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Hiking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

Men’s Norrona Femund Flex1 Lightweight Pants Review
A closeup of he front of green hiking pants in front of a rocky canyon.

Men’s Norrona Femund Flex1 Lightweight Pants Review

A premium technical hiking pant with excellent stretch, zippered leg vents, and strong durability, best for demanding mountain use rather than budget-focused buyers.
Men’s Fjallraven Keb Agile Pants Review
A person in an olive jacket and gray pants sits on a mossy rock, overlooking the ocean with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Men’s Fjallraven Keb Agile Pants Review

A burly, highly durable hiking pant with reinforced construction and useful vents, built for rough terrain and cooler weather rather than hot summer miles.
Men’s Patagonia Terravia Trail Pants Review
A person wearing a gray shirt, brown pants, and hiking shoes sits on a mossy, grassy hill in a forest.

Men’s Patagonia Terravia Trail Pants Review

A light, comfortable, quick-drying trail pant with an excellent waistband and strong mobility, best for hikers who value all-day comfort over heavy-duty protection.
Best Hiking Pants for Men of 2026
A backpacker standing in front of a lake in the men's Kuhl Deceptr hiking pants

Best Hiking Pants for Men of 2026

From airy warm-weather trail pants to durable softshells and practical convertibles, these are our favorite men’s hiking pants after side-by-side testing.
Women’s KUHL Freeflex Roll-Up Pants Review
a backpacker on a ledge looking into a forested meadow in the mountains

Women’s KUHL Freeflex Roll-Up Pants Review

No trail, no problem: check out our most durable and favorite all around pair of women’s hiking pants.
ULA Equipment Circuit Review
The ULA Circuit backpack with Three Fingered Jack in the background

ULA Equipment Circuit Review

Thru-hikers carrying lightweight to moderate loads get a durable, simple pack with unusually good load transfer for its weight, but its 68-liter capacity can be more volume than a dialed-in kit needs.
Does Bear Spray Really Work?

Does Bear Spray Really Work?

Bear spray is a must-have in many wilderness areas, but it’s only effective if you know how to use it. Read on for helpful deployment tips, buying considerations, and more.
How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide
the tools for pooping in the woods (trowel, hand sanitizer and a baggie of toilet paper

How to Poop in the Woods: A Backpacker’s Guide

When nature calls, we’ve got steps to turn a backcountry bathroom break into a five-star experience. Plus, properly disposing of your #2 keeps our wild places and waterways clean and pristine.”
A Guide to Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia

A Guide to Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia

We’ve been fortunate enough to hike and backpack extensively in Patagonia. Here’s what we’ve learned about this magical region after many years of travels to South America.
Best Hiking Daypacks of 2026
A person with a black dog looks out over a rocky landscape filled with pines. An EXPED brand pack is on their bag and a fly fishing rod is strapped to the side.

Best Hiking Daypacks of 2026

From fast summit missions to gear-heavy winter hikes, these are the daypacks that stood out after extensive side-by-side trail testing.
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

Stretching across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, this thru-hike offers an extended hiking season, unique trail towns, and relatively gentle terrain.
REI Flash 22 Review

REI Flash 22 Review

A remarkably light, inexpensive daypack for minimalist hikers and travel, with simple storage and a removable sit pad but limited load support.
Osprey Daylite Plus Review
Close up of a backpack on a person's back in the desert.

Osprey Daylite Plus Review

A light, compressible commuter and travel pack that handles casual hikes well but gives up the support and ventilation of dedicated hiking daypacks.
REI Trail 25 Review
Closeup image of a man wearing a backpack with a foam sleeping pad on the bottom and two hiking poles attached.

REI Trail 25 Review

A cushioned, durable budget daypack with a useful rain cover and lots of lash points, but limited ventilation, support, and on-the-go access.
Exped Skyline 20 Review
A person packs items into a green EXPED Skyline 20L Daypack. A black lab watches from the background.

Exped Skyline 20 Review

A durable, versatile 20-liter daypack with strong materials, useful ventilation, and an included rain cover, though comfort varies by body shape.
Cotopaxi Batac 16L Review
Person wearing a colorful Cotopaxi daypack squats by a riverside to watch the rapids.

Cotopaxi Batac 16L Review

A colorful, highly packable 16-liter bag for travel and casual outdoor use, best for light loads rather than serious day hiking.
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