Guides
Practical guides for hiking, camping and backpacking, and plain explanations of the ratings on outdoor gear.
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Jackets
Waterproof ratings explained: what 10,000 mm really means
The millimeter figure on a jacket or tent tells you how much water pressure the fabric resisted in a lab. Here's how to read it, and what it leaves out.
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Tents
3-season vs 4-season tents: what’s actually different
A 4-season tent isn't a 3-season tent that also works in summer. Here's how they're built differently and which one your trips call for.
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Camping
How to carry water on a backpacking trip
Water is the heaviest thing you carry that you can't do without. How much to bring, what to carry it in, and how to make backcountry water safe.
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Jackets
Jacket breathability ratings: MVTR, RET and what to compare
Breathability numbers come from different lab tests that don't line up. Here's how to read grams per square meter and RET, and when to ignore both.
