Hiking
All my hiking-related tips, guides, stories, resources, and gear recommendations from my time spent chasing trails.
Helpful Hiking Resources
Day Hiking Checklist
Ultralight Backpacking Gear List
How to Meal Plan for Backpacking
2020’s Best Gifts for Hikers
Complete Hiking & Backpacking Resources Guide
Essential Backpacking Gear: 15 Items I Can’t Hike Without
If you’re on a quest for essential backpacking gear — the top-notch items that’ll enrich your life on the trail — you’ve come to the right place. Why? Because I’m a hopeless ultralight backpacking junkie, and I’m itching to nerd out over my 15 all-time favorite pieces of gear. Health, happiness, and comfort in […]
Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket Review
Price: $199 MSRP – Check Price on Montbell Noel’s Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Pros: Lightweight, packable, full-featured, great fit, breathable Cons: Wets out after long rain exposure, pricey Weight: 6.4 oz | 182 grams Women’s Model: Versalite Jacket Lighter Option: Enlightened Equipment Visp – 4.9 oz | 140 grams Budget Alternative: Outdoor Research Helium […]
Budget Backpacking Gear: Cheap 10 lb Ultralight Kit [~$500]
Quality backpacking gear has a reputation for being pricey, but I’m here to show you that it’s entirely possible to put together an affordable ultralight setup on a $500 budget. That’s right; you can get your hands on a brand-new backpacking gear kit with a 10-pound base weight without having to max out your […]
Columbine Lake Trail: Superb Hiking Near Silverton, Colorado
Columbine Lake Trail in San Juan National Forest My step-for-step route I arrived at Silverton’s Columbine Lake Trailhead on an ominously overcast afternoon with dull thunder rumbling overhead and cold rain sprinkling down. I started the high-elevation hike against my better judgment, unsure of what the weather would bring. But the dark clouds […]
Herman Gulch Trail: Incredible CDT Day Hiking Near Denver
Herman Gulch Trail in Arapaho National Forest The Herman Gulch Trail is undoubtedly one of the best day hikes near Denver. With its trailhead situated just an hour’s drive from the heart of Colorado’s bustling capital, this Arapaho National Forest hiking gem is as beautiful as it is easy to reach. Over its […]
The Best Gifts for Hikers & Backpackers in 2021
It’s hard to buy gifts for hikers and backpackers in 2021. I get it. We’re a gear-hungry bunch who spends an obscene amount of time searching for products that’ll take our trail game to the next level. Choosing a present for a hiker that’s both unique and worthwhile can get overwhelming because we don’t […]
Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka Review
Price: $439 MSRP – Check Price on Montbell Noel’s Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars Pros: Extremely warm and lightweight, very comfortable, full set of features Cons: Not very water-resistant, slightly delicate, expensive Weight: 8.4 oz Women’s Model: Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka Lighter Option: Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Jacket: 4.8 oz Budget Option: Superior Down Parka: $209 […]
What to Bring on a Day Hike: The Essential Gear [Full Checklist]
Okay, I’ll admit it: years ago, I would never have been qualified to tell you what to bring on a day hike. I used to set off on trails completely unprepared for the twists and turns that lay ahead. I’ve left my rain jacket in my car, and hiked unsuspectingly into chilling alpine storms. […]
Montbell Permafrost Light Down Parka: Women’s Jacket Review
Price: $279 MSRP – Check Price on Montbell Keri’s Rating: 4.8 of 5 stars Pros: Great weight to warmth ratio; practically waterproof; extremely comfortable Cons: No internal zippered pockets; a tad bulky for ultralight backpacking Weight: 13.8 oz Men’s Model: Permafrost Light Down Parka Lighter Option: Alpine Light Down Parka: 12 oz Budget Option: Highland Parka: $149 […]
Get Paid to Hike: 10 Hiking Jobs to Make Money on the Trail
Mark Twain once said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This quote is a bit overused and might even be considered a cliché, but Mr. Twain wasn’t lying, even when it comes to us hikers. That’s right, you can get paid to lace up your […]
Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake: Vail Day Hiking at its Finest
Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake Hike I’d been eyeing Vail’s Booth Falls Trail to Booth Lake day hike for a couple of years, and on a perfect Colorado July day, I finally pulled the trigger. The ensuing adventure was a breathtaking and ass-kicking journey through the Gore Mountain Range’s more rugged and raw […]
Chicago Lakes Trail: Colorado’s Stunning Mt. Evans Wilderness
