Gear Guides

The most important attributes of a sleeping bag for winter camping and backpacking are warm insulation, compressibility, low weight, and ample interior space to store gear and water so it doesn’t freeze overnight. Cost is also a factor, although a good winter …

Many ultralight sleeping bags are as lightweight as backpacking quilts, making them a viable component in an ultralight backpacking sleep system. Sleeping bags also have the advantage over quilts in that they are draft free because they can be zippered closed at …

Men’s hiking pants are an important piece of hiking gear but many people take for granted. They have to be highly breathable, durable, quick-drying, and easy to vent when you get too hot, but warm when the temperature drops. Fit, freedom of …

Hiking shoes and trail runners are the most popular footwear used by hikers and backpackers today. The biggest difference between the two is that hiking shoes, which tend to be heavier and more durable, can only be used for walking while trail …

Down insulated sleeping bags are still the most popular nighttime insulation option with backpackers because they’re highly compressible and warmer in cold, damp, or drafty weather particularly in the spring and autumn when temperatures are close to freezing. While mummy bag designs …

There are three different types of ultralight bug shelters suitable for cowboy camping, sleeping in a lean-to, or underneath a flat tarp: bivy sacks, bug bivies, and net tents. They all have their pros and cons, but that’s true of all ultralight …

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 …

A lightweight backpacking chair is a luxury item that can make the camping portion of a backpacking trip much more enjoyable and relaxed. If you like to sit around a campfire to socialize at night or read outdoors while sitting upright, bringing …

Ventilated backpacks, also called suspended-mesh backpacks, have a large gap behind the mesh that encourages airflow to help your shirt dry faster if you perspire. They’re much more comfortable than conventional backpacks when you’re hiking in hot and humid weather or when …

“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art,” said Leonardo Da Vinci, but like all hiking gear, you need to take care of it to make it perform optimally. When it comes to your feet, an ounce …

A backpack with an adjustable torso length lets you change the distance between the shoulder straps and the hip belt so that most of the weight rides on your hips, making it easier to carry. Traditionally, backpack companies have dealt with torso …

As ultralight backpacking gear has gotten lighter weight, so have ultralight backpacks. So much so, that many thru-hikers, section-hikers, and long-distance backpackers are turning to frameless ultralight backpacks for their adventures. Designed for loads of 20-25 pounds or less (including food, water, …

The growing use of ultralight, abrasion-resistant, and waterproof pack materials like Ultra, Woven Dyneema, EcoPak, and Liteskin has ushered in a new era of durable lightweight, sub-3-pound backpacks that can withstand the abuse of multiple thru-hikes, bushwhacking, packrafting, canyoneering, and winter hiking …

Kids aren’t just miniature adults, so purchasing a child’s sleeping bag or quilt isn’t just a matter of purchasing a miniature version of an adult sleeping bag. A kid’s attitude is also far more dependent on getting a good night’s sleep than …