Gear
Baggies: The Only Pair of Hiking Shorts You Need
This is a gear review of and love letter to my Patagonia Baggies shorts. They are the best and only pair of hiking shorts that I (or you) ever need to own. In...
Meet the 2018 Badger Sponsorship Winners!
At the beginning of this month, we unveiled the 2018 Badger Sponsorship, where a handful of aspiring thru-hikers would win some high quality gear, food, and resources, including a grand prize
The 2018 Badger Sponsorship Finalists: Vote For Your Favorite
And then there were twelve. The 2018 Badger Sponsorship received nearly double the number of submissions than last year. This year we reviewed 108 video submissions, smashing our previous record...
AT 2017: The Gear That Actually Worked
Narrowing down your gear and trying to trim ounces from your pack can be one of the most daunting parts of preparing for a thru-hike. You tend to get stuck...
My Top Five Pieces Of 2017 Thru-Hike Gear
Its so fun seeing this flurry of thru-hike planning happening now on The Trek. I love to plan and to do research, so Im having some pleasant, and not-so-pleasant, flashbacks...
Top Backpacks of 2017: Results from the Annual Hiker Survey
In this installment of The Treks 2017 Hiker Survey, we cover backpacks and shake downs. We asked hikers about the frame type, capacity, brand, and model of their backpacks. In...
Top Tents and Hammocks of 2017: Results from the Annual Hiker Survey
For the fourth year, The Trek has surveyed long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) regarding the shelter systems they use - tents, hammocks, and more. Each year, we ask...
Announcing the 2018 Badger Sponsorship!
Calling all 2018 AT, PCT, and CDT thru-hikers!!! The Trek wants to sponsor you! That's right- it's that time of year. The page on the calendar where we give away thousands of dollars...
Planning Gear for your Flip-Flop AT Hike
I planned my gear around what I read about starting a traditional NOBO hike. What I found out was that my seasonal gear for flip-flopping was a bit different.
The Top Sleeping Bags and Quilts of 2017: Results from the Annual Hiker Survey
We surveyed 253 section and thru-hikers who were on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2017. We asked about the temperature, fill, brands, and models of the sleeping bags and hammock...