Is a Tent Footprint Worth It?
Yes and no, but mostly no. A tent footprint protects the underside of the tent from abrasion and moisture, helping to extend the lifespan of the tent and keep it drier on the inside. Footprints…
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Conservation Advocacy Toolkit
November 12, 2024 After last Tuesday’s election, a change of U.S. leadership is underway that will influence environmental policy for years to come. Just as we have done with every administration, the Appalachian Mountain Club...
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Know This Hiking Boot Lacing Technique: The Heel Lock
Here’s the video, which should help clarify things: I wouldn’t have bruised and blackened my toenails last week if I had taken the time to employ one of my favorite hiking boot lacing techniques: the…
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The Best Emergency Tinder for Starting a Fire? I...
Any survival kit should have the tools to start an emergency fire. A firestarter (waterproof matches, flint, etc.) is the crucial item, but a close second is quick-to-light emergency tinder to get the fire going,…
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Why Do Gore-Tex Boots Get Wet Inside?
Gore-Tex hiking boots are supposed to be waterproof, right? Well, they are—except when they’re not. My standard hiking footwear is a pair of Vasque Sundowner Classics, which include a Gore-Tex liner. I’ve worn them in…
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Tent Trail Weight vs. Packed Weight
How much weight will a tent add to your pack? It depends. Manufacturers list two weights for tents, trail weight and packed weight. Neither is truly accurate. Packed weight refers to how much the entire…
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The Best Tent Snow Stakes
Snow stakes are designed to anchor a tent in compacted snow. They aren’t absolutely necessary to pitch a winter tent—you can also create anchors by using buried objects in the snow, or “deadmen”—but they are…
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The Highest Calorie Candy Bars
I’m always on a quest to pack maximum backcountry calories for minimum weight, especially during the winter season when calorie burn runs particularly high. I’ve detailed the highest calorie trail foods out there in a…
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Internal Frame vs. External Frame Packs
Discover the pros and cons of these two common pack designs. Over the past two decades, backpack design has increasingly shifted away from external frames to internal frames. Indeed, it can be difficult these days…
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The World’s Brightest Flashlight: Enough Power to Set Paper...
Brightness is typically indicated in lumens, a measure of the total output of a light source. A classic Mini Maglite flashlight peaks at around 15 lumens. A typical LED headlamp puts out roughly 50 to…
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