RECCO Reflector Review: What It Is & Does It Work
Two years with a RECCO reflector on my pack: how the tech works, the documented rescues, where it's supported, and whether it's worth $40.
HikingGuy
Trail guides, gear reviews, and hiking skills from a professional hiking guide. Independent, no sponsorships.
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Garmin inReach SOS: How It Works & When to Use It
How Garmin inReach SOS works, what happens when you hit the button, and when you should use it.
Garmin inReach Subscription Cost: Which Plan Is Cheapest
Compare every Garmin inReach plan and use the calculator to find the cheapest one for how you hike.
Garmin inReach Tips and Tricks: Techniques I Rely On
Field-tested Garmin inReach tips: the settings I change and the techniques I rely on every hike.
State High Points: Which Ones You Can Actually Hike
All 50 US state high points ranked by difficulty, from short walk-ups to technical climbs. Trail guides plus hikeable alternatives for the unhikeable peaks.
Best Hikes in the US (From a Hiking Guide)
Hand-picked best hikes in the US from years on the trail: easy walks to backcountry epics. Maps and turn-by-turn directions for every hike.
Hiking for Beginners: What I Wish I Knew When I Started
How to pick the right hike, prep your body, pack the gear, and handle emergencies. The beginner's system from 20 years guiding and hiking from local to Sierra epics.
Best Hiking Watch: Trail Tested
Garmin Enduro 3, Fenix 8, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Amazfit tested for battery, GPS accuracy, and trail navigation. Which watch is actually worth buying.
Best Hiking GPS: Trail Tested
Handheld GPS units, watches, and phone setups I trust for backcountry navigation. Tested across thousands of trail miles in all conditions.
Best Satellite Communicator: Trail Tested
Satellite communicators I trust: inReach, PLBs, and sat phones tested across desert, alpine, and remote terrain. Real SOS context, real recommendations.
Garmin eTrex Touch Review: Trail Tested
Solid hardware and 6-9 ft GPS accuracy, but the 130-hour battery claim falls apart on trail. Trail tested on the Garmin eTrex Touch and what's actually missing.
Enduro 3 vs Fenix 8: Which Should You Buy?
Enduro 3 wins on battery and comfort. Fenix 8 wins on screen and smartwatch features. Tested in desert sun and forest. Which Garmin watch to buy for hikers.
Garmin Enduro 3 Review: Trail Tested
The best backpacking watch in the Garmin line: 3-week battery, full topo maps, lightweight, solar. Where the Enduro 3 beats the Fenix 8 and where it doesn't.
inReach Mini 2 vs Mini 3: Should You Upgrade?
The Mini 3 Plus offers powerful upgrades but if you just need core features, the Mini 2 is still solid.
Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus Review: Trail Tested
After hundreds of trail miles on the Mini 3 Plus, what works and what doesn't.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Review: Battery Life Tested
75-150 hour GPS battery on the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, tested on real trails. Rugged G-Shock build, no maps, and whether the battery beats Fenix and Enduro.
Guadalupe Peak Hike Guide
The highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet on a rocky ridge over a vast Permian reef, on the Guadalupe Peak hike. 8.4 miles, 3,000 feet, extreme summit wind.
Do I Need SAR Insurance? Rescue Cost Coverage
Most rescues are free, but an air ambulance can cost $28,000. When SAR insurance is worth it.
Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus Review: Trail Tested
The only inReach handheld that sends photos over satellite. Trail testing the GPSMAP H1i Plus: where it shines and where GPS and battery fall short of the 67i.
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Review: LTE + inReach Tested
The most capable Fenix yet, but the wrist-based inReach uses GEO satellites, not Iridium. Limited coverage, manual SOS. Where the LTE messaging actually works.
Garmin Fenix 8 Review: Trail Tested
Best all-around hiking watch in the Garmin line after months of testing. AMOLED maps, multi-week battery, multi-band GPS, and the upgrade-from-Fenix-7 question.
Rim Trail Guide
The Grand Canyon's rare easy hike with nonstop South Rim views, on the Rim Trail. Three options from 2.7 to 8.5 miles. No descent. Stroller-accessible sections.
Peekaboo Loop Trail Guide
The densest concentration of hoodoos in the Bryce Canyon amphitheater on a 5.2-mile loop deep in the canyon, the Peekaboo Loop Trail. Shared with guided horses.
Fairyland Loop Trail Guide
Hoodoos and amphitheaters most Bryce Canyon visitors never reach, on the 8-mile Fairyland Loop. The least crowded major Bryce trail. 1,800 feet of gain.
South Kaibab Trail Guide
Big Grand Canyon views from the very first step, on the South Kaibab Trail. Three turnaround options: 1.8, 3, or 6 miles. No water, no shade. Shuttle only.
Bright Angel Trail Guide
Water stations, multiple turnaround options, and the most forgiving route into the Grand Canyon, on the Bright Angel Trail. The climb out will still humble you.
