Editors’ Choice 25th Anniversary

There’s nothing cheap about this shell’s performance.

Live large in this lightweight, ultracomfy three-person tent.

You’ll never want to take this midlayer off.

When it comes to roomy, durable, affordable shelters, this tent is king.

Expect more from your sandals.

A lightweight backpack, custom-molded boots, and the best lip balm we've ever tried: meet our favorite gear of the season.

The best new gear. That’s what earns our seal of approval, and only after months of hardcore testing. This year, we subjected dozens of products to heinous trail conditions from Alaska to Wales. In the end, 18 survived to take our top honor.

The year’s best packs, boots, tents, jackets, and sleeping bags. Period. Plus, a never-die headlamp, a life-saving beacon, a back-saving ultralight chair, and more innovative, trail-tested gear.

From the perfect backpacking pack to the coolest stargazing tool we’ve ever seen, here’s this year’s most innovative and trailworthy new hiking gear.

Cutting-edge technology, category-defining comfort, and exceptional value earn these 12 new products the BACKPACKER seal of approval.

Find a satellite communicator, a fastpacking shoe, and more in our round-up of the year's best gear.

Innovation, value, unbeatable quality— here’s the best stuff we’ve tested this year.

Ten years into BACKPACKER's Editors' Choice awards, the gear has changed, but the goal hasn't.

After a gnarly hike down California's Lost Coast, these pieces shone.

Lightweight cookware and a revolutionary headlamp are among the highlights of this look back at 2001's best equipment.

A handy lantern and large, lightweight shelters make our list of the year's best gear.

Nine innovative new products to improve life on the trail, plus a few classics worth their weight in gold.

Socks with frying pan technology, a pack built like a taco, boots that would make Darth Vadar smile. Innovation abounds in this year's "Best New Gear" Awards.