The OpenRando blog
Tips, guides and inspiration for your outdoor adventures.
Best Hiking and Bivouac Headlamps: a Complete Buying Guide
Which headlamp should you choose for hiking and bivouacking? Real lumens, battery life, waterproofing and red mode: five models compared.
Best Hikes in the Aubrac: Pastures, Burons and the Camino de Santiago
Seven hikes across the Aubrac plateau: mountain pastures, stone burons, waterfalls and sections of the Camino de Santiago between Aveyron and Lozère.
Hiking with an Aging Dog: Adapting Outings to Protect Their Joints
How to keep hiking with an aging dog: signs of arthritis, adapted distances, recovery, and gear to protect their joints.
Itinerary: Crossing the Vercors in 4 Days
Crossing the Vercors in four days: stages, elevation profiles, refuges and mountain huts, rare water sources and GPX tracks for each day. A complete guide to the Hauts Plateaux traverse on the GR91.
Hiking Socks Comparison: Merino Wool, Synthetic or Blend?
How to choose the right hiking socks: merino or synthetic, height, cushioning and seams. Comparison of six tested models to avoid blisters.
Hiking in the Gard Garrigue, Beyond the Pont du Gard
Eight hikes in the garrigue of Gard, away from the Pont du Gard crowds: gorges, stone huts, hilltop villages and olive trails.
Hiking After Rain: Muddy Trails and Flooded Streams
Hiking after heavy rain: how to assess trail conditions, safely cross a flooded stream, and know when to turn back.
September in the Mountains: The Best Hiking Window of the Year
Why September is the best month for mountain hiking: stable weather, empty trails, golden light, and ideal temperatures. A complete guide.
Best GPS Watches for Hiking Under €300: Which One to Choose?
The best GPS hiking watches under 300 euros compared: real battery life, track accuracy, mapping and navigation put to the test.