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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.
Bear It? Or Use Sunscreen?
Why is it advised to leave odor free deodorant or antiperspirant behind in the backcountry when sunscreen and bug spray are considered ok? Wouldn't the same premise apply to all?
Booze for Blisters?
My grandfather told me many years ago that using rubbing alcohol on your feet a few weeks before a backpacking trip will help prevent blisters. Have you heard this before?
Getting Fit for Philmont
I am leading a crew to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico next summer. We are covering 115 miles in 10 days and summiting four peaks around 12,000 ft. What workouts would you recommend to prepare 12 guys around the age of 16 for this trek
Spring Back from a Sprain
What is the fastest way to recover for hiking from a sprained ankle? What exercises can I do to strengthen my ankle muscles?
Lightning Rod Pack?
Can hiking with an aluminum external frame pack pose a hazard during an electrical storm?
Living with Lyme
I've had Lyme disease now for three years, misdiagnosed at first, I am a hiker and a climber and continue to do so even though the pain in my shoulders and knees is sometimes bad. Im going to climb Mts. Whitney and Rusell soon. Will the high altitude affect my Lyme disease?
Weak in the Knees
I recently went on a seven-day 100 mile hike. My knees where killing me on the down hills. What exercise can I do to prevent this from happen?
Glass Half Full
You run out of water on a long, hot dayhike. You find a full water bottle trailside, and also find a clear running stream. Drink from the stream, drink from the bottle, or abstain?
Boiling at Altitude
How long should water boil at 14,000 feet altitude where it boils at 60 degrees Celsius?
Animal Immunity?
Why is it that wild animals can drink water that's unsafe for humans?
Bad Balls and Birdtoe
Just standing flat footed and lifting my toes I get a sharp pain shooting from the ball through the underside of my toe and my hiking has ceased. What could the problem be?
Sore to the Sole
My boots seem to fit me well, but after about three hours of backpacking the balls of my feet become sore. Friction probably plays a role, so I duct tape the balls of my feet to slow down the pain process. Eventually they do get sore. Any suggestions?
Healthy, Gluten Free Carbs?
I am a backpacker and mountain climber and am trying to find out more information specific to diet and keeping up my endurance, energy and strength. I have celiacs disease and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on obtaining the right carbs.
Get High with Baby?
As a CO native, hiking Fourteeners in the summer is a favorite activity of mine. I'm excited to introduce my one-year-old to an easy one this summer (carrying him in a baby backpack, of course), but am a bit concerned about him and altitude sickness. Should I be?
Brain-teasing Ache
Why do I get headaches nearing the end of hikes? I drink enough water, eat enough, but the last two miles of so of any hike I get a killer headache.
Acclimatization Insight
Does hiking and sleeping at altitude for the weekend one to three weeks prior to taking a hike at 14,000 help acclimating? I would be back at sea level for the work weeks in between.
Hand Sanitizer Help?
How soon after exposure to poison ivy do I need to wash my skin? If I apply an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after contact with poison ivy, will it reduce my reaction, or stop it altogether?
Giardia Enigma?
When I through-hiked the PCT a number of people I was hiking with came down with giardia. We drank from the same sources for weeks. They treated their water and I never did and I still never got sick. Why?
Gear School: Synthetic Sleeping Bags
The best new sacks are tough on cold and packed with technology.
Gear Review: Backcountry Skirts
Three skirts for conquering the backcountry with a dash of feminine style.
Gear Review: Stoic Wraith Rain Jacket
A wisp of a rain jacket at a great price
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Zia 3 Tent
A three-person tent with 40 square feet of floor space.
Gear Review: REI TiWare Nonstick Cookset
This four-piece set has a nonstick silicone/ceramic coating.
Gear Review: Patagonia Lightweight Sun Hoody
This polyester jersey is loose and meshy while still being a great sun barrier.
Gear Review: Suunto Core Anniversary Edition Watch
This watch features an altimeter, barometer, compass, and logbook, and is dead-on accurate.
Gear Review: JanSport Forsyth 50 Pack
A backpack for organized backpackers.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research Vigor Jacket
An extremely lightweight and tough jacket that's only $70.
Gear Review: Patagonia Nine Trails Jacket
This hoodless Patagonia jacket is extremely breathable.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Shadowland Jacket
A windproof jacket with a warm, brushed tricot lining.
Navigation Center: Videos
Learn the basics of using GPS devices and watch amazing Google 3D flyovers in our special navigation focused video center.
Gear Review: GoLite Kenai Jacket
This waterproof, windproof jacket loves crappy weather.
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Celeris Jacket
A great jacket for trail runners at only five ounces.
Gear Review: Keen Alamosa Hiking Boot
These cushy dayhikers are perfect for hiking with light loads.
Gear Review: Merrell Chameleon 3 Ventilator Hiking Boot
This light hiker is practically abrasion resistant thanks to the thick pig suede upper.
Gear Review: Lowa Tempest Lo Hiking Boot
This light hiker can carry up to 50 pounds!
Gear Review: Five Ten Insight Hiking Boot
A Five Ten shoe that excels at scrambling and smearing.
Gear Review: Patagonia Drifter A/C Hiking Boot
Bootlike support and traction with trail-runner shock absorption and weight.
Navigation Center
Learn how to make custom maps, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices and mobile apps in our comprehensive navigation center.
Is Giardia More Prevalent Than Ever?
Are giardia issues now greater than they were, say, in the 60s? In the 60's I often drank out of remote streams, with no ill effects.
