Rheos Coopers
The best value eyewear of 2021.
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.
Smith Lowdown 2 Core
The most eco-friendly eyewear of 2021.
CrazyCap
The best purifier of 2021.
Hydro Flask 21 Oz. Lightweight Trail Series
The best water bottle of 2021.
Sawyer Tap Filter
The best filter for car camping of 2021.
Deal of the Week: Smith Lowdown 2 Sunglasses
See clearly on the trail with these durable shades.
SOG Ultra XR
The lightest knife of 2021.
Gerber Suspension-NXT
The best value multitool of 2021.
Leatherman FREE K4/K4X
The most compact multitool of 2021.
Morakniv Eldris LightDuty (S)
The best bargain fixed blade of 2021.
MPOWERD Luci Color String Lights
The best lighting for basecamp of 2021.
Black Diamond Flare
The lightest lighting of 2021.
BioLite HeadLamp 750
The lighting with best battery life of 2021.
The Best Family Camping Gear of 2021
Make your next trip fun for the whole family with these five smart picks.
Adventure Medical Kits Backyard Adventure Kit
The best kid-friendly med kit of 2021.
Thule Tepui Explorer Autana 4
The best car-top palace of 2021.
Yes, You Can Go Ultralight During Mud Season and Still Stay Dry
Don't let trail conditions or weather keep you from going light and fast this spring.
Royal Robbins Venture Crew
The most comfortable sock of 2021.
Swiftwick Pursuit Four Ultralight
The most breathable sock of 2021.
Bridgedale Trail Run Lightweight T2 Merino Sport
The sock with best protection of 2021.
Feetures Elite Max Cushion No Show Tab
The best sock for trail running of 2021.
Darn Tough Scout
The best overall sock of 2021.
Editors’ Choice 2021: MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier
Set it and forget it with this gravity-powered water purifier.
More Miles, Less Weight: We Found the Ultimate Minimalist Running Belt
Store everything you need for a fast-and-light run in this waist-hugging pack.
Empty Your Pack: Uberlight Thru-Hiker
The lightest of the ultralight trim their packs lists to help them become stripped-down mile-making machines.
Deal of the Week: CamelBak Cleaning Brush Kit
These handy brushes will make your reservoir sparkle like new.
Keep Your Phone Warm with the Phoozy XP3
This handy phone case will keep your phone warm and safe on your winter adventures.
Ledlenser’s H7R Signature Is a Superpowered Headlamp for Moving Fast
Night bikers and skiers will have a hard time outrunning this light's powerful beam.
The Best Helmets for Ski Touring
These brain buckets provide lightweight protection on backcountry adventures.
Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 115W
Best-fitting ski boot for women
SCARPA F1 LT
Lightest ski boot
Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95
Best for ski mountaineering
Dynafit Blacklight 88
Lightest ski
G3 SLAYr 114
Best powder ski
Völkl Rise Beyond 98
Best all-around skis
The 10 Best Car Camping Gifts of 2020
These products will help you live it up on your next basecamping adventure.
Deal of the Week: BioLite HeadLamp 330
This light prioritizes both power and comfort.
The 12 Best Hiking Gifts Under $25
For many of us, 2020 has been the year of shrinking budgets. From environmentally-friendly ski wax to an ultralight musical instrument, these outdoor gifts will still bring a smize to anyone’s masked face.
The 10 Best Gifts for Adventurers of 2020
Get ready for your next big journey with these 10 smart presents.
The 3 Best Snowshoes of 2021
The trail's still there, even when you can't see it. Beat the posthole with these floaty, powder-ready snowshoes.
MSR Evo Ascent Snowshoe Kit
Best for beginners
Atlas Helium-MTN
Best stride
Garneau Premiere
Best float
The 5 Best Gifts for Dog Owners of 2020
Help your friends prepare their pooches for the trail with these standout products.
The Best Gifts for Ultralighters of 2020
Help the gram-counter on your list go lighter and faster.
Mammut Carbon Probe 280 Speed Lock
Fast-action probe
Farm to Feet White Mountain Lounger
Best camp sock
Decathlon Forclaz MH520 High Sock
Best value sock
Rockay Razer
Best sock for trail running
Darn Tough Edge With Cushion
Most comfortable sock
Smartwool PhD Pro Ski Race
Best sock for big days
The 4 Best Gloves of Winter 2020
Get the warmth you need—and ditch the bulk you don't.
Gordini Spring Glove
Best dexterity
Black Diamond Recon Glove
Best protection
Seirus HW Gore-Tex Infinium Trace Glove
Most breathable glove
Flylow Super Mitten
Warmest mitten
Superior Hammock 15°F
Best winter hammock
Seirus MagneMitt Summit
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Easy-Access Mitten
SCOTT Superguide Freetour
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Wide-Roaming Ski
G3 Via Carbon
Editors' Choice Fall 2020 Winner: Do-it-all Pole
The 8 Best Face Masks for Hiking
Protect yourself and your fellow hikers with these comfortable, trail-ready masks.
AMK Mountain Hiker Medical Kit
Emergency aid
My Big Three: Jessica Tackett, Backpacking Guide
The gear a hiking lifer can't leave home without.
Small-Time Spotlight: PackTowl Nano
This ultralight item boasts outsize convenience.
The 6 Best Water Filters for Every Type of Adventure
On short trips or epic expeditions, clean water is a must. Here's how to pick the right filter or purifier for you.
Deal of the Week: Leatherman Micra
Save on this small-yet-mighty multitool.
Deal of the Week: Nikwax Duo-Pack
Keep your gear going strong with a great deal on this cleaning kit.
The Best New Ultralight Backpacking Gear of 2020
Want to pare down your hiking kit's weight? These 14 minimalist products are made for going far and fast.
10 Pieces of Self-Care Gear For Post-Quarantine Camping
Make your next trip a luxurious one.
Deal of the Week: BioLite HeadLamp 330
Shine a light on this week's best gear deal.
The Best Gear for Bug-Free Summer Hiking
The worst part of summer hiking: mosquitos, black flies, ticks, and other pests. Shield yourself from head to toe with these swarm-tested picks, the best of 14 bug-baffling products we tried.
Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
DEET alternative
Ben’s 100% DEET
Super spray
Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent Gen 2.0
Bug-free basecamp
HydraPak Flux 1L Bottle
Best bottle
RapidPure Pioneer Straw
Lightest purifier
MSR Thru-Link InLine Microfilter
Best in-line filter
Deal of the Week: Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters
Jump on a good price for these durable gaiters.