Sophie Anderson

When it comes to backpacking trips and climbing adventures, a good night's sleep is as important as a sturdy pair of boots. Women hikers and backpackers may have their unique preferences and needs, but one thing remains the same - the need for a reliable, cozy, and lightweight sleeping bag. Today, we are pretty stoked to introduce you to our top pick, the Western Mountaineering UltraLite, a bag...

Attention to all outdoor adventurers, it is time to ready your gear for your next backpacking trip, and we are here to guide you in one of the crucial choices: a sleeping bag. Unarguably, the category's favorite is the Western Mountaineering UltraLite. Why, you may ask? This blog post details all the reasons for this ultimate choice.

From the warmth and temperature rating to its warmth-to-weight...

A hydration pack is a great piece of gear to have on those days when you want to really streamline your outdoor adventure and you need a piece of gear that can keep up with you.

To test out hydration packs we've gone on some 12 hour epics and plenty of quick and fast outings too. We've filled our packs in creeks and rivers and lakes and been rained on enough that we probably could have filled...

The right backpack can make even a heavy load feel pretty reasonable. But the wrong backpack can make you feel like you're carrying around a sack full of potatoes. It's important to get a backpack that doesn't suck.

To test out backpacks we've gone on fast and light missions off the trail and in to the mountains. We've bashed plenty of alders, trudged through rain storms and carried way too much...

A good backpacking backpack will go far with you and can last years, but getting the right one is also important. If you don't get something comfortable, that fits you reasonably well, you might be stuck with a bad backpack for years.

To test out backpacking backpacks we've done week long backpacking trips. We've gone off trail, based through alders, trudged through rain storms and snow storms...

A backpacking hammock is a great alternative to a tent when you want to minimize your footprint and go a little bit lighter (and comfier). Hammocks also really shine in dense forests where there might not be room for a tent. And did we mention they're comfy?

We've set up our backpacking hammocks in dense, pacific northwest rain forests and in alpine meadows where there were only 2 trees in the...

A good camping tent can really make the difference between an enjoyable camping trip and leaving the campsite at 2 AM because you just can't take another minute.

To test out camping tents we've tried out a whole lot of tents to find the ones that breath well and are roomy enough for the number of people they claim to fit. We've also spent plenty of time getting rained on, listened to wind...

Hiking gloves are the perfect piece of gear to throw in your backpack when you're going hiking or backpacking, and we almost always do. Sometimes you don't need them, but when you do need them you sure are glad you thought to bring them.

To test out hiking gloves we went hiking and backpacking in those spring and fall months when you might get a nice day or you might get dipping temperatures and...

Hiking sandals can be really adaptable. You can go hiking in them, but you can also use them for beach hikes or as a second pair of shoes on trips where you'll be doing creek crossings and similar. They're also nice to have along on summer backpacking trips, as a comfy pair of shoes to slip in to once you get to camp.

We've spent a lot of time hiking around in sandals from our base in the...

For those who are looking to slim down from the typical heavy, sweaty hiking boots, hiking shoes are a great option. They usually breath well, they can be really light, and they're a lot easier on your bank account.

To test out hiking shoes we did multi-day trips through the worst mud, roots and slippery bridges that the pacific northwest has to offer. We also scrambled up mountains and slid...