Hot Hiking Posts

How To: Hold trekking poles

Kristin Hostetter, Backpacker's Gear editor, shows you how to hold trekking poles to hike longer and higher with fewer aches and pains. Learn more from Backpacker's Gear School in the March 2007 Gear Guide.

How To: Fit a hiking backpack correctly

Finding out your torso length is half the battle. Backpacker's Gear editor Kristin Hostetter explains all the strategies to you need to find a good-fitting backpack--from how to simulate a fully-loaded pack, to what to look for in hip belts and shoulder straps. Learn how to find your perfect pack at Gear School - straight from the pages of the March 2007 Gear Guide.

How To: Measure your torso length for pack fitting

Knowing your torso length is crucial to finding the best-fitting backpack for your body type. Don't estimate a pack size using the clothing standbys of tall, medium, and petite: a 6-foot guy can have a shorter torso length than a 5'10" woman. Backpacker's Gear editor Kristin Hostetter explains the correct way to measure your torso length. Learn more important skills with Backpacker's Gear School videos - straight from the pages of the March 2007 Gear Guide.

How To: Fit boots for hiking

Learn how to buy a pair of hiking boots, and what you can do to prevent blisters, sore arches, even chronic foot problems in 6 easy steps. Backpacker magazine editors Jason Stevenson and Jackie Ney show you how. Learn more from Backpacker's Gear School in the March 2007 Gear Guide, and at www.backpacker.com/video.

How To: Prevent blisters on the trail

Backpacker editor-in-chief Jon Dorn explains 5 field-tested techniques for eliminating the three main causes of blisters: heat, moisture, and friction. Learn more from Backpacker's Gear School in the March 2007 Gear Guide, and at www.backpacker.com/video.

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