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[Editor's note: This story is part of our van life collection—articles that offer do-it-yourself projects, tips and hacks for retrofitting your adventure mobile for life on the road. Be sure to check out how to create a sleeping platform for your van.] A nomadic lifestyle offers freedom and spontaneity, but it’s much more enjoyable when […]
The post DIY Van Life: Build Your Own Kitchen and Storage appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
A pack that comfortably fits your body’s specific shape and size can make all the difference between a joyful journey or a suffering slog in the backcountry. There are two essential considerations in finding the right fit: Your torso length. A snug grip on your hips. Many packs come in multiple sizes, including gender- and […]
The post The Best Backpacking Packs of 2018 appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
On the 25th Anniversary of Backpacker's Editors' Choice Awards, the team behind the recommendations and evaluations you've come to depend on are announcing the Hall of Fame Awards. The REI Co-op Half Dome 2+ will be forever enshrined in this place of honor as one of the best tents around. “When the Half Dome 2 […]
The post The REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus Wins Coveted Backpacker Hall of Fame Award appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Many backpackers dream of spending weeks—or even months—on trail; the proliferation of Instagram eye candy, along with popular books and films like Wild, A Walk in the Woods and Mile … Mile & a Half, only amplifies that desire. But most folks can’t swing the time commitment required to thru-hike classics like the Pacific Crest […]
The post The Joys of Section Hiking appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Hickory Nut Gorge, which sits 45 minutes east of downtown Asheville, North Carolina is a 14-mile-long canyon known for its granite outcroppings and the placid waters of Lake Lure. A new multiuse trail near Hickory Nut Gorge will give hikers, climbers and mountain bikers access to some of the region's most dramatic backcountry. Weed Patch […]
The post New Backcountry Trail Opens in Hickory Nut Gorge appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
Located off of the eastern coast of Spain in the Balearic Islands, the island of Ibiza—also known as the Party Capital of the World—covers an area of 221.07 square miles, making it about half the size of Los Angeles. Its tallest peak, Sa Talaissa, stands at 1,558 feet. Despite its relatively small size, Ibiza is […]
The post Ibiza: Come for the Party, Stay for the Hiking appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
This year marks our 80th anniversary. We’re celebrating by going back in time, to trace the history of the modern-day backpack, a history slightly older than we are. Humans have been carrying loads around on their backs since time immemorial. But it hasn’t always been easy. Years ago, hikers struggled under cumbersome, ill-fitting packs. This […]
The post The History of the Backpack appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
It isn’t too difficult to make your own vegetarian backpacking meals, but incorporating enough protein into them can be a challenge. Protein is a critical macronutrient that helps facilitate muscle repair. You might be able to overlook it on a quick overnight, but over the course of a longer multi-day hike, your muscles will start […]
The post Backpacking Vegetarian Lentil Chili Recipe appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.
I know I’m going to eat it somewhere in the middle of the berm. It’s a beautiful wave of dirt, piled high and smooth, but I’m carrying too much speed as I enter the top of it. I picture my bike going one direction and my body going the other and consider feathering my brakes […]
The post ‘Biggest Buzz … Since the Casino’: Cherokee Turning to Mountain Bike Trails to Grow Economy appeared first on REI Co-op Journal.