The following is an ever-growing list of my favorite resources for hiking and backpacking. I hope you find them as helpful and informative as I did. Be sure to check back here often, as I'm always adding something new to these categories! Recently added links and categories are highlighted in yellow.
Beginner Basics
The 7 Principles Where should I set up my campsite? What should I do with my trash? What factors should I plan for? Answers to these questions and MORE can be found in the seven principles of Leave No Trace. They "provide an easy to understand framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors."
How to Pack and Hoist a Backpack. This article comes from the Intro to Backpacking series by REI. It gives an overview of how and where to pack certain gear items for maximum efficiency, as well as how to properly life and put on your loaded backpack.
How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier. This article from the Hydration Basics series by REI explains the difference between water purifiers and filters, how they work, and lists the pros and cons of each type.
How to Hang a Bear Bag: The Right Way In this blog post, Justin from Into the Backcountry provides a step by step guide for hanging a food bag using the PCT method.
Hanging A Bear Bag—The PCT Method. Another helpful blog post about hanging a food bag using the PCT method, Derek from The Ultimate Hang shares tips, pros & cons, and infographics for how and where to hang your bag.
How to Read a Topo Map. Another article from REI, this one comes from their Intro to Navigation series. It explains how to interpret contour lines, read features, and convert scale distances. All of which include labeled example images.
If You Get Lost - This page from the USFS provides an overview of what to do should you get lost. It breaks down the STOP acronym as well as tips for self-rescue and what essential to carry with you to be prepared.
How to Find Your Way out of the Woods if you are Lost - In this video, Dan from Coalcracker Bushcraft explains the "ray navigation technique" for finding your way back to the trail if you get lost. It is so simple, while being a major game changer in the backcountry skills toolbelt!
How to Build Your Campfire - Everyone's favorite expert on wildfire prevention, Smokey Bear, provides a how-to guide for responsibly building a fire accompanied by adorable info-graphics!
Beginner's Guide To Wilderness and Backcountry Hiking Prep - This short article from the National Park Foundation provides some helpful tips for your first time backpacking in a National Park; including planning, what to pack, and which skills to practice before hitting the trail.
Intermediate & Advanced Know-How
Your All-Inclusive Guide to Building a Fire - This post from Pursuing Outdoors provides a more comprehensive guide to fire building techniques.
The 5 Types of Campfire and When to Use Them - You know how to build a fire, but which method is best for certain situations? This article from Backpacker Magazine has got you covered.
Securing a Tent in Gale-Force Winds - This article from Outside Magazine answers the question: "Is there a proper way to save your tent... in winds over 50 mph?"
Setting Up Your Tent In The Wind - MSR Gear gets Eric Hanson's (from Epic Trails and Backpacking TV) best advice for setting up a tent in high winds in this article and video.
How To Secure A Tent In High Winds - Along the same lines as the previous two articles, this one by Victoria with Wilderness Times provides additional advice for setting up camp in windy conditions.
Crampons Vs. Microspikes For Hiking - While the window for snowy hikes in the Southeast is short, it's good to know which traction device to use should you decide to brave the trails in Winter. In this post from Hikers Daily, David gives explains the difference in crampons and microspikes and which to use based on the conditions.
Crampons vs. Microspikes vs. Snowshoes - On the same topic, this article from Reserve America throws a third type of Winter footwear into the mix: snowshoes.
Tips for a Successful Dry Camping Trip - This post from Gossamer Gear provides some helpful advice for water management when camping in an area without immediate access to a source.
How I Stay Warm in My Tent - In this post from 99boulders, Alex shares 11 tips for staying warm and toasty in freezing temperatures.
Trip Planning and Research
Best Apps For Backpacking & Camping - Backpackers Pantry compiled this list of handy apps for outdoor adventurers, from navigation to star gazing. My personal favorites of which include Gaia GPS, AllTrails, and Peakfinder.
5 Apps To Plan Your Next Hike - Very similar to the article above, this one from Blue Ridge Outdoors includes additional info on hiking apps like Gaia and AllTrails, as well as a few others.
Hiking Project - This site / app is your guide to over 78,000 trails "added by hikers like you." Here you'll find descriptions of trails across the US and internationally. Entries include photos, difficulty ratings, check-ins, an interactive map, and more! It's a more curated alternative to AllTrails in my opinion.
Hiking Upward - The team of contributors on this site provide incredibly detailed information for a number of day hikes and backpacking routes across North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.
How To Plan A Backpacking Trip - In this post from The Big Outside, Michael shares practical advice for planning a backpacking trip. Number 8 on the list is one I think a lot of backpackers, myself especially, can relate to.
The best weather apps for hiking - This article from Advnture.com provides info on a variety of apps and websites backpackers and hikers can use to gather weather reports for summits and backcountry areas. I was introduced to my new favorite weather site, Windy.com, through this article.
Backcountry Weather Forecasts - In this post from Clever Hiker, Dave and Annie give four quick tips for checking the forecast leading up to a trip, the last of which is spot on!
Preparing for a Long Backpacking Trip - In this post from Section Hiker, Phillip shares some of the steps he took to prepare for a 14 day solo hike in Scotland! The advice and process he shares is very relatable to meticulous planner types like myself.
Long Distance Backpacking Meals - On a related note, Phillip from Section Hiker shares about preparing meals for longer trips in this post. He details his experience packing meals for a trip through the 100 mile wilderness in addition to the weight of each one in ounces.
