“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With more trails than stoplights, Kaua’i is a far cry from the bustle of Waikiki or romantic resort life of Maui’s west coast. “The Garden Isle” is best known for its natural and untouched beauty, making it our favorite island for the adventurous...
From our campsite, the green valley rises, steepens, and becomes rocky and cold. Eventually it turns to glacier and then vast, snow-blanketed mountain. I pull the hood of my down jacket tight...
“Do you think that rain is coming our way?” We pedal under the bright sun, constantly glancing nervously over our shoulders as if being chased by a predator...
Located in Chile’s Aysén region, Patagonia National Park (Parque Patagonia, in Spanish) is comprised of three parcels of protected land: Tamango and Jeinemeni National Reserves and the newly established Patagonia Park...
Beams of light shine through the musty windows at the Seven Sisters Tea House in Tilje, Nepal, illuminating tendrils of smoke wafting about the room. The glowing dust and particulates move like an indoor aurora borealis. I momentarily...
“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With more trails than stoplights, Kaua’i is a far cry from the bustle of Waikiki or romantic resort life of Maui’s west coast. “The Garden Isle” is best known for its natural and untouched beauty, making it our favorite island for the adventurous...
From our campsite, the green valley rises, steepens, and becomes rocky and cold. Eventually it turns to glacier and then vast, snow-blanketed mountain. I pull the hood of my down jacket tight...
“Do you think that rain is coming our way?” We pedal under the bright sun, constantly glancing nervously over our shoulders as if being chased by a predator...
Located in Chile’s Aysén region, Patagonia National Park (Parque Patagonia, in Spanish) is comprised of three parcels of protected land: Tamango and Jeinemeni National Reserves and the newly established Patagonia Park...
Beams of light shine through the musty windows at the Seven Sisters Tea House in Tilje, Nepal, illuminating tendrils of smoke wafting about the room. The glowing dust and particulates move like an indoor aurora borealis. I momentarily...
“Remember: sea level is for sissies,” we call out, referring to a sticker we’d purchased the previous day as a nod to our North Vancouver home that sits across the street from the ocean. We repeat this mantra...
With more trails than stoplights, Kaua’i is a far cry from the bustle of Waikiki or romantic resort life of Maui’s west coast. “The Garden Isle” is best known for its natural and untouched beauty, making it our favorite island for the adventurous...
From our campsite, the green valley rises, steepens, and becomes rocky and cold. Eventually it turns to glacier and then vast, snow-blanketed mountain. I pull the hood of my down jacket tight...
“Do you think that rain is coming our way?” We pedal under the bright sun, constantly glancing nervously over our shoulders as if being chased by a predator...
Located in Chile’s Aysén region, Patagonia National Park (Parque Patagonia, in Spanish) is comprised of three parcels of protected land: Tamango and Jeinemeni National Reserves and the newly established Patagonia Park...
Beams of light shine through the musty windows at the Seven Sisters Tea House in Tilje, Nepal, illuminating tendrils of smoke wafting about the room. The glowing dust and particulates move like an indoor aurora borealis. I momentarily...
Of all the outdoor activities we cover here at Switchback Travel, hiking is dearest to our hearts. It is one the easiest ways to get outdoors for people of all experience levels, and simply put, any time spent on the trail has a way of soothing the...
Well-versed campers are comfort experts, and one item they don’t compromise on is a sleeping mattress. Unlike backpacking where weight and packed size are limitations, car camping mats put a premium on plush cushioning and support with thick foam and...
Despite their diminutive size, GPS watches can really pack a punch. These modern timepieces put the power of a GPS device onto your wrist, allowing you to track your movements, follow a preloaded route, or even navigate complex terrain—hands-free....
If you’re searching for the best way to transport bikes, hitch-mounted bike racks are the way to go. Securely attaching to the receiver hitch of your vehicle, they offer unmatched versatility and ease of use. There...
The momentum in hiking footwear is moving away from bulky boots toward lightweight shoes and even trail runners that are faster and more comfortable. You do lose some ankle support when carrying...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. But uses and budgets vary, and the ideal...
Of all the outdoor activities we cover here at Switchback Travel, hiking is dearest to our hearts. It is one the easiest ways to get outdoors for people of all experience levels, and simply put, any time spent on the trail has a way of soothing the...
