Mountain Standard Hooded 3-Layer Jacket
This jacket is one of the most affordable three-layer shells we’ve tested.
Gear
Gear
Patagonia Refugitive Jacket
This versatile hardshell's supple fabric proved stout enough for winter storms but light enough for summer wear.
FlyLow Genius Jacket
This ski jacket provides top breathability and good mobility in one lightweight package.
Sherpa Adventure Gear Shakti Jacket
This full-featured jacket is built for plundering powder.
Brooks-Range Hybrid Wool Jacket
This hybrid jacket is a warm-yet-breathable technical layer that looks good enough for a night out.
Craghoppers CompressLite Packaway Jacket
This bargain puffy is a screaming deal.
UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit
Rain, sleet, snow? If you need a fire in the worst conditions, these are your matches.
Patagonia Dual Aspect Hoodie
This jacket is a fleece, but warmer. It’s a softshell, but more breathable. It’s one of the most versatile midlayers we’ve ever tested.
Dynafit Mezzalama Alpha Pant
Breathable insulation makes these the most versatile winter pants we’ve tested.
Arc’teryx Zeta LT Jacket
This 11-ounce jacket sets a new bar for shells: It’s light and protective enough to wear 12 months a year.
High Sierra Symmetry 18
Save big on a full-featured ski pack.
Mountain Hardwear Ozonic 65 OutDry
No need for fussy rain covers or liners with this waterproof pack.
The North Face Summit L6 Jacket
The warmest midlayer we tested kept us toasty on seven trips up Mt. Rainier.
Columbia Decompression Jacket
This ultralight down jacket gives you maximum warmth with minimal weight and bulk.
Big Agnes Spike/Lucky Penny Vest
This slim vest will warm your core with heat-reflecting insulation.
Berghaus VapourLight Hydroloft Reversible Race Smock
This half-zip jacket is the lightest synthetic midlayer we’ve ever tried.
2015 Winter Editors' Choice Awards
The only way to find the best winter gear? Get out and stay out—all season long.
Salomon Park LS Tee
Natural bamboo charcoal fibers make it the quickest-drying, most breathable baselayer in our test.
Westcomb Luminous
This quick-drying wool baselayer’s double-sided fabric delivers great wicking, insulation, and durability.
Bambool BT1 Baselayer Top & Pants
A cozy PJ feel meets powder-friendly design in a baselayer adored by backcountry skiers.
VOORMI Thermal II Baselayer
The merino/polyester construction of this baselayer top offers cold-busting insulation.
SCOTT Air Free Alpride Pack
This pack's light, low-bulk airbag system means less weight on your back and more space for your gear.
Atomic Backland Carbon Boots
Set your ankles free with these ultra-flexible touring ski boots.
Sea to Summit Specialist Solo
It’s one of the lightest solo models out there, even before swapping the tent poles (3.9 ounces) for trekking poles.
Yama Mountain Gear Cirriform SW 1
It has the best performance-to-weight ratio of the bunch.
Big Agnes Bitter Springs UL-1
This solo tent can take a beating
Our Favorite Women's Gear That Actually Fits
Despite huge advances in women’s gear, women are about twice as likely to have trouble getting a good fit. Here are our contributors' best solutions.
Black Diamond Recalls JetForce Avy Packs
Technical problem could cause JetForce airbags to not inflate; customers urged to return certain models for repair.
Breathtaking Glacier National Park Photos
Glacier National Park boasts stunning snow-capped mountain landscapes, icy blue lakes, and goats, goats, goats.
Inspirational Grand Canyon National Park Photos
Rainbows, lightning, clouds, and stars only complement the beauty of this national park.
The Best National Park Gateway Towns
These national park towns have everything you need start and finish your next adventure.
Appalachian Trail Photos To Inspire You
Catch wanderlust, then get out there.
Breathtaking Yosemite Photos
In an excerpt from his new book, photographer Ryan Alonzo captures the splendor of Tuolumne Meadows.
Urban Wildlife Refuges
Want to experience nature closer to home? Try visiting a trail at one of the National Wildlife Refuge System's 101 urban wildlife refuges.
La Plata: Colorado's Hidden Treasure
Skip the Front Range crowds and head to Colorado's La Platas for sweet solitude and can't-miss views.
10 Amazing Backcountry Picnic Spots
Big mileage days are great and all, but sometimes you just want to stop, smell the roses (er, wildflowers), and picnic with a spectacular view.
Lessons from a Pro Photographer
Justin Bailie shares his do's and don'ts about being a pro photographer.
Beautiful Waterfall Photos
These powerful backcountry cascade will having you strapping on your boots and hitting the trail.
Kammok Roo
There are plenty of two-person hammocks out there, but the Roo is the best we’ve found
The National Park Photos of Ansel Adams
Selected images from Ansel Adams's national park photography series.
