Ahnu Footwear Woodacre
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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.
Ahnu Footwear Kentfield
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Ahnu Footwear ROCKRIDGE
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Ahnu Footwear SEQUOIA
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Ahnu Footwear Elkridge
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Ahnu Footwear Elkridge Mid
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Ahnu Footwear Orinda
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Ahnu Footwear Sequoia Mid
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Ahnu Footwear Montara
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ECCO Huaraz
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ECCO La Paz GTX
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ECCO La Paz Hi GTX
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ECCO La Paz Lo GTX
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ECCO Dhaka Mid GTX
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ECCO Sayan II Lo GTX
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TrekSta USA Edict
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TrekSta Evolution Mid GTX
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TrekSta Evolution GTX
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TrekSta Kisatchie II
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TrekSta Kobra II GTX
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TrekSta Assault GTX
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TrekSta Evolution II
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Eastern Mountain Sports Cirque S/M
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Eastern Mountain Sports Cirque M/L
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High Sierra Sport Company Lightning 30
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High Sierra Sport Company Lightning 35
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High Sierra Sport Company Hawk 40
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High Sierra Sport Company Hawk 45
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High Sierra Sport Company Titan 55
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High Sierra Sport Company Titan 65
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High Sierra Sport Company Badger 40
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High Sierra Sport Company Foxhound 50
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High Sierra Sport Company Bobcat 65
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Readers Choice 2012 Online Exclusive Gear Reviews
We didn't have room to print these readers in our January 2012 Readers Choice Issue--but they still tested some great gear.
Gear Review: Danner Mountain Light II
These boots offer classic style with modern-day comfort -- and they'll last a lifetime.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Kelvinator Down Jacket
A 650-fill down jacket that's super warm and packs to the size of a pineapple.
Gear Review: Stoic Luft Down Sweater Jacket
An ideal down midlayer made with 750-fill down and a Pertex Microlight shell.
Gear Review: Sherpa Ananta/Priya Pullover
For those days when a baselayer is not enough and a puffy jacket too much.
Gear Review: MontBell Frost Smoke Jacket
An 850-fill jacket that packs down tiny!
Gear Review: Patagonia Winter Sun Hoody
A top pick for its combination of warmth, weather resistance, fit, and packability.
Gear Review: Ibex Tuck Softshell Jacket
A weather-resistant softshell that has strong moisture and odor control.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Snowtastic Jacket
A softshell jacket made for skiing
Kids and Backpacking
How much weight can a 10-year-old boy comfortably carry?
Gear Review: Sierra Designs Savage Softshell Jacket
A softshell with full-length side zips for great ventilation
Sleeping Bag Breathability
I store all my gear in large plastic containers. My containers are large enough so there is no compression, but now I'm worried about breathability?
Bending Backpack Stays
How do I bend the stays in my backpack?
Gear Review: Sherpa Adventure Gear Lobutse Softshell Jacket
A softshell jackets that's not too heavy, warm, bulky, or expensive
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Venta MX Hoody
A softshell with a hood that's ready for any weather condition
Cookware Comparison
What's the difference between titanium and aluminum cookware? Can you explain the pros/cons of each?
Gear Review: Marmot Zion Waterproof Softshell Jacket
Breathable and supple with the waterproofness of a hardshell.
Mammut Shirko Jkt
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Mammut Monolith GTX
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Mammut Mamook GTX
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Mammut Nordwand TL
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Gear Review: REI Centre Peak Softshell Jacket
A softshell that's weather resistant and super breathable.
Gear Review: REI Spruce Peak/Nevis
Get maximum bang for your buck with this two-in-one, synthetic-fill jacket.
Gear Review: Rab Fusion Softshell Jacket
The ideal jacket for high-effort pursuits in wet snow and drizzle
Gear Review: L.L. Bean Packaway Pullover Jacket
This bargain jacket costs less than $100--and it was worthy of an AT thru-hike.
Gear Review: Icebreaker Sierra/Cascade Full-Zip
This baseslayer packs a lot of warmth and versatility into a sub-one-pound package that scrunches up small
Gear Review: The North Face Jakson Jacket
Warmth where you need it most; mobility and breathability where it counts.
Gear Review: Patagonia Super Alpine Bibs
Bibs built for the worst of conditions.
Gear Review: REI Mistral Hiking Pants
Made for cold-weather hikes and cruiser snowshoe tours where ski pants seem like overkill.
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Bokta Hardshell Pants
Extremely breathable waterproof shell pants.
Gear Review: MontBell U.L. Down Inner Pants
Five-ounce down pants that provide instant warmth after bone-chilling hikes.
Gear Review: L.L. Bean Trail Model Rain Jacket
Absolute rain protection in a well-priced package
Gear Review: Stoic Vaporshell Hardshell Jacket
This shell is a good lightweight option for when you hit showery weather and need solid waterproofness and breathability.
Gear Review: Outdoor Research Paladin Hardshell Jacket
A super durable jacket for the multisporter
Gear Review: Rab Stretch Neo Jacket
A super breathable jacket for those foggy, humid hikes
Gear Review: Arc'teryx Beta FL Hardshell Jacket
A streamlined shell that achieves a low weight-to-performance ratio without scrimping on features.
Gear Review: Mammut Felsturm Half-Zip Jacket
Winner of our 2011 Editors' Choice Snow Award
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Ampato Jacket
A jacket that combines packablity, breathability, and durability, all at a great price.
Gear Review: Patagonia Super Pluma Jacket
This hardcore shell has everything you need to weather a monster blow without weighing you down
Gear Review: Adidas Terrex Swift 3in1 Jacket
A convertible jacket that doesn't compromise
GoLite Borrego Windstopper Softshell
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Gear Review: Mammut Eiger Extreme Nordwand Jacket
A jacket made for a mountaineer
GoLite Currant Mountain Paclite 2-Layer Jacket
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GoLite Men's Ashdown Pro Shell 3-Layer Jacket
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GoLite Jam 50L Unisex
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GoLite Rush 10L
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GoLite Women's Quest 60L
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