Mount Minsi Trail Guide
River views and Northeast fall foliage on an Appalachian Trail loop above the Delaware Water Gap, on the Mount Minsi Trail. 4.8 miles, rocky descent.
Mount Tammany Trail Guide
The hardest hike in the Delaware Water Gap on a relentlessly steep climb up Mt Tammany. 3.6 miles, 1,200 feet. Loose rock on descent.
Enchanted Valley Trail Guide
A Victorian chalet sitting in a glacially carved valley deep in Olympic National Park, on the Enchanted Valley Trail. 28 miles, 2-3 days, permit required.
inReach Messenger Plus: Photo & Voice Tested
Satellite photo and voice messaging on the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus, trail tested. Long battery, cumbersome standalone. Whether to pay over the Mini 3.
Garmin inReach Messenger Review: 28-Day Battery
28-day battery on the Garmin inReach Messenger but no real navigation. Who it's for, when to skip it, and why the Mini 2 is the better call for most hikers.
HMD OffGrid Review: Satellite SOS Without a Garmin
Lightweight satellite SOS at $6.66/month with no Garmin needed. Trail tested in North America. Where the HMD OffGrid wins and where it falls short of inReach.
iPhone vs Garmin inReach: Which to Trust
iPhone satellite SOS is free in supported countries. The Garmin inReach is what to trust when it matters. Hundreds of backcountry miles testing both.
ZOLEO Review: Still Worth It?
$149 and $20/month for Iridium satellite messaging, same network as Garmin inReach. Whether the ZOLEO is still worth it after multiple backcountry trips.
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Review: Still Worth It
Three years on the inReach Mini 2 before I switched to the Mini 3 Plus. One of the most reliable inReach units Garmin made and still a bargain.
Valley of the Moon Trail Guide
Granite formations in remote Anza-Borrego near the US-Mexico border, on the Valley of the Moon Trail. No cell service, full exposure. Solitude guaranteed.
Black Elk Peak Hike Guide
The highest peak east of the Rockies at 7,242 feet, with a short scramble to a fire lookout, on the Black Elk Peak hike. 7.1 miles, 1,400 feet.
Humphreys Peak Trail Guide
Arizona's highest peak at 12,633 feet, with views to the Grand Canyon on a clear day, on the Humphreys Peak Trail. 9.6 miles, 3,300 feet. Start by 7am.
Wheeler Peak Trail NV Guide
Nevada's second-highest peak at 13,063 feet, past an alpine lake, bristlecones, and a glacier remnant, on the Wheeler Peak Trail. 8.8 miles. Acclimatize first.
El Moro Canyon Trail Guide
Canyon, ridge, and coast in a single loop in Crystal Cove State Park, on the El Moro Canyon Trail. The best loop in the park. Weekend parking fills early.
Mt Mitchell Trail Guide
The highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet, earned through real hiking rather than the summit road. The Mt Mitchell Trail. 12 miles, 3,700 feet.
Devil's Bridge Hike Guide
A natural sandstone arch you can walk across on Sedona's most popular trail, the Devil's Bridge hike. 4 miles, 400 feet. Shuttle required on weekends.
Limestone Canyon and The Sinks Hike Guide
OC's Grand Canyon: a 150-foot sandstone gorge called The Sinks, on the Limestone Canyon hike. Permit required through OC Parks. Plan ahead or you won't get in.
Hermit Trail to Santa Maria Spring Guide
The original 1911 sandstone-paved Hermit Trail down to a canyon shelter with views into Hermit Canyon. 4.5 miles, shuttle access, almost no crowds.
The Wave Hike Guide
One of the most surreal sandstone formations on earth on a 6.5-mile route with no marked trail, the Wave hike. Lottery permit required. Navigation mandatory.
Hiking Expert for Media: Cris Hazzard
Cris Hazzard, media-trained hiking expert for TV, radio, podcast. Cited by CNN, Fox News, ABC News, The Washington Post, The Guardian. Press inquiries welcome.
Mount Perry Hike from Dante's Ridge Guide
The widest panorama in Death Valley on a 9-mile point-to-point ridge from Dante's View, on the Mount Perry hike. Almost nobody else. Cooler months only.
Charlies Bunion Trail Guide
The best views in the Smokies from a rocky outcrop, on the Charlies Bunion Trail. 8 miles along the AT from Newfound Gap. Underrated, 1,600 feet of gain.
Mt Baden-Powell Trail Guide
A 1,500-year-old limber pine near the summit and a classic San Gabriel PCT climb, on the Mt Baden-Powell Trail. 8 miles, 2,800 feet. Steady switchbacks.
Mt LeConte Trail Guide
The marquee day hike in the Smokies, climbing through five forest zones to the summit on the Alum Cave route. The Mt LeConte Trail. 12 miles, 3,100 feet.