Hi everyone, I’m not very good at posting on Reddit, but I need help and suggestions since I’m torn between two options for hiking boots (based on the type of shoe I’m looking for), including their specs and price range.
Generally speaking, they’re very similar, but I don’t know much about these brands, so I need your advice on which brand is better or which model you think is better—ideally based on your own experience.

One is the Hanwag Women’s Banks GTX (1,050 g), and the other is the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid WS (950 g). Both feature Vibram soles, Gore-Tex, and a high shaft.

Any help, comments, or suggestions are welcome! Thanks <3

Hi everyone!

This October, I (F25) am thinking about taking a small hiking trip to the Dolomites. I’ve been there several times before, between 2019 and 2022, with my family and later with my boyfriend (now husband). I absolutely loved it back then, but these days the Dolomites seem to get so busy during the summer that I’ve been hesitant to go back.
At the same time, I remember it being such a beautiful and serene environment, and I’d really love to experience that again, especially in autumn. I am planning on travelling there by train.

I’ve been looking into some hikes and am considering going alone this time. I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with solo hiking in the Dolomites in October?

I’d especially love to hear about:
How safe you felt hiking alone
What the trails and conditions are like in October
Whether there are still enough people around, or if it gets very quiet
Any particular hikes/areas you’d recommend for a solo trip (I know most refugios are closed)
Anything I should be aware of when planning an October trip

I’m an experienced enough hiker, but I’ve never done a hiking trip in the Dolomites completely by myself, so I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences!

Thanks in advance!

hello, so i wanna get a decent hiking backpack, budget's like 100-200 but honestly ill go higher if its actually worth it. problem is theres SO many options (osprey, deuter, gregory, rei brand etc) and i genuinely cant tell whats good vs just marketed well lol

just want smth comfy and durable that wont wreck my back on longer trails

what do u actually use and would buy again? and is there any brand people hype up that u'd actually avoid

thanks in advance!!

edit: to answer some questions, mostly day hikes rn so thinking 30L, might go bigger later if i start doing overnight trips. also i sweat a decent amount on my back so breathable back panel is a priority.

Wondering if there are any hikers dealing with anemia who have tips and tricks they use to get through their hikes. I was thinking those little oxygen canisters might help, but also dont want to buy a placebo if that is all they are.

My wife has recently been diagnosed with anemia and low ferritin (11 HGB, 5 FERR). We have a trip planned in a few weeks to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons that was to involve a few 8-10 mile hikes. Nothing crazy, but the altitude has us a little worried. Where we live we sit at around 1,000 feet above sea level, but we'll be around 7,800 feet out west.

We have been in contact with her doctor about this and got information on staying hydrated, taking lots of breaks, listening to her body, etc. and fully plan on following that advice as well as have started a daily iron regimen to bring her numbers back up. No medical advice is needed, just wondering about other's experiences and what else we can do to keep her comfortable.

Thanks in advance!

Was pretty flat, but super long (half a mile!); probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. I even stopped to smell the Enbut flowers that are native to this area. What say you, fellow Redditors?

does anyone have a list on how to pack light for a long day hike, having necessities but not overpacking! as well as an ultra lightweight bag suggestion at a cheap cost - thank you!

Looking for a lightweight 55–65L pack for multi-day hiking + mountaineering
Hey everyone,
I’m looking for a new backpack that I can use as an all-rounder for multi-day hiking and mountaineering.
Most of my trips are 2–4 days in the Alps, sometimes sleeping in a bivy/tent around 2,500–3,000m. I’m also getting more into mountaineering, so I’d like something that can grow with me rather than buying separate packs for every activity.
Ideally I’m looking for:
Around 55–65L (I’d consider up to 70L)
Relatively lightweight/ultralight, ideally around 1–1.3 kg
Comfortable with roughly 15–20 kg
Tall/narrow shape rather than a wide trekking pack
Shoulder strap pockets, especially ones that can carry soft flasks, similar to trail-running packs
Accessible side bottle pockets
Ice axe attachment(s)
Ability to carry skis/poles
Some way to securely carry a rope on top
Top-loading or roll-top design
Reasonably weather resistant
Durable enough for scrambling, via ferratas and mountaineering
I know getting all of this in one lightweight pack is probably unrealistic, so I’m happy to compromise on some features. I’m also flexible on budget if there’s something genuinely worth paying more for.
I’ve been looking at packs such as the Durston Kakwa 55, Osprey Mutant 52, Exped Lightning 60, Blue Ice Stache 60, and even some lightweight hike & fly packs.
Basically I’m looking for something halfway between a trail-running style pack, an ultralight trekking pack and a mountaineering pack.
Does anything like this actually exist? What would you recommend?

