The 4 Best Socks of 2019
Happy feet make for a happy hiker. Pamper them with these four pairs.
Gear
Gear
The Best Climbing Gear of 2019
Go up, up, and away with a light harness, a versatile shoe, and more.
Petzl Meteor
Breathable helmet
Black Diamond Solution
Featherweight harness
LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Black Series CLD
Most durable carbon poles
Petzl GRIGRI
Versatile belay device
Gabel Carbon Force F.L.K.
Most versatile
Komperdell C3 Carbon Pro
Best traction
SOG PowerPint
Best all-round multitool
Smartwool PhD Endurance Pro Print
Best socks for trail running
Evolv Nighthawk / Skyhawk
Bargin shoe
Gear Aid Kotu Tonto Knife
Most durable knife
Point6 37.5 Hiking Light Crew
Most durable sock
Outdoor Element Firebiner
Best gadget
Stratis Adventurist
Most comfortable sock
Balega Enduro Quarter
Best fitting sock
Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles
Lightest poles
BACKPACKER's Favorite Old Gear
Every piece of gear starts off new and shiny. But then come the miles. And the rocks. And the sun and the rain and the marmots. The stuff that lasts becomes part of our trip memories, intertwined with the journey. We keep using these things because we love them—and we love bucking our throwaway culture. Guides, editors, and testers share some all-time favorites here, and we hope your shiny new gear will someday look the same.
Reima Narvik Thermal Set
Best kids baselayers
Smith Basecamp
Best for small faces
BUFF Junior New Original
Best kids accessory
Costa Pescador
Greenest
Sunski Treeline
Best deal
HydraPak Velocity IT 1.5L
Best insulation
Platypus Big Zip EVO
Best all-around reservoir
BioLite HeadLamp 330
Most comfortable
Vaurnet 03
Best all-around
CNOC Outdoors Vecto
Most versatile reservoir
Klean Kanteen TKPro 25 oz.
Best bottle lid
Babiators
Best kids sunglasses
Princeton Tec SNAP
Most versatile
Black Diamond SpotLite 160
Best for minimalists
Osprey Jet 18
Best kids pack
Big Agnes Duster 15°F
Best kids sleeping bag
Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL
Best child carrier
KEEN Targhee Little Kids’ Waterproof Boot
Best kids boots
Helly Hansen K Barrier Down Insulator
Best kids puffy
HOKA ONE ONE Sky Toa
Best ride
10 Must-Have Items in Our Ski Touring Kit
From eye protection to bibs to energy chews, we reach for these products again and again.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Mattress
Lightest sleeping pad
Paria Recharge S
Best value sleeping pad
NEMO Switchback
Toughest sleeping pad
The North Face One Bag
Most versatile
Sea to Summit Ascent AcII
Most comfortable
Mountain Hardwear Lamina Eco AF 15°F
Most eco-friendly
Sea to Summit Flame FmIII
Women's pick
Montbell Down Hugger 800 Half Length #3
Best for mountaineering
REI Co-op Magma 30
Best value sleeping bag
Big Agnes Pluton UL 40°F
Lightest summer bag
The 4 Best Backpacking Accessories of 2019
All the best accessories for your campsite.
Mammut Macun SO
Warmest softshell
The North Face North Dome Stretch Wind Jacket
Best value softshell
Mountain Hardwear Kor Preshell
Most breathable windshell
Black Diamond Deploy Wind Shell
Lightest windshell
Rab Kinetic Alpine
Most comfortable
Columbia OutDry Ex Reign
Best protection
Patagonia Stretch Rainshadow
Most versatile
Marmot PreCip Active
Best value
Eddie Bauer BC Uplift
Killer deal
SITKA Vapor Shakedry Jacket
Most breathable
Helly Hansen Odin Minimalist 2.0
Best features
Cusa Tea Spicy Chai
Best drinks
Garmin Instinct
Best GPS watch
Bivy Bivystick
Best emergency communication device
Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless Sport Headphones
Best headphones
Jetboil Summit Skillet
Best pan
GSI Outdoors Escape 2L Pot
Best pot
Vargo Titanium Travel Coffee Filter
Best coffee filter
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
Ultralight stove
Sea to Summit SigmaSet 2.2
Best cookset
SunSoaker 10W Kit
Best solar panel
Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Soup
Best dinner
REI Co-op Flexlite Air
Featherweight camp chair
Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent 2.0
Set-and-forget bug protection
Skratch Labs Sport Energy Chews Matcha Green Tea & Lemon
Best snacks for immediate energy
DNX Bars
Best tasting snack
Trailfork Peanut Butter Banana Oats
Best breakfast
FRONTIERSMAN Insider Bear Safe
Easy-to-pack bear canister