Well-versed campers are comfort experts, and one item they don’t compromise on is a sleeping mattress. Unlike backpacking where weight and packed size are limitations, car camping mats put a premium on plush cushioning and support with thick foam and...
Despite their diminutive size, GPS watches can really pack a punch. These modern timepieces put the power of a GPS device onto your wrist, allowing you to track your movements, follow a preloaded route, or even navigate complex terrain—hands-free....
If you’re searching for the best way to transport bikes, hitch-mounted bike racks are the way to go. Securely attaching to the receiver hitch of your vehicle, they offer unmatched versatility and ease of use. There...
The momentum in hiking footwear is moving away from bulky boots toward lightweight shoes and even trail runners that are faster and more comfortable. You do lose some ankle support when carrying...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. But uses and budgets vary, and the ideal...
Of all the outdoor activities we cover here at Switchback Travel, hiking is dearest to our hearts. It is one the easiest ways to get outdoors for people of all experience levels, and simply put, any time spent on the trail has a way of soothing the...
Well-versed campers are comfort experts, and one item they don’t compromise on is a sleeping mattress. Unlike backpacking where weight and packed size are limitations, car camping mats put a premium on plush cushioning and support with thick foam and...
Despite their diminutive size, GPS watches can really pack a punch. These modern timepieces put the power of a GPS device onto your wrist, allowing you to track your movements, follow a preloaded route, or even navigate complex terrain—hands-free....
If you’re searching for the best way to transport bikes, hitch-mounted bike racks are the way to go. Securely attaching to the receiver hitch of your vehicle, they offer unmatched versatility and ease of use. There...
The momentum in hiking footwear is moving away from bulky boots toward lightweight shoes and even trail runners that are faster and more comfortable. You do lose some ankle support when carrying...
In choosing the right backpacking tent, you have a wide range of options from minimalist ultralight shelters to inexpensive and heavier entry-level models. But uses and budgets vary, and the ideal...
Osprey has a reputation for building comfortable packs, and the Aether line is one of their best. The brand retooled the collection towards the end of last year, splitting their core offerings in two: a standard...
Beloved by backpackers for years, REI Co-op’s Half Dome has been updated for 2021 with a significant drop in weight. But despite using thinner fabrics (they’re still tough by modern standards), the...
Yakima has been a leader in the cargo roof box game for some time, and their core and arguably most versatile product is the SkyBox Carbonite. We’ve had the 16-cubic-foot-capacity model on the top of our vehicle for a couple years now and have found it...
Taking cues from their new Vectiv trail running collection, The North Face’s Vectiv Exploris is a thoroughly modern shoe that checks most of the boxes we look for in a fast-and-light...
Well-known in the backpacking realm for their sleeping mats, Australia-based Sea to Summit jumped into the tent market this year with the introduction of their freestanding Telos TR and semi-freestanding...
When REI Co-op received their Gore license in 2018, the Stormbolt GTX was one of the first products they released. Like many of their best designs, this shell hits a very desirable mix of price and performance, with a proven and protective 3-layer...
Osprey has a reputation for building comfortable packs, and the Aether line is one of their best. The brand retooled the collection towards the end of last year, splitting their core offerings in two: a standard...
Beloved by backpackers for years, REI Co-op’s Half Dome has been updated for 2021 with a significant drop in weight. But despite using thinner fabrics (they’re still tough by modern standards), the...
Yakima has been a leader in the cargo roof box game for some time, and their core and arguably most versatile product is the SkyBox Carbonite. We’ve had the 16-cubic-foot-capacity model on the top of our vehicle for a couple years now and have found it...
Taking cues from their new Vectiv trail running collection, The North Face’s Vectiv Exploris is a thoroughly modern shoe that checks most of the boxes we look for in a fast-and-light...
Well-known in the backpacking realm for their sleeping mats, Australia-based Sea to Summit jumped into the tent market this year with the introduction of their freestanding Telos TR and semi-freestanding...
When REI Co-op received their Gore license in 2018, the Stormbolt GTX was one of the first products they released. Like many of their best designs, this shell hits a very desirable mix of price and performance, with a proven and protective 3-layer...
Osprey has a reputation for building comfortable packs, and the Aether line is one of their best. The brand retooled the collection towards the end of last year, splitting their core offerings in two: a standard...
