Want to get into hiking but don’t know what to wear? Despite what you might see from some influencers and outdoor brands, you don’t need a bunch of specialized clothing to hit the trails. But there are important things to take into consideration when choosing what to wear hiking. This guide will help take the mystery out of hiking clothing, so you can hit the trail safely and in style. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING Getting started hiking doesn’t need to be overwhelming, and you can probably hit the trails with clothes you have in your closet before you invest in more technical gear. But to be both comf ..read more

Every single time I get ready for a backpacking trip I HAVE to look at my printed out backpacking packing list to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind. You’d think that after years of practice I’d be good at just packing from memory, but you’d be surprised how often my mind fails me (?over-active mind here!). Even though I’ve been backpacking for over 6 years now I never seem to fail to leave something out when I’m laying gear out to get ready. So now I just don’t risk it and use my backpacking checklist, and I recommend that you do the same! Always get in the habit of reviewing your back ..read more

Let me tell you a quick story, to emphasize why it’s important to have some key safety essentials on your hiking gear list whenever you head out and hit the trails. I was backpacking with a few friends of mine one time in Yosemite’s backcountry, and the first leg of our trip was up the very popular Half Dome route (which many people day hike). We had just completed a summit of Half Dome and were camping in Little Yosemite Valley for the evening before we ventured further into the backcountry the following day. When we were filling up our Camelbaks with water to get a head start for the next d ..read more

I remember the first time I bought a down jacket (my beloved Patagonia Nano Puff). It was one of the biggest investments (clothing-wise) I had ever made, and I was so proud of it! It was my first piece of outdoor-optimized gear, and I wore it everywhere. I freaking loved that jacket. But eventually the day came… after many adventures into the mountains and around campfires… that I could no longer ignore the fact that my dearly beloved jacket needed a bath. Like badly needed it. But I didn’t know how to wash a down jacket, so the thought of washing my down jacket was terrifying.This thing wasn ..read more

Do you know someone who’s favorite part of hiking or backpacking is taking photos? Are you at a loss for what to get them as a gift since you don’t know the difference between f-stop and shutter speed? Relax, we’ve got you covered! My husband Michael is a professional photographer – which explains how I get all these awesome photos for the blog! :) – and he put together this great guide to the best gifts for outdoor photographers. THE BEST GIFTS FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHERS We’ve split up this gift guide for outdoor photographers into a few sections to help you find the perfect gift: Outdoor P ..read more

Dogs are (wo)man’s best friend – and best adventure companion! If you know an outdoor-loving dog owner and are struggling to pick a perfect gift for the holidays or their birthday, how about something that helps them bring their best friend along on all their adventures? I love to go hiking and backpacking with my dog Lincoln whenever I can, so I put together this guide to my favorite camping gear for dogs to help you find a great gift for the dog lover in your life. Spending time in the wilderness with a dog is a blast! But just be aware that along with the dog camping essentials gear I ..read more

When I talk to people who are getting started with hiking and backpacking, I always get tons of questions about navigation. Although it might seem confusing and even overwhelming, navigating is such an important skill to have in the backcountry, whether you’re using a map & compass, a smartphone app, or a GPS device. Luckily, I’m a total navigation nerd, and I want to share my favorite hiking GPS tools with you! So let’s get started breaking down the best GPS for hiking options – and what kind of outdoor adventurer each one is best for. THE BEST GPS FOR HIKING I truly believe that you sho ..read more

Do you have a favorite piece of outdoor gear? Something that’s not just functional but makes you smile every time you use it? :) Here we’re sharing our absolute favorite outdoor gear – the things that we swoon over every time we grab them from the gear closet. From jackets to boots to sleeping bags to tents, check out our outdoor soulmates. Outdoor Gear We Love All of this outdoor gear is a personal favorite of one of our She Dreams of Alpine team members. This isn’t just the stuff we like, but the stuff that we completely adore! If you want to grab some of this outdoor gear, definitely ..read more

If you’ve ever wondered how to clean a Camelbak (or maybe it’s never even crossed your mind), I’m happy to report to you that its SUPER EASY (just like washing your down jacket) and doesn’t require a lot of fancy stuff to get it clean! There are many different ways you can choose to clean your hydration bladder, but I like to stick with what's simple. So in todays “gear spring cleaning” post I’m going to show you 3 quick and easy methods for cleaning your Camelbak. But the best news?…. you really don’t have to do it very often at all! Which definitely appeals to my post backpacking trip lazy ..read more

This essential 2022 Havasu Falls packing list is geared toward those who intend on hiking into Havasupai Falls. Hiking into Havasu Falls is, in my opinion, the best way to experience this trail and these waterfalls. You'll want to spend at least 2 nights and 3 days backpacking the Havasu Falls Trail in order to give yourself the most time to explore the area and spend time at the waterfalls. It is also a 25 mile hike roundtrip, so you will want to make sure you have the right backpacking gear for your time camping there. You can read all about the Havasu Trail in my Complete Guide to Hiking H ..read more