The Trailhead
Every journey has a first step. And some of the greatest, most meaningful journeys begin at trailheads. Welcome to ours! Here you’ll learn about gear, see route and trail intel, and dive into stories, images, and videos from our global community of adventureheads like you. Think of it like "The Third Place"–not home, not work, but your other most important/favorite place. The spot to hang out around like-minded people and have your life decisions and priorities validated. You won't need to justify your latest gear purchase or explain why you're using up all your paid time off hours to this crowd. They get it. Let’s go!
THE SHAKEDOWN – 05: SLEEPING PADS + PILLOWS
THE ONLY THINGS BETWEEN YOU AND THE COLD, HARD GROUND
If you’re the type of person that can fall asleep anywhere, or you have a propensity to push yourself in your chosen pursuits until you can ...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 04: ULTRALIGHT SHELTERS + TENTS
TAKE YOUR SHELTER AND GO HOME.
From pyramids to tarps to as-of-yet-unnamed geographic shapes, there are plenty of options and degrees by which you can protect yourself from the elements. At their...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 03: STUFF SACKS + PODS
KEEPING MOISTURE AT BAY WHEN YOU STRUT YOUR STUFF
We talk a lot around here about efficiency, but to clarify, it’s not solely about robotic, austere speed. More than anything it’s about knowing t...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 02: SLEEPING BAGS + QUILTS
A GOOD NIGHT’S REST IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER PIECE OF BACKPACKING GEAR.
A high-quality ultralight sleeping bag or quilt will be built with 800-950 fill down. Some are constructed using water-...
THE SHAKEDOWN – 01: ULTRALIGHT BACKPACK
SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT GEAR THAT CARRY SOME WEIGHT.
Whether you’re a backpacker, thru hiker, backcountry packrafter, bikepacker, climber, or world traveler, the one thing everyone could all give t...
Raise the Roof – The Incomparable Qualities of the Ultamid (and Tips and Tricks for Set Up and Care)
Hopefully, when one thinks of “home,” they’re quick to jump to their own combinations of security, comfort, sentimentality, and pride. Imagine if you could take that thing called home and change th...
Tips from a Triple Crowner: Pack Like A Pro
Words by Annie MacWilliams // Photos by Brian Threlkeld
One of the biggest differences between mainstream brand backpacks and ultralight backpacks is the amount of bells and whistles. Removable bra...
Ultralight Gear List for Backpacking and Thru Hiking
Mike St. Pierre is the founder and CEO of Hyperlite Mountain Gear. His passion for the outdoors and specifically for the ultralight approach to the outdoors drove him to found HMG and now drives HM...
Pack Discipline Starts Here: Stuff Sacks + Pods
No Matter Where You Are. Every Piece of Gear Matters. A perfected ultralight set up results in more time to enjoy the experiences of your endeavor. Our Dyneema® Composite Fabrics (formerly Cuben Fi...
Backpacking Breakfast Recipes For Your Most Important Meal
By Matt Jenkins
Your daily food intake should include a mix of complex carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Breakfasts are no exception. Breakfast is commonly believed to be the...
Ultralight Backpacking Stuff Sacks for Thru Hikes & Backcountry Trips
Words by Mike St. Pierre
It's what's inside that counts: Stuff Sacks, Pods, Waterproof Redundancy, and Organization.
Most backpackers and thru hikers use stuff sacks, sometimes almost by default. ...
Never Not Learning: How to Pack Light For Backpacking with Mike St. Pierre
Words & Photos by Mike St. Pierre When you’re first learning the ins-and-outs of how to pack light for backpacking, it’s important to understand that it’s a process. I still constantly refine t...
