I’ve been using the HMD OffGrid communicator since it came out and while it’s not a Garmin inReach, it does have its highlights and could be a good fit for you. In this review, I’ll walk you through my experience using it for backcountry messaging, location sharing, and SOS, and help you decide if it’s a good option for you, or maybe even a smart way to supplement your satellite-enabled phone.

If you watch the marketing video for the Apple Watch Ultra, you'd think that you can conquer anything the outdoors can throw at you with it. But that's not entirely the case. In this guide I'll share what works and what doesn't.

There are a lot of data sources for public land and park boundaries, but not many easy ways to access and work with them. In this guide, I'll show you two ways to see land boundaries for free and import them into your mapping software.

Even if you know it's snowed, it's often hard to pinpoint whether snow will be on the specific areas of the trail you're hiking on. In this guide, I'll show you how to check for snow on your hike using powerful tools with free and paid options.

Backpacking for beginners doesn't have to be as intimidating as it is. Unfortunately, the massive amount of information online, coupled with pundits' strong opinions, can be overwhelming for many day hikers looking to make the switch. The good news is that backpacking is much simpler than you probably think, and in this guide, I'll give you some simple steps to make your first backpacking trip easy.

In this quick video I'll share some tips and tricks on how to use your hydration pack / water bladder, including tips on finding the best model, use in the field, and how to easily keep them dry and clean.

The Art Smith Trail offers a skillfully routed hike through the desert foothills, making you feel like you are many miles away from civilization. Referenced to by the Forest Service as "truly one of the signature trails in the (Santa Rosa & San Jacinto) National Monument," the Art Smith Trail features palm oases, dramatic rock formations, sweeping views, and unlike many other foothill hikes in the area, some solitude. There's climbing, but it's not too steep, and it's spread over a more extended series of ups and downs, making it a good workout without extreme gradients.

Almost everyone understands that GPS uses satellites to pinpoint our position on earth. Whether you have a GPS unit or use a smartphone with GPS, understanding some of the principles behind how it works will help you feel confident when using or purchasing one. In this guide, I'll demystify GPS using plain language and then share some tips to get the most out of your GPS.

I know that topographic maps and non-digital navigation can be intimidating, especially for those who never used them. In this guide, I'm going to focus on the basics of the topographic map so that you can look at one and make sense of it if your electronic fails.

There's nothing worse than having loose backpack straps flopping around. They can snag onto branches, they can get annoying when they constantly swing or tap you, and they look sloppy. In this guide I'm going to show you some simple ways to fix loose backpack straps in a minute or so.

Most people only experience Yosemite National Park from their car, but the majority of Yosemite is backcountry, which is best explored by hiking. There are hikes for all levels, and these Yosemite hiking tips will help you pick the perfect one and have a great time experiencing it. It's time to leave the car and crowds behind and enjoy Yosemite the way it was meant to be.