Pointing out gender-based differences today is not the best ice-breaker, unless you’re idea of “ice breaker” looks like this. However, when we get asked about why we have women’s mattresses, or why women’s EN-sleeping bag data is different than men’s,…
MoreEarlier this May, I was one of five Therm-a-Rest employees on a three day bikepacking trip in north-central Washington & southern British Columbia. Bikepacking, or loaded mountain bike touring, is a great way to explore the backroads and trails of…
MoreThe art of a responsible backcountry campfire is right up there with the art of the backcountry poo. Both are incredibly enjoyable, in their own unique ways, and both are more frequently practiced poorly than we all might like, leaving…
MoreBackpacking TV is a one-stop-shop to get all the basics before you head out on your first backpack. This week’s episode gives you the essentials of choosing your first sleeping bag and mattress. Down vs. synthetic, warmth ratings, and what…
MoreNow that winter is in the rearview mirror (officially anyway), hikers all over the country are dusting off their boots and preparing for summer hikes ahead. Kick off the season on June 6th with American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day….
MoreThe parallels between backpacking and relationships are innumerable, if not completely contrived for the sake of this introduction. For instance, take Paul Simon and me. We’ve never been in a relationship, but he thinks there are 50 ways to leave…
MoreAmerica’s first National River, the mighty Buffalo, runs 153 miles through rough, wild terrain in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. I consider it my river. I grew up here—paddling in the spring and early summer, hiking in the fall. I know the…
MoreWe saw this post on Reddit and laughed like these guys for a full minute. I mean seriously, it’s pretty flattering to have your own meme on the interwebs, and we firmly believe that you should always be ready to…
MoreWe often view trips—and especially outdoor exploits—as a chance to “get away.” Traffic, people, cell phones, computers, laundry, grocery lists, etc: a trip to the mountains can be a great reset button when life in society is feeling overwhelming. Kim…
MoreThe first time I ever drove into southwest Utah, I had a sneaking suspicion I’d fall for it. The red rock walls and arches around Moab were unlike anything else I’d seen. Though I barely knew anything about the landscape…
MoreStory by Leif Whittaker, Photos by Freya Fenwood During a two-week ski trip to the north island of Japan, four friends and I learned some valuable tricks for staying comfortable, safe, respectful, and well fed in the land of deep…
MoreEver wish you could do what you love for a living? What if backpacking, road-tripping or paddling paid the bills? Meet Mike Morin and Amanda Peterson, aka the Access Fund Conservation Team. Sponsored in-part by Therm-a-Rest, this dynamic duo has…
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