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Hiking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides

We hope to inspire adventure and promote wilderness conservation through in-depth gear reviews, skill-based tutorials, and comprehensive trip guides.

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Best Hiking Daypacks of 2025
A hiker sitting next to the REI Trail 25 daypack on a mountain ridge

Best Hiking Daypacks of 2025

From summit scrambles to scenic strolls, the right daypack makes all the difference. Check out which packs made our list before you hit the trail.
10 Best Hiking Fanny Packs of 2025
woman unzipping the hyperlite mountain gear versa fany pack next to a rushing white water river

10 Best Hiking Fanny Packs of 2025

Fanny packs may have been considered a fashion faux-pas at one point, but nowadays it seems like we don’t make it a mile…
10 Best Energy Bars for Hiking & Protein Bars of 2025
Multiple energy bars on a camp table

10 Best Energy Bars for Hiking & Protein Bars of 2025

We’ve taste-tested the best energy bars for hiking and they’re almost as satisfying as finally reaching the summit. Let your snacking adventure begin!
10 Best Hiking Leggings & Tights of 2025
two people sitting on a log, one in blue leggings and one in pastel pink leggings. close-up on just the bottom half. person wearing pink leggings is touching the fabric

10 Best Hiking Leggings & Tights of 2025

Whether hiking to the summit or strolling your neighborhood trails with your dog during any season, our gear testers stretched the limits of the best hiking leggings on the market. Check out our list of products designed for women that provide all the features, fit, and durability you need on the trail.
Best Trekking Poles of 2025
A female backpacker hiking up to the top of a red, rocky mountain pass in Glacier National Park using the REI Flash Carbon trekking poles

Best Trekking Poles of 2025

We’ve rigorously tested these trekking poles over thousands of miles to find the sturdiest and most lightweight options. Get more stability on tough terrain…
Ultimate Day Hiking Checklist

Ultimate Day Hiking Checklist

We love a good checklist to help us prepare for a trip – even if we’re just going out for a day hike…

All Hiking Gear Reviews, Expert Tips, & Trail Guides Content

Exped Skyline 20 Daypack Review
A person packs items into a green EXPED Skyline 20L Daypack. A black lab watches from the background.

Exped Skyline 20 Daypack Review

A breathable, technical daypack built for comfort and versatility. Perfect for hot hikes and multi-sport adventures with clever storage and sleek style.
Deuter Speedlite Pro 25/23 SL Daypack Review
Person wearing purple Deuter Speedlite Pro 25 pack adjusts something as they face a mountainous, treed landscape.

Deuter Speedlite Pro 25/23 SL Daypack Review

A lightweight, feature-rich pack that delivers excellent comfort and support for fast-paced hikes, scrambles, and peak-bagging missions.
Cotopaxi Batac 16L Daypack Review
Person wearing a colorful Cotopaxi daypack squats by a riverside to watch the rapids.

Cotopaxi Batac 16L Daypack Review

Ultralight, colorful, and easy to pack, this minimalist daypack is perfect for short hikes, travel, and spontaneous adventures when you need gear that won’t weigh you down.
Decathlon Quechua MH100 20L Daypack Review
A person holds a black Decathlon Quechua daypack by the backstrap, giving a view of the padded back panel.

Decathlon Quechua MH100 20L Daypack Review

This sleek 20L daypack provides features and comfort at a price that keeps more money in your wallet for trail snacks.
Best Hiking Daypacks of 2025
A hiker sitting next to the REI Trail 25 daypack on a mountain ridge

Best Hiking Daypacks of 2025

From summit scrambles to scenic strolls, the right daypack makes all the difference. Check out which packs made our list before you hit the trail.
Best Backpacking Chairs of 2025
A man relaxes with his legs out and hands behind his head on a small backpacking chair.

Best Backpacking Chairs of 2025

Whether you see them as a luxury or a necessity, the best backpacking chairs make campsites more comfortable. These 11 chairs are worth the weight.
Women’s Title Nine MVT 7/8 Train Hiking Leggings Review
Woman wearing bright blue leggings in a camouflage like pattern on a hike, with one foot up on a rock, stretching her calf and hamstring. She has curly hair and is wearing a purple rain jacket.

Women’s Title Nine MVT 7/8 Train Hiking Leggings Review

For the hiker who prefers a compression fit with a snug waistband, these leggings are ideal for the active hiker who might even end up jogging downhill for fun.
Women’s Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Hiking Leggings Review
Woman with curly hair and sunglasses hiking in blue leggings, a dark blue tank top. She's standing on a rock with a reflective lake behind her, and pine trees in the distance.

Women’s Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Stash Hiking Leggings Review

Unmatched comfort in light-weight, breathable leggings perfect for hot summer hikes and long road trips in between trails. Packable and versatile—your go-to for adventures and downtime.
Women’s Stio Glide Tech Legging Review
Women in green hiking leggings, standing on a rock in a lake, with her dog, with trees in the background on the other side of the lake.

Women’s Stio Glide Tech Legging Review

Crushing fit, comfort, and features, these leggings are durable, soft, and breathable, with a waistband that stays up without squeezing. These are the pair to pack when you’ve only got room for one.
Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Base Layer Review
A hiker tightens the straps on a backpack while wearing it and the Smartwool Intraknit. Sky, mountains, and trees in the background.

Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Base Layer Review

Lightweight, breathable, and mobile, this base layer has everything you need to stay comfortable on your most serious winter adventures.
Outdoor Research Alpine Onset Merino 150 Hoodie Base Layer Review
a hiker in a black hooded base layer stands in an alpine environment and raises the hood on his shirt

Outdoor Research Alpine Onset Merino 150 Hoodie Base Layer Review

With its integrated hood and facemask, this base layer makes for a perfect sleep or active shirt in frigid weather.
Arc’Teryx Rho LT Crew Base Layer Review
a hiker stands on a wooded trail wearing a light blue base layer and a backpack

Arc’Teryx Rho LT Crew Base Layer Review

Designed for cold weather activities, this base layer delivers some of the best warmth-to-weight ratios and comfort that we’ve seen.
Ibex Woolies Pro Tech Base Layer Review
a runner runs along a wooded trail in a black base layer.

Ibex Woolies Pro Tech Base Layer Review

This base layer is redefining merino wool success with new spinning methods that boost warmth and durability. It’s also the lightest base layer on our list.
Best Hiking Shorts for Men of 2025
Waist-down view of a hiker standing on a rocky trail in the men's Patagonia Quandary hiking shorts

Best Hiking Shorts for Men of 2025

Discover your new favorite trail-ready hiking shorts from Patagonia, PrAna, REI, and more. Our experts bring you tailored suggestions for the best in comfort, durability, and style from trail to town.
Best Pocket Knives of 2025
Six pocket knives are laid out on a wooden background with blades open to show blade length and shape.

Best Pocket Knives of 2025

Discover the ultimate pocket knife for every situation—tested for durability, sharpness, and practicality. Find your perfect companion for everyday and emergency use.
7 Best Base Layers of 2025
a hiker in a hooded black base layer stands with a coffee mug in an alpine environment

7 Best Base Layers of 2025

We’ve got your layering system covered starting with our trail-tested and reviewed guide to the best base layers around.
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