Patrice and Justin La Vigne are freelance writers and self-proclaimed nomads. When not working on the road educating about Leave No Trace and Zero Landfill practices, home base is a dry cabin in ...

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If you’ve gone backpacking anytime in the last decade you’ve probably noticed that thru hiking backpacks are starting to get small—really small. The 70-liter external-frame packs of yore are quickly ...

Thru hiking backpacks are made for those who embark on multi-day hikes on long trails like the Appalachian Trail (AT) or the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For thru hikers, a reliable pack that is light, ...

Not all hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail (or any long-distance thru-hike) begin this way, but somewhere along the route, nearly every hiker turns into a “weight weenie.” The affectionate moniker goes ...

A thru-hike — yes, “thru,” not “through” — is the ultimate test of any piece of gear. Hikers who undertake these treks total their miles in the thousands, and push backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and ...

At Backpacker, we throw the term "thru-hiking" around a lot. But if you’re just dipping your toe into the world and been afraid to ask, you've come to the right place. Here's a primer on this special ...