Reviews You Can Rely On

Backpacking Reviews

We put the top brands to the test: Salomon, Garmin, Scarpa, Merrell, Keen, The North Face and Patagonia.
Backpacking Reviews
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 best 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 first aid kits

Best First Aid Kits of 2024

Nobody wants to need a first aid kit, but if you do, you will be very glad to have the right one. We thoroughly tested...
best trekking poles

Best Trekking Poles of 2024

Looking for the best trekking poles for your next hike or backpacking trip? Whether you're concerned with comfort...
best base layers

Best Base Layers of 2024

A solid base layer is at the core of keeping you warm, dry, and comfortable as you set out on your next great...
best handheld gps

Best Handheld GPS of 2024

Looking to improve your backcountry navigation? We bought and tested 4 of the best GPS units on the market to help you...
10 top hiking boots

10 Best Hiking Boots of 2024

If you've been itching to hit the trails, get your paws on one of the top-rated hiking boots from our selection of the...
10 top rain jackets

10 Best Rain Jackets of 2024

If wet weather is keeping you cooped up inside, get your hands on a top-ranked wet weather winner from our lineup of...
10 top hiking shoes

10 Best Hiking Shoes of 2024

We've got you if you're hunting for the best hiking shoe. The 10 best models have been rounded up after testing over...
best multi-tool knives

Best Multi-Tools of 2024

We directly compare 22 different models and draw on decades of experience with many more. Our findings are...
best pocket knives

Best Pocket Knives of 2024

We are pocket knife experts who understand that you don't need to be a knife expert; you just want a tool to get...
best sporks

Best Spork

Sporks are the perfect utilitarian utensils for eating away from the comfort of home. From workday lunch breaks to...



Backpacking Reviews Learning Center

How to Choose Hiking Boots

How to Choose Hiking Boots

Why buy a pair of hiking boots when the salesperson at the local gear shop told you that all hikers are wearing trail...
How to Choose Hiking Shoes

How to Choose Hiking Shoes

Want some help finding the right shoe for your feet and trail objectives? This article dissects the key considerations...



Recent Gear Reviews in Backpacking Reviews

nemo aurora 2
Best Buy

NEMO Aurora 2 Review

With one of the tallest ceilings in the test and more headroom than most backpacking tents, the Nemo Aurora 2 feels...
kershaw leek
Top Pick

Kershaw Leek Review

In our extensive testing of a select group of the world's best pocket knives, we found the Kershaw Leek to represent...