If you haven’t spent a lot of time checking out all the fantastic outdoor blogs that have sprung up on the internet, you’re missing out.
From incredible stories of adventure (more exciting than a movie!), to the best resources for backpacking and mouth watering camping recipes.
Be prepared to get lost for hours in….
Categories
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Outdoors Blogs focused on Adventure
Outdoor blogs don’t all have to be focused on backpacking and camping, now do they? Some people are maniacs and use the outdoors as their person playground for unbelievable adventures. Below you’ll find the blogs of some of these people.
1. Alastair Humphreys
Alastair Humphrey’s blog is seriously one of my favorites because of the crazy adventures he’s been on. These include biking around the world (literally, circumnavigating the globe), rowing a boat across the Atlantic ocean, walking a thousand miles into the desert, and many more.
He has written several books and made movies about his adventures and his accounts are nothing short of amazing. His blog is definitely worth a look.
From his webpage:
Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer, blogger, author, speaker, and film maker.
Alastair is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and has written 12 books. He produces a monthly newsletter with the highlights of the blog, forthcoming speaking engagements and important expedition news.
2. The Adventure Journal
The Adventure Journal is an online magazine devoted to outdoor adventure in all its forms. It was founded by Steve Casimiro, former editor of Powder magazine, founding editor of Bike magazine, and West Coast editor of National Geographic Adventure.
3. Semi-Rad
“Humor, Essays, Adventure” is what this blog is all about. Semi-Rad contains a medley of topics, mostly adventure and outdoor-related. It’s very entertaining, sincere, and fun to browse around.
From Semi-Rad:
My name is Brendan Leonard, and I started this website in 2011. I think we all need to spend more time doing things we love, going to places that make us feel small, remembering to laugh at ourselves, and getting a little cold, tired, and scared every once in a while. I’ve bicycled across America, run several ultramarathons, and lived out of a converted van for three years, climbing and adventuring in the mountains around the West. I created Semi-Rad.com as a channel for those of us who aren’t elite climbers, skiers, ultrarunners, and alpinists—the folks who love to get out there, but maybe don’t take it too seriously. Semi-Rad is enthusiasm for things regular folks can do, adventures for the everyman and woman. It’s a web site for those of us crushing it, kind of. I hope you enjoy it.
4. The Adventure Blog
The Adventure Blog (not to be confused with Adventure Journal!) features everything from news to extreme videos. This blog is very active. A minimalist design with little navigation but multiple posts per day, so keep up!
Outdoor Blogs Focused on Backpacking
If backpacking is your thing (especially ultralight backpacking), here are the best resources I’ve found for everything backpacking. Many of these outdoor blogs focus on through hiking one or more of the big three (Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail). All of them have great info about gear, trails, stories, and more!
5. Section Hiker
Section hiker is about completing long thru-hikes in sections, making it not a thru-hike but still getting to do all the best parts. You can tell the owner Philip is a good guy because he’s got a link to contact him right on the front page saying he’s happy to help out! Lots of great info here on the Appalachian Trail, hiking Scotland, backpacking in general, ultralight backpacking, etc.
6. The Trek
From The Trek:
TheTrek.co is dedicated to shining a spotlight on current hikers’ journeys. The podcasts are super entertaining and fun too!
From the blog:
We have more than a hundred current thru-hikers sharing their journeys right here on this site. Whether you want to be entertained, informed, or just live vicariously through the adventures of those who have dropped everything to walk ridiculously long distances, you’ve come to the right place. We also offer future hikers a platform to share their journey with a large (and growing) community.
7. Adventure Alan
Adventure Alan has been your best source for honest & factual information on gear & technique for lightweight & ultralight backpacking & hiking since 1999. Featuring comprehensive gear lists, detailed gear reviews and recommendations, informative how-to guides, entertaining trip reports, and more.
8. Andrew Skurka
There are very few people more qualified to write about long distance backpacking and running than Andrew Skurka. And his blog has it all – food, plans, gear, advice, etc.
