Backpacking Reviews
We put the top brands to the test: Salomon, Garmin, Scarpa, Merrell, Keen, The North Face and Patagonia.
Backpacking in your future? Our team of backcountry experts has been taking notes on the best backpacking gear for over 14 years. Our process: we purchase the top 10-20 products in each category (like our top backpacking tents and best sleeping pad reviews) and then we send them into the field. After months of use and abuse, in a wide range of conditions, we rate and score how each product performed. Next, we make recommendations and give awards. If you are looking for the lightest load possible, check our our ultralight backpacking section. Whether you dream of hitting the trail with one of our favorite backpacking packs, a pair of the best hiking boots, or anything in between, let us help.
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Best Picks in Backpacking Reviews
Best Backpacking Gear of 2024
If you are gearing up for Backpacking, we've got you covered with our comprehensive list of the best gear of the year.Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2024
What's the best backpacking water filter? For over a decade, we have tested 45 unique models to find out. Our team of...Best Hiking Boots for Men of 2024
We've done the homework for you on men's hiking boots, buying the most popular models, hiking many miles on varied...Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2024
Over the past decade, we've spent hundreds of days testing 15 of the best backpacking packs to give you the needed...10 Best Hiking Boots of 2024
If you've been itching to hit the trails, get your paws on one of the top-rated hiking boots from our selection of the...Best Trekking Poles of 2024
Looking for the best trekking poles for your next hike or backpacking trip? Whether you're concerned with comfort...Best Down Jacket for Women of 2024
As you venture into the mountains or around town, a good down jacket can do wonders to make your adventures more...Best Base Layer for Women of 2024
Searching for a new base layer top? Our latest review of women's base layers features 17 of the best models available...Best Satellite Messengers of 2024
We are wilderness professionals and recreationists who understand technology. We look at satellite messaging...Best First Aid Kits of 2024
Nobody wants to need a first aid kit, but if you do, you will be very glad to have the right one. We thoroughly tested...10 Best Rain Jackets of 2024
If wet weather is keeping you cooped up inside, get your hands on a top-ranked wet weather winner from our lineup of...10 Best Hiking Shoes of 2024
We've got you if you're hunting for the best hiking shoe. The 10 best models have been rounded up after testing over...Best Base Layer of 2024
A solid base layer is at the core of keeping you warm, dry, and comfortable as you set out on your next great...Best Backpacking Tents of 2024
We analyzed hundreds of models before deciding on the top contenders to purchase for testing. We'll help you find the...Best Sleeping Bags for Women of 2024
With so many great products to choose from it's hard to decide what to buy. We help you choose by testing and...Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag of 2024
A sleeping bag is a cornerstone of your overnight kit. Picking the best one isn't easy. To ease the confusion we...Best Pocket Knife of 2024
We are pocket knife experts who understand that you don't need to be a knife expert; you just want a tool to get...Best Backpacking Stoves
We've been testing the best backpacking stoves for over a decade, and this current review has our 20 favorites. We...Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2024
We're here to help you sort through the options for the best women's hiking shoes. We tested the market's leading...Best Hiking Shoes for Men of 2024
We selected the top hiking shoes and put them to the test. After months of hiking on all types of trails, we wrote the...Best Multi-Tools
We directly compare 16 different models and draw on decades of experience with many more. Our findings are...Best Backpacking Chair
Have you been stumped by the quest for a comfortable backcountry seat for your rump? We gathered data on over fifty of...Best Hiking Boots for Women
Now is the time to invest in your next pair of hiking boots. But where to begin? We have narrowed down the options to...Best Backpacking Backpacks for Women
Ready to go backpacking? We tested the top women's specific backpacks on the market to determine which one is best...Best Portable Solar Charger
Are you in the market for a new solar setup? We've tested over 110 different solar chargers and panels before...Best Spork
Sporks are the perfect utilitarian utensils for eating away from the comfort of home. From workday lunch breaks to...Best Budget Backpacking Pack
We know not everyone wants to pay for a top-tier backpack, so we've ranked some of the best budget backpacks on the...Best Handheld GPS
Looking to improve your backcountry navigation? We bought and tested 7 of the best GPS units on the market to help you...Backpacking Reviews Learning Center
How to Choose the Right Trekking Poles
Ten years ago hardly anyone used trekking poles. Now it's rare to see someone on an overnight adventure without them...How to Choose a Personal Locator Beacon
What device should you buy and for what application? Below we break it down. Once finished, however, do read our...How to Choose Hiking Boots
Why buy a pair of hiking boots when the salesperson at the local gear shop told you that all hikers are wearing trail...How to Choose Hiking Shoes
Want some help finding the right shoe for your feet and trail objectives? This article dissects the key considerations...How to Choose the Right Backpacking Backpack
We want to make it easy for you to find the right pack for your next adventure. If you need help sorting through your...How to Select a Backpacking Water Filter and Treatment System
Selecting a water treatment system is even more overwhelming than selecting proper footwear to hike in, which is a...Recent Gear Reviews in Backpacking Reviews
Top Pick
LifeStraw Peak Squeeze Review
If you want a durable and versatile lightweight water filtration system, look no further than the LifeStraw Peak...Best Buy
Aquamira Water Treatment Drops Review
If you're seeking a bare-bones water treatment approach, the Aquamira Water Treatment Drops is the best out there...Top Pick
Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody - Women's Review
This latest version of the Arc'teryx Cerium brings a suite of adaptable traits we love for many reasons, winning it...Best Buy
