Odlo FLI 2.5L Waterproof Jacket
The best price-to-weight ratio shell of 2021.
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First Lite Vapor Stormlight / Cascade Stormlight
the most versatile shell of 2021.
Direct Alpine Deamon
The most durable shell of 2021.
Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0
The most comfortable jacket of 2021
Maloja Beifuss/Birne
The most breathable shell of 2021.
Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie
The best windshell of 2021.
Montane Featherlite Smock
The best bargain shell of 2021.
Mammut Sapuen High GTX
The best all-around footwear of 2021
Danner Trail 2650 Campo
The most breathable footwear of 2021
Arc’teryx Norvan SL 2
The lightest footwear of 2021
Northside Stimson Ridge Mid WP
The best value footwear of 2021
Vasque Satoru Moc
The best camp shoe of 2021.
Black Diamond Fuel
The best footwear for scrambling of 2021
HOKA ONE ONE TenNine Hike GTX
The best cushioned footwear of 2021
Oboz Sypes Low Leather B-DRY
The most versatile footwear of 2021
Asolo Corax GV
The footwear with best support of 2021
AKU Rock DFS Mid GTX
The best fitting footwear of 2021
NEMO Quasar 3D
The best cushion-to-weight sleeping pad of 2021
Klymit Klymaloft XL
The most comfortable sleeping pad of 2021
The 11 Best Hiking Shells of 2021
Rain, sleet, snow, wind: These are our favorite shells of the season for any weather.
Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam Pad
The most eco-friendly sleeping pad of 2021
The 3 Best Sleeping Pads of 2021
You deserve to relax. Snooze better than ever before with our favorite sleeping pads of the year
Zenbivy Motobed 35°F
The best sleeping bag for car camping of 2021
Kammok Arctos 20°F
The most versatile sleeping bag of 2021
Royal Robbins Venture Crew
The most comfortable sock of 2021.
Sierra Designs Night Cap 20°F
The sleeping bag with best features of 2021
Swiftwick Pursuit Four Ultralight
The most breathable sock of 2021.
Bridgedale Trail Run Lightweight T2 Merino Sport
The sock with best protection of 2021.
Feetures Elite Max Cushion No Show Tab
The best sock for trail running of 2021.
NEMO Kayu 30°F
The most durable sleeping bag of 2021
Darn Tough Scout
The best overall sock of 2021.
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30°F
The most best all-around sleeping bag of 2021
REI Co-op Down Time 25°F
The most comfortable sleeping bag of 2021
Win the Best Water Purifier Out There
Check out Backpacker Editors's author page.
Run With the Wolves in Wisconsin
Share your solitude with wolves and beavers in Wisconsin's Porcupine Lake Wilderness.
The 8 Best Sleeping Bags of 2021
From super-light, super-packable sacks to comfort-first frontcountry beds, these are our favorite sleeping bags of the season.
The 13 Best Hiking Backpacks of 2021
Our testers found load haulers for every trip and hiker. Pick your favorite and start making your packing list.
The 9 Best Tents of 2021 for Backpacking
Find the perfect shelter to match the perfect spot.
Deal of the Week: Deuter Guide Lite 24 / Guide Lite 22 SL
It may look minimalist, but this pack has everything you need for a day exploring the alpine.
Sierra Designs Tabernash 2
The best bargain tent of 2021.
Hilleberg Helags 3
The tent with best protection of 2021.
Marmot Torreya 4P
The tent with best features of 2021.
Eureka! Kohana
The best value tent of 2021.
Black Diamond Mega Light
The most versatile tent of 2021.
NEMO Dragonfly 3P
The best space-to-weight tent of 2021.
REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+
The best all-around tent of 2021.
Mountain Hardwear Nimbus UL 2
The most packable tent of 2021.
Six Moon Designs Owyhee
The lightest tent of 2021.
The North Face Flight Training Pack 12
The best backpack for trail running of 2021
Matador Beast18
The most packable backpack of 2021.
Arc’teryx Aerios 30
The best backpack for organization of 2021.
Exped Verglas 30
The most weatherproof backpack of 2021
Mountain Laurel Designs Hell 27
The lightest backpack of 2021
Patagonia Altvia Pack 36
The most eco-friendly backpack of 2021
Gregory Katmai 65/Kalmia 60
The most comfortable backpack of 2021
Granite Gear Perimeter 50
The best backpack for big and tall backpackers of 2021
Deuter Futura Air Trek 60+10/Futura Air Trek 55+10 SL
The biggest backpack of 2021
Kelty Asher 55
The best bargain backpack of 2021
Lowe Alpine Cholatse 52:57 /Cholatse ND 50:55
The most durable backpack of 2021
Osprey Talon Pro 30/Tempest Pro 28
The best all-around backpack of 2021
Fight Off Early-Season Soreness With This Foot-and-Leg Self-Care Routine
Hiking muscles feeling rusty? Give them the love they deserve.
Will the PCT’s Trail Angels Open Their Doors in 2021? We Asked.
To go or not to go? That’s been the question of the pandemic for thru-hikers. We asked some of the Pacific Crest Trail’s most beloved figures about their own plans.
Stay Dry With The 7 Best Hardshells On The Market Right Now
These jackets will keep you on the trail no matter how bad the weather.
Columbia OutDry Ex Nanolite
The most breathable shell of 2021.
Norrøna Falketind
The shell with best features of 2021.
Sponsored Content
The New Science of Hiking
The North Face VECTIV™ line of footwear helps you move with confidence and power further no matter the trail.
Editors’ Choice: This is Our Favorite Backpacking Gear of 2021
A comfy camp chair, a tricked-out tent, one of the best free apps we've ever used, and more: this is the best gear of the season.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hooded Down Jacket
Barely any weight, but plenty of warmth: The Ghost Whisperer UL is in a class by itself.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Sierra Designs Get Down 20°F
Sleep well for less with this affordable system.
Editors’ Choice 2021: MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier
Set it and forget it with this gravity-powered water purifier.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Outly
Find paradise with this guide to campsites around the U.S.A.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Sea to Summit Telos TR2
This detail-heavy, spacious, and light tent has earned its place as our home on the trail.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Osprey Aether 55 / Ariel 55
Get all the bells and whistles with this luxury pack
Editors’ Choice 2021: Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20°F
Stop tossing and turning and get the backcountry beauty sleep you deserve.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Good To-Go Chicken Pho
Fuel up better with this savory soup.
Editors’ Choice 2021: NEMO Moonlite Reclining Chair
You're at camp, sore and tired. You deserve to kick back—and this chair can help.
Chase Alpine Solitude on Yosemite’s Border
Ditch the crowds but keep the views at Boundary Lake in California's Emigrant Wilderness.
How Everest Training Can Help You Crush Your Next Hard Hike
Preparing for the Big E took every ounce of dedication I had—but the lessons I learned didn’t stop there.
The GoPro Mountain Games are Back This Summer
With more than 15 events in professional and amateur categories, athletes can enter to win over $120K in prize money. It’s good entertainment, too.
See Backpacker’s 9 Favorite Products of 2021 in Action
Check out Shannon Davis's author page.