Front-Loading vs Top-Loading Backpacks
Front-loading vs top-loading backpacks compared: how each opens, packs, carries and handles rain, plus which style suits travel, hiking and carry-on use.
Tipstest: practical travel, outdoor and gear guides
Cover storyOutdoor Guides
Trail Permits and Closures: What Hikers Should Know
Trail permits and closures explained: permit types, passes vs permits, how to apply, why trails close, how to check conditions and mistakes to avoid.
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Travel TipsPractical travel planning advice: how to plan a trip step by step, build a realistic budget, pack the right things, and prepare for the details that usually go wrong.48 guides
Outdoor GuidesBeginner-friendly camping and hiking guides that cover preparation, safety, skills and checklists.50 guides
Gear Tests & ReviewsClear buying guides and comparisons for travel and outdoor gear, from backpacks and tents to footwear and clothing layers.55 guides
Active LifestyleWalking, beginner outdoor activities and active travel ideas for everyday life.24 guidesTravel Tips
Practical travel planning advice: how to plan a trip step by step, build a realistic budget, pack the right things, and prepare for the details that usually go wrong.
How to Fly With a Toddler
How to fly with a toddler: book around naps, choose lap or own seat, pack a smart carry-on, get through security with milk and snacks, and calm meltdowns.
Field note
To cook while camping, choose a simple cooking method such as a camp stove, set up a stable kitchen area away from your tent, and plan easy meals you prep at home.
Outdoor Guides
Beginner-friendly camping and hiking guides that cover preparation, safety, skills and checklists.
Hiking With Your Dog: Trail Rules and Tips
Hiking with your dog: trail and leash rules, where dogs are allowed, what to pack, trail etiquette, and how to keep your dog safe from heat, water and wildlife.
Spring Hiking: Mud, Snowmelt and Trail Conditions
Spring hiking tips for mud, lingering snow, snowmelt crossings and fickle weather, plus how to check trail conditions, what to wear and when to turn back.
Basic First Aid Skills for Hikers
Learn basic first aid skills for hikers: assessing injuries, calling for help, blisters, cuts, bleeding, sprains, heat and cold illness, and what to carry.
Gear Tests & Reviews
Clear buying guides and comparisons for travel and outdoor gear, from backpacks and tents to footwear and clothing layers.
Active Lifestyle
Walking, beginner outdoor activities and active travel ideas for everyday life.
Every guide, newest first
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Front-Loading vs Top-Loading Backpacks
Front-loading vs top-loading backpacks compared: how each opens, packs, carries and handles rain, plus which style suits travel, hiking and carry-on use.
-
Trail Permits and Closures: What Hikers Should Know
Trail permits and closures explained: permit types, passes vs permits, how to apply, why trails close, how to check conditions and mistakes…
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Summer Camping Tips
Summer camping tips for beginners: how to pick a cool campsite, keep your tent and food cold, handle heat, bugs and storms,…
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How to Identify Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Learn how to identify poison ivy, oak and sumac in every season, tell them from lookalike plants, avoid contact on the trail…
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What to Wear Hiking
What to wear hiking: how to layer, which fabrics to choose and avoid, the right shoes and socks, and what to change…
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Camping Clothing Checklist
A camping clothing checklist covering base layers, warm midlayers, rain gear, sleep clothes, shoes and seasonal changes, plus how many clothes to…
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How to Cook While Camping
Learn how to cook while camping with simple methods, a tidy camp kitchen, easy meal ideas, food safety basics, campfire tips and…
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How to Fly With a Toddler
How to fly with a toddler: book around naps, choose lap or own seat, pack a smart carry-on, get through security with…
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Road Trip Car Essentials
Use this road trip car essentials checklist to pack documents, an emergency kit, tech, food, comfort items and seasonal gear, plus pre…
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Airport Checklist: What to Do Before Your Flight
An airport checklist for your next flight: what to do a week before, the day before and at the airport, from documents…