Hiking & Backpacking

Announcing Outsideways - A Community for Outdoor Adventurers - Ousideways is an outdoor adventure journaling community - a place for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers to gather and share their stories
Ringing in 2015 With a New Editor, New Products, and Great New Reviews - New exciting changes on Toe Salad for 2015!
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 24: Katahdin - Episode 24 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Summiting Mount Katahdin and finishing the trail
A Look at the Merrell 2014/2015 Autumn/Winter Line-up - Merrell makes some changes to the fall/winter line and we give you the scoop on what to expect for this winter
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 23: The Last State! - Episode 23 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Hiking through the last state brings us a lot of water and reflections
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 22: New Hampshire - Episode 22 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Making our way through New Hampshire, the second last stae in our journey
Fall Hiking Clothing Checklist - A clothing checklist for fall day hikes
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 21: Resupply - Episode 21 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - What does a resupply look like?
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 20: Injury and Absence - Episode 20 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - FIMBY gets off the trail to nurse an injured ankle
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 19: 10 Down 4 to GO! - Episode 19 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - three states in one week as we enter New England
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 18: Partners with a Mission - Episode 18 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - a partnership and deepening friendship is formed on the trail
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 17: Pennsylvania & Slackpacking - Episode 17 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Pennsylvania offers new scenery and slackpacking opportunities
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 16: Halfway - Episode 16 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - reaching the halfway point
Gossamer Gear Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - Gossamer Gear supplies backpacks and other gear for our family's AT thru-hike.
Rocket Pure Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - On our Appalachian Trail adventure Rocket Pure is an important part of our foot care routine.
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 15: Cooking on the Trail - Episode 15 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - cooking and eating on the trail
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 14: Welcomes & Woes - Episode 14 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - welcoming the grandparents, experiencing some hardships
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 13: Trail Days - Episode 13 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Trail Days in Damascus, VA
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 12: Beauty and a Bee Sting - Episode 12 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - Mothers day, Tennessee treasures, and our first trail injury
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 11: Meeting a Trail Legend - Episode 11 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - flowers, footwear, and Miss Janet
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 10: Flowers, Towns, and People - Episode 10 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - our first trail town, spring in bloom, and a thru-hiker's final journey
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 9: Smoky Mountains - Episode 9 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - the Smoky Mountians
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 8: First Crossing - Episode 8 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - our first state is done!
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 7: Rain and Resupply - Episode 7 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - new experiences with life on the trail
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 6: Trail Beginnings - Episode 6 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - on the trail at last!
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 5: Adventure Logistics - Episode 5 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - how we make this video series happen
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 4: Moving - Episode 4 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - moving our belongings into storage and heading for the USA
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 3: Gear and Goodbyes - Episode 3 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - gear prep, goodbye hair, and goodbye kitty
Our Footwear Strategy for the Appalachian Trail - A family minimalist footwear strategy for thu-hiking the Appalachian Trail
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 2: Meet the Family - Episode 2 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - who we are, and what our kids think of this grand adventure
Beyond our Boundaries, Episode 1: Project Launch - Episode 1 of the Beyond our Boundaries video series - kickstarting, gear prep, training, and family involvement in the creative process
Sawyer Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - For our Appalachian adventure Sawyer is helping to keep our family safe by providing us with insect protection and water filtration.
Support our Video Project: Beyond our Boundaries - Support our Kickstarter project to bring the Beyond our Boundaries video series to life
Family Thru-Hike Gear List - What are we packing for our hike? That is the big question.
Recommended Reading to Accompany Your Holiday Festivities - Read some articles from our authors elsewhere on the web this holiday season
GoLite Rain Jacket Giveaway - Giving away a GoLite Women's Tumalo Rain Jacket
Foot-Powered Adventure Books Giveaway - A giveaway of backpacking trail stories.
Minimalist Footwear in Technical Terrain - The benefits and limitations of minimalist footwear in technical terrain (i.e. terrain where a slip results in broken bones)
A Thru-Hike Update - We are four months from starting the Appalachian Trail at the beginning of April 2014
The Most Worn-Out Pair of Minimalist Shoes Ever? - After four months of trekking around Alaska's Cook Inlet, these are quite possibly the most worn out pair of minimalist shoes you will ever see
Montane Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - Montane, purveyor of fine ultralight outdoors clothing will be helping us out on our AT trek
GoLite Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - Packs, sleeping bags and rain jackets - we are pleased to announce that GoLite will be helping us out with some gear for our upcoming trip!
SteriPEN Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - For our Appalachian Trail adventure SteriPEN is supplying our family with water purifiers.
Injinji Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - For our Appalachian Trail adventure Injinji is outfitting our family with an assortment of socks.
Outdoor Herbivore Sponsors Beyond our Boundaries - Outdoor Herbivore, purveyor of fine vegetarian and vegan backpacking food will be sponsoring us for our Appalachian Trail thru-hike
Announcing Our 2014 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike - In 2014 Toe Salad's Editor-in-Chief Damien Tougas and his wife Renee plan to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with their three kids
Becoming a Gossamer Gear Trail Ambassador - Toe Salad's founder Damien Tougas becomes a Gossamer Gear trail ambassador
Minimalist Footwear for Backpackers - The Shoulder Seasons - Tips for hiking and backpacking in minimalist shoes in during the cold/wet shoulder seasons (spring and fall)
Minimalist Footwear for Backpackers - Part 2 - What do we think the is optimum footwear for backpacking? You may (or may not!) be surprised.
Minimalist Footwear for Backpackers - Part 1 - Are burly boots required for backpacking? We don't think so.
An Interview with Barefoot Jake - Ultralight/Minimalist Backpacker - Barefoot Jake stops by to chat a little about backpacking in minimalist shoes.
Hiking Mount Katahdin - A brief video of hiking Mout Katahdin.
Expedition Trekking in Minimalist Footwear - A course on expedition planning through the Backpacking Light Wilderness Trekking School.
An Interview with WalkAbout - A Barefoot Thru-Hiker - When your footwear really counts, sometimes no footwear is better.
Can't Find Minimalist Shoes that Fit? Make Your Own! - Sometimes the best option for footwear (not to mention the most rewarding) is to just make your own.
Hiking in Huaraches - I have gone barefoot for many years as I prefer my feet to be open to the air. Until a short while ago I wore open sandals when it was impractical to go barefoot.