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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

Hiking Boots vs. Hiking Shoes vs. Trail Running Shoes

Hiking Boots vs. Hiking Shoes vs. Trail Running Shoes

Last Updated: September 18, 2026
Hiking footwear is a really personal choice, and people often have differing opinions on what type of shoe works best for hiking.
Loowit Trail Backpacking Guide – Mount St. Helens

Loowit Trail Backpacking Guide – Mount St. Helens

Last Updated: September 18, 2026
The Loowit Trail around Mount St. Helens is nothing short of spectacular, with eye-popping vistas, interesting geology, and ultimate solitude for experienced backpackers.
Hiking Boot & Shoe Soles for Grip, Traction & Different Terrains

Hiking Boot & Shoe Soles for Grip, Traction & Different Terrains

Last Updated: September 18, 2026
The soles of your shoes are literally where the rubber meets the trail. Learn more about what to look for in the bottoms of your hiking footwear in this in-depth article on grip, traction, and terrain.
Glacier National Park Backpacking Guide

Glacier National Park Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 17, 2026
With more than 700 miles of backcountry trails traversing lush alpine meadows, glacier-carved peaks, deep valleys, and moss-fringed cirques cradling stunning azure lakes, Glacier National Park is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is physically and mentally demanding.
Mount Margaret Backpacking Guide, Mount St. Helens

Mount Margaret Backpacking Guide, Mount St. Helens

Last Updated: September 17, 2026
The Mount Margaret Backcountry, just north of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, offers an unmatched combination of convenience, epic scenery, and interesting geology.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026
a hiker blowing air into a sleeping pad pump sack

Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026

Last Updated: September 17, 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…
Goat Rocks Wilderness Backpacking Guide

Goat Rocks Wilderness Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 16, 2026
Our guide to Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness covers everything you need to explore the area by foot, from permit requirements to recommended day hikes and overnights.
Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide

Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide

Last Updated: September 16, 2026
The Wonderland Trail is a true gem of the Pacific Northwest. It’s one of the most iconic trails in the region with breathtaking views, pristine alpine lakes, and miles of lush rainforest.
NEMO Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad Review
the nemo tensor all-season sleeping pad inflated for display on an alpine meadow with a rocky mountain backdrop on a sunny day

NEMO Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad Review

Last Updated: September 16, 2026
An ultralight, technical pad for all 4-seasons. It delivers a low decibel, comfortable, warm sleep, with a premium feeling top fabric and a protective bottom material.
Best Camping Lanterns of 2026
Nine lanterns- the LE 1000LM LED lantern, Black Diamond Moji, GoalZero Lighthouse 600, GoalZero Lighthouse Micro Flash, LuminAid String Light, Coleman Rugged Rechargeable, BioLite AlpenGlow 500, LuminAid Packlite Max 2-in-1, and LightUpCamp LED Solar Powered Foldable Camping Light- sit beside each other on a rock. The last remaining daylight illuminates the peaks of mountains in the background.

Best Camping Lanterns of 2026

Last Updated: September 8, 2026
When daylight fades, don’t fumble in the dark. Whether you need a lantern that’s bright, tough, or tricked out, these are the best of the best to keep the good times glowing after dark.
Best Hiking Gaiters of 2026
A closeup of hikng giaters with a mountainous background.

Best Hiking Gaiters of 2026

Last Updated: September 4, 2026
Tired of rocks in your shoes? We put the best gaiters on the market toe-to-toe with gravel, mud, and rain. Find out which models keep your feet protected, dry, and happy.
Best Hiking Underwear For Men of 2026
A guy wearing many pairs of underwear

Best Hiking Underwear For Men of 2026

Last Updated: September 1, 2026
Whether it’s superior odor resistance, ultra breathability, or cozy comfort, a good pair of underwear goes a long way towards increasing your comfort on trail.
Best Utensils for Backpacking & Camping of 2026
the fork end of a plastic spork sticks out of the top of a backpacking meal with a mountain in the background.

Best Utensils for Backpacking & Camping of 2026

Last Updated: August 31, 2026
Stir things up with our brand new guide to the best camping utensils. From plant-based plastic to finely crafted titanium, we dig into which sporks, spoons and sets have us coming back for seconds.
Best Instant Coffee for Backpacking of 2026
An image of 12 different instant coffee brands staged on a rock

Best Instant Coffee for Backpacking of 2026

Last Updated: August 31, 2026
Skip the sludge with our freshly-brewed guide to the best instant coffees. These are our top picks for frosty mornings and early summit attempts.
35 Great Deals at REI’s Labor Day Sale 2026
A person places a can inside a soft-sided cooler. There are mountains and a lake in the background.

35 Great Deals at REI’s Labor Day Sale 2026

Published: August 28, 2026
REI’s Labor Day Sale is here! Dig into the deals with our guide to the best camping, backpacking, and hiking gear to fuel your fall adventures.
Best Baby Backpack Carriers for Hiking of 2026
10 baby backpack carriers lineup up in front of a wood pile with pine trees in the background.

Best Baby Backpack Carriers for Hiking of 2026

Last Updated: August 27, 2026
Explore the top baby backpack carriers ideal for hiking and outdoor adventures. We have evaluated the leading models based on comfort, durability, features, and value to identify the best options tailored to each unique requirement.
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