The 5 Best Gifts for Dog Owners of 2020
Help your friends prepare their pooches for the trail with these standout products.
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.
The Best Gifts for Ultralighters of 2020
Help the gram-counter on your list go lighter and faster.
The 21 Best Gifts for Backpackers You Can Still Buy Now
From a precision-engineered jacket with a built-in mask to a titanium fire pit to a rollicking adventure book, our writers pick their favorite backpacking gifts of the year.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear AP Pant
An awesome deal on some of our favorite trail-to-town trousers
The Best Snow Safety Gear of 2021
Stay safe in winter conditions with these essential tools.
Arva EVO 5
Intuitive beacon
Rocky Talkie
Durable radio
Mammut Carbon Probe 280 Speed Lock
Fast-action probe
Scott Patrol E1 30 Backpack
Full-featured airbag pack
The 3 Best Softshell Jackets of Winter 2021
Find the sweet spot between weather protection and comfort with these flexible shells.
Arc’teryx Trino SL Hoody/Anorak
Most breathable softshell jacket
Maloja WangM / PunaM
Most versatile
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
Most protective
Deep Dive: Waterproof/Breathable Membranes
Everything you need to know about keeping dry.
BACKPACKER Reader Picks: Car-Camping Comforts
This gear will take your next trip to the next level.
Deal of the Week: Kelty Cosmic 0°F
This sleeping bag will keep you toasty on cold winter nights.
The 4 Best Hardshell Jackets of Winter 2021
Stay warm and dry with this season's most bombproof shells.
Marmot Keele Peak
Year-round pick
Rab Khroma Kinetic
Best mobility
Ortovox 3L Ortler Jacket
Most breathable
Outdoor Research Archangel
Best protection
Sponsored Content
Gifts Every Hiker REALLY Wants
Leatherman makes the perfect multi-tool for each type of outdoor enthusiast.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus
This rain shell set has you covered from top to bottom.
Farm to Feet White Mountain Lounger
Best camp sock
Decathlon Forclaz MH520 High Sock
Best value sock
Rockay Razer
Best sock for trail running
Darn Tough Edge With Cushion
Most comfortable sock
Smartwool PhD Pro Ski Race
Best sock for big days
PAKMULE Sway-Back
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
2020 Holiday Gift Guide
No matter who you're shopping for, we've got you covered with 2020's best holiday gifts for hikers, in every price range.
The 6 Best Hiking Boots of Winter 2020
Bust through snow, crust, and slush with this warm, toothy footwear.
Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range BOA
Best features in a boot
Dolomite Tamaskan 1.5
Best ounce-for-ounce boot
Vasque Breeze WT GTX
Best for snowshoeing
SCARPA Manta Tech GTX
Best for mountaineering
Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Winter GTX
Most versatile winter boot
Oboz Sawtooth II 8” Insulated B-DRY
Warmest boots
The Sentimental Pieces of Gear We Just Can't Give Up
There may be newer, better options out there, but we'll never stop using these products.
The 4 Best Gloves of Winter 2020
Get the warmth you need—and ditch the bulk you don't.
Gordini Spring Glove
Best dexterity
Black Diamond Recon Glove
Best protection
Seirus HW Gore-Tex Infinium Trace Glove
Most breathable glove
Flylow Super Mitten
Warmest mitten
The 6 Best Insulated Hiking Jackets of Winter 2020
Stay warm and cozy with these perfect puffies and fleeces.
Mountain Equipment Xeros Jacket
Best-fitting women's insulated jacket
Sierra Designs Borrego Hybrid Jacket
Most breathable insulated jacket
Outdoor Research Helium Down Hooded Jacket
Most durable insulated jacket
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody
Best insulated jacket for weatherproofing
Montane Prism Ultra Pull-On
Lightest insulated jacket
Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded Jacket
Warmest insulated jacket
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell
Save big on this breathable windbreaker.
The Best Winter Camping Gear of 2020
Want to get outside this season? These 7 products can help you do it more comfortably and safely than ever before.
Superior Hammock 15°F
Best winter hammock
Big Agnes Battle Mountain 3
Best protection in a winter tent
SlingFin CrossBow 2 Four-Season
Best strength-to-weight ratio of winter tents
EXPED Winterlite 5°F WMNS
Best women's winter sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Saros 0°F
Best value winter sleeping bag
Gryphon Gear Taurus VRB -5°F
Warmest winter sleeping bag
Mammut Women’s Perform Down 14°F / Men’s Perform Down 19°F
Best all-around winter sleeping bag
The 4 Best Packs of Winter 2020
Winter activities can take a lot of gear, from avalanche equipment to heavy sleeping bags. But that doesn't mean you have to weigh yourself down. These four bags keep it light while still leaving you enough room to carry your necessities.
Gregory Targhee FastTrack 45
Most versatile winter backpack
Ortovox Haute Route 40 / Haute Route 38 S
Best organization in a winter pack
Osprey Soelden 32 / Sopris 30
Most comfortable winter backpack
Mammut Trion Nordwand 28
Best backpack for big miles
Deal of the Week: Eddie Bauer Alpine Sisu 50L
This winter-ready pack lets you grab your gear quickly.
Enjoy the Outdoors All Winter Long
With new EXOspikes, Kahtoola completes the ultimate trilogy of winter traction.
Editors' Choice: The Best Gear of Fall and Winter 2020
Make the most of the cold with six perfect picks, from jackets to tents to skis.
NEMO Kunai 3-4 Season Backpacking Tent
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: All-Weather Shelter
Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Sleeping Bag Liner
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Heat Booster
Seirus MagneMitt Summit
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Easy-Access Mitten
SCOTT Superguide Freetour
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Wide-Roaming Ski
G3 Via Carbon
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Do-it-all Pole
The North Face Summit L3 50/50 Down Hoody
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Breathable Puffy
The 8 Best Face Masks for Hiking
Protect yourself and your fellow hikers with these comfortable, trail-ready masks.
BACKPACKER BTS: Previewing the Mammut Eigerjoch Pro IN Hooded Jacket
Gear Editor Eli Bernstein discusses one of his favorite new products in the 2020 Fall Gear Guide.
7 Surprising Things You Can Do With a Headlamp
Petzl’s new IKO CORE headlamp innovates on the old “elastic band” setup to create a do-it-all portable light.
Deal of the Week: Black Diamond MidWeight ScreenTap Fleece Gloves
These soft, dextrous gloves provide a shoulder-season boost of warmth.
LifeStraw Go Stainless Steel
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
My Big Three: Morgan Sjogren, Guidebook Author
The gear a hiking lifer can't leave home without.
Deal of the Week: Klymit KSB 0°F Down Sleeping Bag
A sweet deal on a spacious mummy bag