Skurka was named “Adventurer of the Year” by both Outside and National Geographic, as well as “Person of the Year” by Backpacker. National Geographic described him as “a superman among trekkers” and “one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet.”
So yeah, I’d say his blog is worth checking out.
9. Hike Lighter
Hike Lighter is quite gear focused and very much about ultralight backpacking as the name suggests.
From the about page:
I am a long distance hiker, gear designer, product tester, and for the last few years, I spend the vast majority of my time developing new long-distance hiking trails/routes for future generations of hikers.
John B. Abela, HikeLighter.com
10. The Ultimate Hang
The Ultimate Hang is the blog of hammock fanatic Derek Hansen. It contains everything you wanted to know about hammock camping…and more!
From the site:
Derek Hansen is a lightweight backpacker, former Scoutmaster, and “hammock enthusiast” who enjoyed his first hammock hang at age 14 at a Boy Scout high adventure base. When he’s not out testing outdoor gear, he enjoys reading and spending time with his family.
11. The Hiking Life
Cam “Swami” Honan has hiked in so many places around the world, Backpacker Magazine called him “the most traveled hiker on earth.” What does that tell you? It tells me I’m going to spend some time reading about it (and dreaming of my own future trips!) on his blog, The Hiking Life.
From the site:
The Hiking Life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques and improving your wilderness skill set. It contains detailed information for more than 180 of the world’s great hikes, and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking.
12. Into Cascadia
Into Cascadia is the brain child of ultralight backpacker and skier, Dan Durston. Great trip reports, gear reviews, and one of the most comprehensive sources for the Great Divide Trail.
From the page:
I’m an avid lightweight hiker, decent skier, mediocre mountaineer, packrafter and climber.
My travels include thru-hiking the 2660 mile Pacific Crest Trail in 2014 with my wife Tara, completing the Bob Marshall Wilderness Open six times, and hiking the first yo-yo of the Great Divide Trail in 2017.
Here you’ll find trip reports, beta, gear reviews and environmental musings.
13. Clever Hiker
Backpacking couple Dave Collins and Annie Hopfensperger, bring you Clever Hiker, a backpacking blog about being smart with your gear, your skills, and your trips. With a focus on conservation and leave no trace, Clever Hiker is definitely worth checking out.
From the site:
Our goal is to make backpacking easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone. We hope to inspire travel and increase conservation of our cherished wild spaces through skill-based tutorials, comprehensive trip guides, and in-depth gear reviews.
Outdoor Blogs Focused on Gear
Ever wonder why outdoorsy people are so into gear?
No you don’t…because you are one of them and you’re totally obsessed with gear yourself. You’re going to love these outdoor blogs entirely focused on gear.
14. Gear Junkie
GearJunkie leads the outdoor industry in breaking news and product reviews in the active-lifestyle world. From offices in Denver and Minneapolis, GearJunkie’s journalists, writers, and video producers advance the conversation online and beyond.
15. REI Co-op Journal
The blog from the coop-retailer you love (and maybe are a member of). The REI Blog is loaded with gear reviews (of course), but also tons of tips and good info for all types of outdoor enthusiasts.
16. Gear Lab
The Gear Lab mission is simple: to create world’s best outdoor gear reviews.
From the site:
We believe the world’s best gear reviews are the ones that help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests.
17. Blister
Blister is dedicated to being the best gear review site out there. Their mission is outlined in the bullet points from their manifesto:
- THE CURRENT STATE OF GEAR REVIEWS IS A JOKE.
- SHORT REVIEWS SUCK.
- EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE TESTED OVER A NUMBER OF DAYS AND IN A RANGE OF CONDITIONS.
- YOU OUGHT TO KNOW MORE THAN JUST THE NAME OF A GEAR REVIEWER.
- IN ADDITION TO GEAR REVIEWS, BLISTER PROFILES THE INNOVATIVE PEOPLE, PROJECTS, AND COMPANIES THAT ARE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE BAR.
