Hiking & Climbing Gear
Jun 25 2025
Mountaineering demands far more from equipment than ordinary hiking. A climber may begin the day on a dirt trail, cross loose rock and snowfields, rope up for glacier travel, climb steep ice, endure strong winds near a summit, and descend after dark—all during the same outing. That variety is what makes choosing mountaineering gear challenging. …
Jun 24 2025
Mount Rainier is one of the great mountaineering objectives in North America. Rising to 14,410 feet (4,392 meters) in Washington’s Cascade Range, the active volcano is the highest mountain in Washington and the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. But climbing Mount Rainier is very different from simply hiking a difficult mountain …
Apr 30 2025
Hiking in hot weather can be beautiful, but high temperatures change what you need to carry and how you should approach the trail. A comfortable hike on a cool spring morning can become much more demanding when the same route is exposed to intense summer sun. Hot-weather hiking gear is not simply about staying comfortable. …
Apr 12 2025
Planning your first mountain climbing adventure? Make sure you have all the necessary gear with this ultimate equipment list for beginners.
Dec 21 2024
Mountain climbing exposes you to some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth—but it can also expose your skin and eyes to unusually intense ultraviolet radiation. Elevation, long hours above treeline, highly reflective snow and ice, and limited shade can combine to make sun protection an essential part of a climber’s safety system. Even cool …
Nov 05 2024
For outdoor photographers, a backpack has to do considerably more than carry a camera. It needs to protect delicate equipment, distribute weight comfortably, provide quick access when a fleeting shot appears, and still leave enough room for the water, food, clothing, navigation equipment, and emergency supplies required for a safe day in the mountains. That …
Nov 04 2024
Packing a hiking backpack sounds simple until you are standing at the trailhead wondering whether you remembered your rain jacket, headlamp, extra water, first-aid supplies—or the one piece of equipment you will desperately wish you had six miles from the car. A good hiking packing list is not about carrying everything imaginable. It is about …
Nov 03 2024
A good hiking backpack does not have to cost several hundred dollars. For many hikers, the sweet spot is considerably lower: a well-designed pack with dependable fabric, comfortable shoulder straps, sensible organization, enough structure for the intended load, and perhaps a few extras such as hydration compatibility or an included rain cover. The challenge is …
Sep 30 2024
A good mountaineering backpack has to do much more than carry food and clothing. It may need to haul a rope, helmet, ice axe, crampons, climbing hardware, extra insulation, emergency equipment, and overnight gear while remaining stable enough for scrambling, snow travel, and technical climbing. That makes choosing a mountaineering backpack different from choosing an …
Sep 29 2024
A torn pack, snapped tent pole, broken boot lace, or punctured sleeping pad can turn a minor inconvenience into a serious problem when you are miles from the trailhead. In mountaineering terrain, where weather changes quickly and equipment may be exposed to rock, ice, snow, wind, and repeated abrasion, carrying a small repair kit can …
