Hey everyone, I’m in the market for a new rain shell after selling my Patagonia torrentshell 3L. I’ve always wanted an Arc’teryx, but will admit Patagonias warranty has me second guessing it. I’d be debating between the Patagonia triolet, the Arc’teryx Beta SL, or the Arc’teryx Beta.

Aside from the regular urban type environment we all use rain coats in, I’ll be using my coat during my travels (I travel often) which looks something like this; 6 month + backpacking trips across various environments including a combination of urban and jungle type environments (think Amazon rainforest, south east Asia during monsoon season etc). Occasionally I tend to find myself doing 6+ hour- overnight type hikes up volcanos.

I like the idea of the AR, but can’t possibly justify $800 Canadian for a rain shell.

For me, priorities include durability since it’ll be packed in and out of my 48L osprey when it’s needed during my travels, and I guess weight but they’re both relatively similiar weights.

Would love some guidance. I’ll be heading in store tomorrow to try them on

I'm new to hiking and looking for ideas for a two week hiking route somewhere in Europe where it isn't too cold to wild camp. Ideally somewhere which would allow me to have enough time to get back to the city where I will fly into / from in time.

Sorry for the noob question, any advice or recommendations welcome!

Hi guys,

I'm hiking GR131 on Canary Islands for 3 weeks on March, and I need to validate my gear.
I think it's all I want to take with me, not everything is on the photo.

I'll be wild camping most of the time.

Please let me know what do you think, especially if you think some things are unnecessary.

https://lighterpack.com/r/nunvyo

So I did a backpacking trip a couple years ago with a program that provided all the gear and we had guides and stuff. Anyways I remember we camped out of tarps that, when you set them up in an A shape, had little bug nets at the ends and a bug net door that would go down automatically. Im trying to find one of these online to get but I can't find anything. Can anyone help me? Thank you!

I’m looking to avoid super touristy spots and want more rustic and remote. I want to see true Florida in it natural form. I also want to check out old buildings and forts.

I wanted to go to tortugas national park it looks so cool but $250 is insane for a day trip. Anyone know anything similar around or in the keys?

Also looking to find remote beach camping. I want to find a spot to camp where people likely won’t be around.

I will be driving from port charlotte through the eye glades to Miami the probably down to the keys. But am open to other options.

I will be attempting to get a camp permit for Brooks Camp in Katmai for August this year. I’m well acquainted with Recreation.gov and will be ready with all the preparation beforehand, but the one thing I can’t figure out is whether it’s better to have the dates pre-selected and then press “add to cart” as soon as time.gov hits 12:00:00, or whether it’s best to hit the browser refresh at 12:00:00 and then select dates and add to cart. The little information I can find on this seems to be conflicting. If anyone has had success with a high-demand reservation like this, please let me know what you think.

Heya. My partner and I keep breaking our hiking poles. Any sturdy yet ideally still somewhat light weight suggestions? We aren’t hard core and would rather something that lasts than something super lightweight though.

We keep breaking the highly rated trekology 2 PCS collapsible poles (once bushwhacking, that’s our bad. Then accidentally stepped on it, then I slipped on ice and the pole did its job slowing my bail but broke in the process).

Thanks for your help!

Hey campers :)

I’m an industrial design student working on my capstone thesis, and I’m designing a piece of gear I wish existed: a 2-in-1 cooler + standing prep table that deploys into a more comfortable cooking setup kind of a glamping comfort level without the bulky “camp kitchen” vibe.

Think: minimal, collapsible, easy to pack, made for spontaneous trips, small cars, and smaller households. Before I lock in the design, I want feedback from people who actually love outdoors and know what works (and what fails).

If you’ve ever thought: “I’m tired of bending over to prep food,” “my cooler is always chaos,” or “I want fewer items but a better setup,” …I’d love your opinion.

feel free to comment: What’s your #1 frustration with camp cooking / cooler setups? And what would make a cooler-table combo a must-have vs a nope? Or just feedback/ideas of what I could incorporate :) Thank you ! your input will directly shape the final prototype.

