Gear Reviews

Roomy, strong, and sturdy—it’s everything we want in a foul-weather home away from home.

It shaves pounds (!) off your heavy winter kit.

Get a summer tent and a winter tent for the price of just one.

Get legit winter protection for a trio of campers at a three-season price.

It handles all but the worst of winter without weight or price penalties.

Get warmth without looking like a marshmallow. We rounded up the 9 best best insulated jackets for winter.

Eight softshell jackets with performance perks.

A softshell with strategically placed waterproof zones.

It combines windproof chest protection (perfect for descents) with a breathable backpanel (ideal for climbing).

Stretchy, butter-soft fabric makes this lightweight jacket perfect for fast-paced tours.

A touch of breathable insulation keeps you from getting chilled—or overheating—in cold conditions.

Armored fabric and windproof construction provide cozy refuge from icy gusts.

The down/synthetic hybrid construction provides deep-freeze warmth without sacrificing breathability.

It takes the place of a windshirt, a soft-shell, and a light puffy.

Fluffy and full-cut, it’s like an upper-body sleeping bag, ideal for camp lounging.

It’s the toastiest synthetic belay jacket we’ve ever tested.

Highly breathable construction makes this light puffy ideal for working hard in cold conditions.

This ultralight, packable synthetic jacket has climber-approved freedom of movement.

This midweight softshell strikes a balance between weather protection and breathability, all for a great price.

The lightly insulated Ephus (and women’s Eldora) packs wind and weather protection into a lightweight, low-bulk design.

Rugged, water-resistant, and breathable, this wool jacket pairs backcountry performance with frontcountry looks.

A unique construction boosts insulation without adding ounces.

This thin fleece/wool jacket shined in the world’s toughest alpine conditions.

This full-featured, three-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell pant stands up to hard use in fierce weather.

Storm-worthy and breathable, this softshell pant proved ideal for working hard in all conditions.

This tough, protective bib is more comfortable than most, thanks to a great fit and stretchy hardshell fabric.

Supremely packable and lightweight, this minimalist hardshell works year-round.

Supple, quiet fabric gives this hardshell jeans-like comfort for all-day wear and après lounging.

Keep your digits warm and working in these five winter gloves and mittens.

These workhorses performed beyond their price.

These are the most dexterous high-alpine mitts we’ve used.

These ultrabreathable featherweights pack a lot of warmth into a tiny, affordable package.

They’re a light, packable layering system for your hands.

These cycling-oriented gloves fit as close as a Tour de France jersey.

Keep your feet warm and dry with the best winter footwear of the season.

These camp shoes will warm your toes on any winter adventure.

Above-average grip and warmth won us over, and zero break-in period clinched it.

Get big-mountain performance in a midweight boot with instant comfort.

This weatherproof trail runner excels in the sloppiest conditions.

It’s light and affordable for a Gore-Tex-lined, all-purpose midcut.

No need to pay a weight or warmth penalty on high-altitude tours with these stout boots.

A warm camp shoe with better-than-average traction.

Like a puffy for your feet.

These camp shoes will warm your toes on any winter adventure.

Wide-mouth convenience meets all-day heat in a new convenient, standard size.

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. These seven hardshells will bear the burden of anything Mother Nature offers.

Full side zips offer better ventilation than you typically get from shells this tough.

The Cham merges freeride styling with durable fabrics and ounce-shaving design.

A unique venting design and ultra-breathable fabric make this minimalist jacket ideal for hard-working hikers and skiers.

Most insulated jackets are so bulky, they’re only practical for lift-served skiing—but this toaster is trim and breathable enough for day tours in cold temperatures.

Snow-specific features and highly breathable Gore-Tex Active Shell make this three-layer jacket ideal for both ski-touring and ski-mountaineering.

Get top-shelf storm protection at half the cost of a top-shelf shell.

Cut full and long, this three-layer jacket features freeride styling that fits tall guys beautifully.

Storm-worthy shell pants for powder days.

Get extra protection without paying extra.

Stay comfortable and warm, rain or shine.

There’s no reason not to pack this tiny ear-warmer.

Thinner and lighter than most insoles, the EDGEPRO provides support without hogging volume in a ski or hiking boot.

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It has a long battery life, a huge display, and built-in map apps.

A tough phone with a great camera.

This tiny, waterproof camera boasts high-end features for a refreshingly low price.

A wrist fitness tracker with a ridiculously long batter life - and a motivation setting.

It's a speaker. It's a key chain. It's immensely packable.

A perpetual favorite of those who regularly abuse their phones.

It charges your electronics and keeps the campsite bright.

From skiing to mountaineering to snowshoeing, these backpacks can handle the extra gear and rugged conditions winter sports require.

Capable of carrying heavy loads on a weeklong trip, it also strips cleanly down for light-and-fast summit bids.

This no-frills top-loader has everything you need for skiing and mountaineering, plus a bargain-basement price.

It’s loaded with all the winter-specific features we love for big backcountry days.

It’s light, yet full-featured, with excellent freedom of motion for climbing and skiing.

The unique hipbelt closure on this ski-touring pack provides a custom fit.

Its triangular shape creates a snug, lumbar-hugging fit that eliminates all jostling—even while trail-running or mountain biking.

This cavernous top-loader can comfortably handle cold-weather supplies (up to 80 pounds worth!) for a week or two on the trail.

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This durable tent delivers a near-perfect balance between weight savings and space.

At $50 less than the nearest competitor, this tent has a killer value with smart storage solutions.

A large vestibule gets you above-average livability with the MSR Elixir 2.

This tent offers great storm protection, maximum ventilation, and packs small.