‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands

Handstands display a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt – and they look cool. Experts share their advice for building up strength and practicing

The best backpacks in the UK for work, travel and wild adventure – tested

Whether you want a smart-but-stylish commuter rucksack or a hike-friendly pack, our writer lugged 16 over hundreds of miles to find the best bags for your buck

Ultramarathon runners train for months, sometimes years. But what happens when they don’t finish a race?

DNF stands for ‘did not finish’ – the acronym no ultrarunner wants assigned to their race result. For amateurs, DNFing is loaded with emotion – but attrition rates are extremely common

From skipping ropes to Swiss balls: personal trainers on the best home gym kit

Exercise mats that don’t slip, easy-grip kettlebells and floor sliders … fitness experts share their best buys for staying active at home

Is it true that … it’s harder for women to do pull-ups?

The differences in body types does mean that, on average, women find the exercise more difficult – but that’s not the whole story

Nipple tape, pickle juice and dinosaurs: how I learned to love running, the unorthodox way

The usual advice was getting me nowhere. If I really wanted to embrace running, I’d need to go off-piste. It was a journey that took me to some very strange places …

‘I lose all sense of time in the hypnotic flow’: five writers on their favourite British rivers

From the source to the sea, our writers share their favourite ways to immerse themselves in nature by paddleboarding, canoeing, camping, walking and fishing

Stretchy, supportive and completely chafe-free: the sportswear real people swear by

From leggings that don’t roll down to bras that keep everything in, keen amateur cyclists, weightlifters and swimmers reveal the bits of kit they can’t do without

‘I spent a week crying. I’ve never had an injury in my life!’ Why do so many fitness fans end up needing surgery?

From the 47-year-old runner who needs a double hip replacement to the 27-year-old CrossFitter with a ruptured ACL, those who push their bodies too hard often regret it. What are the lessons for the rest of us?

Traveling or standing all day? Compression socks will help your feet. Doctors recommend these five pairs

Compression socks provide relief during long flights, hours on your feet or after surgery. Doctors say the best pairs are from Bombas, Physix and Sockwell