Wantdo Packable Down Hoody - Women's Review
Looking for packable warmth on a tight budget that performs acceptably well? The Wantdo Packable Down Hoody might be...Top Pick
Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Zip-Neck - Women's Review
The Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Zip-Neck is an excellent layer for maintaining warmth when temperatures drop...Best Buy
REI Co-op Midweight Base Layer Crew - Women's Review
If you're looking for a versatile synthetic base layer available for a price that doesn't break the bank, the REI...Best Buy
NEMO Aurora 2 Review
With one of the tallest ceilings in the test and more headroom than most backpacking tents, the Nemo Aurora 2 feels...Best Buy
REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Review
A simple setup, a very reasonable price tag, and a fairly generous floor area make the REI Co-op Trailmade 2 a good...Editors' Choice
Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 - Women's Review
The highest quality bag in this review, the Feathered Friends Egret UL 20, knocks its competitors off their pedestals...Best Buy
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 Review
The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 is our favorite down sleeping bag for those on a budget. While the down...Best Buy
REI Co-op Trailmade 20 Review
The REI Co-op Trailmade 20 is a high-value choice and one of our top-performing synthetic models. While we tested...Best Buy
The North Face Cat's Meow - Short Review
The North Face Cat's Meow has been around for years, receiving new iterations periodically. Recently, we decided to...Editors' Choice
Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 Review
Our testing team loves almost everything about the Benchmade Mini Barrage 585. A standout among the other high-quality...Top Pick
Benchmade 535 Bugout Review
Benchmade brands the Bugout as "[...] designed for the modern outdoor adventurer." We don't normally cite catalog...Top Pick
La Sportiva Spire GTX Review
The La Sportiva Spire GTX quickly became one of our lead tester's favorite hiking shoes due to its incredible...Top Pick
Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex Review
The Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex comes from a long line of X Ultra models with a devoted following. We had high...Top Pick
Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX - Women's Review
The Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX is a uniquely designed hiking shoe that prioritizes maximum comfort for extended summer...Best Buy
Salomon OUTpulse Gore-Tex Low - Women's Review
The Salomon OUTpulse Gore-Tex Low offers the lightweight design of a trail running shoe combined with the exceptional...Top Pick
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex - Women's Review
Much like the versions that came before it, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex is a high-performing boot that scored...Top Pick
Hoka Kaha 2 GTX - Women's Review
The Hoka Kaha 2 GTX is one of the most comfortable and supportive hiking boots we've ever tested. The stable...Top Pick
Salomon X Ultra Mid 4 Gore-Tex Review
The Salomon X Ultra Mid 4 GTX is the latest edition of a long line of great boots, and we did not think there was much...Top Pick
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Review
If technical trails, rocky summits, and extended periods of off-trail travel are your scene, then take a hard look at...Top Pick
Goal Zero Nomad 5 Review
If you're prioritizing portability over all else in a portable solar charger, the Goal Zero Nomad 5 is for you. This...Top Pick
FlexSolar 40W Review
The FlexSolar 40W is one of the highest-watt panels we tested that you can still reasonably carry in a backpack. This...Editors' Choice
Leki Cressida FX Carbon Review
The Leki Cressida FX Carbon are brilliantly designed trekking poles that are versatile, comfortable, and compact...Top Pick
REI Co-op Trailmade 60 Review
The REI Co-op Trailmade 60 is a great budget backpack for everyone from beginner backpackers to well-season hikers...Editors' Choice
The North Face Terra 55 - Women's Review
The North Face Terra 55 is a great all-around women's backpacking pack and impressed us in every way. It has...Editors' Choice
Leatherman Charge+ TTi Review
Leatherman has been designing and building multi-tools for more than 30 years, and the Leatherman Charge+ TTi is the...Editors' Choice
Leatherman Skeletool CX Review
The Leatherman Skeletool CX is surprisingly effective. Admittedly, at first glance and "on paper," it underwhelms. It...Top Pick
Osprey Aura AG 65 Review
The comfortable Osprey Aura AG is a long-time crowd pleaser for women's-specific backpacking packs. It offers...Editors' Choice
Osprey Renn 65 Review
The Osprey Renn 65 features a trampoline back panel that is likely more universally comfortable than many backpacks...Best Buy
REI Co-op Flash 55 Review
The REI Flash 55 is an all-around great value backpacking pack among an impressive backpack lineup. It carries a...Top Pick
Osprey Aether 65 Review
Osprey's new Aether 65L builds on the company's well-known pack adjustability systems by adding the ability to extend...Top Pick
Homestock+ Professional Review
The Homestock+ Professional is our choice for a front-country first aid kit to keep in the car, thanks to its solid...Editors' Choice
Surviveware Small Review
The Surviveware Small earns our Editors' Choice award and recognition as best first aid kit in our test, thanks to its...Best Buy
ACR Bivy Stick Review
The ACR Bivy Stick is small but with high performance. It isn't perfect, but no currently available device is. We...Best Buy
Somewear Global Hotspot Review
The Somewear Global Hotspot is a small and affordable two-way satellite communication device. It requires your...Editors' Choice
Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino 1/4 Zip Review
The ultra cozy, super soft, and toasty warm 250 g/m² 100% Merino wool is what makes the Smartwool Classic Thermal...Top Pick
Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Review
The Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino excels at keeping you warm while also being super breathable: not an easy trick...Top Pick
MSR Whisperlite Universal Review
The MSR Whisperlite Universal is our top choice for a liquid fuel stove. When you want all the features that you love...Top Pick
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Review
Who says you can only eat freeze-dried food on fast and light missions in the backcountry?! With the lightweight...Best Buy