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.
UCO Ware Mini Spork
Best utensil
BOGS Kids’ Kicker Slip-Ons
Do-anything shoe
Patagonia Black Hole Gear Tote
Best basecamp bag
What We’re Testing Now: Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody
This breathable midlayer is a jacket for all seasons.
Primus Essential Trail Stove
Stove with the best value
MSR Ceramic 2-Pot Set
Best pot set
UCO Ware 6 Piece Mess Kit
Best mess kit
ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press P0
Most versatile kitchen item
Stowaway Gourmet Turkish Delight
Best breakfast
FlapJacked Soft Baked Cookie Bar
Best snack
Trail Truffles
Best snack
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice
Best dinner
Ultima Replenisher Hydration Drink Mixes
Best hydration
Food for the Sole Slaws
Best dinner
Patagonia Provisions Savory Seeds
Best snack
Avalanche Swiss Granola
Best breakfast
MPOWERD Luci Explore
Best lantern
Black Diamond ReVolt 350
Best all-around headlamp
Panther Vision Powercap 2.0 Beanie
Most convenient headlamp
Coast FL1R
Lightest headlamp
NEMO Flyer Sleeping Pad
Best self-inflating sleeping pad
Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Women’s Mat
Women's sleeping pad pick
Sierra Designs Shadow Mountain Pad
Best bargain sleeping pad
REI Co-op Westwinds GTX Jacket
Most durable shell
Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus Jacket & Pant
Shell with the best protection
Black Diamond Highline Stretch
Most versatile shell
Arc’teryx Gamma SL Hoody
Best softshell
Mountain Equipment Impellor Shakedry
Best shell makeover
Flylow Davis Jacket
Best windshell
BlackYak Brava
Most breathable shell
Patagonia Torrentshell
Shell with the best value
Kelty Redwing 36
Best bargain pack
Mammut Ducan Spine 50-60
Most breathable pack
Deuter Guide Lite 24 / Guide Lite 22 SL
Pack with best comfort-to-weight
CamelBak Octane 25
Best pack for organization
Mountain Hardwear AMG 105
Best pack for expeditions
Lowe Alpine AirZone Trek 45:55 / AirZone Trek ND 43:50
Most comfortable pack
Thule Versant 60l
Best pack for big loads
Osprey Archeon 30
Most durable pack
ALPS Mountaineering Peak 45
Most versatile pack
Ultimate Direction Signature Series Adventure Vest 5.0
Most customizable pack
Big Agnes Torchlight UL 20
Quiver-killer sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Vesper 45
Lightest sleeping bag
Marmot Yolla Bolly 30
Most comfortable sleeping bag
MontBell Seamless Down Hugger WR 900 #3
Best ultralight sleeping bag
Rab Mythic Ultra 360
Best sleeping bag for peace of mind
Exped Waterbloc Pro
Best sleeping bag for bad weather
NEMO Forte 35
Best value for a sleeping bag
Chaco Lowdown
Best sandal
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GTX
Best footwear for technical terrain
Oboz Arete Mid Waterproof
Most protective footwear
Topo Athletic MTN Racer
Best footwear for big miles
LOWA Innox Pro GTX LO
Light but sturdiest footwear
Salomon Sense Ride 3
Most versatile footwear
Garmont 9.81 N AIr G S Mid GTX
Most comfortable footwear
Merrell Altalight Knit Mid
Most durable footwear
Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Most nimble footwear
Altra Tushar
Footwear with the best traction
Tents, Apparel, Coolers, and More Are All On Sale For a Steep Discount Right Now
Thanks to a confluence of online sales, now is a great opportunity to update your gear.
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3
Most eco-friendly tent
Gossamer Gear The Two – DCF
Tent with best space-to-weight ratio
Jack Wolfskin Exolight III FR
Easiest tent to setup
Marmot Superalloy 2P
Best all-around tent
Big Agnes Salt Creek SL2
Tent with the best features
Klymit Maxfield 4
Best tent for families
MSR Front Range 4 Person Ultralight Tarp Shelter
Most versatile tent
Exped Lyra II
Tent with the best protection
NEMO Aurora 2
Best value for a tent
Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum
Lightest tent
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody
Save big on one of our favorite puffies.
Grab These 5 Camping Basics Online for 25% Off at REI’s Co-op Sale
Get a tent, a sleeping bag, a pair of wool socks, or an entire backpacking kit on the cheap right now.
5 Can’t-Miss Values In the Outdoors
From a gem of the national park system to a do-everything backpack, these five things are the best value for every hiker.
America the Beautiful Pass
This all-access ticket to the national parks is always a great buy.
Climate Neutral
This nonprofit is helping us do better business—and we're giving it an Editors' Choice Award.
Gregory Paragon 48 / Maven 45
This all-around performer is perfect for weekend trips, and it's one of the winners of our 2020 Editors' Choice Awards.
MSR Dromedary
The Editors' Choice Gold Award-winning bladder came out in 1991, and it's still the toughest soft-sided water hauler ever made.
Exped FlexMat Plus
The last word in in affordable, worry-free sleeping pads is one of our Editors' Choice 2020 winners.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt
A great t-shirt gets even better—and earns a 2020 Editors' Choice Award from BACKPACKER.