning a backpacking trip to understanding the standards behind your gear. And whenever a number matters, we tell you where it comes from.
HikingHow-to guide
A blister comes from repeated rubbing, and warm, damp skin makes it worse. To avoid one: boots in the right size and already broken in, socks that stay dry, protection on vulnerable spots, and a stop at the first sign of heat. Here’s what the studies have measured, often in soldiers or runners, and how to care for a blister that’s already there.
Guillaume Hoarau··14 min
Elbow at a right angle, 0.68 or two-thirds of your height, 2 to 4 inches shorter uphill and longer downhill: the height chart and what studies show.
Guillaume Hoarau··16 min
20, 30, or 40 liters? Backpacking pack sizes by trip length and season, why two 35-liter packs differ, torso length, and the weight not to exceed.
Guillaume Hoarau··14 min
Gaia GPS, onX, CalTopo, AllTrails, Komoot and the free NPS and USGS maps compared: offline use, GPX and prices in dollars, from publisher pages, November 2026.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
Enter distance and elevation gain: the tool gives hiking time by the simple calculation, DIN 33466, and Naismith’s rule, plus where each one falls short.
Julien de Jurquet··10 min
Will you get a bill for a rescue? State by state in the US, in national parks and Canada, and in Europe, where France is free and Switzerland charges.
Arnaud Couderc··15 min
How to leave no trace on a hike: the 7 Leave No Trace principles, packing out trash, catholes and toilet paper, plants, wildlife, and park rules.
Nolwenn Bastide··11 min
Ticks on the trail: how to dress, which repellent to pick, where to check after a hike, how to pull one out, and when to call a doctor. Plus Lyme and TBE.
Nolwenn Bastide··10 min
A big white dog barking from a band of sheep, cows with calves on the trail: what the BLM and Western agencies advise hikers and bikers, step by step.
Arnaud Couderc··12 min
Hiking with kids: how many miles and hours at each age, frame carriers, water, sun, altitude, and what your child should do if lost on the trail.
Guillaume Hoarau··14 min
How much water and food to bring on a day hike: at least 1.5 liters (about 1.6 quarts) each, more in the heat, and salty snacks at every break.
Julien de Jurquet··9 min
Hiking boots: low or high ankle, flexible or stiff sole, Europe’s A to D categories, Britain’s B0 to B3 ratings, crampons, fitting, and breaking in.
Guillaume Hoarau··9 min
Plan a hiking route you can trust: pick a reliable source, read a 1:24,000 USGS topo map, check the GPX track, and keep it offline, battery included.
Guillaume Hoarau··11 min
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