prAna Alameda Pants
The best heat-busting trouser of 2021.
Apparel
Apparel
Finding the perfect hiking apparel can be tricky. But with the help of Backpacker Magazine’s dedicated team of expert gear reviewers, you’ll easily find the perfect men’s and women’s outdoor apparel for every hiking and backpacking trip on your bucket list.
Finding the perfect hiking apparel can be tricky. But with the help of Backpacker Magazine’s dedicated team of expert gear reviewers, you’ll easily find the perfect men’s and women’s outdoor apparel for every hiking and backpacking trip on your bucket list.
The North Face Summit L2 VRT FUTUREFLEECE Crew
The best ultralight long sleeve of 2021.
Mountain Equipment Lumiko Hooded Jacket
The most versatile fleece of 2021.
Mons Royale Yotei Powder Hood LS
The best toasty midlayer of 2021.
Patagonia Altvia Alpine Pants
The best alpine-ready pants of 2021.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt
The best quick-dry top of 2021.
Matek Serval Squared Sports Bra 2.0
The best fiddle-free bra of 2021.
Smartwool Merino Sport 8-Inch Shorts
The best mile-crushing shorts of 2021.
Blyss Trail Skirt
The best natural-striding skort of 2021.
Helly Hansen W LIFA Merino Lightweight Crew
The best sweat-moving shirt of 2021.
Mammut Aconcagua Light ML Hooded Jacket
The best heat-trapping midlayer of 2021.
Unightie
The best unconventional sleepwear of 2021.
Rab Ascendor Light Pants
The best do-it-all bottoms of 2021.
Outdoor Research Equinox Cape Cap
The best ray-beating hat of 2021.
Beyond Clothing Women’s Veil Midweight K2 Pullover
The best budget-friendly hoody of 2021.
Patagonia Baby Torrentshell 3L Bib
The best impenetrable rainshell of 2021.
Sunday Afternoon Kids’ Ultra Adventure Storm Hat
The best weather-beating hat of 2021.
Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier
The best savvy child-hauler of 2021.
This Goldilocks Softshell Squashes Shoulder-Season Chill
The Marmot WarmCube Novus Hoody will keep you warm—but not too warm—on early spring hikes.
Black Diamond TreeLine
The best value shell of 2021.
The North Face Flight Lightriser FUTURELIGHT
The lightest shell of 2021.
Direct Alpine Deamon
The most durable shell of 2021.
Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0
The most comfortable jacket of 2021
Maloja Beifuss/Birne
The most breathable shell of 2021.
Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie
The best windshell of 2021.
Odlo FLI 2.5L Waterproof Jacket
The best price-to-weight ratio shell of 2021.
First Lite Vapor Stormlight / Cascade Stormlight
the most versatile shell of 2021.
Montane Featherlite Smock
The best bargain shell of 2021.
Stay Dry With The 7 Best Hardshells On The Market Right Now
These jackets will keep you on the trail no matter how bad the weather.
Columbia OutDry Ex Nanolite
The most breathable shell of 2021.
Norrøna Falketind
The shell with best features of 2021.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hooded Down Jacket
Barely any weight, but plenty of warmth: The Ghost Whisperer UL is in a class by itself.
Deal of the Week: The North Face ThermoBall Eco Insulated Jacket
Save your money—and the earth—with this markdown.
My Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Survived 5 Years in the Mountains But You Can’t Tell by Looking At It
You'll never want to take this breathable puffy off.
Patagonia Pack Out Hike Tights
Leggings have become a stay-at-home staple—but these can handle the trail too.
The Best Plus-Sized Women’s Hiking Apparel for Winter
The trail is for all shapes and sizes, and these designers know it.
Deal of the Week: REI Co-op Kids' Traildreamer Insulated Jacket
This puffy will keep your little one toasty on the trail this winter.
Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Colorblock Tight
Best leggings
Beyond Clothing K2 Celeris Pullover and Long John
Most versatile baselayer
First Lite Men’s Wick Longsleeve Crew
Best wicking
Woolx Merino Blizzard ¼ Zip
Warmest baselayer
Montbell Super Merino Wool Light Weight Round Neck
Best value baselayer
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear AP Pant
An awesome deal on some of our favorite trail-to-town trousers
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.
Marmot Keele Peak
Year-round pick
Rab Khroma Kinetic
Best mobility
Ortovox 3L Ortler Jacket
Most breathable
Outdoor Research Archangel
Best protection
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus
This rain shell set has you covered from top to bottom.
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
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 North Face Summit L3 50/50 Down Hoody
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Breathable Puffy
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.
Deal of the Week: Black Diamond MidWeight ScreenTap Fleece Gloves
These soft, dextrous gloves provide a shoulder-season boost of warmth.
VOORMI Drift Jacket
This versatile midlayer excels at temperature regulation.
Duckworth Vapor Snorkel Hood
UV shield
What our Members are Testing Now: The North Face Sotara FUTURELIGHT Jacket
There's more than meets the eye with this comfy, waterproof shell.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Super/DS Climb Down Hoody
Save on this warm, stretchy puffy.
The 6 Best Packable Puffies for Weightless Warmth
Banish worries about pack space and morning shivers on your next cool-weather trip with these lightweight insulated jackets.
Decathlon Trek 100 Down Hiking Jacket
Most affordable lightweight puffy
Black Diamond Approach Down
Most comfortable lightweight puffy
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody
Most versatile lightweight puffy
Mammut Broad Peak Light IN Jacket
Most packable puffy
Western Mountaineering QuickFlash Jacket
Most durable lightweight puffy
Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka
Best all-around light insulated jacket
Mammut Kento Light HS
Lightest shell
The 4 Best Bras for Backpacking
From ultrasupportive to odor-immune, these four models won us over.
What Our Members Are Testing Now: Dark Peak NESSH Lightweight Down Jacket
This puffy excelled as an insulating layer during winter on the Great Plains.
ExOfficio BugsAway Sol Cool Ampario Convertible Pants
Protective pants
Craghoppers Insect Shield Adventure II Long-Sleeved Shirt
Impenetrable shirt
Columbia Irico Freezer Pant
Heat-beating bottoms