Top 10 Gear Picks

What are the best multi-day backpacking packs for thru-hikers, weekend backpackers, and wilderness explorers? While individual tastes and needs vary, here are the 10 backpacking packs available that we feel strike the best balance between form, fit, function, and price. There’s no such thing as a “best” backpack, but these …

Here are the results of the 2019 annual SectionHiker backpacking tent survey with over 3300 participants. These are all great tents with plenty of variety. features, and a wide range of prices to suit different preferences, budgets, and needs. We found that the majority of backpackers purchase two person tents so …

The best ultralight backpacks range from about 40 liters up to 60 liters in volume and weigh 1-3 pounds. They’re intended for carrying loads between 15 and 35 pounds. What makes an ultralight backpack great? It fits you, has easy to use external pockets, and works well with your backpacking gear …

What are the best water filter and purification treatment systems used by backpackers? We asked backpackers whether they preferred squeeze-style water filters, pump water filters, gravity filter systems, chemical purification or purification using an ultraviolet light. We surveyed 1275 hikers in 2019 to ask them what water filters and treat methods …

While there are hundreds of hiking boots, trail shoes, and trail runners available, most hikers and backpackers choose from a small set of common makes and models. We surveyed 2,700 hikers in 2019 to ask them what hiking boots, mids, and trail shoes they use. We found that 42% of …

You don’t need to buy an expensive rain jacket for hiking and backpacking because an inexpensive one will work just as well as one costing an arm and a leg. In fact, most backpackers use rain jackets that cost $100 or less for just this reason. While outdoor clothing manufacturers …

Winter backpacking tents need to be a good deal stronger than regular three season tents if you are camping in exposed windy terrain that is subject to heavy snow loads. The strongest and most wind resistant tents are wedge or dome-shaped and freestanding, so they are completely sell supporting. You still …

A headlamp is one of the most important 10 essentials for backpacking, hiking, and any kind of outdoor adventure sport. But traditional battery-powered headlamps are rapidly being replaced by rechargeable headlamps which are more convenient and less wasteful to use because you don’t need to throw out dead batteries. While you should …

The most important attributes of a winter sleeping bag for backpacking and thru-hiking are: high value insulation, low weight, compressibility, and interior space, so you can be comfortable and store gear, like damp boots and water bottles, in your sleeping bag so they don’t freeze overnight. Cost is also a …

For serious winter snowshoeing over hiking trails and in the backcountry, you’ll want a winter hiking snowshoe that is durable, with aggressive crampons for traction, and a secure binding system that locks your boots to the snowshoes. If you’re interested in getting off the grid and snowshoeing through steep terrain …

Winter hiking boots have evolved tremendously over the past 10 years and are now lighter weight and more comfortable than ever before. Gone are the days when you needed to choose between military surplus boots, plastic mountaineering boots, or heavy pac boots to keep your feet warm. Today’s winter boots …

Winter backpacking backpacks are more specialized than regular three season backpacks, with a stronger emphasis on heavier weight loads, external attachment points, and durability for carrying bulky gear with sharp points like snowshoes, skis, ice axes, and crampons. They also favor more pockets and the ability to access and put …

Sporks are one of the backpacking industry’s greatest inventions. It’s a wonder that they’re not more widely used since having multifunction utensils would be such a great way to cut down on the plastic utensils polluting our oceans and urban landscape. Perhaps more amazing, is the amount of creativity and design …

Freestanding tents are the holy grail of backpacking and mountaineering tents because they can be set up quickly just about anywhere, on wooden tent platforms, rock, sand, snow, and even climber’s portaledges, without having to be staked to the ground first. Because they’re so desirable, many tent manufacturers claim that their …