Backpacking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

Try on our trail-tested picks for the best men’s hiking pants so you can take on the outdoors with…

These pants are a super lightweight and packable pair sure to please anyone who’s after a quick-drying and breathable option.

This model is the image of the classic hiking pant: versatile, durable, and loaded with features. We tested them in heavy Alaskan rain and on long sunny hikes and we love using one pair of pants for both outings.

These are an excellent choice for the price-conscious hiker looking for a lightweight pant. We are impressed with their performance and their value.

After extensive testing in the alpine of Alaska’s Talkeetna Range, these pants are one of our top scorers in our lineup.

Tested in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, these pants deliver a lightweight and highly mobile pant that excels in a variety of conditions.

These pants are loaded with features, including cinch hems, a built-in belt, and all-zippered pockets, making them fit for big adventures where durability and weather resistance are paramount.

These jogger-style pants are extremely lightweight and breathable and are a great fit for warmer weather and higher-output activities.

The price tag on this shelter may seem like highway robbery, but if you’re an avid backpacker, it’s worth every penny and then some.

From the flower-filled alpine meadows of the Sawatch Mountains to the dramatic craggy peaks of the San Juans, a hike on the Colorado Trail is sure to be a journey full of challenges and rewarding experiences.

The Trinity Alps Wilderness, nestled between the Coastal Range and the Cascades, is located 50 miles west of Redding in Northwest California. This region is somewhat off the radar, as most choose to visit the famed southern neighbors in the Yosemite-Sequoia corridor.

This quilt has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, packs down small, and is priced fairly for its quality.

This is one of the highest-quality down bags we tested. It has an awesome warmth-to-weight ratio and a plush feel that’ll have you sleeping like a baby.

Vermont’s Long Trail rewards hikers with sweeping views of the Green Mountains of Vermont and White Mountains of New Hampshire, spectacular fall foliage in the later months, and a journey they’ll never forget. In this guide, we’ll outline everything you need to know to be successful on the Long Trail.

Planning for your thru-hike of the JMT can be a daunting and overwhelming task – not to mention the difficulty in procuring one of the coveted permits. In this guide we hope to break down every detail you’ll need to begin preparing for what will surely be an adventure of a lifetime.

The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) spans over 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada and is one of the most significant trail systems in the world. It’s the highest, most remote, and, in many ways, most challenging of our National Scenic Trails. Thru-hiking the CDT is an adventure of a lifetime, but it’s not for the faint of heart. That said, the effort it takes to overcome the challenges the Trail presents are rewarded with unending panoramic views, deep solitude, and an opportunity to be immersed in true wildness.