Sierra Designs Shadow Mountain Pad
Best bargain sleeping pad
Gear
Gear
REI Co-op Westwinds GTX Jacket
Most durable shell
Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Gore-Tex Paclite Plus Jacket & Pant
Shell with the best protection
Black Diamond Highline Stretch
Most versatile shell
Arc’teryx Gamma SL Hoody
Best softshell
Mountain Equipment Impellor Shakedry
Best shell makeover
Flylow Davis Jacket
Best windshell
BlackYak Brava
Most breathable shell
Kelty Redwing 36
Best bargain pack
Mammut Ducan Spine 50-60
Most breathable pack
Deuter Guide Lite 24 / Guide Lite 22 SL
Pack with best comfort-to-weight
CamelBak Octane 25
Best pack for organization
Mountain Hardwear AMG 105
Best pack for expeditions
Lowe Alpine AirZone Trek 45:55 / AirZone Trek ND 43:50
Most comfortable pack
Thule Versant 60l
Best pack for big loads
Osprey Archeon 30
Most durable pack
ALPS Mountaineering Peak 45
Most versatile pack
Ultimate Direction Signature Series Adventure Vest 5.0
Most customizable pack
Big Agnes Torchlight UL 20
Quiver-killer sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Vesper 45
Lightest sleeping bag
Marmot Yolla Bolly 30
Most comfortable sleeping bag
MontBell Seamless Down Hugger WR 900 #3
Best ultralight sleeping bag
Rab Mythic Ultra 360
Best sleeping bag for peace of mind
Exped Waterbloc Pro
Best sleeping bag for bad weather
Chaco Lowdown
Best sandal
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GTX
Best footwear for technical terrain
Oboz Arete Mid Waterproof
Most protective footwear
Topo Athletic MTN Racer
Best footwear for big miles
LOWA Innox Pro GTX LO
Light but sturdiest footwear
Salomon Sense Ride 3
Most versatile footwear
Garmont 9.81 N AIr G S Mid GTX
Most comfortable footwear
Merrell Altalight Knit Mid
Most durable footwear
Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Most nimble footwear
Altra Tushar
Footwear with the best traction
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3
Most eco-friendly tent
Gossamer Gear The Two – DCF
Tent with best space-to-weight ratio
Jack Wolfskin Exolight III FR
Easiest tent to setup
Marmot Superalloy 2P
Best all-around tent
Big Agnes Salt Creek SL2
Tent with the best features
Klymit Maxfield 4
Best tent for families
Exped Lyra II
Tent with the best protection
NEMO Aurora 2
Best value for a tent
Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum
Lightest tent
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody
Save big on one of our favorite puffies.
America the Beautiful Pass
This all-access ticket to the national parks is always a great buy.
Climate Neutral
This nonprofit is helping us do better business—and we're giving it an Editors' Choice Award.
Gregory Paragon 48 / Maven 45
This all-around performer is perfect for weekend trips, and it's one of the winners of our 2020 Editors' Choice Awards.
MSR Dromedary
The Editors' Choice Gold Award-winning bladder came out in 1991, and it's still the toughest soft-sided water hauler ever made.
Exped FlexMat Plus
The last word in in affordable, worry-free sleeping pads is one of our Editors' Choice 2020 winners.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt
A great t-shirt gets even better—and earns a 2020 Editors' Choice Award from BACKPACKER.
Giorgio’s Savory Wild Portabella Jerky
This snack that's more than a snack wowed our staff so much, we gave it an Editors' Choice Award.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40
Its our favorite pared down, long-trail-ready hauler, and its one of our 2020 Editors' Choice Award winners.
Editors' Choice Awards 2020: The Best Gear of the Year
Backpacks, a sleeping pad, an ultralight jacket, and one very special organization: These are our 9 favorite things this year.
Black Diamond Trail Zip 14
Lightest pack
Deal of the Week: Klymit Inertia X Frame Sleeping Pad
This futuristic-looking pad slashes weight, but not comfort.
BACKPACKER is Going Climate Neutral
We're not just going to talk the green talk, but walk it as well.
Deal of the Week: Grand Trunk OneMade Double Hammock
Score a bargain on elevated sleeping for two.
SCARPA Maestrale XT
Most stable ski boot
Full Tilt Ascendant
Most versatile ski boot
Dynafit TLT8 Expedition
Best all-around
Gear Library Request Form
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Big Agnes Salt Creek SL2
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
MSR Front Range Tarp Shelter
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Patagonia Ascensionist 55
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Jack Wolfskin Orbit 32 RECCO
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Mountain Hardwear AMG 105
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Thule Versant 60L
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Alps Mountaineering Peak 45
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Deal of the Week: REI Co-op Revelcloud II Jacket
$50 will buy you one of the best packable, do-anything puffies on the market.
Mountainsmith Zerk 40
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
Gregory Paragon 48 / Gregory Maven 65
Check out Backpacker Contributors's author page.
March Member Gear Discount
This month's exclusive discount is brought to you by Mountainsmith.
Deal of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell
Save big on this light-yet-mighty windbreaker.
G3 Minimist Universal
Packable climbing skins
Deal of the Week: Osprey Poco AG Plus Child Carrier
Get this full-featured kid transporter at a discount.
mountainFLOW Skin Wax
Eco-friendly wax
Rab Hot Socks
Best for car campers
Deal of the Week: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Sleep warm on this ultralight, compact, insulated sleeping pad, now available for 32% off.
Smith Level/Liberty
Feature-rich helmet
Black Diamond JetForce Tour 26L
Easy avalanche pack