Hiking & Camping
From hiking boots to tents, our experts test the best from Osprey, Black Diamond, REI, Salomon, Big Agnes, Kelty, and more
Not only does a closed-cell foam pad create a pop-free barrier between inflatables and the ground, but it also adds a significant insulation layer between your body and warmth-sucking granite.
Credit: Brian Martin
Whether you love hiking, backpacking, or camping, our team of backcountry experts has been testing products side-by-side for over 12 years. Our process: we purchase the top 10-20 products in each category (like backpacking tents and top sleeping pads) and then we send our expert testing team into the field. After months of using products in a wide range of conditions, we rate and score how each product performed and make recommendations based on key performance metrics. Whether you need a backpack, a sleeping bag, or a just curious about the best camping tents, or the top coolers, let us help you find the perfect product for you.
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The Ultimate Camping Gear Checklist
Looking for a great camping packing list? We've got you covered. Our expert camping editors have compiled this...
Best Hiking Gear
After years of playing in the outdoors and getting our hands on a wide variety of gear, we have had the chance to...
The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist
Looking for a quality backpacking gear packing list to help you prepare for an upcoming trip. Our backpacking expert...
10 Best Hiking Boots
Hitting the trails with the perfect hiking boots can keep your feet happy and your ankles supported, whether it's a...
The Best Hiking Boots for Men
Have your hiking essentials ready to go? Backpack? Check. Sun protection? Check. Granola bars? Check. Boots? You'll...
The Best Hiking Boots for Women
No, your feet don't have to hurt out on the trails. Whether you're bagging peaks or strolling in the dusty desert...
10 Best Hiking Shoes
While it's true that you could wear any old shoe hiking, a dedicated pair of hiking shoes will offer support and...
10 Best Rain Jackets
From soggy commutes to backcountry downpours, bad weather shouldn't ruin your plans. A great rain jacket can turn a...
The Best Down Jackets for Men
Whether you're throwing on a jacket to walk the dog around the block or gearing up for an alpine adventure, the right...
The Best Down Jacket for Women
When winter hits, you need a jacket that does more than just keep you warm. The best down jackets combine high-loft...
The 10 Best Backpacks
Everyone needs a way to slog their stuff around town, whether heading to the office, campus, or the airport. When it's...
10 Best Insulated Jackets
For chilly evenings around town and adventures in the mountains, a good insulated jacket has your back. The unique...
10 Best Fleece Jackets
The secret to keeping warm lies in your layers, and a fleece is a prime piece of gear for the job. We tested fleece...
10 Best Sun Protection Shirts
If you're tired of reapplying sunscreen every two hours (or just forgetful), a sun shirt is an incredibly effective...
10 Best Hiking Pants
The right pants can make hiking more enjoyable. A great pair of hiking pants are lightweight, quick drying, and...
The Best Rain Pants
When the weather turns stormy, a quality pair of rain pants can be the difference between enjoying your day on the...
The Best Backpacking Tents
A great tent solves the backpacker's ultimate dilemma: how to stay comfortable, especially in bad weather, without...
The Best Camping Tents
A great family camping tent provides comfort and protection from both weather and bugs -- creating your cozy little...
The Best Ultralight Tents
Eventually, we hit a limit for how much weight we can carry on a backpacking trip. If you want to maximize your time...
The Best Bivy Sack
Our testers used the bivy sacks in this review over all sorts of terrain - hanging off the sides of cliffs, basking in...
The Best 4-Season Tents
If you like to get outside no matter what the weather forecast says, a 4-season tent is a good investment. The best...
The Best Rooftop Tents
What's wrong with a good old sleeping pad and a tent on the ground? Nothing at all, but rooftop tents offer several...
The Best Hammocks
The ideal hammock balances effortless setup, packable weight, and total comfort, turning any two trees into your...
The Best Handheld GPS
Getting lost is the last thing you need on any outing. A handheld GPS unit can help you find your way even in remote...
The Best GPS Watches
A GPS watch can be a handy sidekick for athletic training, daily fitness, or backcountry travel. The best watches...
The Best Canopy Tents
A canopy tent gives you instant shelter wherever you need it—shade for outdoor events, a home base for vendors and...