Outdoor Blogs With a Family Camping Focus
My days of backpacking are all but over since I’ve become a father so it’s nice to see there are outdoor blogs out there for us parents who still want to take our families car camping.
There is so much to think about when taking your family camping! I’m very thankful for resources such as these.
If you’re a new parent, then these blogs are for you, but you also might want to check out my Camping With a Baby Checklist which has tips and my favorite outdoor baby gear in it as well.
18. Beyond the Tent
Ran by family man/adventurer Ryan Cunningham, Beyond the Tent is very family orientated (Ryan has 7 kids!). While there is some great info on backpacking and hammock camping, the site definitely has more of a family feel with plenty of posts on car camping, RV camping, and even glamping.
19. Crazy Family Adventure
After selling his big house, Craig decided to move his big family into an RV and live a life of adventure. Crazy Family Adventure documents his…well…his crazy family adventures. This is very much a family focused and RV focused blog and it’s very fun.
20. Minimalist Family Camping
Mother of two, Briony, discusses how she has simplified camping to make sure her family gets out more. I’m a firm believer in this strategy and that’s why I recommend this blog. From simplified camping meals to minimalist gear reviews, Minimalist Family Camping is a great resource for any family.
Outdoor Blogs About Food
Discovering an outdoor blog that is entirely devoted to camping food was a real eye-opener! Instead of living off freeze-dried meals or jerky, there is a whole universe of healthy, easy, fun, practical food out there especially for backpacking or camping. Here are my three favorites. Also, you might want to check out the food section of OutMore.
21. Fresh Off the Grid
Fresh Off the Grid is one of my favorite outdoor blogs because it’s a great food blog in-and-of itself but it’s specialized for outdoor food. Also, the founders, Megan McDuffie and Michael van Vliet, focus on food that is easy to make in camp and healthy.
The story of how and why they started Fresh Off the Grid in their own words:
Most home recipes were too complicated to be made at a campsite, while most camping recipes were too unhealthy to eat for anything more than a few days. So they started documenting their attempts to make healthy, nutritious meals under the constraints of a camping environment.
22. Greenbelly
Greenbelly.co makes their own bars which are meant to provide a ton of calories and good nutrition for extreme activity like backpacking, cycling, etc. They’ve also got a really great blog with great nutrition info.
23. Trail Recipes
Trail recipes has so many great recipes, it really is an invaluable resource for all outdoor enthusiasts. Besides recipes, it’s got tutorials about how to dehydrate your own food, food ideas for trips, food planning tips, and on and on. This is an automatic go-to site for me when I’m planning food for a trip.
Outdoor Blogs with a Personal Touch
Often times it’s refreshing to get a more personal blog, like you’re stepping into someone’s life. Some outdoor blogs really have a personal touch and are created by extraordinary people. Nothing can inspire you more to spend time outdoors than first-person accounts of lives lived outside.
24. Bearfoot Theory
Bearfoot Theory is a ton of fun to read because the personality of the writer, Kristen. She spends most of the year living out of a van and all of the year getting outdoors.
From the site:
Our goal at Bearfoot Theory is to show you how to get outside. We are a blog for EVERYDAY PEOPLE. Hikers. Skiers. Campers. Environmentalists. Travelers. Backpackers. Paddlers. Sun-bathers. We aim to get you outdoors and having fun.
25. Chris Townsend Outdoors
Author of 25 books and hiker of many, many long distance trails, Chris Townsend shares his expertise and stunning photos in Chris Townsend Outdoors. Chris is the longtime Equipment Editor of The Great Outdoors magazine and has won several awards for his writing.
26. PMags
PMags is the website of Paul Magnanti (Mags) and Joan West. It is a collection of useful tips and entertaining “musings” that are mostly outdoor focused but drift into topics like Italian food.
From the about page:
My site was initially stood up to collect my thru-hike journals and to document my then new life in Colorado.
