Wild Zora Bedrock Beef Chili
Best dinner
Gear
Gear
Skinners Footwear
Minimalist camp shoe
Apple Watch Series 4
Best smartwatch
LOWA Baldo GTX
Best support
SCARPA ZG Trek GTX
Best stability
Zamberlan 331 Amelia GTX WNS
Women’s pick
Merrell Chameleon 7 Mid Waterproof
Most versatile
Helly Hansen Vanir Gallivant HT
Best traction
Tecnica Plasma S GTX
Editors' choice update
Vasque Breeze LT GTX
Most agile
adidas Terrex Free Hiker
Most comfortable
Arc’teryx Aerios FL Mid GTX
Best for speed-hiking
Topo Athletic Terraventure 2
Best trail runner
The 4 Best Hammocks of 2019
Kick back and relax with these suspended sleep nests.
ENO SuperSub
Lightest hammock
Warbonnet Outdoors Blackbird XLC
Most spacious
Hennessy Hyperlite Zip
Best for thru-hikers
Klymit Sky Bivy
Best weather protection
Hilleberg Allak 3
Best protection
Eureka! Summer Pass 3
Best for families
Kelty Late Start
Bargain tent
Slingfin Portal 2
Strongest tent
Vargo No-Fly
Best livability
Gossamer Gear The Two
Best storage
Black Diamond Distance
Best weight-to-price ratio
NEMO Rocket 2P
Best for fastpacking
Big Agnes Scout 2 Platinum
Lightest tent
REI Co-op Shell Bivy
Best bivy
Thule Rail 8L
Best hydration pack
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Travel Pack
Best travel pack
EXPED Whiteout 30
Best for mountaineering
Mountain Equipment Ogre 33+
Most versatile
Arc’teryx Alpha AR 35
Most durable
Marmot Eiger 42
Most comfortable
REI Co-op Flash 45
Lightest
Osprey Rook / Renn 50
Best value
Gregory Zulu 65 / Jade 63
Best all-around
The North Face Banchee 65
Best feature set
Mystery Ranch Glacier
Best for big loads
Kelty Zyro 68
Best ventilation
Gear Guide: The Best of the Rest
There's a lot of great gear out there, and only so much space in our gear guide. Here are 35 products that barely missed the cut.
Editors' Choice Awards 2019: The Best Gear of the Year
For five months, we crisscrossed continents, climates, and comfort zones to put the newest outdoor products to the ultimate hiker’s test. A final, weeklong gauntlet in the Pyrenees Mountains, in Spain’s Catalonia region, was the finishing touch: By its end, we had elected these 12 winners of this year’s Editors’ Choice Awards.
Polartec Power Air
Stay warm and save rivers with this eco-friendly fleece layer.
Rab Kinetic Alpine Pant
Finally, a pair of rainpants you won't be afraid to wear all day.
MSR Reactor Stove System
This efficient stove has been one of our favorites for more than a decade.
Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20°F
Cut weight and stay warm with this featherweight bag.
Ombraz Sunglasses
The best parts about these new-school shades are what they don't have.
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody
This sun shirt is a soft alternative to wearing sunscreen.
Granite Gear Blaze 60
This lightweight hauler just keeps getting better.
GoLite ReGreen Windshell
It used to be a bunch of plastic bottles. Now, it's one of the most eco-friendly windshells on the market.
Gerber Devour Multi-Fork
This multitasking utensil won't just keep you fed: It works as a can opener, flathead screwdriver, and more too.
The 8 Best Water Filters for Backpackers
Ultralight, ultrafast, and ultraeffective—the best new water treatment devices do the job better than ever.
NEMO Airpin Ultralight Stake
Do you really need a better stake? When it's this featherweight beauty, you do.
How This Outdoor App Is Using Data to Improve Sustainability
With easy, innovative technology, Fishbrain is enabling anglers and researchers to work together to ensure sustainability of fisheries.
The Best Gear for Hiking With Dogs
You have good gear. Why shouldn’t your best friend?
The BACKPACKER Backcountry Skiing Kit
Get in a perfect day tour with this 11-piece editor-tested setup
The 2019 BACKPACKER Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
Chocolate and champagne are fine, but this year, give your Valentine something that will keep them happy on the trail.
Sneak Peek: Sweet Protection Interstellar Goggle
Your coat is Gore-Tex. Soon, your goggles could be too.
Columbia Powderhouse Titanium Omni-Heat 3D OutDry Boot
Extreme conditions call for extreme boots.
Sneak Peak: Holden Outerwear Schoeller Corkshell and WholeGarment Line
An outerwear line that uses cork and a waste-free computerized knitting system are among the innovations the company hopes to show off this year.
Sneak Peak: Marmot West Rib Parka
We thought we had seen every possible way to package down. This coat proved us wrong.
Gordini Polar II Glove
The full coverage, warmth and breathability means this glove can go from the trail to the slopes.
Reviewed: 8 Snowshoes for Kids
We put eight pint-size snowshoes on our testers. Here's how they measured up.
POC Obex Spin Helmet
Efficient padding protects noggins from frontcountry snowmobiling to backcountry splitboarding.
8 Gear Deals to Grab from REI's January Clearance Sale
Get boots, jackets, and more on the cheap—but hurry.
Gear of the Week: Mountain Hardwear Super/DS Stretchdown Hooded Jacket
Abrasion-resistance, moisture management and natural stretch carries this puffy to a top level.
Icebreaker Persist Plus
Versatile pant
REI Co-op Arete ASL 2
Sturdy Shelter
Outdoor Research Skyward II
Editors’ Choice update
The Best Gear for Cross-Country Skiing
Glide through the backcountry with these time-tested picks.
Gear of the Week: KÜHL Jetstream
This weight-saving shell will keep you dry in any weather.
The 14 Best Holiday Gifts for Outdoor Kids
Skip the video games and give them something they can use on the trail, or just in the park.
5 Ways a Smartwatch Can Make Backcountry Trips Easier
Spend more time taking in the sights and less time fumbling with your phone.
Getting the Most Out of Your Walkie Talkies
Two-way radios make it easier to communicate on the trail. Use these tips to maximize your walkie talkie use.
15 Last-Minute Gifts for Hikers From REI's Holiday Clearance Sale
Put off doing your shopping? Lucky you: Right now, some of our favorite products of the year are on sale at REI.
Deal of the Day: Mountain Standard Lightweight Pullover Hoodie
Get this closet staple for 56% off, but hurry.
A Taste Of Home In The Backcountry
Morning routines are sacred, and being miles from a proper kitchen shouldn’t change that.
10 Gifts for the Thru-Hiker in Your Life
Long-distance hikers are selective about their gear. Here are some of the things they’ll want to add to their pack, even if they don’t know it yet.