The Best Coolers
A good cooler must do three things well: hold ice for as long as your trip requires, be easy to use, and fit how you...
The Best Soft Coolers
Good news, you don't need to haul a heavy, hard-sided cooler to get your picnic to the beach. A soft cooler can often...
The Best Electric Coolers
Electric coolers keep your food and drinks cold without the hassle of ice—perfect for camping, road trips, and...
The Hunt for the Best Headlamps
We've extensively tested 63 of the best headlamps over the past 6 years. For our current iteration, we bought, tested...
The Best Lanterns
A good lantern is one of the more useful gear purchases you can make. It serves as the cozy centerpiece for your...
The Best Binoculars
Sometimes, a little extra magnification is all you need to maximize your views and enhance your adventures. Whether...
The Best Backpacking Backpacks
The right backpacking pack contours comfortably to your body, organizes your gear efficiently, and delivers the...
The Best Backpacking Backpacks for Women
Designed with women in mind, these backpacking packs are crafted to enhance comfort, ergonomics, and weight...
The Best Ultralight Backpack
The best ultralight backpack is the one that's comfortable enough to wear for days on end, offers enough carrying...
The Best Sun Hats
That perfect sun hat ensures comfort and skin protection without overheating. We've been buying and rigorously testing...
The Best Umbrellas
Sure, a newspaper will keep your hair covered in a pinch (if you can find one), but an actual umbrella will keep your...
The Best Hiking Daypacks
A great daypack makes it easy to keep all your essentials with you, whether going on an adventure, to the gym, or to...
The Best Hiking Daypacks for Women
An essential item for any hiker is a daypack that can hold all of your essentials - water, food, extra layers, first...
The Best Hydration Packs
Whether you're hiking or biking, a hydration pack is a nifty companion. It can stash all the water and essentials you...
The Best Running Vests for Women
When the distances get longer and days get hotter, being able to comfortably carry hydration and fuel on a run is...
10 Best Running Vests
Staying hydrated is essential to a successful run or adventure on the go. Whether trekking through the mountains or...
The Best Running Vests for Men
Staying hydrated is critical to a successful run, especially as miles rack up or the day gets hot. A comfortable...
The Best Hydration Bladder
Finding the best hydration bladder can make your outdoor adventures even better, as it offers the convenience of...
10 Best Sleeping Bags
A sleeping bag design is a key component that can make or break for experience during overnight stays or extended...
Best Camping Sleeping Bags
When you're snoozing under the stars, a camping sleeping bag tops the list of gear essentials. The best ones keep you...
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bag
You can't put a price on a great night's sleep. Staying warm and comfortable in the backcountry is not just an...
Best Laptop Backpack
Whether you're headed to a local cafe for a change of scene while working or studying, flying across the country for...
The Best Sleeping Bags for Women
A warm, cozy sleeping bag is at the top of the list of essential gear. Whether you're after the lightest and most...
The Best Sling Bags
Headed out? Phone, wallet, keys - check. Now you just need somewhere to keep them safe and handy. What better than a...
The Best Ultralight Sleeping Bag
When you're carrying everything you'll need on your back, you want the lightest, most efficient gear available. That's...
The Best Fanny Packs
We are happy to report that fanny packs have come a long way since the 80s. Don't worry, you can still opt for vibrant...
The Best Trekking Poles
A solid pair of trekking poles provides support to tackle the trail ahead, gives you leverage on the uphill, aids your...
Best Winter Sleeping Bags
We have tested 60 of the best winter sleeping bags side-by-side over the past decade to find the warmest, most...
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Your sleeping pad matters more for warmth and comfort than your sleeping bag. It insulates you from the cold ground...
The Best Camping Mattress
When you lie down on a great camping mattress, it should feel like an invitation to a great night's sleep. It should...
The Best Camping Cot
For many outdoor enthusiasts, sleeping on the ground is a deal-breaker. A quality camping cot bridges that gap...
The Best Budget Hammock
We researched over 50 of the best hammocks and bought the top eight budget models for testing. Hours of lying around...
The 5 Best Camping Blankets
Leave your favorite throw blanket on the couch. Camping blankets are designed to be rugged, packable, and...