Beloved by backpackers for years, REI Co-op’s Half Dome has been updated for 2021 with a significant drop in weight. But despite using thinner fabrics (they’re still tough by modern standards), the...
Yakima has been a leader in the cargo roof box game for some time, and their core and arguably most versatile product is the SkyBox Carbonite. We’ve had the 16-cubic-foot-capacity model on the top of our vehicle for a couple years now and have found it...
Taking cues from their new Vectiv trail running collection, The North Face’s Vectiv Exploris is a thoroughly modern shoe that checks most of the boxes we look for in a fast-and-light...
Well-known in the backpacking realm for their sleeping mats, Australia-based Sea to Summit jumped into the tent market this year with the introduction of their freestanding Telos TR and semi-freestanding...
When REI Co-op received their Gore license in 2018, the Stormbolt GTX was one of the first products they released. Like many of their best designs, this shell hits a very desirable mix of price and performance, with a proven and protective 3-layer...
Although the type of bike you’re looking for—hardtail or full-suspension—will largely dictate your buying decision, it really comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. Those eyeing set-ups under...
Salomon is a clear frontrunner in the hiking footwear market, with an extensive collection that ranges from capable backpacking-ready boots to fast and light trail runner-inspired hikers. At the time of publishing...
Tents are one of the most exciting pieces of your backpacking kit—it’s your home away from home in the backcountry—but selecting the right one requires a healthy amount of research and thought. Designs...
Ask any hiker or backpacker on the trail and they’ll likely tell you that the key to success—i.e., staying comfortable mile after mile—is a good pair of hiking footwear. From well-established brands like...
Not long ago, mountain bikers didn’t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes—26 inches was the only option. But once 29- and 27.5-inch wheels hit the market, the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. 29ers...
Ultralight backpacking equipment is all the rage, as there’s no doubt that a lighter load puts less strain on your body and allows you to move faster and farther. One of the biggest areas that backpackers can shave weight...
Although the type of bike you’re looking for—hardtail or full-suspension—will largely dictate your buying decision, it really comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. Those eyeing set-ups under...
Salomon is a clear frontrunner in the hiking footwear market, with an extensive collection that ranges from capable backpacking-ready boots to fast and light trail runner-inspired hikers. At the time of publishing...
Tents are one of the most exciting pieces of your backpacking kit—it’s your home away from home in the backcountry—but selecting the right one requires a healthy amount of research and thought. Designs...
Ask any hiker or backpacker on the trail and they’ll likely tell you that the key to success—i.e., staying comfortable mile after mile—is a good pair of hiking footwear. From well-established brands like...
Not long ago, mountain bikers didn’t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes—26 inches was the only option. But once 29- and 27.5-inch wheels hit the market, the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. 29ers...
Ultralight backpacking equipment is all the rage, as there’s no doubt that a lighter load puts less strain on your body and allows you to move faster and farther. One of the biggest areas that backpackers can shave weight...
Although the type of bike you’re looking for—hardtail or full-suspension—will largely dictate your buying decision, it really comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. Those eyeing set-ups under...
Salomon is a clear frontrunner in the hiking footwear market, with an extensive collection that ranges from capable backpacking-ready boots to fast and light trail runner-inspired hikers. At the time of publishing...
Tents are one of the most exciting pieces of your backpacking kit—it’s your home away from home in the backcountry—but selecting the right one requires a healthy amount of research and thought. Designs...
Ask any hiker or backpacker on the trail and they’ll likely tell you that the key to success—i.e., staying comfortable mile after mile—is a good pair of hiking footwear. From well-established brands like...
Not long ago, mountain bikers didn’t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes—26 inches was the only option. But once 29- and 27.5-inch wheels hit the market, the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. 29ers...
Ultralight backpacking equipment is all the rage, as there’s no doubt that a lighter load puts less strain on your body and allows you to move faster and farther. One of the biggest areas that backpackers can shave weight...
Welcome to our Darkroom! What started as one camera article has expanded into a burgeoning section of information covering everything from inexpensive point-and-shoots to full-frame...
Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras have created a lot of buzz in the photography world, and they keep improving with each rendition. It’s true that the FE lens options for Sony still...
