BACKPACKER Editor Dennis Lewon Picks His Favorite Budget Gear
Spend less, hike more with a system that prioritizes affordability and durability.
Gear
Gear
Protect Your Gear In These 3 Extreme Environments
Don’t let fear of ruining your belongings keep you from getting out.
Get the Shot With This Hike-Ready Photography Kit
Channeling your inner Jimmy Chin is easier than ever thanks to light, affordable camera gear. Here's what you need to get started in adventure photography.
5 Things You Should Never Forget to Pack for Summer Backpacking
These must-haves for hiking and backpacking season can make or break your trip.
The 9 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Hikers
Forget the flowers: Show Mom you care with a gift that helps her hit the trail (and recover from it).
How This Palm-Sized Device Saves Lives
A personal locator beacon could be the difference between coming home or not.
The 5 Best Windshells for Hikers
These featherweight windshells ensure that the weather doesn’t blow your plans away.
Arc’teryx Incendo SL/Cita SL
Lightest windshell
Patagonia Houdini Air
Warmest windshell
Ortovox Merino Windbreaker
Most comfortable
Montane Lite-Speed
Best protection
The 7 Best Daypacks for Every Kind of Hike
From quick jaunts to the biggest days, these packs will keep you comfortable no matter how heavy (or light) your load.
Deuter Trail Pro 36 / 34 SL
Most versatile
Mystery Ranch Scree 32
Best access
JanSport Tahoma 27
Best value
Hydro Flask Journey Series 20L
Best hydration pack
Black Diamond Distance 15
Best for peakbagging
Gregory Miwok 12 / Maya 10
Best fit
The 4 Best Socks of 2019
Happy feet make for a happy hiker. Pamper them with these four pairs.
The Best Climbing Gear of 2019
Go up, up, and away with a light harness, a versatile shoe, and more.
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
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
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.
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
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
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