The Best Camping Pillows
No camping pillow matches your favorite from home. But the best get shockingly close, delivering true comfort at a...
The Best Backpacking Stoves
Ounce for ounce, no piece of gear is as crucial as your backpacking stove. The perfect stove balances ultralight...
Best Camping Cookware Sets
The cookware set that's right for you will depend on how far you plan to stray from the car. We've tested...
The Best Camping Stoves
A great camping stove needs to be easy to use and powerful enough to boil water in a breeze, yet delicate enough to...
The Best Fire Pits
The right fire pit will bring you together with friends and family without leaving you with smoke in your eyes and...
Best Camping Coffee Maker
There's truly nothing like rolling out of your sleeping bag and brewing some fresh beans in the wilderness. A great...
The Best Portable Grills
Cooking away from home shouldn't mean sacrificing trunk space for real grilling power. Whether you need a compact...
The Best Camping Chairs
Stop wasting money on flimsy frames that pinch your legs and sag after one season. The right camping chair survives...
The Best Backpacking Chairs
You could sit on a rock or a stump, but sometimes you want some creature comforts when you're out in nature...
The Best Camping Tables
If you're setting up camp somewhere off-grid or your weekend spot lacks a picnic table, a portable camping table can...
The Best Spork
After 10 years of analyzing the best sporks, we've bought and tested just about every design out there. This review...
10 Best Sunglasses
Sunglasses serve the dual purpose of protecting your eyes from sun damage and completing your look before you head out...
The Best Cheap Sunglasses
Some of us are prone to losing or breaking our shades, and others just don't want to fork over tons of cash for a...
The Best Running Sunglasses
Running sunglasses do more than complete the look -- they're a crucial piece of gear that protects your eyes from...
The Best Power Stations
Power stations are ideal for helping you get through a power outage and for off-grid camping. They offer a compelling...
Best Portable Solar Panels
The perfect portable solar panel delivers reliable off-grid power for charging power stations and solar battery...
Best Portable Solar Chargers
A dead device is deadweight off-grid. Whether you're camping, backpacking, traveling, or braving home power outages, a...
Best Satellite Communicators
With Apple and T-Mobile introducing direct-to-cell satellite coverage, the definition of a backcountry lifeline is...
The Best Walkie Talkies
The best walkie-talkies offer dependable range and clear communication, keeping you connected to friends and family...
The Best Energy Bars
We bought 17 top energy bars and meal replacements and had our food experts conduct blind texture and taste tests with...
The Best Duffel Bags
A duffel can be a catch-all, carry-all, do-everything sort of bag. Whether you want it to hold coats, boots, and...
The Best Water Bottles
Keeping a reusable water bottle full and at the ready can help you hit your daily hydration goals, whether at home or...
Best Backpacking Water Filters
Clean water: You need it, and we want to ensure you have it, wherever you go. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa...
The Best Camping Shower
Being outside doesn't mean you have to sacrifice cleanliness or comfort. Depending on the shower you buy, you could...
The Best Folding Saws
Folding saws can be an incredibly versatile tool to have on hand, whether stashed in your garage for quick pruning...
The Best Multi Tools
Carrying a good multi-tool is a bit like carrying a toolbox in your pocket, enabling you to tackle unforeseen jobs...
The Best Axes
From survival to recreation, a sturdy axe is your trusty sidekick for limbing branches, clearing brush, and splitting...
The Best Pocket Knives
A pocket knife is one of the most useful tools you can carry. The best pocket knives have high-quality blades that can...
The Best First Aid Kits
Bumps and bruises happen. One of the best things you can do is be prepared with a first aid kit. Whether you're...
The Best Fishing Rod
Ready to haul in the catch of the day but unsure which fishing rod is right for your favorite lake, river, or...
The Best Fishing Net
Ready to land that trophy fish? After thoroughly researching the market, we bought 8 of the best fishing nets and...
The Best Fishing Reel
Fishing blends sweet relaxation with intense excitement like few other outdoor pastimes, but nothing ruins the vibe...
The Best Fishing Lines
There's nothing worse for an angler than to make a great cast and hook a monster fish only to lose it when their...
10 Best Socks
Buying new socks seems like it should be a simple task, but it can actually be a daunting endeavor. With so many...