Stories and news

Hardside Hydration's bottle filter: water filtration made simple

Filtering water on the trail usually means an extra piece of gear to carry, assemble, and clean. Hardside Hydration's Bottle Filter takes a different approach, filtering water straight from your Na...

Ditch the bladder: how Hardside Hydration reinvents your Nalgene

Hydration bladders are convenient, until they leak, split, or grow mould somewhere you can't see. Hardside Hydration solves that with a genuinely simple idea: turn the hard-sided water bottle you a...

PAST Outdoors CEO Dave Parker on The Outer Side Podcast

Dave sat down with Tony from The Outer Side Podcast, and the conversation went exactly where we hoped it would: straight past the marketing spin and into the stuff that actually matters. How a kid ...

Patagonia New Spring Collection

Spring is when your Patagonia kit really gets to work, handling everything from a chilly morning start to a warm afternoon on the trail. In this guide, we walk through our new spring drop, from sus...

How to choose a headlamp

A good headlamp is one of those pieces of gear you don't think about until you genuinely need it, and by then it's too late to realise you bought the wrong one. In this guide, we break down what ac...

The Exped backpack range, explained

Exped's backpack range covers a lot more ground than people expect from a brand best known for sleeping mats. In this post (and our full video walkthrough), we break down all four packs we stock, f...

Dave Packs for a Multi-Day Hike in New Zealand

Discover what to pack for multi-day rugged hiking trips with Dave’s gear check. From cooking systems, clothing, and safety essentials, this guide covers the best hiking and backpacking equipment fo...

Exped dry bags: 100% waterproof packs worth knowing about

Not every pack needs to be waterproof, but when the weather turns, you'll wish yours was. In this post (and our full video review), we break down two of Exped's best drybag-style packs, the ultrali...

Sea to Summit dry bags: The best thing since sliced bread

Keep your clothing, sleeping gear, electronics and other essentials protected from wet weather with our range of Sea to Summit dry bags. In this guide, we compare the rugged Big River Dry Bag and B...

Black Diamond hiking poles review: are they worth it?

Black Diamond has built a genuine reputation across climbing, skiing and hiking gear, and their trekking pole range is no exception. But with models spanning different budgets, materials and mechan...

Best travel backpack for women

Choosing the right travel backpack for women isn't about picking whatever's popular, it's about finding a pack built for a woman's body so it actually carries comfortably over long days. In this gu...

Hiking water filters: a buyer's guide

Running out of clean water is one problem you never want to solve mid-hike. A reliable hiking water filter means less weight in your pack and confident refills from streams, rivers, and taps along ...

Water filter caravan: what you actually need on the road

You don't need to be deep in the backcountry to think seriously about water filtration — caravan tanks can pick up sediment, bacteria, or an unpleasant taste over time, even when the water looks cl...

Patagonia Black Hole sizing explained: why 60L is now 55L

If you've owned a Patagonia Black Hole duffel before and gone looking for the same size again, the lineup looks a little different now. In this guide, we break down exactly what changed, from Black...

Personal Locator Beacon vs Garmin Inreach: Which Do You Need?

When you're heading off the grid, having a reliable way to call for help isn't optional — it's essential. But with so many options on the market, working out whether you need a personal locator bea...

Why walking poles for hiking matter more than you think

It's easy to write off walking poles for hiking as optional extras for serious mountaineers or older hikers — but that's a common misconception worth rethinking. The right pair genuinely reduces st...

Sea to Summit sleeping bag: how to pick the right one for your trip

With so many options in the Sea to Summit sleeping bag range, choosing the right one can feel more complicated than it needs to be. In this guide, we break down what actually matters — fill power, ...

Why the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is our go-to rain jacket

When the forecast turns, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is the jacket we reach for first — and we'll be upfront about why. It's not built for hardcore, remote multi-day expeditions, but for everyday...

Sleeping mats for camping: R-value, comfort, and what to look for

It's easy to spend your whole budget on a great sleeping bag and treat the mat underneath as an afterthought — but that's where most overnight heat loss actually happens. In this guide, we break do...

Hiking backpack daypack: an everyday essential

A good daypack might be the most versatile piece of gear you'll ever buy — it's not just for the trail, it's your travel companion, your city commuter bag, and your go-to for weekend recreation. In...

Sleeping bag guide: free downloadable PDF

Comparing sleeping bags can be surprisingly overwhelming once you start weighing up fill power, temperature ratings, and weight across different models. That's why we've put together a completely f...

Sleeping Bags 101: Compare Fill, Warmth & Weight Before You Buy

Picking a new sleeping bag shouldn't feel like guesswork. With so many shapes, fills and temperature ratings out there, it's easy to end up with a sleeping bag that's too hot, too heavy, or simply ...

Best camping equipment stores near you: PAST Outdoors' guide to camping equipment stores across Australia

Excerpt:Searching for camping equipment stores near you can turn up a mixed bag — big box retailers with generic stock, or small stores with a limited range. In this guide, we make the case for why...

The ultimate guide to ultralight gear: how to choose your kit

Every extra kilogram in your pack adds up over a long day on the trail, which is exactly why more hikers are rethinking their kit from the ground up. In this guide, we break down why ultralight gea...

Patagonia Australia: where to find and buy Patagonia gear near you

If you're searching for Patagonia near you, we've got genuine Patagonia Australia stock ready to help you gear up. But Patagonia is more than just a trusted name — the brand has backed up its reput...

Pants for hiking: how to choose the right gear for your next trip

Choosing the right hiking pants is about more than just picking a colour you like — fabric type, fit, and features all affect how comfortable you'll be on the trail. In this guide, we break down th...

From canvas to carbon: the evolution of the modern ultralight hiking backpack

The modern hiking backpack didn't happen by accident — it's the result of decades of obsessive design refinement, starting with a 16-year-old who taught himself to sew a better-fitting pack. In thi...

The ultimate guide to ultralight pack: how to choose your kit

Choosing the right backpack can make or break your hike. A poorly fitted bag leads to sore shoulders and a miserable trip, while the right one disappears on your back and lets you focus on the trai...

Duffle bags that convert to backpacks: which ones actually work

Plenty of duffle bags claim to double as a backpack, but there's a big gap between "technically has straps" and "genuinely comfortable to carry loaded." In this guide, we break down what actually s...

Mount Hotham Trails: a PAST Outdoors Beginners Guide

Mount Hotham is one of Victoria's most rewarding alpine destinations, with trails that take you from wide open ridgelines down into quiet valley runs. Whether you're planning a day hike or a multi-...

Sleeping bag comparison: Sea to Summit Spark vs Spark Pro

Picking the right sleeping bag comes down to more than just the price tag on the shelf. In this post, we compare the Sea to Summit Spark and Spark Pro sleeping bags side by side, breaking down fill...

Sleeping bag vs sleeping mat: why you need both for a comfortable night outdoors

A warm sleeping bag won't save you if the cold ground is doing all the work underneath you. Most of your overnight heat loss happens through contact with the earth, not the air around you — which i...

Your Outdoor Shop For Premium Hiking And Camping Gear

Looking for an outdoor shop that actually knows its gear? We cover our favourite outdoor lights, outdoor table and chairs, and weatherproof shelters, from Petzl headlamps to Helinox furniture and M...

Best trailhead near you: PAST Outdoors' guide to trailheads across Australia

There's nothing better than pulling into a trailhead you've never explored before, boots on, poles in hand, ready for whatever the track throws at you. But the best days out always start well befor...