Salomon Agile 12 Set
Thanks to a form-hugging fit, the Salomon Agile 12 Set is the next best thing to wearing no pack at all.
CamelBak Pursuit 24 LR
The unique lumbar reservoir spreads water weight low across the hip shelf for improved stability.
Osprey Syncro 15
In hot temps, this pack kept us coolest, thanks to max airflow across the back.
Marmot Aquifer 22
A drybag-style closure makes this pack the most functionally waterproof.
Dakine Drafter 12L
Plentiful pockets will please the most obsessive organizers.
Hiking New Zealand: The Route to the Best Backcountry Hut in the World
New Zealand's Ivory Lake Hut is a true gem. All you have to do is get there. Check out these stunning photos from the route.
Evolv Cruzer
Sticky climbing rubber and an EVA midsole make this shoe at home on the crag or trail.
Patagonia Nano-Air Vest
Get core warmth without bulk.
Black Diamond Ember Power Light
We used this new take on the old school light as a backup for headlamps and also to revive dead smartphones on multiday trips.
NEMO Equipment Wagontop 4P
A lavish palace that packs down smaller than other family tents.
Optic Nerve V12
Usually you have to choose between max coverage and visual clarity in shades. The V12 offers both.
Exped Ergo Hammock Combi
The king of comfort in all temps.
Sierra Madre Research Adventura Combo
A three-part system: the hammock, a pair of slings, and the versatile Nubé shelter.
Exped Scout Hammock Combi
A superior safe haven from bugs.
Grand Trunks Ultralight Travel Hammock
This 12-ounce polypropylene perch disappears into any pack and takes only two minutes to hang.
Bergans of Norway Rondane 12
A unique strap configuration obliterates pack sway and jiggle. Plus: great price.
Hiking to Everest Base Camp
Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter is hiking to Everest Base Camp this week. Follow her progress here with live updates and photos.
Chris Morgan's Favorite Wildlife Photos
Ecologist and adventure photographer Chris Morgan shares some of his favorite wildlife photos from his travels to the Arctic, the Cascades, and more.
Stunning Backcountry Campsite Photos
Warning: May induce jealousy and an uncontrollable urge to hit the trail. Blame our friends at Tandem Stills+Motion for sharing these sweet campsite photos.
The Best New Hiking Boots of 2015
Waterproof. Breathable. Tough. The best new hiking boots of 2015 prove that when it comes to footwear, you really can have it all.
Arc'teryx Bora 2 Mid
We all know that layering systems are the way to go for protecting your body through a variety of conditions—these boots will do the same for your feet.
La Sportiva Bushido
This trail runner is perfect for runners who favor a minimalist feel and goat-like grip for moving fast over rough terrain.
Dynafit Pantera
Runners who prefer cushioning and protection for long mountain runs will love these trail runners.
La Sportiva LS Trango Cube GTX
The heavy-duty Trango boot is stiff enough for ice climbing, yet nimble enough for long mountain approaches.
Hanwag Cengalo GTX
The unrivaled support and precision lacing in these heavy-duty boots kept our feet and ankles happy on long, all-season tours above treeline.
Salomon S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX
This is the first ever low-cut mountaineering boot.
Salewa Alp Flow Mid GTX
The miraculously universal fit of this mid-duty boot means killer comfort over long miles.
Five Ten Camp Four
The high, wraparound rand on these mid-duty boots is tank-tough.
Helly Hansen Rapide Mid Mesh HT
This mid-duty hiker serves up a whole lotta boot for the money.
LOWA Renegade Deluxe GTX Mid
The premium leather upper on this mid-duty hiking boot molds to your foot.
Vasque Breeze 2.0 Low
Torsional stiffness and superior support help this low-cut hiker perform like a bigger boot.
Columbia Conspiracy III
This shoe is a light hiker and a trail runner in one.
adidas Outdoor Terrex Scope High GTX
Get a winning combination in this hiking boot: sticky Stealth rubber underfoot with a durable, protective upper on top.
Merrell Capra Sport Low
Ventilated mesh uppers make these hikers ideal for hot weather.
Under Armour SpeedForm XC
This is the lightest, toughest, and least expensive trail-running shoe we tested.
The North Face Ultra Cardiac
This is our one-shoe solution for trail and road running.
Hoka One One Mafate Speed
These trail runners swallow bumps on rough trails and save your joints on long runs.
Brooks Running PureGrit 3
The midsole on these trail runners adapts to hard and soft footstrikes.
Pearl Izumi EM Trail N2
Like Goldilocks would have said: The cushion on these trail runners is just right.
The Best Sleeping Bags and Pads of 2015
We took these bags below their temperature ratings to find out just how warm they really are. Bottom line: We lost sleep so you won't. Hit snooze with one of these toasty sacks (and cushy pads).