Steve Howe, BACKPACKER Rocky Mountain Editor

A sleeping bag that's ideal for small women.

Boots that are amazingly stable, delightfully lightweight, and surprisingly waterproof.

Breathable low-cut hikers for medium-volume feet.

Light boots that are good for medium-sized feet.

Boots for women that are both sturdy and compact.

An economically-priced sleeping bag that's one sweet deal.

A two-setting headlamp with sharp, shadow-free light and a great price.

A bright mini-lamp with one-click operation.

A headlamp with a swiveling compact head and easy-to-use buttons.

Channel your nimble-footed inner child with these grippy, hikeable shoes.

On hot summer days, these breathable shoes beat the heat.

A cushy sole makes these a good choice for long trail days.

Excellent fit, support, and waterproofing set a high bar for low-priced boots.

These nimble shoes are a steal for hikers with narrow feet.

Despite its name, Garmont's lighter boot provides excellent support, but a bit too much for fastpackers and trail runners.

Mesh-covered vents take these strong midcuts into the future of fastpacking shoes.

Give this boot a little time to really feel broken-in, and it will reward you with years of comfortable hiking.

The Trek brings serious trail mileage capabilities to the original (and winning) Trango S.

When it was time for Ladies' Choice, they picked the boot that 'just plain fit.'

This shoe fits the fastpacker interested in traveling long distances on hot days.

Check out the best lightweight boot for your heavyweight foot.

If there's a rough and tough masochist in the ultralight category, it's the Cyclone.

Just ask our Northwest editor how these boots hold up and he'll tell you a little bit about the 13-mile, 6,000-foot-elevation trail he covered. Easy as instant-pudding pie.

What kind of scrambler would pass up a shoe with soles described as Spider-Man-like? C'mon!

Don't underestimate the power of this model's plus sign -- the new and improved shoe almost offers too much to use the same name.

The Terrastryder-Mid triumphs in the "Best Fit" category for the hard-to-fit group -- just beware of its sogginess factor.

If you wake up wanting to walk 1,000 miles, go out and purchase a pair of these first.

This scrambler provides everything you need to go anywhere you want: support, grip, comfort, and waterproofing.

No toes will be lost in these mountaineering boots.

Not a speed demon? These traditionalists are great for light hiking.

Ventilation and traction are a nice combo, but stability doesn't match the best.

Even big guys with wide feet will feel agile with these supportive shoes.

Let others wilt in the heat; your feet are air-cooled by these ventilated runners.

Pillows underfoot might be softer, but they won't last like these cushy shoes.

Stop lugging extra water weight. This pack comes with downspouts.

One of the lightest shoes in the test scores big with trail runners.

Ready, set, go. You'll literally run down the trail with these featherweight kicks.

Learn this mapping technique for better off-trail travel.

What's GPS, how does it work and will it help you? Find answers to these questions and more!

Don't let your GPS unit stump you. Try one of these suggestions to get your unit trail ready.