From the trail
Where we went, what we carried, and what it weighed.
Looking for guides? Guides →
Rain rarely ruins a trip on its own; the damage comes from the chain that follows it. Five sources on staying dry and warm when the weather turns, in the order the problem tends to arrive: waterproofing boots at home, keeping water out of your pack on trail, holding heat in the tent, troubleshooting a cold night, and salvaging a sleeping bag that is already soaked.
The jump from day hiking to a first night out is smaller than it looks. Three things are worth practising on ordinary day walks first — how you pack, how you navigate off paper, and how you treat water — and only then does picking the trip become the interesting question.
Europe's long-distance walking runs from flat canal towpaths to a Grade 2 scramble above Glen Coe. Eight sites arranged as a gradient of difficulty rather than a ranking, so you can pick a route by the kind of day you want.
Fitness is rarely the thing that decides whether you can walk a long-distance trail. A tour of long trails around the world, each paired with the planning problem its source page actually solves — itinerary length, permits and paperwork, hut networks, solo logistics, and a short loop to rehearse on.
Cut sleep-system weight without sleeping cold. These hands-on guides build an ultralight sleep system from the ground up: pad, quilt or bag, pillow, the habits that keep you warm, and keeping it all dry when the weather turns.
Discover seven independent hiking gear reviewers who test equipment on real trails — from ultralight purists to budget hackers to sleep-system specialists.
Discover authentic weekend hiking escapes within 2 hours of NYC, LA, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Boston, SF, Portland, Austin & DC. Local blogger recommendations.
Seven independent websites run by real hikers who sleep in the rain — where to find honest, data-backed lightweight tent reviews.
Escape the summer heat on Swiss weekend hikes. Discover cool alpine lakes, shaded limestone gorges, and high alpine meadows — all beginner-friendly.
A collection of the most inspiring Pacific Crest Trail stories and resources from the hiking community. Read real thru-hiker journals, transformation tales, and expert trip planning advice that will ignite your PCT dreams.
Why use PackLite? Move from Excel Lists or notes on paper to a structured tool that helps you organize you Gear not just for one trip.
Learn what base weight, trail weight, and carry weight mean — and how to use them to plan smarter.