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Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

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Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026
a hiker blowing air into a sleeping pad pump sack

Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026

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 2026
backpacker pouring water into bowl outdoors

Best Backpacking Meals & Food of 2026

Our guide to the best backpacking meals and tips will help you fill your belly and fuel your hikes while out backpacking, camping, and thru-hiking.
Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026

Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026

From lightweight thru-hiking packs to heavy-load haulers, these are the backpacking backpacks we trust after extensive field testing and more than 100,000 collective trail miles.
Best Backpacking Tents of 2026
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 2026

We put the top-performing backpacking tents on the market through the wringer to find the best balance of comfort, weight, weather protection, ease of use, and durability.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2026
A man sits up in a sleeping bag with the hood over his head. He is smiling and looking off camera.

Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2026

Our top backpacking sleeping bags cover ultralight thru-hiking, cold-weather trips, roomy side-sleeper designs, synthetic wet-weather options, and genuinely affordable beginner picks.
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2026
A hiker pumps with the msr guardian filter. the pre filter is submerged in murky water and a nalgene bottle is attached to the bottom of the filter.

Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2026

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

NEMO Disco 15 Endless Promise Review
A man sits up in a sleeping bag with the footbox outside of his tent, looking off in the distance. His shoes are off to the side and there is a lake and low mountains behind him.

NEMO Disco 15 Endless Promise Review

Last Updated: October 14, 2026
An unusually roomy down bag with excellent comfort and smart venting, but its bulk makes it better for comfort-focused trips than ultralight backpacking.
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Review
a hiker sits up in a tent, wrapped cozily in a sleeping bag

Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Review

Last Updated: October 14, 2026
A warm, relatively light down mummy for cold backpacking, with an excellent zipper but a snug hip fit that limits movement.
Best Hiking Pants for Women of 2026
A person is standing on a rock and holding the Distance Carbon trekking poles. The area is rocky with some trees surrounding the wash. There are some rocky, desert peaks in the distance.

Best Hiking Pants for Women of 2026

Last Updated: October 13, 2026
From durable softshells to breathable budget picks and comfortable joggers, these are the women’s hiking pants that earned a place in our current lineup after extensive field testing
Women’s REI Trailmade Pants Review
A hiker wearing the REI Trailmade Pants crosses a stream on some rocks.

Women’s REI Trailmade Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Your bank account will love these hiking pants.
Women’s REI Sahara Convertible Pants Review
A backpacker wearing the REI Sahara convertible pants kneels next to a lake surrounded by mountains.

Women’s REI Sahara Convertible Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Are they pants? Are they shorts? They’re convertible hiking pants!
Mountain Hardwear Dynama Ankle Pants Review
A person wearing the Dynama pants is wearing a backpacking and walking on a trail in the mountains.

Mountain Hardwear Dynama Ankle Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Perfect for townie hikes and everyday wear, these pants combine comfort, breathability, and style. Durable enough for light use, but less ideal for rugged terrain or wet conditions.
Athleta Trekkie North Jogger Review
A backpacker wearing the Athleta Trekkie pants walks on a trail in the mountains.

Athleta Trekkie North Jogger Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
We like big pockets and we cannot lie…
Women’s The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 Pants Review
a day hiker wearing the north face aphrodite 2.0 pants on a trail through an aspen forest

Women’s The North Face Aphrodite 2.0 Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Comfort and practicality: the best of both worlds.
Women’s Baleaf Laureate Pants Review
A person wearing the Baleaf pants is resting against a tree in the woods drinking water from a water bottle.

Women’s Baleaf Laureate Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Durable, breathable, and affordable, these women’s hiking pants offer great value for outdoor enthusiasts seeking comfort and performance in dry, warm conditions. Perfect for various activities.
Women’s Duluth Dry on the Fly Pants Review
View of a person's lower legs. The leg on the left features the Duluth pants rolled up with the snap feature. The leg on the right demonstrates the pants when worn rolled down. They are wearing boots and standing in a pine forest.

Women’s Duluth Dry on the Fly Pants Review

Last Updated: October 12, 2026
Designed for durability and packed with pockets, these pants shine both on the trail and in daily life, making them a go-to choice for active outdoor adventurers.
Men’s Arc’teryx Gamma Pants Review
A man walks on an alpine ridge in the sunshine.

Men’s Arc’teryx Gamma Pants Review

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
A premium softshell-style hiking pant that balances strong mobility with excellent durability and weather protection, especially for cool and demanding mountain conditions.
Men’s Mammut Runbold IV Pants Review
A man hikes up a trail with mountains in the background.

Men’s Mammut Runbold IV Pants Review

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
A light, stretchy alpine hiking pant with superb mobility and ventilation, best for slimmer hikers who prioritize fast movement over heavy-weather protection.
Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review
A man runs downhill in the tundra.

Men’s Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants Review

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
A lightweight, highly breathable all-rounder with excellent stretch and quick-drying performance, best for hikers who value comfort and mobility over maximum storm protection.
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

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
An affordable, breathable convertible hiking pant with easy shoe-on leg removal, best for hikers who want practical pants-to-shorts versatility in warm conditions.
Men’s REI Trailmade Pants Review
A man walks through alpine wildflowers.

Men’s REI Trailmade Pants Review

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
A lightweight, comfortable budget hiking pant with good breathability and useful storage, best for straightforward warm- and mild-weather trail use.
Men’s Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Pant Review
A shot of the bottom half of a hiker in a leafless forest.

Men’s Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Hiking Pant Review

Last Updated: October 11, 2026
A budget-oriented, airy convertible hiking pant that works well in mild weather, best for hikers who prioritize price and ventilation over stretch and durability.
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