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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

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, 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

Santa Cruz Trek, Peru – A Guide to Hiking the Cordillera Blanca

Santa Cruz Trek, Peru – A Guide to Hiking the Cordillera Blanca

Last Updated: October 5, 2026
Nestled in the white-peaked Cordillera Blanca range in the Andes, the classic 4-day Santa Cruz backpacking trip may be one of the most beautiful treks in the world. Here’s how to hike this overlooked hiking mecca north of Lima, Peru.
Pinhoti Trail Guide
A person wearing a rain jacket is sitting on a rock on the edge of a ridge looking out at the ridge on the other side of the valley. There is a small terrier standing next to them and the day is overcast.

Pinhoti Trail Guide

Last Updated: October 5, 2026
Stretching across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, this thru-hike offers an extended hiking season, unique trail towns, and relatively gentle terrain.
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

Last Updated: October 2, 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 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

Last Updated: October 1, 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.
REI Trailmade 2 Review
a tent is setup with no fly, doors open, and a mountain view

REI Trailmade 2 Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A beginner-friendly budget tent with excellent durability and easy setup, best for short backpacking trips and crossover car camping.
REI Half Dome 2 Plus Review
a hiker sits in a tent without its rain fly, doors open, with a mountain view

REI Half Dome 2 Plus Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A roomy, durable budget tent that is excellent for two people and crossover camping, with weight as the main compromise.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2 Review

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2 Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A premium ultralight DCF shelter with excellent space-to-weight and durability, offset by high cost, condensation, and a trekking-pole pitch.
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 Review
An MSR tent is pitched on dirt with pine trees in the background.

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A sturdy, easy-to-pitch freestanding tent for backpackers who prioritize weather protection and durability over minimum weight.
Zpacks Duplex Classic Review
The Zpacks Duplex pitched near a red rock arch in Coyote Gulch.

Zpacks Duplex Classic Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A legendary two-person DCF trekking-pole tent that is exceptionally light and spacious, with price, condensation, and pitch dependence as the main tradeoffs.
MSR FreeLite 2 Review

MSR FreeLite 2 Review

Last Updated: September 30, 2026
A light, simple double-wall tent that gives solo hikers excellent space and two-person utility without trekking-pole complexity.
NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 Review
a backpacking tent pitched with a mountain background. a hiker sits inside.

NEMO Hornet OSMO 2 Review

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
A compact, thoughtfully designed ultralight tent that is especially compelling as a roomy solo shelter.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Review
a hiker leans out of a light grey tent

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Review

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
An ultralight semi-freestanding tent that hits an excellent balance of trail weight, usable space, and everyday convenience.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review
a hiker sits in a tent with the awning deployed during sunset

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
A highly livable freestanding tent that keeps weight low without stripping away the features backpackers use every day.
NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 Review
one hiker lays in a tent while another reaches into an upper pocket above him

NEMO Dagger OSMO 2 Review

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
A spacious, weather-resistant crossover tent for backpackers who value room, easy setup, and comfort more than shaving every ounce.
Three Fingered Jack Loop Backpacking Guide

Three Fingered Jack Loop Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
This roughly 24-mile loop circumnavigates the iconic Three Fingered Jack formation in the heart of Oregon’s iconic Cascade Range.
SlingFin Portal 2 Review

SlingFin Portal 2 Review

Last Updated: September 29, 2026
A weather-ready freestanding tent that combines low weight, strong structure, and excellent livability for exposed or unpredictable trips.
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