Gear Review: Outdoor Research Lateral Dry Bag
A dry bag that doubles as a duffel.
Essentials
Essentials
Learn which gear essentials to never leave at home with expert advice from Backpacker Magazine.
Learn which gear essentials to never leave at home with expert advice from Backpacker Magazine.
Gear Review: GoLite TraveLite 30'' Wheeled Duffel
An expedition-size wheeled duffle.
Gear Review: Polar Pure Water Disinfectant
An iodine treatment that doesn't taste like iodine.
Gear Review: MSR Dromlite Bag
A lightweight, six-liter bag.
Gear Review: Portable Sounds Laboratories iMaingoX Speaker System
A handy little speaker system.
Gear Review: Balanzza Mini Scale
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Review: Jetboil Crunchit
Easily puncture and crush spent fuel cans with this handy tool.
Gear Review: Loksak's OPSAK bag
These resealable, washable, and polyethylene bags protect food and toiletries from small critters.
Gear Review: Sky Tonight Star Charts
Chart your campsite's night sky with customizable maps.
Gear Review: Hurraw! Lip Balm
Handmade from fair-trade ingredients, this lip balm has BACKPACKER editors raving.
Gear Review: Petzl Core Headlamp
A rechargeable and programmable headlamp.
Gear Review: Primus PrimeTorch 1010
A 140-lumen beam in a lipstick-size flashlight.
Gear Review: Coghlan's Cooler Light
A light for your cooler–perfect for car camping.
Gear Review: Pelican HeadsUP Lite 2690 LED Headlamp
An easy-to-use headlamp (even with gloves on).
Gear Review: Baladeo 22G Knife
A full-size, three-inch blade that's sharp and light.
Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits Core Lite Knife
A knife, whistle, and light in one.
Gear Review: RoadID's Wrist ID Sport
A bracelet with all your vital information in case of emergency.
Gear Review: ENO ProNest Hammock
Set up camp anywhere with this easy-to-use hammock.
Gear Review: Apples to Apples
While away tent hours with this fun card game.
Gear Review: Black Diamond GTX FrontPoint Gaiters
Bomber gaiters that block out slime.
Gear Review: Zeal Tenacity Sunglasses
High performance shades scaled down to fit small and medium faces.
Gear Review: Julbo MonteBianco Sunglasses
High-elevation glasses that have city street style.
Gear Review: Ryders Eyewear Vela Interchangeable Sunglasses
High quality interchangeable optics for one low price.
Gear Review: Smith Pivlock V90 Sunglasses
Rimless and interchangeable
Gear Review: Adventure Medical Kits' S.O.L. 3 Survival, Medical & Gear Repair Pak
A first aid kit that can handle way more than blisters.
Gear Review: Planet Dog Natural Hemp Adjustable Collar and Leash
Check out Kelly Bastone's author page.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Contact Crampons
Stainless steel crampons that bite into ice and repel slushy buildup.
Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest Trekker Lounge Chair
Turn any standard-size sleeping pad into a decadent recliner.
Gear Review: Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Water Bottle
A double-wall insulated bottle that is amazingly effective for its weight.
Gear Review: Brunton Eterna Compact 10×25 Binoculars
Powerful optics that pack small.
Gear Review: Pentax Papilio 8.5×21 Binoculars
A bargain binocular that doubles as a backcountry microscope.
Gear Review: Mammut Smart Alpine Belay Device
A versatile belay device that works with single, double, and some twin ropes. It also offers active braking support.
Editors' Choice 2011: SteriPEN Adventurer Opti
This ultralight water purifier is fast, easy, and leaves zero aftertaste.
8 Ways to Treat Water
Stay hydrated–and healthy–with a filter or purifier that's right for you.
Editors' Choice 2011: Video Gear Reviews
This year's Editors' Choice testing trip took place in Utah's Capitol Reef National Park -- a perfect testing ground for our favorite gear of the year.
Couples Camping 101: Little Extras
Freshen up for backcountry lovin' with these little extras.
Couples Camping 101: Set the Mood
Marvin Gaye loves camping.
Gear Review: Vargo Titanium Pot Gripper
Grab any pot with this lightweight and sturdy pot gripper.
Gear Review: Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink
Wash dishes and haul water easily in the watertight nylon container.
Gear Review: REI Campware Silicone Spatula
Make pancakes in camp with this silicone spatula.
Gear Review: Pot Pal
An oven mitt, a dish towel, a food warmer - this cotton bag does it all.
Gear Review: MSR Universal Canister Stand
An easily packable pot stand that will end tipping.
