Backpacker’s New Look Is a Tribute to Our Past

This article originally appeared on Backpacker

If you've visited our site today, you've probably noticed that Backpacker has a new design. But if you've been reading Backpacker for a long time--a really long time--it might look familiar. That's because for our latest look, we took some inspiration from the past.

Our newest logo isn't really new at all: It's our original logo from the very first issue of Backpacker, published 50 years ago. When our founder William Kemsley started Backpacker in 1973, our goal was to connect, educate, and entertain America's burgeoning population of hikers with insightful essays and travelogues, helpful tips, and news from around the outdoor world, all crowned by that bold, blocky title. As "Backpacker Bill" wrote in that first issue: "We believe that simply walking in the backcountry ... engenders a special relationship with nature that is unlike anything you can find sitting in your living room, or in an office, in a lecture hall, in a church, reading a book, or listening to music."

Fast forward a half-century, and a lot has changed. The internet has made it easier than ever to find new places to hike and learn essential outdoor skills, and more people are lacing up their shoes and hitting the trail. Through it all, Backpacker has worked to bring the best of the outdoors to you every day, with stories, trail reports, news, reviews, and more by the world's most talented writers and editors. Our new-old look is a recommitment to our heritage, and to the community we've built up over the years. We're moving into the future and we're doing it with old-school style.

Thanks for reading, and see you on the trail,

Adam Roy
Executive Editor

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