In this post, I share a list of some of my favorite hiking, camping, and backpacking gear that is currently available at REI Co-op!

In 2022 alone, I backpacked over 3,450 miles between hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, the 800-mile Arizona Trail, and several backpacking trips in my current home state of Washington. I’ve put a lot of time (and I mean a lot) into finding the best backpacking gear that is durable, quality, and ultralight. Here, I hope to share some of my knowledge with you so you can create your own backpacking gear setup. I provide an overview of both ultralight and lightweight options of backpacking gear, along with some budget-friendly options and some higher-priced items.

Are you interested in hiking, but not sure what to bring with you? This guide goes through everything I bring with me on a day hike, from the gear I bring to my favorite backpack to what I wear and more! The key to being a happy hiker is having gear that is comfortable and being prepared for any situation or weather. Safety and comfort are my top priorities when choosing what to pack. Keep reading to learn about everything I wear and bring on a day hike!

Learn about everything I ate and put in my resupply boxes on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. I break down all the food I ate by breakfast, lunch/snacks, and dinner, along with the total calories of each item.

In this post, learn about all the ultralight backpacking gear I took with me on the Arizona Trail in fall 2022.

Check out this post to discover all the ultralight backpacking gear I relied on during my 2022 Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike, complete with a comprehensive packing list.

In this post, explore all the backpacking gear I'll be starting my Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike with, including a comprehensive packing list.

In this post, learn about all the backpacking gear I took with me on my thru-hike of the John Muir Trail (JMT), complete with a detailed packing list.

Here are some of my absolute favorite and best winter hikes in Colorado! Winter anywhere can be a hard season to get through due to shorter days of light, but I always find winters better when I spend more time outside.

In August 2021, I thru-hiked the 210-mile John Muir Trail. It was easily the best (and hardest) thing I’ve ever done in my life and I encourage anyone who wants to do it one day to just go for it. The first step to making your John Muir Trail thru-hike dream a reality is to get a permit. In this post, I’ll walk you through all the permit application options and logistics so you know what you need to do in order to score a John Muir Trail Permit for the 2025 hiking season.

Whether you are not looking to splurge on gifts this holiday season or you are looking for some stocking stuffers for your outdoorsy family and friends, this list of 25 affordable gifts for hikers, backpackers, and outdoors lovers is for you! As of the time this post went live, each item on this list was $35 or less on Amazon.

In this post, learn about all the photography gear I use as a travel and landscape photographer. I get asked a lot about what my camera setup is, so I’ve compiled all that information in this post to share with you along with some other recommendations!

Often referred to as the “Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park has magnificent mountains, stunning turquoise lakes, glacier-carved terrain, and abundant wildlife. It is no wonder why this gem is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. In this post, I’ll be sharing information specific to the west side of Glacier National Park, which offers an abundance of activities and beautiful sights. Keep reading to learn more about Glacier National Park’s west side to help you start planning your trip!

One of the topics I get asked most about is solo travel. Solo traveling as a woman can be intimidating, but it is also one of the most empowering experiences. Here, I’ll give you a few tips on how to start traveling by yourself and hopefully inspire you to go on your own solo adventure.

In June 2019, I visited my 27th National Park: Isle Royale National Park. This post includes tips on planning your own Isle Royale trip, what gear to bring, and my experience backpacking the beautiful and rugged Isle Royale National Park.

In October 2016, I jumped on an Amtrak train all by myself, traveling from Chicago, IL to Flagstaff, AZ. In this blog post, read about my journey venturing the Southwest, with stops at the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and more!