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Black Diamond HiLight Tent

Not every tent has what it takes to stand up to winter weather. This one does. “I’ve used many single-wall mountain tents in the course of my outdoor career (because they pack lots of protection into a lightweight package), and this is one of my favorites, thanks to its superior space-to-weight ratio and ventilation,” our tester wrote after putting it through its paces. The 42 inches of headroom help it feel livable, while the breathable NanoShield fabric kept condensation at bay. Buy the Black Diamond HiLight Tent now for $300 (25% off)

Black Diamond Twilight Bivy

We usually shun bivys: they don’t weigh much less than a two-person or solo tent, and they’re not nearly as comfortable. We’ll make an exception for the Twilight, which took one of our testers through a vicious storm without springing a leak or collapsing “Despite the 27 mph wind, I didn’t feel a draft. In later tests, it did just as well in the blowing snow,” he wrote. We fit testers up to six feet tall and 200 pounds in without a problem; an average hiker will find it roomy. Buy Black Diamond Twilight Bivy now for $113 (25% off)

The North Face Banchee 65L Backpack

The main selling point of this practical pack its stocked feature set. “Packs in this weight class are often stripped-down models with little in the way of organizational features and torso adjustments,” our reviewer reported. “Not so with the Banchee. A large shove-it pocket with two zippered compartments, bigger-than-average side pockets, a sleeping bag compartment, and a two-pocket lid make this pack easy to load and live out of.” Buy The North Face Banchee 65L Backpack now for $175 (30% off)

Black Diamond Helio Fixed Length Carbon Ski Poles

Why go for these deceptively simple ski poles over a collapsible version? Two words: durability and weight. At just 9 ounces, they’re ridiculously light, and a specialized molding process that squeezes the air out between the fibers leaves them strong enough that even our hard-charging testers couldn’t snap ’em. Buy Black Diamond Helio Fixed Length Carbon Ski Poles now for $176 (45% off)

The North Face Activist Mid Futurelight Hiking Shoe

If these kicks are one thing, it’s comfortable. The North Face’s Futurelight fabric, featured in the upper, breathes like a dream while keeping the elements on the outside. “During a rainy trip in Arizona’s Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness, the tech kept our feet dry but ensured they never got too sweaty with temps in the 80s,” our reviewer said. The proprietary rubber outsole was more than enough for sandy trails, though it faltered a bit in deep mud. Caveat: men’s sizes only. Buy The North Face Activist Mid Futurelight Hiking Shoe now for $102 (30% off)