Suggested Backcountry Trips - Planning a trip to Shenandoah? The National Park Service has taken a ton of the guess work out of building an itinerary with these trip suggestions. There are dozens of route options listed with something for every experience level. Best of all, each option has a downloadable PDF with a sample itinerary.
Top 5 Smoky Mountains National Park Backpacking Trails - Want to backpack the Smokies, but aren't sure where to go? GSMNP.com has you covered with 5 trip suggestions. They include estimated mileage for each trip, a short overview of the routes, and tips for visiting the park.
Guidebooks
Best Hikes of the Appalachian Trail: South - From Springer to Shenandoah, Johnny Molloy details the best trips along the Southeastern part of the AT. There are three books in this series: South, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. Each of which are great reference guides for those who want to experience all this iconic recreation trail has to offer in their area, but aren't sure where to start.
Backpacking North Carolina - This "definitive guide to 43 can't-miss trips from mountains to sea" by Joe Miller is one of my go-to guides. Despite being over a decade old, I find myself refencing this book for many of my excursions through North Carolina.
Hiking the Carolina Mountains - While a good bit of the info in this 16 year old book by Danny Bernstein is out of date, it still provides a lot of practical advice for planning and executing a hike. While some parts of the trails it describes remain the same, it's fascinating to see the parts that have changed between now and then. In a way, opening this book is like opening time capsule.
Foothills Trail Guidebook - Don't embark on your 76 mile long journey without reading this first! The official Foothills Trail Guide has been providing section hikers and thru-hikers with all the need to know info for hiking this trail since 1983!
Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods - Even if you don't intend to use it for foraging, this field guide by Thomas Elias and Peter Dykeman is a great way to get to know the local flora a little better.
Tips Tricks and Hacks
14 Expert-Level Backpacking Hacks - Diane from MomGoesCamping shares unique and innovative ways to use your gear as well as the resources around you while backpacking and camping.
8 Backpacking Hacks You've Maybe Never Heard Of - In this article from Garage Grown Gear, Amy shares a variety of lesser known backpacking hack. My favorite of which is adding a SOL Bivy to your sleep system. I can attest to the fact that it does work! Like the author though, I made the mistake of using the emergency version instead of the breathable Escape Lite version the first time around. Live and learn!
11 Backpacking Hacks You've Never Thought Of - Although many of the hacks complied on this list are fairly well-known by now, there's a chance of picking up something new from this article on the Outdoor Gear Exchange website.
The hosts of the First 40 Miles podcast (Josh & Heather) published not one, not two, but THREE volumes of their backpacking hacks book. These are the "Tried and true tricks of the trail" their family has compiled over the years while backpacking together. Backpacking Hacks Volume 1, Backpacking Hacks Volume 2 and Backpacking Hacks Volume 3 can be found on Amazon.
Yes: You Can Dehydrate Salad for the Trail - The tips for making trail-friendly salad in this Backpacker Magazine article are absolutely genius! I've been tinkering with all kinds combinations for making my own trail salad recipes since reading it.
Gear & Clothing Resale
REI Used Gear - REI members can shop deals on gently used gear as well as trade in their own gear for store credit. I've found some incredible deals on sleeping pads, tents, and more!
Gear Trade - Shop for and sell used gear here! You'll find items from top brand for just about every outdoor activity.
Mercari - You can find just about anything on Mercari including backpacking gear and outdoor clothing! I've bought and sold all kinds of used gear here.
eBay - At one time the top online marketplace in the world, eBay is still a great place to find deals on used as well as new gear.
Poshmark - You can find gently used outdoor clothing and accessories from brands like Patagonia, Columbia, even Outdoor Research!
Goodwill Finds - Goodwill has expanded to online sales. You can now search for used outdoor clothing and accessories in stores across the US at a significant discount.
DIY Gear Supplies and Replacement Parts
Hoffman Outdoor Gear Supply - Hoffman carries fabrics, insulation, cordage, zippers, plastic hardware, and more. They also sell CNOC products, HydroBlu filtration systems, and Yukon Fire Boxes. They have just about everything you need for repairing and making your own gear.
Strapworks - Ropes, cords, webbing, metal hardware, plastic hardware, and hook & loop are just a few of the products they carry. Strapworks has the widest variety of strap and webbing options in terms of color, pattern, and sizing.
Ripstop By The Roll - Ripstop by the Roll carries a variety of outdoor fabrics including Dyneema. They also offer Print on Demand, DIY kits, and patterns. Not sure about which fabric to use? You can request samples before deciding on one for your project.
Stitchback DIY Trail Gear - Stitchback offers a number of patterns for making your own gear. Their articles offer helpful tips for making specific pieces. They also have a list on their site of where to source materials for your projects.
DutchWare - Similar to Hoffman and Strapworks, you can find various fabrics and accessories for making and repairing gear here. Unlike some of the others on this list DutchWare carries components for pole sets (tent & tarp) including DAC Featherlite segments, 3 prong hubs, and end caps.
Downloadable PDFs
Here's a three day trip itinerary template I put together. Included are spaces for daily route details, estimated mileage, trailhead / parking info, and any important contact numbers. As a safety measure, I leave a copy with my people at home before every trip.
This is my personal backpacking gear checklist. I keep a printed copy of this on the wall of my gear room to reference while packing for trips.
Another gear checklist I keep a copy of in my gear room. This one includes everything my canine companions need for a trip.
What are some of your favorite resources for hiking and backpacking? Tell me all about it in the comments!