The BACKPACKER Gear Hall of Fame
We've been giving out Editors' Choice Awards for 25 years—and these 11 products have stood the test of time.
Editors' Choice
Learn more about the best backpacking, hiking and camping gear of the year with expert gear reviews from Backpacker Magazine's annual Editors' Choice gear awards.
Editors' Choice: The Best Gear of Winter 2018
Our top picks for fall and winter camping and adventuring.
Therm-A-Rest Polar Ranger -20°F
Editors' choice for best expedition sleeping bag from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Kahtoola Microspikes
Editors' choice for lightweight traction from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Ortovox Swisswool Tec Stretch Zebru Jacket
Editors choice for wooly comfort from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Gear Aid Seam Grip WP
Editors' choice for the backcountry cure-all from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Outdoor Research Crocodile
Editors' choice for toughest gaiter from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Black Diamond Whippet Ski Pole
Editors' choice for a whippet ski pole from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Storm
Editors choice for sun coverage from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour
Editors' choice for a fast-transition boot from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
G3 Zed
Editors' choice for a featherweight ski binding from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
DPS Phantom Permanent Base Glide Treatment
Editors' choice for infinite smoothness while skiing from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Thule Roundtrip Snowsport Duffel 90L
Editors' choice for a sanity-saving duffel from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Sierra Designs Nitro 800 0°F
Editors' choice for best winter sleeping bag from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Merrell Thermo Rogue Tall Gore-Tex
Editors' choice for insulated agility from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
Outdoor Research Bitterblaze Gloves / Ouray Ice Gloves
Editors' choice for space-age gloves from the 2018 Fall/Winter Gear Guide.
How to Pack a Backpack for a Hiking Trip
Learn how to pack your backpack properly, comfortably and conveniently to make your next multi-day hike a gem.
YETI Panga 100
Having conquered coolers, YETI brings its bomber aesthetic to drybags.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3
Live large in this lightweight, ultracomfy three-person tent.
Peter Whittaker’s 100,000-foot Promise
American mountaineering royalty flips the apparel industry on its head with the launch of Bight Gear, a line of clothing for mountaineers, by mountaineers.
How to Make Your Tent Last Forever
In the field, stuff happens, and knowing how to cope can be the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Plus, your tent should last many years, but only if you know how to keep it working properly.
How to Keep Your Pack From Getting Gross
In the field stuff happens, and knowing how to cope can be the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. Plus, your backpack should last many years, but only if you know how to keep it working properly.