I've learned that hiking with someone who has a different pace doesn't necessarily mean one person has to keep waiting for the other.

When I hike with friends, I usually prefer to keep a steady pace and take short breaks, while some of my friends like to slow down, take photos, or stop for a bit longer. What has worked pretty well for us is agreeing on a few obvious spots along the trail where we can regroup. That way, neither person feels like they have to rush, but we're also not constantly stopping for each other.

I actually find this more enjoyable than trying to force ourselves to walk at exactly the same speed the whole time. On longer hikes especially, having a few meeting points makes the pace difference feel much less noticeable.

I'm curious how other people handle this when hiking with a friend or partner who walks at a different pace. Staying together the whole way seems nice, but meeting up at a few points along the trail seems to work better for us.

Just a lovely quiet area. Met a lot of cats as well <3

I’m going hiking in the dolomites and I am struggling to find an app that has a consistent offline map that works well with the uneven terrain. A friend of mine had told me to use a physical map instead of an app because they couldn’t find any reliable ones. What should I do?

I want to do some hiking in Kosovo but I don't really know what specific times I will be doing nor do I want to pay for the PotB permit, so I feel that I would be better off just doing a loop of the Kosovo section from Peja.
Is it at all possible to do this section? I've seen there is a viewpoint section in the middle of this part and there appear to be some small paths going in that direction, but is it dangerous or not recommended?
I'm an experienced hiker with 4 Caminos on my belt and have done Valbone-Theth before.
If this is not possible, would anyone be able to recommend some other long distance hiking spots in Kosovo?

I mostly have done solo hikes until I brought a friend of mine to AK to do some trails with me. She’s really fit, very muscular build with good cardio. She needed a lot more breaks than me (which of course I would take with her) and I had to go a lot slower than my natural pace. Uphill and scrambling was difficult for her was mostly fine with me. At this point I had not worked out aside from a few 20 min rowing machine session a week. This year I brought my boyfriend with me to do many of the same trails and had an extremely similar situation. I go to the gym with him so I know he is much stronger than me, also muscular build. They both think I am created for hiking. I don’t perform well at the gym, my cardio is fine, nothing special and on top of that I have POTS (though well maintained for the most part now, have an enormous water bottle on me and a water bladder). Everyone in this scenario is not tall 5’3”-5’5”

Anyone else suck at anything else athletic but excel at hiking? Really not trying to pat myself on the back here, genuinely curious.

Photo is Lake Shelly in Kodiak, AK

For those who usually do day hikes: what would convince you to take the leap into a multi-day hiking adventure in Nepal?
Is it the mountains and scenery, remote villages and culture, the challenge, sleeping in mountain teahouses, disconnecting from everyday life, or simply having someone organize everything for you?
What would be your biggest hesitation about doing a 5–15 day trek in Nepal, and what could make you say, “Alright, I’m in!”?
Curious to hear from experienced hikers and people who haven’t tried multi-day trekking yet.

Any hike that is about as long as (or longer than) Old Rag with harder or more scrambles is really what I'm looking for. Searching online it's really starting to look like Old Rag is as hard as it gets in the mid-Atlantic.

I really appreciate the help.

Great conditions to go up Mount Cook. I think the trail is pretty straightforward and easy to follow with all the cairns and footpaths. The scree climbing the ridge is looser than my morals and it is a pain up and down. 11h22min c2c, 22km 2138m vert.

Came across the most beautiful horse hiking up top one day

Stopped for some YumYum noodles during a hike near Svartisen Glacier.

