10 Hiking and Backpacking Myths to Leave at the Trailhead
From 'cotton kills' to 'heavier boots mean safer feet', a lot of trail wisdom deserves a second look. Here are ten beliefs worth unlearning.
Tips · Tales · Trail guides
Walk further.
Carry less. Notice more.
Outdoor Letter is Timothy M Logan's field journal for hikers and backpackers — honest route guides, hard-won skills and a simple, lighter approach to gear.
"Mountains, deserts or coastline — the trail doesn't care how fast you are. It only asks that you show up and pay attention."
— From the trail notebook
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From the journal
All articles →The Overland Track: Tasmania's Great Alpine Walk
Six days through Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park — bookings, huts, weather, and the side trips worth your time.
Samaria Gorge: A Hiker's Guide to Crete's Great Canyon
A practical guide to walking Samaria Gorge in western Crete — the route, logistics, the ferry out, and how to beat the crowds.
Jotunheimen Hut to Hut: Walking Through the Land of the Giants
Norway's highest mountains, glacier-fed lakes and a network of staffed and self-service huts make Jotunheimen a perfect first hut-to-hut trek.
A Quick & Practical Guide to the Peaks of the Balkans Trail
A cross-border loop through the Accursed Mountains of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro — permits, guesthouses, route options and when to go.
Gear List: Arctic Circle Trail, Greenland
What to carry for roughly ten self-supported days on Greenland's Arctic Circle Trail — with notes on bugs, water, wind and food.
The Principles of Going Lighter
Lighter packs aren't about obsessive gram-counting. Five simple principles will do more for your back than any single piece of gear.
The Essential Guide to Frameless Backpacks
Frameless packs can be a joy to carry — or a misery. Here's how they work, who they suit, and how to pack one well.
The W Trek: Planning a Walk Through Torres del Paine
Granite towers, glaciers and Patagonian wind — a planning guide to Chile's most famous trek, from reservations to what to pack.