In this how-to program we will focus on hiking and all of the basic skills and hiking equipment, clothing and boots you will need to have for a great new outdoor experience with friends and family.

INDEX: Quick links in this guide to learn how to:

The last thing you want while you’re happily hiking down the trails is an uncomfortable pack that pokes and prods until you decide you’ve had enough for the day. Educating yourself before buying a pack will give you greater comfort – and a more enjoyable time on the trail.

From thick to thin, we give you the inside scoop on socks.

The push-to-talk feature on many cell phones is a handy innovation, but for the outdoorsman who traverses remote locations, where cell towers are nonexistent or severely limited by mountainous terrain, the best solution is a pair of portable radios.

Hiking boots have come a long way since the 1980s when athletic-shoe-style hiking boots were first introduced. We’re also now wearing them for a more versatile array of outdoor adventures from fastpacking and trail running, to extended backcountry hunting treks and serious mountain trailblazing.

Declination, triangulation, contour lines, scale … with lots of jargon and no “on/off” switch involved, navigation with a map and compass can be daunting for first-timers. But it doesn’t have to be. We’ve distilled what can be a very complicated process down to the basics.

Day hiking for most folks is a much needed, quick getaway from life's demands. An easy walk along a paved trail at a metro park or a 3- or 4-mile trek up a mountain and back can attract different types of hikers.

Just like your mother told you before you left the house for an evening of fun with your buddies: "Be back on time or else!" She was adamant about being on time for several reasons, primarily for your safety and for her sanity.