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Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

We hope to inspire adventure and promote wilderness conservation through in-depth gear reviews, skill-based tutorials, and comprehensive trip 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

Whether you’re looking to tackle a thru hike or haul some serious gear, we’ve got backpack recommendations for every type of adventure.
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, ease of use, and more. Find your new home-away-from home with our guide.
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 list of trail-tested backpacking sleeping bags will help you find a cozy sack for everything from summer summits to winter wanderings.
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

Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2026
A person sitting on an overlook with a beautiful scene in the background, with a focus on her hiking shoes.

Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2026

Last Updated: September 28, 2026
We’ve logged countless miles on trail to find the best hiking shoes for different hiking styles, foot shapes, and weather. Lace up and get outside with our guide to footwear for happy feet.
Men’s Merrell Moab 3 Review
Man's legs from knee down steps across a deep gap between large sandstone boulders wearing the Merrell Moab 3 hiking shoes.

Men’s Merrell Moab 3 Review

Last Updated: September 28, 2026
A comfortable, durable, traditional hiking shoe that delivers dependable all-around performance at one of the best values in the category.
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop Backpacking Guide

Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 25, 2026
This 20-mile loop is one of our favorite Oregon hikes, with crystal clear lakes, vibrant wildflower fields, ample wildlife viewings, and sweeping vistas of the Blue Mountain Range.
McKenzie River Trail Backpacking Guide

McKenzie River Trail Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 25, 2026
This iconic Oregon trail features crystal clear waters, dramatic lava beds, quiet old-growth forest, and easy hiking with plenty of amenities to stay comfortable.
Men’s La Sportiva Spire GTX Review
Closeup of a hiker tying the laces of the La Sportiva Spire GTX hiking shoes

Men’s La Sportiva Spire GTX Review

Last Updated: September 25, 2026
A durable waterproof shoe-boot hybrid for technical terrain, shoulder-season hiking, heavier loads, and demanding backcountry routes.
Men’s HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX Review

Men’s HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX Review

Last Updated: September 25, 2026
A supportive waterproof hiking shoe with sticky traction, a comfortable rocker, and a roomy fit for three-season hiking.
Men’s Salomon X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes Review
A closeup of hiking shoes in front of a glacier.

Men’s Salomon X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes Review

Last Updated: September 25, 2026
A burly, waterproof hiking shoe with excellent stability, strong traction, and proven durability for rugged terrain and wet conditions.
Steens Mountain Backpacking Guide – Southeastern Oregon

Steens Mountain Backpacking Guide – Southeastern Oregon

Last Updated: September 24, 2026
This stunning wilderness area in southeastern Oregon offers unique scenery, varied terrain, and and lots of possibilities for hiking and backpacking.
Oregon Coast Trail Backpacking Guide – Bandon to Port Orford
backpacker overlooking the expansive view of the oregon coast with haystacks and wide sandy beaches.

Oregon Coast Trail Backpacking Guide – Bandon to Port Orford

Last Updated: September 24, 2026
This 30-mile stretch of Oregon coastline offers pristine beach scenery, abundant ocean wildlife, and surprising solitude – with no permits required.
Men’s Altra Lone Peak 9 Review
A person's finger is looped through the heel loop on a trail running shoe. Image is close up and centered on the shoe.

Men’s Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

Last Updated: September 24, 2026
A roomy zero-drop trail runner with excellent breathability and ground feel, but a fit and ride that will not work for every hiker.
Men’s Saucony Peregrine 16 Review
saucony-peregrine-16-running-2

Men’s Saucony Peregrine 16 Review

Last Updated: September 24, 2026
A light, grippy, responsive trail runner that doubles as an excellent hiking shoe for long distances and fast-moving trips.
Men’s Brooks Cascadia 20 Review

Men’s Brooks Cascadia 20 Review

Last Updated: September 24, 2026
A dependable, breathable trail runner with supportive cushioning and low weight for long-distance hiking on established trails.
Women’s Saucony Peregrine 16 Review
A woman adjusts the tongue on her shoe.

Women’s Saucony Peregrine 16 Review

Last Updated: September 23, 2026
A featherweight trail shoe with excellent traction, responsive cushioning, and enough protection for fast-and-light hiking.
Women’s Altra Lone Peak 9 Review
Close up showing the Altra shoe while climbing up a rock

Women’s Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

Last Updated: September 23, 2026
A roomy, lightweight zero-drop trail shoe with excellent toe space, responsive cushioning, and improved durability.
Women’s Merrell Moab 3 Review
hiker's feet wearing the merrell moab 3 on loose gravel

Women’s Merrell Moab 3 Review

Last Updated: September 23, 2026
A classic, durable hiking shoe with solid comfort, dependable traction, and excellent value for day hikers.
Women’s Merrell Moab Speed 2 Review
a woman walking in the high desert brush

Women’s Merrell Moab Speed 2 Review

Last Updated: September 23, 2026
A light, modern hiking shoe that balances trail-runner agility with solid protection and a full-length rock plate.
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