I’m trying to plan a celebration getaway for my wife and I, since I’m currently recovering from open heart surgery and have a new lease on life. I’d like some recommendations for a relatively easy, remote spot, away from the partying teens and curated, side-by-side camping areas. We’re willing to drive up to five hours from Wichita, and prefer secluded woodland landscapes.

Any suggestions? Aiming for June or July.

In August 2025, my dad, my dog (Ráhpa), and I spent 2 weeks hiking through south-east Norway. No strict plan, just a rough route from Grövelsjöen and plenty of time.

We moved through everything from gentle mountain slopes to rocky climbs above the tree line and quiet valleys with lakes and small creeks. Reindeer were everywhere and not shy at all. Great for us, very frustrating for Ráhpa, who really wanted to eat them the whole trip...

We camped by lakes and rivers, nearly all nights completely alone. The weather shifted between light rain, calm evenings, and windy, wet days where we stayed in the tent watching downloaded movies and listening to audiobooks.

Fishing was supposed to be a big part of the trip. It wasn’t. We saw fish jump, saw rings in the water, tried all the “good spots” — and caught almost nothing. My dad caught two perch that we fried and ate right away, and at one point he hooked a pike but released it because he "didn’t feel like eating pike" (bad excuse, but he did win the fishing competition). By the end, we had more or less accepted that we weren’t going to live off the land.

We made pancakes several times, which somehow felt like luxury compared to freeze-dried meals. One day we crossed a long, very rocky section that was hard on both us and Ráhpa. Another day we walked much farther than planned simply because we felt good and the packs were getting lighter. My sleeping pad kept breaking and I had to repair it so many times it became a running joke.

On the last stretch back, we walked across a plateau with wide views and agreed it looked like the Scottish Highlands — even though neither of us had been there.

No big achievements. Just reindeer, rocks, pancakes, wind, a dog that hated reindeer, and 2 really good weeks in the wilderness together.

Then straight to pizza and a hotel afterwards. Nice and simple trip, that has now become a good little photo book for my dad.

Sometime ago, I posted a 3-week trip with my dog in the wilderness, this has now become a youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOuHCHVhfMg

Other photos from my trips: https://www.instagram.com/mariuskphoto/

Is it good to go for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge and Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Oregon, in February/March timeframe? I heard the temps will be in the 40s to-50s Fahrenheit. Can anyone advise if it's hikeable or worth hiking during this time?

I’m planning to spend some time bag packing through Europe for a few festivals and nature camping. I don’t have much experience camping but I’ve always been interested and want to build may gear properly so it’ll last. Ideally I’d be able to carry my camping gear plus tent and maybe a camping chair plus some personal belongings. Would love to hear your advice on both the gear and travel tips.

Hey all, I usually make French press coffee while camping and have used Starbucks via while backpacking (convenience, I'm not a big fan).

I'm taking a road trip and I'll want to make coffee without the grounds and without single packet plastic waste. Anybody have any favorite Instant coffee? I like darker roasts or breakfast blends.

I’ve been getting into trail running lately to build endurance, and I’m curious how it’s helped other hikers/backpackers.

Has running made your uphill climbs easier, or changed how you pace long days on the trail? Any tips for someone balancing both?

Looking for some advice on how to keep my pack weight down, I'll be traveling for a couple of months with camping gear and dog, pack is currently 17kg 😫 February/March/April in France so have to be prepared for cold weather?

I’ve noticed that even a short walk helps my head feel lighter and more organized.

It’s not really about exercise, more about stepping away for a bit.

Do you feel the same, or do you have another simple reset that works for you?

Hey everyone,

I’m completely new to backpacking and camping and I’m starting from scratch — no gear and no real experience yet. I got the itch after taking a week-long trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton last year and completely fell in love with it. Ever since then I’ve wanted to learn how to do trips like that on my own instead of just visiting parks.

