Backpacking Reviews
We put the top brands to the test: Salomon, Garmin, Scarpa, Merrell, Keen, The North Face and Patagonia.
Exploring Colorado's Rocky Mountain wilderness with the Aura AG 50.
Credit: Briana Valorosi
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
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.
Most Popular
Best Picks in Backpacking Reviews
Best Backpacking Gear of 2023
If you are gearing up for Backpacking, we've got you covered with our comprehensive list of the best gear of the year.
Best Hiking Boots
We've done the homework for you on men's hiking boots, buying the most popular models, hiking many miles on varied...
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 Hiking Shoes of 2023
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 Hiking Shoes for Women of 2023
We're here to help you sort through the options for the best women's hiking shoes. We tested the market's leading...
Best Rain Jackets of 2023
Whether you need an all-around rain jacket or one suited for specific types of applications or budgets, we have a pick...
Best Rain Jackets for Women
In the market for the perfect rain jacket? We've tested over 35 models in the past decade to bring you this line-up of...
Best Down Jackets of 2023
Our experts reviewed twelve mid and lightweight down jackets to find the best fitting, the warmest, and the most...
Best Down Jacket for Women of 2023
As you venture into the mountains or around town, a good down jacket can do wonders to make your adventures more...
Best Windbreakers of 2023
Windbreakers are a lightweight, packable, cost-effective alternative to burlier outer layers and are great for keeping...
Best Base Layer of 2023
A solid base layer is at the core of keeping you warm, dry, and comfortable as you set out on your next great...
Best Base Layer for Women of 2023
Searching for a new base layer top? Our latest review of women's base layers features 19 of the best models available...
Best Budget Down Jackets for Women
Want a nice down jacket that won't break the proverbial piggy bank? We're with you. Down jackets are among the best...
Best Backpacking Tent of 2023
We analyzed hundreds of models before deciding on the top 13 to purchase for testing. We'll help you find the most...
Best Budget Backpacking Tent
We researched over 60 models of budget-friendly backpacking tents and selected our top contenders to take out on trail.
Best Handheld GPS of 2023
Looking to improve your backcountry navigation? We bought and tested 7 of the best GPS units on the market to help you...
Best Backpacking Backpacks
We spent hundreds of days testing 16 of the best backpacking packs to give you the needed info to choose what's best...
Best Backpacking Backpacks for Women of 2023
Ready to go backpacking? We tested the top women's specific backpacks on the market to determine which one is best...
Best Budget Backpacking Packs
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 Travel Backpacks of 2023
If you are in search of the perfect travel backpack, then you've come to the right place. Through ample research and...
10 Best Sleeping Bags
Our never-ending hunt continues for the perfect sleeping bag in this 2022 update. Within this review, we highlight our...
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag is a cornerstone of your overnight kit. Picking the best one isn't easy. To ease the confusion we...
Best Sleeping Bags for Women of 2023
With so many great products to choose from it's hard to decide what to buy. We help you choose by testing and...
Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag of 2023
We tested 18 of the top models available today to help you find the best bag for your lifestyle. Ultralight sleeping...
Best Trekking Poles of 2023
Looking for the best trekking poles for your next hike or backpacking trip? Whether you're concerned with comfort...
Best Backpacking Stoves of 2023
We've been testing the best backpacking stoves for over a decade, and this current review has our 21 favorites. We...
Best Backpacking Chair of 2023
Have you been stumped by the quest for a comfortable backcountry seat for your rump? We gathered data on over fifty of...
Best Spork
Sporks are the perfect utilitarian utensils for eating away from the comfort of home. From workday lunch breaks to...
Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Bags
On a budget for your backpacking gear? Save cash with a bargain sleeping bag for your backcountry adventures without...
Best Portable Solar Charger of 2023
Are you in the market for a new solar setup? Perhaps the hundreds of options available online are a bit overwhelming...
Best Satellite Messengers of 2023
We have a stellar team of electronics and wilderness experts track down and use every satellite communication product...
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2023
What's the best backpacking water filter? For over a decade, we have tested 44 unique models to find out. Our team of...
Best Pocket Knife
We are pocket knife experts that understand that you don't wish to be a knife expert. You want a tool to do tasks...
Best Multi-Tool
We directly compare 19 different models and draw on decades of experience with many more. Our findings are...
Best First Aid Kit
Nobody wants to need a first aid kit, but if you do, you will be very glad to have the right one. We checked out 16 of...Recent Gear Reviews in Backpacking Reviews
Best Buy
Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket - Women's Review
A reliable workhorse for a broad range of activities, it strikes a good balance of all our metrics and is available at...
Best Buy
REI Co-op 650 Down 2.0 - Women's Review
This light jacket is a solid choice for those needing a down layer on a budget, for casual or infrequent use. It's a...
Best Buy
Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 Review
More compact and less expensive than any similar product, the Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 is an excellent value in...
Best Buy
ACR Bivy Stick Review
This is a small, high-performance communication device with usability, technological, and portability attributes that...
Editors' Choice
Arc'teryx Beta Jacket Review
Scoring high across all of our metrics, it offers excellent versatility, durability, and water resistance, while still...
Best Buy
Rab Vital Hoody - Men's Review
Thoughtful functionality meets versatility. This lightweight jacket has you covered no matter the activity and is one...Backpacking Reviews Learning Center
How to Choose a Down Jacket
This article helps you decide which down jacket is the perfect one for you by going into much greater depth about the...
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 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 Hiking Shoes for Women
What do you do when the options for hiking shoes are overwhelming? This article will help you understand the different...
How to Choose Hiking Boots
Why should I buy a pair of hiking boots when the salesperson at my local gear shop told me that all hikers are just...
How to Choose a Solar Charger or Mini Solar Panel
Today, most outdoor enthusiasts expect to have their electronic devices on them while they recreate. From climbing to...Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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