Gear & Equipment

Name: Expeditions Alaska
Rating: 5.0

Camping on the Seven Pass.

Gear & Equipment is your go-to resource for all things needed to thrive in Alaska’s backcountry.

From backpacks, sleeping bags, and rain gear to layering systems and specialized tools, we cover the essentials for comfort, safety, and performance. These posts consolidate our expert advice and firsthand experience with wilderness gear, making it easier for you to choose what works best for your trip.

Whether you’re a first-time adventurer or a seasoned traveler, this category helps you make informed gear decisions before you hit the trail. Consider it your wilderness gear guide. All in one place.

Backpacker with Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 tent, Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Tent Review – Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 DP Review

Hey Folks My favorite tent for Alaska backpacking trips. Some of you might have seen a few years back I raved about the Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2 backpacking tent. So why now, am I writing about it again? Why, other than to show you our killer campsite we call “The Mezzanine”, from the classic Bremner […]

Hiking boots photos backpacking trips Alaska.

Get Your Boots On

Hiking and backpacking boots in Alaska A backpacking blog with no post about hiking boots? What gives? Hiking boots are one of those subjects that are SO subjective that it’s invariably a much lengthier conversation than a blog post might, or should, be. Different boots fit different people well, and different boots fit different situations […]

Backpacking trip Malaspina Glacier camping on ice, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Camping on the Malaspina Glacier

Hey Folks This past August, we just did an EPIC traverse across the Malaspina Glacier. Our original plan had been to fly from Yakutat to the Samovar Hills, and hike south. Due to the insane amount of snow in the area last winter (Yakutat got 350-360 inches), we weren’t able to land at the strip […]

Holiday stockings and Seasons’ Greetings

Mystery Ranch G5000 backpack xmas stocking

Alaska backpacking sleeping bag information. Hiking in Alaska.

Pack your sleeping bag

Sleeping bag rating for a trip to Alaska. Bring a 20deg bag. A snowy campsite on the high alpine tundra of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Termination dust covers the ground, or fresh fall snow, and Mt Jarvis (13 421′) of the Wrangell Mountains stands dominating behind. Backcountry campsite, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Why bring a tarp?

Why I bring an 8′ x 10′ tarp and stakes on a backpacking trip in Alaska. The Integral Designs Siltarp 2rocks. Backpacking in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Backpacking gear list hiker and Mt Blackburn kennicott Glacier, Alaska.

Alaska Backpacking Gear: A List

A backpacking gear list for Alaskan guide, Carl Donohue. Backpacking, hiking, trekking guide and nature photographer Carl Donohue of Expeditions Alaska, lists camping and hiking gear for a typical backpacking trip.

A backpacker wearing a hooded down jacket hiking across Malaspina Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

I’m Done With Fleece – Insulation

I switched from fleece to a Montbell Thermawrap synthetic jacket this season for backpacking. Lightweight, warm, windproof, and stuffable, it outperforms heavier fleece jackets. Great for 3-season use, quick-drying, and compact. Ideal for summer and fall hikes in Alaska, it’s become my go-to layering piece for backcountry adventures.

Alaska snowshoe trip Wrangell-St. Elias National Park winter snowshoeing forest.

Winter Outdoor Gear?

Ever wonder what Alaska guides rely on in the dead of winter? Here’s a quick rundown of the winter gear that kept me warm this season—from down booties to snowshoes and everything in between.

Backpacker wearing Arcteryx Rain Jacket in Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.

Rain Gear and Keeping Dry

Don’t make these rain gear mistakes on your Alaska trip. Learn which jackets, pants, and boots actually keep you dry in the backcountry from a longtime Alaska guide.

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