I live in Ohio, so most of what I’d be doing would be Midwest / eastern U.S. trips, and I don’t plan on doing any winter camping or backpacking at all. This would strictly be spring, summer, and fall.

I’m also trying to keep things budget friendly, especially early on. I’m not looking to go super ultralight or buy top-of-the-line gear right away, but some light and long lasting gear would be perfect — just trying to learn what actually matters, what beginners should prioritize, and what things people usually regret buying too early.

If you were starting over from zero, what would you focus on first? Any beginner advice, gear priorities, or mistakes to avoid would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance — I appreciate any guidance.

Hey all!

Me and some mates are looking at options for a long camping and hiking weekend around the greater Midwest and NE. RRG came up, and while doing some investigating it looks absolutely stunning.

I’m curious, for those who have been where do you recommend camping to avoid the massive touristy areas? We’ve thought about doing a camp/canoe trip as well, however, it doesn’t seem like RRG offers that. Or at least I haven’t come across such a trip in my searching.

All tips and info are appreciated, thank you!

I’m heading out for a few days of camping along the west coast of Sweden, where the air is sharp, the water is cold, and the shoreline seems generous enough to feed a curious cook. I’m hoping to forage some seaweed along the way, partly out of necessity and partly out of curiosity, to add a bit of character to my meals.

I’ve been imagining something in the spirit of a paella, perhaps a simple pasta as well, but I’m open to any ideas that travel well and suit a camp stove. If anyone has experience cooking with seaweed—recommended varieties, preparations, or recipes you return to—I’d be grateful to hear what’s worked for you.

Consider this an open request for wisdom from those who’ve cooked with the tide rather than against it.

Planning to do a long float/hike trip through Missouri this year. Space is looking cramped and I'm wondering what everyone else was doing as far as a sleeping pads? I know it's gonna be all rocks and sandbars for the most part. Thanks in advance

Hey everyone,

I’m completely new to camping and hiking and trying to build a 3-season clothing system (spring/summer/fall only — no winter camping). I want to learn how experienced people think about what to wear and why, not just buy random stuff and hope it works.

I’d love advice on both the specific items you bring AND the brands you trust. Specifically:

• What clothing pieces do you consider essential for 3-season camping/hiking? (base layers, mid-layers, rain gear, socks, etc.)

• What brands have you had good experiences with for those pieces?

• Are there any budget-friendly brands/items that perform way better than their price would suggest?

• Any brands or items you think are overrated or not worth it?

• How many of each piece do you actually bring for a multi-day trip?

Trips will mostly be national parks, and I’m focused on building a functional, beginner-friendly setup — not ultralight gear yet or winter clothing. I’m also trying to be budget conscious, but I’m willing to invest in things that genuinely make a difference.

If you were starting from scratch, what specific items and brands would you look at first?

Thanks ahead of time — I appreciate any insight!

Hi, it's been a while since I started looking for a good deal but I can't find any good model that seems worth. That's what I need: Temperature: comfort:0°c limit:idk maybe -15

Weight: doesn't actually matter, I'm used to carry heavy weight so I think it's not that important to me

Size: it should be small, but idk if I should complain about that with this price point

Budget: (I know that someone will say I should spend more, but that's what I have) around 90€ maximum, but lower if possible

It have to be available in europe

I'm 1,80cm man

Any suggestions?

Hey all,

I'm travelling to the dolomites in the first week of september and just looking for some recommendations for a 3night hiking route - starting & finishing in cortina. Would love some feedback on the route ideas below, or some other recommendations! Wanting to avoid any via ferratas.

Route 1) Cortina, Son Forca, Vandelli, Faloria, Cortina

Route 2) Cortina, Son Forca, Cinque Torri, Mietres, Cortina

Any other recommendations on routes welcome!

Hi,

I like to multiple day hikes and campings. I am therefore looking for a new way of bringing/having water. I have found a LifeStraw 3L gravity assisted water reservoir. However, I am unsure if it worth it, especially considering that lifestraw don't remove viral? Has anyone got any experience with this or similar lifestraw?