Many hikers become obsessed with saving weight when deciding on gear for thru-hikes. Cut a few ounces here, save a few grams there — it all adds up. Gradually, we dial in our weight item by item, ...

Kitting out your backpacking gear closet for the first time is pricey. Just getting together the basics—tent, sleeping bag, and backpack—can easily run upwards of $1,000 if you aren’t careful. For ...