Gear Review: To-Go Ware RePEat Bamboo Utensil Set
A bamboo utensil set that won't wreck nonstick coating.
Gear Review: CamelBak Groove
A water bottle that makes chemically treated water taste better.
Gear Review: Katadyn MyBottle
Water bottle and filter in one.
Gear Review: Steripen Adventurer Opti
An easy-to-use tool that zaps water drinkable withe the use of ultraviolet rays.
Gear Review: Platypus GravityWorks
A fast, effective way to filter water for a big group.
Gear Review: MSR HyperFlow Filter
A lightweight filter that filters at a rate of three liters per minute.
Gear Review: Vargo Ti-Boiler Mug and Pan
A titanium mug and pot/lid set that is super durable and lightweight.
Gear Review: MSR Alpine 4 Pot Set
A stainless steel three-pot set that is bombproof.
Gear Review: High-Powered Flashlights
We tested four unique high-powered lights using lithium batteries for lightweight super power.
Gear Review: Primus AluTech 1.4 Liter Pot
A triangular shaped pot that's easy to pour and balance on three-legged stoves.
Gear Review: Energizer's Solar Folding Lantern & Hard Case Professional Area Light
Two Energizer products that light up camp (and your social habits) in unique ways.
Gear Review: Optimus Terra HE Cook Set
A versatile three-pot combo for the gourmet backcountry chef.
Gear Review: GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist Cookset
A two-person cookset that comes with a stuffsack for washing dishes.
Gear Review: SanDisk Sansaclip+ 2GB
Smooth, clear sound and a voice recorder for 40 bucks
Gear Review: Oakley Radar Path Sunglasses
Sporting a pair of Oakley's Radars gives your eyes as much protection as they can get, this side of a welding helmet.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Under $75
Make camp a little more comfortable with these bonus items.
Gear Review: Kriana AA Krill Light
The Krill Light electronic electroluminescent (EL) light stick is a bright, long-lasting glow stick made for function not fashion.
Gear Review: Victorinox Swiss Army Solider Knife
Snag an ideal stocking stuffer with this modernized classic.
Gear Review: Exped MultiMat
An ultralight, waterproof mat that is handy for wet hikes, snow, rocky areas, and picnics.
Gear Review: Cocoon Travel Pillow – Aircore Ultralight
Just because you're sleeping on the dirt doesn't mean you have to be uncomfortable.
Reader Rated
Extra gear reviews from our January 2011 Reader Test Team reports.
Gear Review: Sawyer 4 Way Water Filter
A 32-ounce dip-and-sip filter that lets you refill in about 10 seconds.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Titan Camp Light
A camp light that you'll find yourself using everywhere.
Gear Review: Icon Irix Headlamp
Icon attempts the impossible: to make headlamps cool.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Tubbs Xplore Snowshoe Kit
Anyone on your holiday lineup looking to launch into snowshoeing? Tubbs has packaged up three essentials into this smart, well-priced starter kit.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Arc'Teryx Alpha SV Glove
If you're looking for the ultimate splurge gift for your skier, ice climber, or mountaineer, you can't go wrong with this glove.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Jetboil GreenKit with Flash and CrunchIt
Update the kitchen of your favorite backpacker with this all-in-one set that cranks out hot drinks faster than a Starbucks barista.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Victorinox Flash 2GB Ruby
We can't think of anyone who wouldn't love this James Bonds-ian little gizmo.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Mammut TR1+Ambient Light Set
All backpackers carry a headlamp in their pack, but many often hesitate to carry a mini-lantern–this smart two-fer solves the problem.
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: MiiR 600ml Water Bottle
These days, water bottles are all the rage. Our office has literally been inundated them, and this stainless steel bottle has risen to the top for several reasons.
Best Hikes Ever: Boundary Waters, MN
Immerse yourself in Minnesota's liquid wilderness.
Don't Get Burned: FDA Updates Sunscreen Regulation
Misleading sunscreen claims today could be causing tomorrow's skin cancer.
High-end Tent Company SlingFin Enters the Market
A master designer attempts to build the last mountain shelter you'll ever need.
Gear News: Hydro Flask Backcountry Beer Growler
Enjoy a cold beer mid-trip with this 64-ounce growler.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Snowshoes
Float better, move faster with these 7 choices.
Gear Review: Crescent Moon Kid's Snowshoes
Snowshoes built for little feet and short gaits.
Gear Review: Black Diamond Couloir Harness
Stay comfortable and safe with this easy on and off harness.
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Optics
From sunglasses to binoculars to goggles these six items will help you see better.