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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
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 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.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026
a hiker blowing air into a sleeping pad pump sack

Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026

Last Updated: May 21, 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…
Zpacks Pivot Duo Tent Review
a man in blue sits in a tent in the forest

Zpacks Pivot Duo Tent Review

Published: May 21, 2026
An ultra-lightweight tent with good floor space that’s excellent for long backcountry treks.
Tarptent Mesospire 2 Tent Review
A man sits in a tent and adjusts the doors

Tarptent Mesospire 2 Tent Review

Published: May 21, 2026
This is our favorite tent for two people, balancing many features well while also being easy to use, and not unreasonably priced.
River Country Trekker Tent 2V Review
The Trekker tent is set up at the bottom of a canyon with high, red cliff walls surrounding it. The view is showing the back of the tent with a trekking pole easily visible holding it up.

River Country Trekker Tent 2V Review

Published: May 20, 2026
A budget-friendly tent with impressive space, durable materials, and an easy setup, making it a great choice for beginner backpackers and value-focused hikers.
Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid XL Review
The MLD tent is setup on open ground with badland formations in the background. The sky is clear and there is a reddish hue to the formations.

Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid XL Review

Published: May 20, 2026
A budget-friendly tent with impressive space, durable materials, and an easy setup, making it a great choice for beginner backpackers and value-focused hikers.
Best Budget Tents of 2026
The MLD tent is setup on open ground with badland formations in the background. The sky is clear and there is a reddish hue to the formations.

Best Budget Tents of 2026

Last Updated: May 19, 2026
We trail-tested and thoroughly assessed the best-priced tents on the market that are high quality, comfortable, and affordable.
Coros Apex 4 GPS Watch Review
A black GPS watch with a fabric band rests on a moss-covered rock.

Coros Apex 4 GPS Watch Review

Last Updated: May 18, 2026
Impressive battery life meets excellent design to bring one of the top-performing GPS watches for backcountry enthusiasts.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar GPS Watch Review
A black Garmin solar-powered smartwatch displays a navigation screen showing 0.52 miles walked.

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar GPS Watch Review

Last Updated: May 18, 2026
Waterproof, shock-resistant, and solar-powered, this rugged GPS watch is built for backcountry adventures, offering long battery life, durability, and reliable performance in any conditions.
Garmin Vivoactive 6 GPS Watch Review
Close-up of a person wearing a smartwatch displaying fitness stats.

Garmin Vivoactive 6 GPS Watch Review

Last Updated: May 18, 2026
This slim, lightweight fitness tracker is great for recording your daily stats and has a vibrant display for analyzing all your health metrics.
Kelty Asher 55 Backpack Review
A green backpack sits on a picnic table in a State Park

Kelty Asher 55 Backpack Review

Published: May 18, 2026
If you’re not swimming in cash, that doesn’t mean you can’t score a durable backpack that will do the job
Exped Lightning 50 Backpack Review
A man wearing a blue backpack stands in front of a river gorge

Exped Lightning 50 Backpack Review

Published: May 18, 2026
This is a good backpacking backpack with a great look, but our gear analyst wasn’t sold on all of its design features
Coros Nomad GPS Watch Review
A close-up of a menu on a GPS watch worn on a wrist.

Coros Nomad GPS Watch Review

Last Updated: May 18, 2026
Friendlier price point and excellent features make this a great choice for anyone wanting excellent features without breaking the bank.
Suunto Run GPS Watch Review
A yellow watch rests on a mossy rock, showing running stats.

Suunto Run GPS Watch Review

Last Updated: May 18, 2026
Affordable and purpose-built for runners, this watch offers focused training features, accurate tracking, and a lightweight, comfortable design that delivers strong performance without stretching your budget.
Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026

Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026

Last Updated: May 16, 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.
Gregory Baltoro 75 Backpack Review
a man wears a red backpack

Gregory Baltoro 75 Backpack Review

Last Updated: May 16, 2026
This is our favorite backpack for hauling heavy loads, providing good comfort even with 60 pounds of gear.
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