CTUG Blog
What Are the Real Thru-Hike Essentials? (And Where to Actually Keep Them)
Every hiker has their own version of this story. You get home from a trip, start unpacking, and find something at the bottom of your bag that you never touched. Still rolled up, sealed, and carried...
How to Add a Water Bottle Holder to Your Backpack (And Why Most Hikers Get It Wrong)
Back in 2018, we were hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with a homemade backpack. People kept stopping us on the trail to comment on it, and those conversations kept going the same direction: "I love ...
Bear Can Basics: How to Pack, Open, and Actually Live With a Bear Canister
Learn how to pack, open, and manage a bear can on trail. Practical tips for BearVault lids, food packing, and smarter backpacking systems.
Best Backpack Water Bottle Holders for Ultralight Hiking
Choosing the best water bottle carrier for backpacking seems simple until you are halfway into a thru-hike dealing with bounce, blown-out mesh, or a hydration bladder you cannot properly clean. Hyd...
The Hills We Choose to Die On: Rethinking Outdoor Inclusivity - Savannah Bergeron
There’s a reason we’re moved when we see mountains, waterways, wild animals, sunrises. That reason is a bond that we should all have access to.
Scaling Up Without Compromising: An Update from CTUG
Big news from CTUG Co-Founder Nathan Ackerman:
We’ve partnered with a trusted manufacturer in Vietnam to help us keep your favorite gear in stock and invest more in our Michigan team.
This change s...
6 Top Frequently Asked Hiking Questions With Answers From the Experts
Are you drawn to the great outdoors, but find yourself feeling unprepared once you arrive?
You don't want to feel lost before you even begin your hike—or during it, for that matter. To help you en...
How to Stay Safe and Warm During Winter Hikes
The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of your hiking season. You can continue hitting the trails throughout chilly autumns and freezing cold winters—simply make sure you have the right sup...
5 Reasons a CTUG Phone Pocket Is the Perfect Hiking Accessory
We all have some unique, helpful piece of backpacking gear we discovered at some point and can’t shut up about. I’m talking something blatantly practical, yet easy to have missed.
Something that s...