Gear

These three deluxe mattresses cured our testers’ campground insomnia.

Twelve testers ran, trekked, and squatted in 45 products to find this summer’s best new hiking pants and shorts.

Six testers tried six different sleeping bags. These ones came out on top.

Several well-known ultralight brands are slashing prices for the Small Business Sales Week event—but it ends tomorrow, so you’ll have to hurry.

Grab some of our favorite shoes, packs, and tents for up to 40% off right now

3F UL’s equipment costs a fraction of its American cottage counterparts. Is it any good?

In an industry dominated by a single body-type, the Virga 3 is making waves.

Developed and tested on the Pacific Crest Trail—the new adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2.0 is your next long-distance shoe

Used correctly, frameless packs can be a great tool for ultralighters. Used incorrectly? Welcome to Shoulder Pain City, baby.

Swapping out your tent for a shelter that sets up with trekking poles is a quick way to cut weight. But is it the right choice for you?

A reliable lightweight sleeping bag and a jacket ready for spring windstorms are among our favorite gear of the month.

Comparing two titans of featherweight design

Thru-hiker Carl "Professor" Stanfield had a big goal: Break the record for most miles ever walked in a single year. Here's what he packed.

For outdoor excursions big and small, here’s everything you need to be more than ready

With ZOLEO, you can be off-grid without being out of touch

There’s no faster way to ruin your first big trip than by wearing shoes or boot that aren't up to the task. We break down what beginners need to know about buying their first pair of trail shoes.

How to use this stretchy, therapeutic tape to effectively reduce pain and support muscles, tendons, and ligaments (almost) anywhere on your body

How to best care for your body to keep doing the outdoor activities you love

It weighs nothing, saves you time and fuel, and lets you enjoy a piping hot meal instead of a lukewarm one.

Ultra-super-megalight gear and universal sat phones might be standard in 50 years—if the backpackers of the future even want them, that is.

An ultralight kettle, backcountry ski tech, and one very versatile pair of trail runners: This is the gear that Backpacker's editors used to ring in the spring season.

Versatility meets inclusive sizing meets next-level support in this new pack series

Our sunburn-prone editor stays protected in the Outdoor Research Echo sunhoody.

Libby DeLana never misses a day outdoors. Here’s what she’s learned—and here are the shoes that keep her going.

Make great boots. Inspire people to use them. Here’s how.

A new crop of brands are creating specialized ultralight gear for hunters—and they’re making inroads with backpackers too.

Why is our editor so in love with the Guyot Designs Squishy Bowls? They're easy to pack, insulating, and—best of all—indestructible.

Vest-style straps can make frameless packs carry better than ever.

Our hiking columnist has spent more than a quarter of the past four years on trail. Every morning out there, without fail, he eats another perfect packet of Pop-Tarts.

In defense of the hiking world’s black sheep.

An extremely fancy jacket, a free app, and a rock-solid waterproof box make the list of our editors' favorite gear this month.

Silnylon has been the affordable waterproof tent fabric of choice for decades, but a new competitor is shaking things up.

Competitor Ashly Winchester packed an ultralight sleeping bag, multiple lights, and KT tape to keep herself going.

The frameless Mustang Survival Highwater 22L is the best of frameless backpacks and drybags in one slick package.

From a gadget that’s a fork on one end and a spoon on the other to a titanium utensil that will survive the apocalypse, there are dozens of different sporks on the market. But which is the best?

Getting lost on the trail after dark is a nuisance. As two dayhikers in Big Sur discovered this month, doing it without a headlamp can become an emergency.

Just as cozy with remarkable technology? Consider me a convert.

For years, our editor thought toe socks looked dumb and were useless on the trail. After spending a winter testing them out, he's ready to admit that he was wrong about at least one of those things.

Down booties, gossamer-thin wind jackets, and struggle-free snowshoes: Here’s what our editors brought with them on their winter adventures.

Hint: He never stopped hiking.

Should the Yonder replace your Nalgene?

Going minimalist can heighten anxieties about staying safe in the backcountry. Here’s how to let some of them go.

Some of our favorite gear is garbage. And that's why we love it so much.

More people are going ultralight than ever before—and there's more gear out there for them, too. Three ultralight gear pros take the temperature of the rapidly growing category.

Wintry parking lots and cumbersome ski gear have finally met their match

Pocket-laden shorts, an old Timex watch, and a half of a Gatorade bottle were his keys to success.

From what to buy to what to leave behind, our ultralight columnist offered up essential advice this year.

Washing your face or bowl with Dr. Bronner's? Sure. Using it to cure congestion? Maybe. Using it as toothpaste? Hmm.

Which down alternative does the best job of keeping you warm without weighing you down?

Which of these popular aprés accessories burns brighter?

From tiny pocket knives to freeze-dried foods, these ultralight-friendly gifts are best presented in a sub-1-ounce merino sock.

Led by one of the outdoors' biggest retailers, some manufacturers may soon ditch women's and men's sleeping bags for nonbinary ones made to fit a wide variety of bodies.

Get ready for your best winter ever with tips from these cold-weather experts

From backyard to basecamp, these are the gifts we’ll be giving to the cushy campers in our lives.

Tools like Lighterpack can help you slim down and optimize your pack weight.

Affordable earbuds, slimming thermals, and an eye-popping camping blanket: Here’s what our editors brought with them on their fall adventures.

Adventure-ready features and planet-friendly materials make this watch a win-win

Our hiking columnist knows firsthand that buying gifts for the hiker in your life can induce anxiety. These affordable finds from independent companies can’t miss.

Yes, a $25 tchotchke can be an indispensable backcountry tool.

Garmin's new small satellite communication tool is simpler, but it's their new app that makes the real difference

Through the past five decades, there have been a lot of trend-setters and trailblazers. These are the best of backpacking.

Outdoorsy folks get stoked on gear year-round, but the holidays are a chance to surprise your favorite trailblazer with the latest and greatest items for their gear closet.

Goodbye clunky plastic containers and disposable packaging: This is how I'm rehydrating my meals from now on.

These made-in-the-U.S.A. layer, packs, and boots are designed to stand up to the rigors of combat. But how do they stand up to civilian hiking gear?

Lightweight gear isn’t just for Triple Crowners

A tarp, sun hoodie, and pee rag are her secret weapons.

Document your adventures in a whole new way with the 4K Skydio 2+ drone

Choose a brighter future with this eco-friendly new headlamp

A shoulder-season jacket, a bright-as-daylight headlamp, and a device to keep your devices safe: Here’s what our editors brought with them on their fall adventures.

Leave the conventions behind with these five shoulder-season gear tips

These little Scandanavian gummies have earned a permanent place in our packs. Why? Let us count the ways.

Skip the ounce-counting with a new tent, quilt, and pack from one of ultralight’s best-loved brands.

Hours of testing, tasting, and innovating goes into these freeze-dried pouches

Stay warm, stay hydrated, and explore the season’s top national parks

From a minimalist pair of trail runners to a two-in-one water filter, this gear is ready to help you turn your next family reunion or business trip into a memorable hiking adventure.

These boots are the only ones you’ll need all winter long

Galadriel—we’ve got notes

Whether because of poorly-fitting shoes, moisture, or just bad luck, every hiker’s tangled with those raw, fluid-filled bumps. Science can tell you how they form—but can it stop you from getting them?

These two titans of active insulation are more different than they might seem.