Chicago Lakes Trail in Mount Evans Wilderness The Chicago Lakes Trail exemplifies everything I love in a Colorado day hike, even if its high-elevation ascents had me pouring sweat and gasping for air. I guess it’s hard to complain about such challenges when the trail I was hiking lead to a crystal clear glacial […]
4th of July Trail: Nederland’s Gem (Arapaho Pass + Lake Dorothy)
4th of July Trail Hike to Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy The 4th of July Trail is just a short drive from my hometown, yet I’d never experienced its staggering beauty until my recent hike exploring its wide-open spaces. Hiking the trail’s breathtaking Arapaho Pass to the pristine Lake Dorothy blew my mind at […]
76 Hiking & Backpacking Songs: Unique Music for Your Playlist
I’ve been a little hesitant to share my 76-song playlist of hiking and backpacking music with the world. The whole idea makes me a bit uneasy. See, I’d love to believe that when I’m out hiking, I’m a purist who can walk alone in the wilderness, at one with nature and nothing else. There’s […]
Bukhansan National Park: Hiking Dobongsan’s Jaunbong Peak
Jaunbong Peak Hike in Bukhansan National Park I was bored and stir-crazy, itching for something new. The cramped and hectic streets of Seoul were starting to get under my skin. I needed a break from South Korea’s booming capital of 10 million people. It was time for a nature fix. A scenic hike up […]
Backpacking Food: Meal Plan Tips & Ideas for Your Next Hike
Past attempts at organizing my backpacking food and creating meal plans were always a bit reckless for me. My old approach usually involved jamming a hodgepodge assemblage of hiking food into my over-stuffed bag and hoping for the best. Ensuing days on the trail were spent hiking around dull and nutritionless food, falling short […]
Torres del Paine ‘O’ Circuit: Patagonia’s Top Trek (2021 Guide)
Torres del Paine’s ‘O’ Circuit Trek I’d heard rave reviews about the stunning beauty of Torres del Paine’s ‘O’ Circuit, but I wasn’t prepared for it to take me to a transcendent new world. Towering granite spires, sprawling glaciers, breathtaking mountain passes, intense and ever-changing weather — I experienced it all on every step […]
Laugavegur Trail: 7 Things Iceland’s Insane Weather Taught Me
On July 7th of 2014, I embarked on Iceland’s most famous multi-day trek, the Laugavegur Trail – four days of waterfalls, glaciers, and harsh, unearthly landscape. In short, I was unprepared and my hike was an unmitigated disaster. My situation went from bad to worse in a hurry, and I was left scrambling to […]
Osprey Exos 48 Review: A Formidable Ultralight Backpack
Price: $200 MSRP – Check Price on: Amazon | REI Noel’s Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Pros: Extremely comfortable, lots of useful features, great airflow between back and bag Cons: Not very durable, mesh loosens after time, lid is hard to access Weight: New Model: 37 oz | 1.05 kg My Model: 41 oz | 1.16 […]
Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Review: An Elite Backpacking Boot
Price: $230 MSRP – Check Price on: REI | Amazon | Salomon Noel’s Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars Pros: Very comfortable; no break-in period; excellent ankle support, traction Cons: Relatively expensive; potential durability concerns; bulky Weight: 52.6 oz | 1.49 kg Women’s Model: REI | Amazon | Salomon Lighter Option: Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 GTX: 36.5 […]
20,000 Steps a Day: My Exhausting 30-Day Step Challenge
Disclaimer: My step challenge ended up lasting 31 days, the full month of July. Since I started The Packable Life, I have spent crazy amounts of time sitting and staring at a computer screen. Yes, I enjoy working on my website, but damn, I need to get off my ass more often. I just […]
Backpacking the Atacama: The Eerie Ghost Town of San Bartolo
San Bartolo Hiking & Camping Overview Sunblock and sweat run into my eyes as I trudge through a harsh, unearthly landscape. Ahead, the trail is fading away and a blast furnace sun beats down. A whisper of self-doubt reminds me that I’m completely alone in the middle of the driest desert in the world. […]
Huemul Circuit Guide (Map, Route, Gear, Camping & Weather)
Huemul Circuit Hike Overview Profound Patagonian winds tear into my tent as I begin to realize that sleep is a fleeting possibility. Rest, however, is of little concern. Because I will soon be watching the sunrise over a pastel-blue bay of untainted water. The mountains at my back will burn orange as calving glaciers […]
8.8 lb Ultralight Backpacking Gear List for 2021
I’ve spent years assembling the best ultralight backpacking gear setup for my multi-day hikes into the wilderness, and I’d love to share my 2021 list with you. Because the gear you bring along backpacking will make or break your trip. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. On a 2014 attempted trek of the […]