I have spent the last three backpacking seasons testing trekking pole tents across the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, and the wet coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest. When I first started, I carried a 5-pound freestanding tent that ate up half my pack weight. Switching to a trekking pole tent saved me 3 pounds instantly, […]

Snow camping is one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences you can have, but only if your shelter can handle freezing temperatures, heavy snow loads, and brutal wind. I have spent years testing winter camping shelters in conditions ranging from mild overnight frost to full alpine storms, and the difference between a good 4-season tent […]

I learned the hard way why a regular tent will not save you in a real winter storm. During a January trip in the Rockies, I woke up to find my 3-season tent sagging under six inches of wet snow with the fly popping off the poles. That night sent me down the rabbit hole […]

I have spent countless freezing nights in canvas tents testing wood burning tent stoves, and I can tell you the difference between a great stove and a mediocre one comes down to about 30 degrees of comfort. When temperatures drop below freezing, the right portable wood stove does not just warm your tent. It dries […]

Nothing ruins a winter camping trip faster than a freezing tent at 2 AM. I learned this the hard way during a late-season backpacking trip in Colorado, shivering through a night that dropped to 12 degrees Fahrenheit. That experience sent me down the path of hot tent camping, and the single most important safety component […]