For photographers who frequently shoot outdoors, weather sealing is a must. It protects your expensive camera gear, takes away much of the worry, and allows you to keep...
Nikon’s full-frame camera lineup is impressive, but perhaps even more so is the extensive collection of FX-format (full frame) lenses. Below are 10 of the best FX...
Buying a camera for landscpae photography can be overwhelming, but the process should be fun and not just a leap of faith. First, choose among the four tiers of cameras: point-and-shoots, mirrorless cameras, entry...
The mirrorless revolution is in full swing. These impressive digital cameras pack large image sensors into compact bodies, offering some of the best image and video quality on the market with less bulk than a DSLR...
Welcome to our Darkroom! What started as one camera article has expanded into a burgeoning section of information covering everything from inexpensive point-and-shoots to full-frame...
Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras have created a lot of buzz in the photography world, and they keep improving with each rendition. It’s true that the FE lens options for Sony still...
For photographers who frequently shoot outdoors, weather sealing is a must. It protects your expensive camera gear, takes away much of the worry, and allows you to keep...
Nikon’s full-frame camera lineup is impressive, but perhaps even more so is the extensive collection of FX-format (full frame) lenses. Below are 10 of the best FX...
Buying a camera for landscpae photography can be overwhelming, but the process should be fun and not just a leap of faith. First, choose among the four tiers of cameras: point-and-shoots, mirrorless cameras, entry...
The mirrorless revolution is in full swing. These impressive digital cameras pack large image sensors into compact bodies, offering some of the best image and video quality on the market with less bulk than a DSLR...
Welcome to our Darkroom! What started as one camera article has expanded into a burgeoning section of information covering everything from inexpensive point-and-shoots to full-frame...
Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras have created a lot of buzz in the photography world, and they keep improving with each rendition. It’s true that the FE lens options for Sony still...
For photographers who frequently shoot outdoors, weather sealing is a must. It protects your expensive camera gear, takes away much of the worry, and allows you to keep...
Nikon’s full-frame camera lineup is impressive, but perhaps even more so is the extensive collection of FX-format (full frame) lenses. Below are 10 of the best FX...
Buying a camera for landscpae photography can be overwhelming, but the process should be fun and not just a leap of faith. First, choose among the four tiers of cameras: point-and-shoots, mirrorless cameras, entry...
The mirrorless revolution is in full swing. These impressive digital cameras pack large image sensors into compact bodies, offering some of the best image and video quality on the market with less bulk than a DSLR...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
It’s still dark when Tosch Roy and his sister Zoe arrive at the Mt. Bachelor parking lot, and blusterier than the weather forecast had predicted. The “cone” looms above them, blanketed in a layer of fresh snow...
With all of the negatively surrounding the tragic spread of the coronavirus—lives and jobs lost, cities shuttered, and tensions on high—there are some notable silver linings...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
It’s still dark when Tosch Roy and his sister Zoe arrive at the Mt. Bachelor parking lot, and blusterier than the weather forecast had predicted. The “cone” looms above them, blanketed in a layer of fresh snow...
With all of the negatively surrounding the tragic spread of the coronavirus—lives and jobs lost, cities shuttered, and tensions on high—there are some notable silver linings...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
The time could have been 9pm or 5am, and we wouldn’t have known the difference. It was a clear, mid-June day in the land of the midnight sun. The warm orb hung high in the sky as I pulled onto the summit block...
Sarah Uhl calls herself an artist, activist, and joy evangelist. That's quite the job description, and yet she’s pulling it off, brush stroke by brush stroke. A plein air painter from Carbondale, CO...
Jason Hummel is a leading adventure photographer and ski mountaineer based in Tacoma, Washington. He authored Alpine State of Mind, a beautifully presented book of adventure stories and...
It’s still dark when Tosch Roy and his sister Zoe arrive at the Mt. Bachelor parking lot, and blusterier than the weather forecast had predicted. The “cone” looms above them, blanketed in a layer of fresh snow...
With all of the negatively surrounding the tragic spread of the coronavirus—lives and jobs lost, cities shuttered, and tensions on high—there are some notable silver linings...
Misty Mountain's headquarters in the hills of Western North Carolina is not the kind of place you just stumble upon. It's the kind of place you set off to find. And when you arrive...
