Home > Backpacking

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.

Popular Content

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
Closeup of the Sawyer Squeeze water filter in front of an alpine lake

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 Backpacking Stoves of 2026
The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe backpacking stove in front of a jagged mountain with red bands

Best Backpacking Stoves of 2026

Last Updated: May 29, 2026
We’ve spent years cooking up this list of the best backpacking stoves around so backcountry chefs and Cup Noodle connoisseurs can find their perfect match.
Jetboil Stash Cooking System Review
Close-up image of a hiker cooking with a pot and backpacking stove.

Jetboil Stash Cooking System Review

Published: May 29, 2026
This premium ultralight cook system is powerful, efficient, and ready to go right out of the box – perfect for quick boils and simple backcountry meals.
MSR Switch Backpacking Stove Review
Close-up image of an MSR stove on top of a fuel canister with a view of trees and the sky above.

MSR Switch Backpacking Stove Review

Published: May 29, 2026
Fast boiling, efficient fuel use, and versatile cooking modes make this backpacking stove a strong choice for hikers who want more than just basic water boiling in the backcountry.
TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Stove Review
Close-up image of a hand turning the fuel control on a backpacking stove.

TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Stove Review

Published: May 29, 2026
If you’re an ultralighter, this minimalist backpacking stove might just be your new go-to. It’s light, affordable, durable, and gets the job done without any fuss.
Best Multitools of 2026
Top-down view of a variety of colorful multitools on a black background

Best Multitools of 2026

Last Updated: May 28, 2026
Equip yourself like a pro and elevate your everyday carry with our definitive guide to the best multitools of the year based on price, number of functions, and durability.
Roxon Flex Multitool Review
A hand holds a multi tool with all of its implements spread

Roxon Flex Multitool Review

Published: May 28, 2026
With an innovative modular system and excellent ease of use, this multitool made us rethink what we want from our multitools.
Rocktol Gen R Multitool Review
A multi tool with its implements spread wide sits on a desk surrounded by plants

Rocktol Gen R Multitool Review

Published: May 28, 2026
We thought highly of this feature-packed tool, loving its combination of quality, price, and performance. It’s our go-to recommendation for a general-purpose multitool that anyone can be happy with.
Nextool F12 Multitool Review
A multi tool on a desk with the knife extended

Nextool F12 Multitool Review

Published: May 28, 2026
With big pliers and big scissors packed into a seriously compact frame, we were delighted by this little multitool, and would easily reach for it to adorn our pockets any day of the week.
Best Running Hydration Vests & Packs of 2026
Runner wearing a Black Diamond Women's Distance 4 Hydration Vest

Best Running Hydration Vests & Packs of 2026

Last Updated: May 26, 2026
Whether you’re looking for a hydration companion for race day or a workhorse storage solution to keep you powering along in the mountains, we’ve got the running vest for you.
Best Hiking Sandals for Women of 2026
Our tester wearing the Earth Runner Alpha sandals on a hike.

Best Hiking Sandals for Women of 2026

Last Updated: May 25, 2026
Whether you’re heading out for a paddle or setting off on a grand hiking adventure, your perfect pair of sandals is on our list.
Women’s Xero Shoes H-Trail Hiking Sandal Review
A close up of a person's feet wearing sandals standing on a rock.

Women’s Xero Shoes H-Trail Hiking Sandal Review

Published: May 25, 2026
The closest you can get to being barefoot, these ultralight sandals provide featherlight connection to the earth, with foot freedom that promotes natural movement and ground feel.
Women’s Danner Wallowa Hiking Sandal Review
A close up of a person's feet wearing sandals standing on a rock amidst grass.

Women’s Danner Wallowa Hiking Sandal Review

Published: May 25, 2026
Sturdy and solid, these burly sandals borrow design elements from hiking boots, enabling them to withstand the roughest trail conditions while keeping your foot supported and secure.
Women’s KEEN Whisper Hiking Sandal Review
A close up of a pair of sandals resting on top of one another with hills in the background.

Women’s KEEN Whisper Hiking Sandal Review

Published: May 25, 2026
A nice combination of hiking boot and water shoe, this sandal offers reliable traction on slippery surfaces and comprehensive, closed-toe protection for rugged adventures.
Women’s Tread Labs Salinas Hiking Sandal Review
A pair of sandals rest on a rock with sagebrush in the background. One sandal is flipped over to show its bottom sole.

Women’s Tread Labs Salinas Hiking Sandal Review

Published: May 25, 2026
With its contoured, insole-like footbed that cushions that foot, this sandal makes arch support its number-one priority and provides comfortable structure for all-day wear.
Women’s Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D PRO Hiking Sandal Review
A close up of a single sandal sitting on a rock with mountains in the background.

Women’s Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D PRO Hiking Sandal Review

Published: May 25, 2026
Offering top-notch traction on all terrain, these sandals are our go-to for comfort and stability on everything from rocky scrambles to steep hikes.
Best Ultralight Tents of 2026
The Zpacks Duplex and Tarptent Motrail ultralight backpacking tents in front of a jagged mountain peak at sunset

Best Ultralight Tents of 2026

Last Updated: May 21, 2026
Whether you’re just curious about how lightweight a tent can get, or are a seasoned thru-hiker looking for your next trail home, we’ve got options for every trail and every style.
1 2 3 … 54