Your first 5-mile day hike, from trailhead to summit
What the miles actually feel like, when to turn around, and how to pace a climb so you still have energy left for the view.
OVERLUKING: Life Outside.
Trail guides, gear picks, and trips worth the drive. For anyone who would rather be looking out over something big.
Light
Overluking is the moment you stop climbing and start looking.
It's the ridge after the switchbacks. The pullout at first light. The quiet minute before anyone says a word.
We cover the trails, gear, and trips that get you there, and we keep it simple enough to start this weekend.
Read our storyStart with a trail
Beginner-friendly routes, what to carry, and how to read the day before you go.
All hiking guides
Sleep where the view is
From a car-camping weekend to your first night on the trail, start with a setup you can carry and a spot you can trust.
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Check price for a backpacking tent
Shelter
A tent that pitches in minutes and keeps the wind out.
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Check price for a sleeping bag
Sleep
A bag rated for the coldest night you expect, plus a pad to keep the ground from stealing your heat.
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Check price for a camp stove
Cook
A stove that boils water fast and packs small.
The Overluking field kit
Four pieces that cover most day hikes. Our picks are based on what owners and testers report.
All gear picks-
Daypack, 25 to 30 liters
Carries the essentials without swinging on steep trail. Look for a hip belt and a bottle pocket you can reach.
Check price for a daypack -
Trekking poles
Take pressure off your knees on long descents. Adjustable poles that fold down fit inside most packs.
Check price for trekking poles -
Insulated bottle, 32 ounces
Keeps water cold on a hot climb and unfrozen on a cold morning.
Check price for an insulated bottle -
Headlamp
A hands-free light for early starts and late finishes. Pick one with a red mode and a lock switch.
Check price for a headlamp
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The Ten Essentials
A short list that turns a bad day into an inconvenience. Check each one off as you pack.
0 of 10 packed
Watch quietly
The best wildlife moments happen at a distance. National Park Service guidance is to stay at least 25 yards from most animals and 100 yards from bears and wolves.
- Binoculars, 8x42Check price for binoculars
- Bear spray with a hip holster, for bear countryCheck price for bear spray
- A regional field guide to birds and mammalsCheck price for a field guide
Bring the view home
Light does most of the work. Learn when to be at the overlook, and the few camera settings that matter.
- Mirrorless camera for beginnersCheck price for a beginner camera
- Telephoto zoom lens, 70 to 300 mmCheck price for a telephoto lens
- Packable travel tripodCheck price for a travel tripod
Dress in layers
Three layers you can add or shed as the day changes. Cotton is the one to leave at home.
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Check price for a base layer
Base layer
Wicks sweat off your skin. Merino wool or synthetic.
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Check price for a mid layer
Mid layer
Holds in warmth. A fleece or a light puffy jacket.
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Check price for a rain shell
Shell
Blocks wind and rain, and packs down small.
Winter changes the plan
Shorter days, colder mornings, and empty trails. Learn how to stay warm, read the conditions, and get back before dark.
Winter guidesFive kinds of big view
Every landscape asks you to look a little differently. Start with the one you can see from your window.
Trips worth the drive
Where to go, when to go, and where to sleep. Five American landscapes to start with.
All trips
Glacier National Park
Montana
Alpine lakes and long ridge walks under sharp, snow-streaked peaks.
Grand Teton National Park
Wyoming
Jagged peaks rising straight out of the valley floor, with views from almost every pullout.
Great Smoky Mountains
Tennessee and North Carolina
Misty blue ridges and old forests.
Olympic Peninsula
Washington
Rainforest, wild coast, and mountains in one trip.
White Mountains
New Hampshire
Rocky summits above the treeline and fall color that lights up the hills.
Field notes
Short, useful reads for the trailhead and the couch.