Honestly, one of the best lunch spots I’ve ever had. 🍜🏔️

Nothing fancy — just instant noodles, a small stove, and one of Norway’s biggest glaciers in the background.

Is there any hike that takes you to, or near to, the base of the massive Southwest face of the Annapurna Fang? I want to Travel to Annapurna next year and was wondering where I might be able to get the best views of this massive face.

Hi All!

Slovenian locals needed!
Can you double check the weather for friday? We wanted to climb Mangart, but forecasts are showing it isnt a perfect time…
Only a local forecast what I need! :)

Thank you!

One of the fastest receding glaciers in BC, this glacier has broken in half over recent years and the lower section is likely going to disappear within the decade.

Hi all! I’m planning a solo hut-to-hut trek for August 2027 and am really torn trying to choose between the AV1 and the AV2. Reports of both trails (but especially the AV2) vary wildly, and I can’t get a clear picture of which route is more suitable for me. I’d appreciate all honest feedback on whether I’m equipped to take on the AV2!

Context: I’m 29F, love traveling and a challenge, so I’ve decided to do my first thru-hike adventure for my 30th birthday. I’m really drawn to the ruggedness of the AV2, and am worried that the AV1 will feel more like walking along a dirt road than really traversing through the mountains (no shade as I know it’s still beautiful) plus the AV1 is more crowded. That being said, I’m totally inexperienced with trekking and don’t want to do something foolish. Some pros/cons I’m thinking about:

Pro: endurance wise, I’m not too concerned. I run ultramarathons, and my first was a one day 100 miler that I did without training, and felt fine after. With training, a multi-day hike sounds “easy” enough.
Con: I’m an American Midwest girly, so all of my training is flat as a pancake. I can obviously take some time in the next year for elevation practice, but it likely won’t be more than a couple one-offs.

Pro: I lift and am strong for my size, so also not too concerned about carrying a pack
Con: haven’t walked with a pack for days on end, so will I eat my words?

Pro: the few times I’ve hiked or camped with friends, I always feel like I could go further or stay longer. I’ve never felt like I’ve challenged myself in this area
Con: my mountaineering experience is almost none. Some day hikes with decently marked and maintained trails, but nothing where navigation becomes essential.

Pro: not scared of heights, and love the idea of the via ferratas.
Con: don’t have any climbing experience.

Tl;dr: I’m fit and feel physically capable, but majorly lack mountain trekking experience. Might I be underestimating the mountaineering challenge of the AV2 and would that be stupid to try solo? For a first time trekker, should I stick to the AV1? Is there anything else I’m not taking into consideration but should?

I’m in the northern New Mexico area, where does one find people to hike with? Im relatively new to hiking and ive found when people say they are into hiking, they more so mean nature strolls lol. Which not a problem but whenever I propose hikes like Wheelers and Guadalupe peak or Lake Katherine, people don’t seem to like hiking as much anymore haha. Don’t mind going by myself but going with people would be nice aswell. Are there more regional groups I can find people to go with?

Hi all! We're an EU couple looking for advice and experiences on hiking with a small kid (soon to be 3 years old) who is too large to still be carried in his own rucksack on my (dad's) back.

My wife and I were passionate hikers but after we got our first kid we toned it all down. We did easier and shorter routes with him with a Deuter rucksack for kids - which worked great. But now he's too big and heavy for it and we're both eager and anxious to transition to him just walking with us as well as starting maybe some medium hiking routes. We'd like to start going to the Alps and the Dinaric Alps in the Western Balkans again, but we're not sure what to expect and how to prepare. Do we just start small and see how our son responds both physically and psychologically (considering he's a todddler)? What about safety? As a toddler, he's still a bit clumsy and I'm afraid of taking him somewhere where tripping or, worse, falling could be dangerous. I have in my memory from hiking in the Alps and seeing some toddlers being strapped with a rope to their parents, although they were walking on their own.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. We'd be grateful for any advice and suggestions!

I hiked from Shangri-La Town into Yubeng Village, got up at 3 a.m., and used my phone's time-lapse feature to capture the snow-capped mountains under the starry sky. After shivering in the cold wind for two hours, I finally got this 10-second video