How to Plan Your First Day Hike
Learn how to choose a trail, plan your route, pack the essentials and prepare for a day outside.
TRAILPLAIN FIELD NOTES
Hiking
Build your skills, plan your route, and make the most of the trail.
Start with the essentials
1 articlesChoose with confidence
3 articles
How to Choose a Three-Season Tent
Understand capacity, materials and practical trade-offs to find the right shelter for your trips.
Hiking Daypacks: Fit and Features
Explore capacity, fit and the features that matter when choosing a pack for a day on the trail.
Sleeping Bags: Warmth and Weight
Learn how insulation, fit and packed size affect the sleep system you choose for camping.
Research-based gear reviews
3 articlesREI Half Dome 2: A Research-Based Review
A source-led look at the Half Dome 2’s space, carried weight and suitability for two-person trips.
deuter Speed Lite 21: A Research-Based Review
Assess the current Speed Lite 21’s capacity, recommended load and fit guidance before buying.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL: A Research-Based Review
Understand the Regular Z Lite SOL’s dimensions, insulation rating and foam-pad compromises.