Christmas ornament

Rethinking Tradition: Is It Time to Question the Christmas Tree?

We harvest trees for various practical purposes – lumber, furniture, paper, writing utensils, boats, signs, musical instruments, crates, boxes, cellophane, adhesive, and more. Most trees are harvested for valuable and long-lasting purposes, while the Christmas Tree has no purpose other than to act as a fleeting ornament. This time of […]

Tips for a Lighter Footprint

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”— Gaylord Nelson There are so many ways we can minimize our impact. Here are a few things that we practice here at Outdoor Herbivore. Clothing and […]

chia seeds

Chia Seeds: The Ultimate Backpacking Superfood

Chia seeds offer extensive value for the lightweight backpacker. Here’s why: Tiny and lightweight with a storage life of up to 5 years. Require no cooking. Chia seeds are great for making cold-soaked pudding, cereal, or smoothies. Chia Seed High Energy Content: 140 Calories per 1.0 oz (28.35 g) or […]

High Calorie Vegetarian Fats

Backpacking long distances in mountainous terrain can burn up to 5,000 calories per day. Because fat provides the highest source of calories by weight, hikers need to consume a higher amount of fat to account for lost calories. Besides providing energy, fats are vital for insulating your body, supporting immunity and […]

Lost using National Geographic Trail Illustrated Maps

Will This Map Get Me Lost?

It is sensible to carry a foldable paper map as a reliable backup to your GPS device when hiking in an unfamiliar wilderness. Our experience is that not all trail maps are created equal. Here are a few of our thoughts after traveling countless trail miles over the years and examining […]