Gear Reviews

The Mountainsmith Mountain Shelter LT is a two-person floorless tarp shelter that requires two trekking poles to set up. Weighing 29.5 ounces, it’s not the lightest weight two-person tarp you can get by a long shot, but it is inexpensive, spacious, and …

The Therm-a-Rest Z-lite sleeping pad (long and short) is a top-rated non-inflatable foam sleeping pad you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. With an R-value of 2, it doesn’t absorb rainwater and folds up like an accordion so it can be easily …

The Paria Outdoors Zion 2 is a spacious, freestanding two-person tent with two doors ($155) that can actually fit two people with room to spare. It comes complete with aluminum poles, a footprint, and good quality tent stakes. With a trail weight …

The Granite Gear Dagger 22 is a technical daypack that’s equally at home on the trail, for traveling, or on the campus. It’s organized like Granite Gear’s multi-day backpacks with a long front stretch pocket, side water bottle pockets, and compression straps, …

I’m a big advocate of layering with winter gloves and mittens. My go-to winter combination is a fleece glove for warmth and dexterity combined with a waterproof/breathable mitten for warmth and wind protection. The two insulate well when it’s cold and the …

Don’t let the goofy appearance of the Klymit LiteWater Dinghy (LWD) fool you. This oddly shaped inflatable boat is masterfully designed for flatwater use even though it looks much different from other packrafts. Affordably priced, it provides an enormous amount of value …

The Waymark Gear Lite 50 is a lightweight internal frame backpack suitable for multi-day backpacking and thru-hiking trips. Weighing 34.8 oz, the Lite 50 has a standard UL rolltop design with a sewn-on hip belt, a front mesh pocket, and durable side …

The Tarptent Double Rainbow is a lightweight, two-person backpacking tent that is simple, effective, and budget-friendly. My boyfriend (Mark) and I started using it on our Pacific Crest Trail hike and it certainly did not disappoint. RELATED: 10 Best Two-Person Backpacking Tents …

Backpacking quilts have exploded in popularity in recent years and provide a great alternative to hooded sleeping bags for people, particularly side sleepers, who find them claustrophobic or uncomfortable to sleep in. But purchasing a quilt can be much more difficult than …

The Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp is an ultralight backpacking tarp that can accommodate two people and gear. It covers a generous 47 square feet and is easy to set up with two trekking poles or tied between two trees. The tarp is …

The Esbit Solid Fuel Stove and Cookset is a complete and inexpensive backpacking cooking system including a combination stove, pot stand, and windscreen with an anodized aluminum cook pot that has insulated folding handles and a lid. Weighing 7.7 ounces / 218 …

The Black Diamond Distance 15 Pack is a cross between a low profile running vest and a durable mountaineering backpack. At 15L, the capacity of the main compartment might not seem like a lot, but with the right lightweight gear and good …

The Nunatak Arc UL 20 Quilt is a thoughtfully-designed, lightweight three-season quilt. While fairly expensive at $425, its features and execution make it worth every penny. There are a number of quilts out there that cost a good $150 less than this …

The Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 might just be the most comfortable backpack you’ll ever wear. Featuring the new Anti-Gravity ventilated suspension system, this backpack wraps around your upper torso, positioning itself properly on your hips for maximum load transfer and comfort. …