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Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

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Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2024
A backpacker holding the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite in Yosemite National Park

Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2024

Whether you’re looking for inflatable or foam, ultralight or ultra-plush, we’ll help you get a great night’s sleep in the backcountry with our trail-tested picks…
Best Backpacking Meals & Food of 2024
A hiker eating from a titanium backpacking pot in a lush, green forest

Best Backpacking Meals & Food of 2024

Backpacking Food Meal planning is one of the most important considerations for any backpacking trip. The food you choose will depend on taste preference, nutritional value, caloric density of each meal, and how easy it is to cook. Some hikers bring dehydrated meals because they’re quick and easy. Others prepare DIY dinner recipes and use […]
Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2024

Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2024

Our team of seasoned backcountry experts hiked thousands of miles using the best backpacking packs on the market to narrow down this list of…
Best Backpacking Tents of 2024
The NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 and Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 backpacking tents pitched in a campsite surrounded by granite peaks in the Sawtooth Mountains

Best Backpacking Tents of 2024

We put the most promising backpacking tents on the market through the wringer to find the ones with the best balance of comfort, weight…
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2024
A backpacker sitting on a rock in the REI Magma 30 sleeping bag at sunset

Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2024

From summer summits to winter wanderings, our trail-tested list of the best backpacking sleeping bags will keep you warm and cozy in…
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2024
Closeup of the Sawyer Squeeze water filter in front of an alpine lake

Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2024

We’ve filtered out the nonsense to bring you our purest recommendations of the best water filters around.

All Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides Content

Men’s Kuhl Renegade Rock Shorts Review
Man hiking down a rocky trail.

Men’s Kuhl Renegade Rock Shorts Review

These are durable enough for multiple seasons of intense hiking, yet stylish enough to head to dinner after a long hike.
Men’s Nike DRI-Fit Challenger Shorts Review
Man standing by a blue lake in hiking shorts.

Men’s Nike DRI-Fit Challenger Shorts Review

The simple design of these shorts makes them easy to move in, and we’ve found the ultralight material is durable enough for multiple seasons of intense hiking.
Men’s REI Trailmade Amphib Review
Man's hand on phone in pocket of shorts.

Men’s REI Trailmade Amphib Review

If you want a versatile pair of hiking shorts that double as swim trunks, this pair is simple, very lightweight, and packable.
Men’s REI Sahara Cargo Shorts Review
Man walking on trail by lake in shorts.

Men’s REI Sahara Cargo Shorts Review

If you like to carry a lot of gear or snacks then these are the shorts for you. With six pockets, they are a classic pair for hiking.
Men’s Patagonia Quandary Shorts Review
A leg on a log stretching a pais of shorts.

Men’s Patagonia Quandary Shorts Review

We tested these shorts in the Colorado Rockies and they are some of our favorites based on their comfort, versatility, and features.
Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts Review
A man wearing a blue jacket and brown shorts hikes in the rain with shrubs and rocks in front of him.

Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts Review

This pair checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to great hiking shorts. They are comfortable, stretchy, lightweight, and dry quickly.
Men’s Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Review
A man hiking in a pair of shorts

Men’s Columbia Silver Ridge Cargo Review

This affordable pair is a trimmed-down take on a classic utilitarian cargo, which is why they make our list of the best hiking shorts.
Men’s REI Trailmade Pants Review
A man walks through alpine wildflowers.

Men’s REI Trailmade Pants Review

These are an excellent choice for the price-conscious hiker looking for a lightweight pant. We are impressed with their performance and their value.
Men’s REI Sahara Convertible Pants Review
A man walking in the alpine wearing green pants with blue sky behind.

Men’s REI Sahara Convertible Pants Review

This model is the image of the classic hiking pant: versatile, durable, and loaded with features. We tested them in heavy Alaskan rain and on long sunny hikes and we love using one pair of pants for both outings.
Rab Incline Light Pants Review
A man walks on an alpine trail in the sunshine.

Rab Incline Light Pants Review

These pants are a super lightweight and packable pair sure to please anyone who’s after a quick-drying and breathable option.
Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review
A man runs downhill in the tundra.

Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review

Tested in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, these pants deliver a lightweight and highly mobile pant that excels in a variety of conditions.
Mammut Runbold Pants Review
A man shows the front of pants in front of a glacier lake.

Mammut Runbold Pants Review

After extensive testing in the alpine of Alaska’s Talkeetna Range, these pants are one of our top scorers in our lineup.
Janji Transit Tech Pants Review
A man runs uphill with an alpine background.

Janji Transit Tech Pants Review

These jogger-style pants are extremely lightweight and breathable and are a great fit for warmer weather and higher-output activities.
Men’s Arc’teryx Gamma Pants Review
A man walks on an alpine ridge in the sunshine.

Men’s Arc’teryx Gamma Pants Review

These pants are loaded with features, including cinch hems, a built-in belt, and all-zippered pockets, making them fit for big adventures where durability and weather resistance are paramount.
NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 Review

NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 Review

This tent is a dream for hikers who prioritize weight savings but don’t want to give up livability. The attention to detail is evident in the high-quality construction and plentiful interior pockets.
Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 Review
A man with glasses and a beanie on sits up in his tent. His eyes are closed.

Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 Review

This is one of the highest-quality down bags we tested. It has an awesome warmth-to-weight ratio and a plush feel that’ll have you sleeping like a baby.
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