Tall Joe Hikes
Hiking Europe and the United States

About

Tall Joe Hikes is for hikers and backpackers of all levels seeking trail guides, gear recommendations, and practical advice. A place where I can share my experience and experiences from the trails. With over 8,000 miles of hiking and backpacking across the U.S. and Europe, I offer detailed itineraries, honest gear reviews, and expert tips to help you get the most out of your next hike.

Hikes

Personal experiences on the trails. These are some of my favorites.

Grand Canyon
Mountain ridge view with forest valley on Capitol Peak Trail.

Four Pass Loop

Alta Via 2

Zion Traverse

Lac Blanc

Gear

These are my favorite backpacking and hiking items, some of which I’ve been using for 10 years.

Video

Hiking Advice and Backpacking Tips

Random thoughts of what I’ve learned over many miles.

  • Do You Need Trekking Poles for Hiking

    Close up of hikers La Sportiva Wildcats rock hopping a stream while using trekking poles.

    I’ve been using trekking poles for a number of years including on 3 long trails and numerous “shorter” hikes. The Black Diamond Alpine Cork Trekking Poles in particular have ...

  • REI

    A store display of Osprey backpacks on a wall.

    In 2009, my girlfriend gifted me the REI Flash backpack, which after a test run in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, just didn't feel quite right. I discovered it was ...

  • Why Hikers Love Smartwater Bottles for Hiking

    Hiker filtering water with a Sawyer Squeeze sitting on his backpack in a meadow.

    Have you ever noticed that the vast majority of long distance hikers use a very specific tall, skinny water bottle with a blue label on the side? One ...

  • How to Stay Hiker Fit

    Pushup exercise with dumbbells in a Crossfit gym setting.

    The best way to stay hiker fit is to hike, but that’s not always possible. A lot of us have full time jobs, school, children, or don’t live ...