Patagonia Stretch Rainshadow
Most versatile
Gear Reviews
Gear Reviews
Find the best backpacking gear with help from our expert reviewers and gear testers at Backpacker. We review the best backpacking gear on the market, from sleeping bags, to cookware, to backpacks, to the best hiking boots, in the most rigorous trail conditions imaginable so you can find the perfect setup for all your adventures.
At Backpacker, we take our responsibility to provide readers with fair and accurate gear advice seriously. When you make a purchase through our site, we may earn a commission.
Find the best backpacking gear with help from our expert reviewers and gear testers at Backpacker. We review the best backpacking gear on the market, from sleeping bags, to cookware, to backpacks, to the best hiking boots, in the most rigorous trail conditions imaginable so you can find the perfect setup for all your adventures. At Backpacker, we take our responsibility to provide readers with fair and accurate gear advice seriously. When you make a purchase through our site, we may earn a commission.
Montbell Storm Cruiser
Best all-around
Marmot PreCip Active
Best value
Eddie Bauer BC Uplift
Killer deal
SITKA Vapor Shakedry Jacket
Most breathable
Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0
Best features
Apple Watch Series 4
Best smartwatch
SunSoaker 10W Kit
Best solar panel
Garmin Instinct
Best GPS watch
Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Soup
Best dinner
Bivy Bivystick
Best emergency communication device
Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless Sport Headphones
Best headphones
Skratch Labs Sport Energy Chews Matcha Green Tea & Lemon
Best snacks for immediate energy
DNX Bars
Best tasting snack
REI Co-op Flexlite Air
Featherweight camp chair
Trailfork Peanut Butter Banana Oats
Best breakfast
Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent 2.0
Set-and-forget bug protection
Jetboil Summit Skillet
Best pan
Wild Zora Bedrock Beef Chili
Best dinner
GSI Outdoors Escape 2L Pot
Best pot
Vargo Titanium Travel Coffee Filter
Best coffee filter
Cusa Tea Spicy Chai
Best drinks
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
Ultralight stove
FRONTIERSMAN Insider Bear Safe
Easy-to-pack bear canister
Sea to Summit SigmaSet 2.2
Best cookset
Skinners Footwear
Minimalist camp shoe
LOWA Baldo GTX
Best support
SCARPA ZG Trek GTX
Best stability
Aku Montera Lite GTX
Best all-around
Zamberlan 331 Amelia GTX WNS
Women’s pick
Merrell Chameleon 7 Mid Waterproof
Most versatile
Helly Hansen Vanir Gallivant HT
Best traction
Tecnica Plasma S GTX
Editors' choice update
Vasque Breeze LT GTX
Most agile
adidas Terrex Free Hiker
Most comfortable
Arc’teryx Aerios FL Mid GTX
Best for speed-hiking
Topo Athletic Terraventure 2
Best trail runner
The 4 Best Hammocks of 2019
Kick back and relax with these suspended sleep nests.
ENO SuperSub
Lightest hammock
Warbonnet Outdoors Blackbird XLC
Most spacious
Hennessy Hyperlite Zip
Best for thru-hikers
Klymit Sky Bivy
Best weather protection
Gear of the Week: REI Co-op Flash Folding Trekking Poles
These fixed-length poles stay sturdy in steep terrain.
Hilleberg Allak 3
Best protection
Eureka! Summer Pass 3
Best for families
Kelty Late Start
Bargain tent
Slingfin Portal 2
Strongest tent
Tarptent Double Rainbow
Best value
Vargo No-Fly
Best livability
REI Co-op Quarter Dome SL 2
Best all-around
Gossamer Gear The Two
Best storage
Black Diamond Distance
Best weight-to-price ratio
NEMO Rocket 2P
Best for fastpacking
Big Agnes Scout 2 Platinum
Lightest tent
REI Co-op Shell Bivy
Best bivy
Thule Rail 8L
Best hydration pack
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack
Best travel pack
EXPED Whiteout 30
Best for mountaineering
Mountain Equipment Ogre 33+
Most versatile
Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35
Most durable
Marmot Eiger 42
Most comfortable
REI Co-op Flash 45
Lightest
Osprey Rook / Renn 50
Best value
Gregory Zulu 65 / Jade 63
Best all-around
The North Face Banchee 65
Best feature set
Mystery Ranch Glacier
Best for big loads
Kelty Zyro 68
Best ventilation
Gear Guide: The Best of the Rest
There's a lot of great gear out there, and only so much space in our gear guide. Here are 35 products that barely missed the cut.
Editors' Choice Awards 2019: The Best Gear of the Year
For five months, we crisscrossed continents, climates, and comfort zones to put the newest outdoor products to the ultimate hiker’s test. A final, weeklong gauntlet in the Pyrenees Mountains, in Spain’s Catalonia region, was the finishing touch: By its end, we had elected these 12 winners of this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards.
Polartec Power Air
Stay warm and save rivers with this eco-friendly fleece layer.
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
Go light for less with this affordable solo tent.
Rab Kinetic Alpine Pant
Finally, a pair of rainpants you won't be afraid to wear all day.
MSR Reactor Stove System
This efficient stove has been one of our favorites for more than a decade.
Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20°F
Cut weight and stay warm with this featherweight bag.
Ombraz Sunglasses
The best parts about these new-school shades are what they don't have.
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody
This sun shirt is a soft alternative to wearing sunscreen.
Granite Gear Blaze 60
This lightweight hauler just keeps getting better.