Gear
Gear
Deal of the Week: Osprey Kamber 42/Kresta 40
Get a jump on rounding out next winter's kit with this near-perfect pack.
How to Decide Which Hiking Shoes to Buy
Happy feet equal a happy hiker. Make strides toward your goals with the right shoe.
Deal of the Week: Granite Gear Blaze 60
Get into spring trekking by saving big on one of our favorite load-haulers.
Here’s What Backpacker’s Editors Loved in March 2021
From a new pair of boots to an, ahem, unconventional sleeping bag, these were our editors' favorite things in March.
Glade Prospect
The best overall eyewear of 2021.
Zeal Optics Avon
The most versatile eyewear of 2021.
Rheos Coopers
The best value eyewear of 2021.
Smith Lowdown 2 Core
The most eco-friendly eyewear of 2021.
Rei Co-op Flash Carbon
The best overall trekking poles of 2021.
Hilleberg Trekking Poles
The most durable trekking poles of 2021.
Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 Pole
The best value trekking poles of 2021.
G3 Pivot Trek
The trekking pole with best features 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.
Primus Firestick
The lightest stove of 2021.
Sea to Summit Cool Grip X-Mug
The best multi-use mug of 2021.
Jetboil Stash
The best all-in-one kitchen of 2021.
SOG Ultra XR
The lightest knife of 2021.
Gerber Suspension-NXT
The best value multitool of 2021.
Morakniv Eldris LightDuty (S)
The best bargain fixed blade of 2021.
Leatherman FREE K4/K4X
The most compact multitool of 2021.
Ranger Ready Repellents P2 PAK Picaridin + Permethrin Trigger Spray 235ML | 8OZ
Keep biting bugs at bay with this spray combo.
Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel
The best sleek solar panel of 2021.
Nitecore NB10000
The best ultralight powerbank of 2021.
SPOT GEN4
The most affordable PLB 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.
Silva Trail Runner Free
The best overall lighting of 2021.
What Our Active Pass Members Are Testing Now: Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15°F
This sleeping bag shows promise, but our tester's experience left him a little cold.
The Best Family Camping Gear of 2021
Make your next trip fun for the whole family with these five smart picks.
Patagonia Baby Torrentshell 3L Bib
The best impenetrable rainshell of 2021.
Deal of the Week: MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent
Save on an ultralight, spacious shelter.
Sunday Afternoon Kids’ Ultra Adventure Storm Hat
The best weather-beating hat of 2021.
Adventure Medical Kits Backyard Adventure Kit
The best kid-friendly med kit of 2021.
Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier
The best savvy child-hauler of 2021.
Thule Tepui Explorer Autana 4
The best car-top palace of 2021.
Happy Yak Merry Berry Couscous
The best breakfast of 2021.
Brave Overnight Breakfast
The best no-cook breakfast of 2021.
Good To-Go Cuban Rice Bowl
The best vegetarian dinner of 2021.
Setton Farms Chipotle BBQ Pistachio Kernels
The best nut-based snack of 2021.
Honey Stinger Plus+ Performance Chews Stingerita Lime
The best caffeinated snack of 2021.
Campfare Chicken Tikka Masala
The best fully hydrated dinner of 2021.
Next Mile Meals Beef Tacos
The best dinner for thru-hiking of 2021.
ZENB Sweet Potato Veggie Bites
The best savory snack of 2021.
Nutrient Survival Vitamin Coffee Classic
The best drink 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.
The 7 Best Three-Season Sleeping Bags For Backpackers
Stay warm through hiking season with these top picks.
First Look: VECTIV™ Exploris Mid FUTURELIGHT™
The VECTIV™ Exploris Mid FUTURELIGHT™ is a new mid boot from The North Face, featuring the VECTIV™ propulsion technology that makes up the backbone of their cutting-edge new line of trail shoes.
High Speed with Hillygoat
Endurance runner Hillary Allen is a specialist when it comes to charging hard on rough trail. The new VECTIV shoe line is helping get her where she needs to go, fast.
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.
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.
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.
Montane Featherlite Smock
The best bargain shell of 2021.
Mammut Sapuen High GTX
The best all-around footwear of 2021
Vasque Satoru Moc
The best camp shoe of 2021.
Arc’teryx Norvan SL 2
The lightest footwear of 2021
Black Diamond Fuel
The best footwear for scrambling of 2021
Danner Trail 2650 Campo
The most breathable footwear of 2021
Northside Stimson Ridge Mid WP
The best value footwear of 2021
HOKA ONE ONE TenNine Hike GTX
The best cushioned footwear of 2021
Oboz Sypes Low Leather B-DRY
The most versatile footwear of 2021
Asolo Corax GV
The footwear with best support of 2021
AKU Rock DFS Mid GTX
The best fitting footwear of 2021
NEMO Quasar 3D
The best cushion-to-weight sleeping pad of 2021
Klymit Klymaloft XL
The most comfortable sleeping pad of 2021
Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam Pad
The most eco-friendly sleeping pad of 2021
The 3 Best Sleeping Pads of 2021
You deserve to relax. Snooze better than ever before with our favorite sleeping pads of the year
Zenbivy Motobed 35°F
The best sleeping bag for car camping of 2021
Kammok Arctos 20°F
The most versatile sleeping bag of 2021