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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

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

Our favorite backpacking water filters and purifiers, chosen for real-world usability, source conditions, long-term performance, and weight.

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

Mount Adams Backpacking Guide

Mount Adams Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: October 22, 2026
The Mount Adams Wilderness should definitely be on your radar if you’re looking for the rare backpacking adventure in the Pacific Northwest that’s not overcrowded.
Coyote Gulch Ultimate Backpacking Guide
a look through a large sandstone arch to the blue ski with clouds

Coyote Gulch Ultimate Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: October 22, 2026
For hikers looking for an adventure in the remote red rock beauty of Utah, Coyote Gulch is a hard-won, bucket-list destination.
REI Gift Guide 2026: Best Gifts for Hikers & Backpackers
A man stands facing the camera wearing a blue REI 650 Down Jacket, zipped up with a hood underneath a cap, set against a snowy winter forest at sunset.

REI Gift Guide 2026: Best Gifts for Hikers & Backpackers

Published: October 22, 2026
Outdoor gifts handpicked by our team, including gear we’ve tested and additional finds for hikers, campers, and backpackers.
10 Tips for Capturing Great Adventure Photos

10 Tips for Capturing Great Adventure Photos

Last Updated: October 21, 2026
Taking professional-looking photos takes time, but it’s a skill worth growing if you want to better share your experiences, inspire others, and record your memories.
Bryce Canyon Backpacking Guide – Under-the-Rim Trail & Riggs Spring Loop

Bryce Canyon Backpacking Guide – Under-the-Rim Trail & Riggs Spring Loop

Last Updated: October 21, 2026
If you want to enjoy backcountry portions of Bryce Canyon National Park, we recommend the Under the Rim Trail and Riggs Spring Loop. Here’s how to backpack this scenic loop.
Best Rain Pants of 2026
A hiker sitting on a mossy old growth log in the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants

Best Rain Pants of 2026

Last Updated: October 21, 2026
Find the right rain pants for your next hike, from rugged three-layer shells to soft, breathable designs and ultralight backup layers.
Best Backpacking Quilts of 2026
A backpacker wrapped up in the Enlightened Equipment Revelation sleeping quilt while sitting on a rocky slab overlooking bare granite mountains across the valley

Best Backpacking Quilts of 2026

Last Updated: October 21, 2026
Find the right backpacking quilt for cold nights, ultralight miles, warm-weather trips, or shared sleep systems using our tested rankings.
Zpacks Classic 20 Review
A man shakes out a sleeping bag in a grassy field on a hot summer day.

Zpacks Classic 20 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Our long-distance testing highlights compact packing and secure foot coverage, but also the ventilation limits of its hoodless, bag-like construction.
REI Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt Review
A man sits with a sleeping quilt wrapped around his back looking over an alpine lake with mountains behind it.

REI Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Room for restless sleepers, a ventable footbox, and low carried weight make this a strong option for mild summer trips..
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Review
A man stands on the banks of a large alpine lake shaking out a purple quilt.

Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Our years of use across mountain and desert trips highlight the benefits and limitations of an adjustable, blanket-style footbox.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20-Degree Quilt Review
Hiker drinking coffee in the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20 in camp on the Appalachian Trail

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 20-Degree Quilt Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Premium cold-weather warmth at impressively low weight makes this a specialized pick for demanding backpackers.
Zpacks 20F Twin Quilt Review
Hiker in a tent in the ZPacks 20F (-7C) Twin Quilt

Zpacks 20F Twin Quilt Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Two hikers can share one exceptionally light quilt while spending less than they would on two premium solo models.
Loco Libre Operator Series Ghost Pepper 20 Review
The Loco Libre Operator Series Ghost Pepper 20 Quilt in camp in the Badlands of South Dakota

Loco Libre Operator Series Ghost Pepper 20 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
The Ghost Pepper is an appealing choice for cold sleepers who want substantial loft and custom-order flexibility.
UGQ Bandit 20 Review

UGQ Bandit 20 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
A plush, highly customizable quilt for hikers who mostly camp in mild weather and want choices in fabrics, dimensions, and features..
Hammock Gear Burrow 20 Review
Hammock Gear Burrow 20 Quilt wrapped around someone drinking coffee in camp

Hammock Gear Burrow 20 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Our Arizona Trail experience shows why durable fabric and accessible pricing make this a strong practical choice despite its added bulk.
Katabatic Flex 22 Review
Hiker drinking coffee while in the Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt

Katabatic Flex 22 Review

Last Updated: October 20, 2026
A blanket-style opening, moisture-conscious down treatment, and included attachment hardware make this a feature-rich quilt with real trade-offs in weight and fill control.
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