Is Gore-Tex the Best?
Is Gore-Tex still the #1 all-time best waterproof material you can buy?
The Best Quick-Dry Pant?
What are the best quick-dry pants to use in cooler temperatures?
How to Protect Sleeping Bag from DEET?
I've heard that DEET is bad for sleeping bag fabrics. Since I use it on most camping trips, should I wash my sleeping bag after every trip?
Campfire Cooking Gadgets
Amp up your frontcountry campground cooking with these five items.
Gear Review: Klymit Inertia X-Frame
Is your sleeping pad from the Stone Age? Try upgrading to this Jetsons-worthy mattress.
How To Keep Cameras Alive In The Field
The wilderness is often a wet and gritty place. Fortunately cameras are tougher than we think, but careless handling can trash them. Here's how to stack the odds in their favor.
Gear Review: Tilley TWP1 Waterproof Hat
A fully-featured topper, the Tilley TWP1 waterproof hat has enough style to satisfy even the snobbiest hiker.
REI Half Dome 4 Tent
If a two-person Half Dome can win an Editors' Choice Award, can the four-person be twice as nice?
Gear Review: Fenix HL20 Headlamp
Some headlamps only provide a little light to get you by. Not so with the 105-lumen Fenix HL20–and it runs on a normal AA battery too!
Father's Day Gift Guide
What do dads really want? Hint: not more ties or car wash gift certificates. We polled our male staffers to find out what they hope to get (or give) this June 19th.
Gear Review: Costa Del Mar Zane Sunglasses
Worth the price, the Costa Del Mar Zane sunglasses have polarized lenses perfect for spotting fish despite the water's glare.
Gear Review: Mammut Teton GTX Hiking Boots
A Vibram sole adds a bit of burly sturdiness to the Mammut Teton GTX boot.
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Gnar Hoody
Throw the 800-fill Sierra Designs Gnar Hoody for a cozy extra layer.
Gear Review: Helinox Featherlite Lever Button Trekking Poles
Check out Kristin Hostetter's author page.
Gear Review: REI Passage 2 Tent
There's no need to sacrifice sturdiness with the less-pricey REI Passage 2 three-season tent.
Gear Makeover Contest – Meet the Winners!
These six readers convinced us their gear needed an update! Look for their full makeovers in our January 2012 Readers' Choice issue.
Gear Review: Vasque Jule Trail Shoe
A low-cut hiker for all your daily adventures.
Gear Review: Weekend Packs
Load and go: Our test crew logged 1,689 miles to find the perfect short-haul pack for every type of hiker.
Summer Trail Smarts: Purify Water
Learn several techniques to purify water in the backcountry.
Gear School: Headlamps
Improve your night sight with the latest headlamp technology.
Gear Review: REI Venturi 45 Backpack
Check out the Venturi 45 for its significant space and plentiful pockets.
Gear Review: Osprey Hornet 46 Backpack
If you're going light, choose the Osprey Hornet 46, which is durable despite its minimal weight.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Kanza 55/Tadita 50 Backpack
Stability is good in relationships and backpacks. It's guaranteed in the Mountain Hardwear's Kanza 55/Tadita 50 with its ability to flex to fit any spine position.
Gear Review: Deuter ACT Zero 50+15/45+15 Backpack
Beefy and adaptable, the Deuter ACT Zero shrinks sizes from week-long adventurer to afternoon excursioner without compromising comfort.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Epic 45 Backpack
The dynamic suspension system of the Black Diamond Epic makes carrying loads up to 45 pounds a walk in the park.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Epic 45 Backpack
A perfect weekend pack for mountaineer and ice climbers.
Outdoor Apps for Android Users
Don't let iPhone fanatics fool you: There are tons of great outdoor apps for the other operating system.
Stuff or Fold/Roll a Tent?
My friend and I have a debate going about how to pack a tent: He says stuffing it is better, but I say folding and rolling is better. Who's right?
Adequate Tent Ventilation
Tents have warnings to "maintain adequate ventilation. Death by suffocation is possible!" My tent has lots of mesh. What's the story here?
Water Treatments Working?
How can I be sure my water treatment equipment is doing it job. Is there a way to test this?
Guns & Backpacking
I am new to backpacking and have only made a few serious trips. Everyone I hike with always carries a gun. Do you carry a firearm when in the United States? Or am I just paranoid?
Gear Review: Empire Canvas Works Wool Blanket Shirt
A retro-looking (albeit heavy) coat that stands up to wintry weather and hard work.
Gear Guide 2011: Essential Apps
Load up your smartphone or iPad with these backpacker-friendly apps.
Gear Guide 2011: Weeklong Packs
For big hauls these packs deliver.
Gear Review: High Peak Everest 75+10
Its design is a mash-up of features we like in luggage and a trail-ready backpack.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Molimo 70
The Molimo fit everyone from beanpoles to fireplugs.
Gear Review: The North Face Zealot 70
Rain, mud, rocks, snow, crampons. Some packs need to be coddled when faced with the wet, rough, and sharp. Not the Zealot.
Gear Review: MontBell Super Expedition 90
The payload-to-weight-to-price of this pack is in a class by itself.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Mission 75
Its high-and-slim, alpine-style design easily kept 45 pounds close and stable as a tester scrambled up steep slopes and across tightrope-thin ridges.
Gear Review: GoLite Terrono 70
This load monster's suspension is so dialed, it can induce a pleasant form of trail amnesia.