I gradually started adding practical advice on such topics as stoves. And to gather some of my favorite backpacking loops for the friends who were emailing me. And the website was an excellent way to post beginner-friendly documents for trips I used to lead with a local outdoor group.
I waxed a little more poetic on outdoor topics that were of interest to me. And I even threw in the occasional recipe from family Sunday dinners.
27. The Big Outside
Michael Lanza was an editor for Backpacker magazine but left to start this blog, The Big Outside. So he is a great writer and obviously a very well-qualified outdoorsman. His site offers guides from all over the western US as well as personalized trip planning and general topic e-guides for sale.
From his about page:
More than 25 years ago, I walked away from a career as a newspaper editor and reporter because I couldn’t bear the thought that my outdoor adventures would be limited by my employer’s vacation policy.
I built a new career as an outdoors writer and photographer, author, and speaker, so I could do what I love: getting outside backpacking, dayhiking, climbing, skiing, running trails, and paddling rivers.
28. Happiest Outdoors
Taryn Eyton is happiest when she’s outdoors and she wants to tell you about it. She hikes, she travels, she snowshoes, and she does a lot more. Happiest Outdoors is based in Vancouver so there is a lot of things British Columbia in here. But Taryn has traveled extensively so as you read, you might find yourself anywhere from Nepal to Sweden to Tasmania!
29. The Morning Fresh
Katie Boué is a Cuban-American outdoor advocate, freelance writer and social media expert, professional adventurer, climber, public speaker, former van-dweller, and public lands wonk. The Morning Fresh is an outdoorsy guide to living with intention, empathy, action–and of course, adventure.
30. Outdoor Photographer
If you’re into photography at all, this is the place for you. Outdoor Photographer has everything you need to know make your pictures look pro. Even if you’re not into photography, it’s worth checking out the beautiful images. Every day I check the Photo of the Day.
Outdoor Blogs Focused on a Region
Sometimes you can find gold mines of information when you come across an outdoor blog focused on a specific region. If you’re visiting or even if you’re living there, the best sources of information are always the locals. Here are my favorite blogs that are region-specific.
31. SoCal Hiker
SoCal Hiker is the brain child of avid hiker Jeff Hester. Despite what the name suggests, he doesn’t just stay in southern California. It contains tons of trail guides from northern California, Oregon, Colorado, and even New England.
32. Elevation Outdoors
Since 2009, Elevation Outdoors Magazine has been the leading guide to outdoor sports, health/fitness and adventure travel in Colorado and Rocky Mountain West and beyond. Distributed 10 times annually statewide Elevation Outdoors has established itself as the region’s top regional outdoor publication.
33. Hiking in Finland
Hiking is Finland is of course focused on Finland but contains so much more. You can find tons of gear recommendations as well as info on other European countries. And if you are going hiking in Finland, this is certain the definitive guide.
From the website:
I’m Hendrik Morkel, the author of Hiking in Finland. Seeing that there was no blog about backpacking in Finland which is in English, I took the duty upon myself to present this beautiful country and show what it has to offer to backpackers, climbers, bikepackers, skiers, cyclists and packrafters. You will read here about my adventures in Finland, Sweden, Norway and the rest of the world, as well as gear reviews, videos and interviews.
Since 2010 I write for various outdoor magazines and websites. I have written and photographed for NORR, Alpin, klettern, trekking Magazin, Bike & Travel, Climb, Snow Enthusiast, Mountain Pro, Outhdoor Enthusiast and Adventure Travel. I also have published my first book, a guide book about the Pirkan Taival Trail and am working on my second guide book.
Final Thoughts
Following outdoor blogs is a great way to amplify your enthusiasm for the outdoors. It’s important to find ones you really connect with. Given the number that are out there, you should be able to find several outdoor blogs that suite your taste.
If you’re looking to spend more time outside, you should check out the articles in my “Getting Out More” section. Inspiration, information, and entertainment.
Hey! This list is great resource that you should save for later by pinning it! I made this pin just for you to use on Pinterest:
