Columbia Steens Mountain (men’s) review: the first fleece midlayer
The first fleece midlayer for men — soft, warm even when damp, fast-drying, and cheap, with a track record few jackets can match.
-
-
Kelty Discovery Trail 2 tent review: honest value
The Kelty Discovery Trail is a lightweight, freestanding tent aimed at people getting into backpacking and weekend camping without spending a fortune. It is not the roomiest or most ventilated shelter out there — and it does not pretend to be. What it offers is a genuinely easy pitch and honest durability at a price that makes sense for first seasons and fair-weather trips.
-
TETON Sports mummy sleeping bag review: the warm, cheap starter bag
Your first sleeping bag does not need to cost as much as your tent. The TETON Sports mummy bag has warmed more first-time campers and new backpackers than almost anything in its price range — an affordable, forgiving synthetic mummy that keeps you warm without emptying your wallet. Our field rating ★★★★★4.3 The verdict The…
-
Nalgene 32 oz Wide-Mouth review: the indestructible first water bottle
The near-indestructible BPA-free hard bottle with measurement marks and a wide mouth — the do-everything first water carrier. Our field review of the Nalgene 32 oz Wide-Mouth.
-
BRS-3000T stove review: the ultralight starter that boils for pocket change
Almost nobody’s first backcountry stove needs to be expensive. The BRS-3000T is the tiny titanium canister burner that has introduced more people to hot meals on the trail than almost anything else — it weighs about as much as five sheets of paper, costs less than a takeout lunch, and boils water fast. Our field…
-
WATERFLY 35L packable daypack review: the budget grab-and-go bag
Not every hike needs a three-hundred-dollar pack. When you are just getting into day hiking — or you want a featherweight bag that stuffs into a pocket for the summit push or the flight over — the WATERFLY 35L Packable Daypack does the job for the price of a couple of trail lunches. Our field…
-
Garmin eTrex SE review: the budget handheld GPS that sips batteries
A rugged, waterproof handheld GPS that tracks your route and runs for weeks on two AA batteries. Our field review of the Garmin eTrex SE, the budget dedicated GPS.
-
Surviveware Small first-aid kit review: organized, waterproof, ready
A superbly organized compact first-aid kit — labelled, waterproof, and easy to carry. A great first kit for solo hikers and small groups.
-
Fiskars X7 hatchet review: the budget camp hatchet
A 14-inch camp hatchet with a molded handle the head cannot fly off, splitting kindling far better than its price – the best-value first axe for hikers and car campers.
-
Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles review: the value pole that just works
The value benchmark in trekking poles: aircraft-grade aluminum, secure Quick-Lock levers, a cork grip, and a full carbide-tip and basket kit for well under half the price of a name-brand pole. Our field review and who they are for.
-
Thermajohn Thermal Set (men’s) review: the budget first base layer
The men’s base layer to buy first — a soft, warm, stretchy thermal set for cold, easy days and camp, and the natural stepping-stone to merino.
-
MSR Elixir 2 tent review: the do-it-all backpacking tent
A durable, weather-ready freestanding two-person tent that pitches fast and includes a footprint — the tent to grow into when entry-level shelters start to feel limiting.
-
Klymit Static V sleeping pad review: comfort on a budget
The budget inflatable that made comfortable backcountry sleep affordable — light, packable, and a superb first pad for warm-weather trips.
-
LifeStraw Personal water filter review: the emergency straw that started it all
The simplest water filter there is: sip clean water straight from the source. A perfect first filter and emergency backup.
-
Jetboil Flash review: the fastest boil in your pack
The fastest, most convenient way to boil water in the backcountry — a push-button integrated system that boils half a liter in about a hundred seconds.
-
Osprey Talon 22 daypack review: the do-everything hiking pack
A daypack is the bag you actually live out of on the trail, so fit and comfort matter more than any single feature. The Osprey Talon 22 is our pick for an all-day hiking pack that also doubles as a travel carry-on: it carries beautifully, adjusts to your back, and is built to last. Owners keep coming back to the brand.
-
Suunto A-10 compass review: the honest starter compass
The honest starter compass: simple, accurate, and cheap enough to buy the day you decide to learn map and compass.
-
Surviveware Comprehensive first-aid kit review: organized coverage for groups
A compact solo kit is perfect until the group grows or the trip gets longer — then you want more supplies, better organized, ready for more than a scrape. The Surviveware Comprehensive (98-piece) is the step up: a labelled, water-resistant kit with enough gear to handle a family, a basecamp, or a multi-day trip without…
-
Corona RazorTOOTH 10-inch folding saw review: the budget camp saw
A 10-inch folding saw with aggressive razor teeth for a few dollars – the best budget camp saw for kindling and small firewood, and the easiest first saw to recommend.
-
GearLight LED headlamp review: cheap, bright, and everywhere you need one
Cheap, bright, and practical — the budget headlamp to buy when you want one in every bag and car.
-
Columbia Newton Ridge (women’s) review: the budget first hiking boot
The women’s hiking boot to buy first — waterproof, supportive, and comfortable out of the box for day hikes and travel, at a genuinely entry-level price.
-
MSR Access 2 tent review: the four-season shelter for winter trips
When the forecast turns hostile and you still have to sleep out, an ordinary three-season tent is the wrong tool. The MSR Access 2 is a lightweight four-season shelter built for exactly those nights: ski tourers, winter backpackers, and shoulder-season alpine trips where wind and snow load are the real test. Our field rating ★★★★★4.6…
-
Kelty Cosmic 20 review: the value down bag to grow into
When you start backpacking in earnest, the weight and bulk of a budget synthetic bag begins to matter — and that is when most hikers make their first jump to down. The Kelty Cosmic 20 has been that first down bag for a generation of backpackers: warm, compressible, and priced so the upgrade does not…
-
HydraPak Force review: the ultra-durable hydration reservoir
An ultra-durable welded reservoir with an insulated, freeze-resistant tube and a fully reversible body for deep cleaning. Our field review of the HydraPak Force.
-
MSR WindBurner review: the stove that wins in wind and cold
On an exposed ridge in a stiff wind, an ordinary canister stove flickers, wastes fuel, and takes forever to boil — if it boils at all. The MSR WindBurner is built to ignore all of that. Its enclosed radiant burner and pressure regulator keep boiling fast and efficient in wind and cold that bring lesser…
-
Osprey Atmos AG 65 review: the load-hauler that floats the weight
A benchmark multi-day pack whose Anti-Gravity suspension makes forty pounds feel like far less — the hauler to trust on long, heavy trips.
-
Garmin eTrex 32x review: the color-mapping handheld for regular hikers
Preloaded color topo maps, a barometric altimeter, and a 3-axis compass in a rugged AA-powered unit with no subscription. Our field review of the Garmin eTrex 32x handheld GPS.
-
My Medic MYFAK Large review: the serious kit for far from help
Far from a trailhead, hours or days from help, “first aid” stops meaning a bandage and a blister patch and starts meaning managing a real injury until you can get someone out. The My Medic MYFAK Large is built for that reality: a 150-item, EMT-grade kit organized to handle serious situations, not just scrapes. Our…
-
Morakniv Companion review: the best-value first bushcraft knife
A razor-sharp Swedish stainless fixed blade that carves beautifully for the price of a sandwich — the best-value first outdoor knife. Our field review of the Morakniv Companion.
-
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer Review
The reusable workhorse: a refillable catalytic warmer that burns cheap lighter fluid for hours of strong, flameless heat. Why it beats disposables over a season, and its quirks.
-
Columbia Arcadia II (women’s) review: the best-value first rain jacket
The best-value first women’s rain jacket — waterproof, breathable, packable, with a proper adjustable hood, for everyday and casual-hike rain.
-
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT review: the ultralight sleep benchmark
Once you start counting ounces and caring about a good night’s sleep, the sleeping pad becomes one of the most important — and most personal — pieces of gear you carry. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is the pad committed backpackers keep coming back to: three inches of insulated air that packs to the size…
-
Platypus Big Zip EVO review: the easy-clean hydration reservoir
A taste-free hydration reservoir whose full-width top slides open for easy filling, cleaning, and drying. Our field review of the Platypus Big Zip EVO reservoir.
-
MSR PocketRocket 2 stove review: fast, tiny, and bombproof
A hot meal and a hot drink do more for morale in the backcountry than almost anything you can carry. The MSR PocketRocket 2 is the stove we point most hikers to first: it is tiny, it is fast, and proven after years on the market. For simple boil-and-go cooking, it is hard to beat.
-
Garmin inReach Mini 2 review: the benchmark satellite SOS
If there is one device that has become the standard for calling for help in the backcountry, it is this one. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 packs global two-way satellite messaging and interactive SOS into something the size of a small stopwatch — light enough that there is no excuse to leave it behind, capable…
-
Adventure Medical Ultralight/Watertight .7 first-aid kit review: prepared, not heavy
A first-aid kit is the one piece of gear you hope to never open. The trick is carrying enough to handle real problems without so much weight that you leave it behind. The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 hits that balance about as well as any kit we know — comprehensive, genuinely waterproof, and light enough to live in your pack.
-
Ultralight aluminum trowel review: the budget backpacking cathole digger
A cheap, light aluminum trowel that digs a proper cathole where flimsy plastic scoops fail. Our field review of the budget backpacking trowel for Leave No Trace waste burial.
-
Black Diamond Trail trekking poles review: the regular hiker’s buy-once pole
The regular hiker’s buy-once pole: Black Diamond’s one-handed FlickLock adjustment, a dual-density foam grip, and aluminum durability that outlasts hard use. Our field review of the Black Diamond Trail.
-
Columbia Benton Springs (women’s) review: the first fleece midlayer
The first fleece midlayer for women — soft, warm even when damp, fast-drying, and cheap, with a track record few jackets can match.
-
NEMO Disco review: the premium down bag for sleeping well
Spend enough nights out and you learn that a sleeping bag is not just about a temperature number — it is about how well you actually sleep in it. The NEMO Disco is the premium down bag for hikers who have figured that out: a spoon-shaped, feature-rich bag engineered around real comfort, for people who…
-
Platypus QuickDraw review: the fast, versatile filter upgrade
Once you hike enough miles, the little frustrations of your first water filter start to matter: the slow squeeze, the clogging, the fiddly cleaning. The Platypus QuickDraw is the filter for the hiker who has moved past all that — a fast, versatile hollow-fiber filter that flows quickly, threads onto the bottles you already carry,…
-
SPOT X review: affordable two-way satellite SOS
Once you hike beyond cell coverage, a whistle and a mirror can only reach as far as someone can see or hear you. A satellite messenger changes the equation entirely: it lets you send an SOS — and two-way messages — to search and rescue from almost anywhere on Earth. The SPOT X is an…
-
Gerber Dime multitool review: the budget keychain tool you’ll actually carry
A pocketable 12-in-1 mini multitool with spring-loaded pliers, blade, and scissors for a few dollars. Our field review of the Gerber Dime, the budget grab-and-go and first-multitool pick.
-
Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp review: bright, rechargeable, trail-ready
A headlamp is one of the ten essentials for a reason: the moment a day hike runs long, hands-free light stops being a convenience and becomes safety gear. The Black Diamond Spot 400-R is our pick for most hikers — bright enough for the trail, rechargeable so you are not feeding it batteries, and small enough that it lives in the pack unnoticed.
-
Thermajane Thermal Set (women’s) review: the budget first base layer
The budget base layer to buy first — a soft, warm, stretchy women’s thermal set for cold, easy days and camp, and the natural stepping-stone to merino.
-
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT review: the winter warmth benchmark
Cold ground steals more warmth than cold air, and in winter it will end a trip fast. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT is the pad alpinists and mountaineers trust to put a thick layer of insulation between them and frozen, snow-covered ground — a 7.3 R-value in a mattress that still packs to the size…
-
CNOC Vecto review: the ultralight collapsible for gravity filtering
The ultralight collapsible that scoops shallow water and threads onto a Sawyer filter for hands-free gravity filtering. Our field review of the CNOC Vecto.
-
Suunto M-3 compass review: the navigator’s step-up baseplate
Once you have learned real map-and-compass navigation, a basic fixed-declination compass starts to hold you back. The Suunto M-3 is the natural next compass: a precise baseplate model with adjustable declination and a globally balanced needle, built for the hiker who actually navigates rather than just checks which way is north. Our field rating ★★★★★4.7…
-
Estwing Sportsmans Axe (E24A) review: the classic camping hatchet
A 14-inch camping hatchet forged from one piece of American steel with a stacked-leather grip – the classic, essentially unbreakable, buy-it-and-hand-it-down camp hatchet.
-
Karecel Rechargeable Hand Warmer Review
Instant, adjustable, double-sided rechargeable heat that doubles as a power bank. The most convenient warmer for frequent cold-weather use, and where its battery falls short.
-
Columbia Watertight II (men’s) review: the best-value first rain jacket
A genuinely waterproof, seam-sealed rain shell that packs into its own pocket for the price of a dinner — the best-value first rain jacket. Our field review of the Columbia Watertight II.
-
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol review: the sleeping pad that never fails
Sleep is safety gear. A cold, sleepless night in the backcountry saps your judgement and your body heat, and the pad under you matters as much as the bag over you. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol is the pad we recommend to anyone who wants something that simply will not fail — closed-cell foam, nothing to puncture.
-
Grayl GeoPress review: the purifier for water you cannot trust
A hollow-fiber filter handles the backcountry streams of North America beautifully — but point it at a questionable tap in a developing country, or a stagnant pond after a flood, and it meets its limit: viruses. The Grayl GeoPress is built for exactly those consequential situations. Fill it, press it like a French press, and…
-
Garmin GPSMAP 67 review: the expedition-grade multi-band handheld
Multi-band accuracy that holds in the worst terrain, a 3-inch screen, topo maps, and days of battery. Our field review of the Garmin GPSMAP 67, the flagship handheld GPS.
-
Bahco Laplander folding saw review: the bushcraft standard
The bushcraft-standard folding saw: a 7-ounce, rust-resistant blade that locks open and closed and cuts wood far above its size. Our overall folding-saw pick for most people.
-
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ review: ultralight folding poles for fast-and-light miles
Ultralight 100% carbon poles that fold into thirds for a pack or running vest, with FlickLock length adjustment. Our field review of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ for fast-and-light miles.
-
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II (men’s) review: the budget boot that punches up
The value pick for a first hiking boot: waterproof, comfortable out of the box, grippy, and easy on the wallet.
-
Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide-Mouth review: the insulated bottle for any climate
An insulated stainless bottle that keeps water cold for a day or from freezing in winter, with pure taste and no leaks. Our field review of the Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide-Mouth.
-
ACR ResQLink 400 review: the subscription-free rescue beacon
When your life is on the line in a remote place, you want the most dependable way to summon rescue — one with no monthly fee to lapse, no messaging to fumble, just a single button wired to the world’s government search-and-rescue satellites. That is exactly what a personal locator beacon is, and the ACR…
-
Morakniv Garberg review: the full-tang bushcraft knife to grow into
A full-tang carbon-steel bushcraft knife you can baton and spark a fire with, at a fraction of premium prices. Our field review of the Morakniv Garberg survival knife.
-
Petzl Swift RL review: the reactive headlamp for moving fast in the dark
For an alpine start at 3 a.m., a technical trail run in the dark, or a ski descent under headlamp, a basic light is not enough — you need serious output and a beam that keeps up with you. The Petzl Swift RL throws 1100 lumens from a 100-gram headlamp and, thanks to a light…
-
Columbia Powder Lite (men’s) review: the versatile puffy
The versatile men’s puffy — warmer and less bulky than fleece, tolerant of damp where down struggles, packable, and priced below premium down.
-
Potable Aqua water purification tablets review: the backup that belongs in every kit
We tell every hiker to carry two ways to treat water, and water-purification tablets are the lightest, cheapest insurance you can add to any kit. Potable Aqua with PA Plus is the classic: a tiny two-bottle set that treats water when your filter clogs, freezes, or gets left at home.
-
Suunto MC-2 compass review: a real navigation tool, not a backup toy
A GPS runs on batteries; a compass runs on the planet. When the electronics die or the sky closes in, a map and a good compass are what get you home — which is exactly why “map & compass, not just GPS” is one of the ten essentials. The Suunto MC-2 is the compass we recommend to hikers who want a real navigation instrument.
-
TheTentLab Deuce review: the ultralight backpacking trowel hikers swear by
0.6 oz of US-made aerospace aluminum with a clever upside-down pry trick and a lifetime warranty. Our field review of TheTentLab Deuce, the benchmark backpacking cathole trowel.
-
HotHands Hand Warmers Review
The default backcountry heat pack: cheap, feather-light, air-activated warmers giving up to 10 hours of heat with nothing to charge or refill. Why they earn a place in every pack and first-aid kit.
-
MERIWOOL Merino 250 (men’s) review: value wool for men who move
The value merino base layer for men who move — real 250 wool that regulates, wicks, and resists odor for days, at a friendlier price than the boutique brands.
-
Sawyer Squeeze water filter review: the one to carry
If we could put one water-treatment tool in every day pack, it would be the Sawyer Squeeze. It is light, simple, needs no batteries or wait time, and filters as you drink. For most North American backcountry travel, it is close to the perfect balance of weight, reliability, and cost.
-
Emergency whistle & signal mirror review: the cheapest way to call for help
The cheapest, lightest piece of safety gear you own may also be the one that saves your life. A whistle and a signal mirror weigh almost nothing, never need a battery or a subscription, and let you call for help when your voice is gone and your phone has no signal. Everyone who goes outdoors…
-
Leatherman Wave+ review: the full-size multitool most people should buy
18 tools with outside-accessible one-hand blades, replaceable wire cutters, and a 25-year warranty. Our field review of the Leatherman Wave+, the do-everything full-size multitool.
-
Merrell Moab 3 (women’s) review: the do-it-all trail boot
The do-it-all women’s trail boot — comfortable from the first mile, grippy, durable, and waterproof; the proven 3-season default for day hikes and lighter backpacking.
-
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe review: the benchmark pack axe
The benchmark packable axe: hand-forged in Sweden, shaving-sharp out of the box, and sized for a rucksack – a true buy-it-for-life tool for carving, limbing, and kindling.
-
Marmot PreCip Eco (women’s) review: the packable hiker’s rain shell
The packable hiker’s rain shell for women — light, breathable 2.5-layer NanoPro with pit-zip venting; the proven default for hiking in weather.
-
Agawa Canyon BOREAL21 review: the packable folding bucksaw
A genuine 21-inch bow saw that folds flat and rips through logs – the packable bucksaw for winter camps and firewood-heavy trips, the saw that makes an axe optional.
-
Columbia Powder Lite (women’s) review: the versatile puffy
The versatile women’s puffy — warmer and less bulky than fleece, tolerant of damp where down struggles, packable, and priced below premium down.
-
ESEE-4 review: the buy-it-for-life survival knife
A US-made 1095 survival knife with a no-questions lifetime warranty — the buy-it-for-life fixed blade. Our field review of the ESEE-4.
-
MERIWOOL Merino 250 (women’s) review: value wool for women who move
The value merino base layer for women who move — real 250 wool that regulates, wicks, and resists odor for days, at a friendlier price than the boutique brands.
-
SOG entrenching tool review: the value folding shovel for fire pits and hard digging
A folding high-carbon-steel shovel that digs fire pits, trenches runoff, and clears snow, then packs to hand size. Our field review of the SOG entrenching tool, the best-value camp e-tool.
-
Marmot PreCip Eco (men’s) review: the do-more hiker’s rain shell
A light, packable 2.5-layer rain shell with pit-zip venting and recycled materials — the proven default for hikers in weather. Our field review of the Marmot PreCip Eco.
-
Leatherman Surge review: the heavy-duty multitool for serious use
Leatherman’s biggest tool: 21 functions, oversized pliers, full-size lockable blades, replaceable cutters, made in USA. Our field review of the heavy-duty Leatherman Surge.
-
Merrell Moab 3 (men’s) review: comfort straight out of the box
Nothing ends a hike faster than unhappy feet. The Merrell Moab 3 has been the default answer to “what hiking boot should I buy?” for years, and the Mid Waterproof version is popular for one big reason: it is comfortable almost immediately, with very little break-in.
-
Opinel No.8 review: the everyday folding knife anyone can carry
The century-old French folding knife with a locking collar and shaving-sharp blade — the everyday carry anyone can enjoy. Our field review of the Opinel No.8.
-
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (men’s) review: packable down warmth
The packable-warmth benchmark for men — 800-fill down warmth for half a pound that stuffs into its own pocket, prized by people who live in the backcountry.
-
Smartwool Merino 250 (men’s) review: the base layer to buy once
The men’s base layer to buy once — benchmark merino warmth and odor control with the best cut, seam placement, and durability in the category.
-
Lowa Renegade GTX (women’s) review: the backpacking boot to buy once
The women’s backpacking boot to buy once — a supportive, precise-fitting Gore-Tex boot that carries a loaded pack over rugged ground for years.
-
Outdoor Research Aspire 3L (women’s) review: the vented Gore-Tex storm shell
The women’s storm shell for hard weather — durable 3-layer Gore-Tex with TorsoFlo hem-to-bicep venting, built for sustained rain, wind, and alpine objectives.
-
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (women’s) review: packable down warmth
The packable-warmth benchmark for women — 800-fill down warmth for half a pound that stuffs into its own pocket, prized by people who live in the backcountry.
-
Smartwool Merino 250 (women’s) review: the base layer to buy once
The women’s base layer to buy once — benchmark merino warmth and odor control with the best cut, seam placement, and durability in the category.
-
Outdoor Research Foray 3L (men’s) review: the venting Gore-Tex shell for hard weather
A durable 3-layer Gore-Tex hardshell with full hem-to-bicep side venting for hard mountain weather. Our field review of the Outdoor Research Foray 3L.
-
Salomon Quest 4 GTX (men’s) review: the backpacking boot for heavy loads
Strap on a heavy multi-day pack and point yourself at steep, rough, rooty terrain, and a light trail shoe stops being enough — your ankles and feet need real support and protection. The Salomon Quest 4 GTX is built for exactly that: a supportive, waterproof backpacking boot engineered to carry a load over hard ground…
-
Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 (unisex) review: the ultralight emergency rain suit
A full waterproof jacket-and-pants suit that weighs 10 ounces and packs to nothing — the ultralight emergency backup for every pack. Our field review of the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2.
