Best Backpacking Gear of 2024

Gearing up for a long walk in the woods or an extended stay in the backcountry? Check out some of our favorite new packs, tents, sleeping bags, footwear, clothes, and other gear for getting out and staying out! Here our top backpacking gear picks for Spring/Summer 2024:

Grayl 16.9 oz UltraPress Ti Purifier

This purifier is perfect for ounce-counter backpackers, not because it’s the lightest filter out there (though it’s pretty darn light) but because it also doubles as a titanium cookpot! Its premium construction holds up to all…

Sierra Designs Litehouse 2P

Two doors, two vestibules, and a minimum weight just under three pounds? We love that. But we also love that the Litehouse still offers livable space instead of scrapping comfort entirely in pursuit of a specific…

Sierra Designs Nexus Lite 40-50L

We’re not sure we’ve ever seen a backpacking pack as innovatively modular as the Nexus Lite. First off, it’s completely zipperless and, when done right, this design is hugely appealing in its removing one of the…

Sea to Summit Breeze Sleeping Bag Liner

When it comes to sleeping bags, we’ve been banging the “don’t forget about a liner” drum for the last 20 years and we’re not about to stop. By investing relatively few dollars, you can immediately extend…

Sea to Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Kettle Cook Set 2 Person

We love seeing a unique spin in backpacking cookware and this ultra-lightweight set is definitely that. It consists of a collapsible 1.6-liter kettle with a stable, heat-conductive aluminum base, food-grade heat-resistant silicone side panels, and an…

Salewa Puez Mid PTX

Boy, does Salewa know its way around rocky and technical terrain. Their mountain heritage shines through on every shoe and boot they build, and it most certainly does on the mid-cut Puez. Consider your foot comfortably…

Primus Ulti Stove System 1.0L

Not everyone ventures out into biting winds or truly challenging weather, but those who do need to know they’ve got a stove they can count on. The Ulti Stove System 1.0L is that stove and it…

Platypus Quickdraw 2L Filter System

There are different variations of Quickdraw water treatment offerings from Platypus that serve as an efficient way to get safe drinking water, but we really love the 2L filter system for its balance of weight, packability,…

Outdoor Research Swift Lite Tech Cap

A cap is a cap, right? Wrong. At a quick glance, the Swift Lite Tech Cap might look like any other ball cap, but look again and you’ll find a hat with built-in stretch, the ability…

Outdoor Research Ferrosi DuraPrint Hoodie

It’s hard, maybe impossible, to remember a time that Ferrosi Hoodies haven’t been a part of our Gear Specialists’ wardrobes but this new extra-durable version is an easy add to that collection. The zip-up’s super-stretchable fabric…

Osprey Renn 65 Women’s and Rook 65

Tried-and-true performance at an affordable price sounds like a great combination to us. The Renn and the Rook deliver just that, giving you the carrying capability and comfort you knew you were going to get from…

Oboz Katabatic Wind Low

Oboz pulled out all the stops on the Katabatic Wind, equipping it with technical advancements that we’ve seen in the running world but rarely out on the trail. Without compromising on its beloved reliable fit, durability,…

NEMO Mayfly OSMO 2P

There’s so much to love about the Mayfly tent. Yes, it balances weight and durability while providing excellent weather protection, but there are some additional flourishes. The OSMO polyester/nylon ripstop rainfly is made entirely of recycled…

NEMO Tensor All-Season

We’ve long been fond of the insulated Tensor sleeping pad, but NEMO ratcheted up performance with the introduction of the All-Season model. Stabilizing horizonal baffles, layers of ultra-lightweight heat-reflective interior film, and a micro-adjustable valve that…

NEMO Coda 25/35 Degree Endless Promise

Wow! This innovative bag incorporates thermally efficient features, weight-saving construction, and materials that are both recycled and completely “recycleable” to carve out a unique position amongst ultra-lightweight, 3-season sleeping bags. A tapered mummy shape pairs with…

Mystery Ranch Radix 47

People are quick to give Mystery Ranch credit for their sturdy, heavy-hauling packs and deservedly so, but their designers cover a lot more ground than that. The Radix 47 is an awesome example of the highly…

MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 1

The designers at MSR started with the same balanced performance combination of lightweight construction, durability, and livable space that make the classic Hubba Hubba tent such a backpacking favorite and then they applied cycling specific tweaks…

Mountainsmith Andesite

The collaboration between Mountainsmith and Tom Gathman, aka The Real Hiking Viking, has produced some great gear that focuses on weight reduction without sacrificing performance while, and here’s the kicker, holding to an affordable price. The…

Mountainsmith Zerk 25

You often have to scrimp and save to get reliable gear at an ultralight weight, but that’s not the case with the gear fostered by the collaboration between Mountainsmith and The Real Hiking Viking. The Zerk…

Marmot Vapor 3P

Every backpacker wants to keep weight to a minimum but certainly not at the total expense of weather protection. The flipside of that equation is that a total focus on warding off the elements can result…

Marmot Lost Coast 15 Degree

We’ve always been impressed with the fit and finish of Marmot sleeping bags and the mummy-shaped Lost Coast is no exception, delivering 3-season versatility at sub-three pounds (Regular length) and a competitive price. And Marmot didn’t…

Lifestraw Go Filter Bottle 1L

We gravitate towards gear that functions well in more than one environment and the Go Filter Bottle 1L falls firmly in that category. Whether you’re carrying it on an extended backpacking trip, toting it to the…

LEKI Spirit Lite and Spirit Lite Compact

When you’re shopping for trekking poles, it can be hard to find a sweet spot between cost and performance but that’s the very space the Spirit Lite inhabits. These aluminum, telescoping poles provide a balance of…

Kelty Late Start 2

Depending on your budget and the demands of your adventure plans, there may not be reason to break the bank for bells and whistles that, frankly, can be more than you need. The double-wall, two-person Late…

Kelty Supernova 40 Degree

Yes, hoods are great, but they aren’t always necessary and when temperatures don’t require you to hunker down completely, not having a hood can be kinda nice. Designed for relatively warm temps, the semi-rectangular Supernova 40…

Kelty Glendale 65

Last year Kelty introduced their Glendale packs, and we applauded the combination of load-hauling capability, a broad range of fit adjustability, smart organizational features, and an approachable price that together is exactly what we know we…

Granite Gear Crown 40 ECO

A smaller version of the iconic and award-winning Crown 60, the Crown 40 ECO takes a big step forward on the trail of environmentally friendly construction. Like it’s larger sibling, it utilizes ultra-lightweight fabrication and a…

Fjallraven Kajka 55

The Kajka 55 doesn’t just look the part of a bring-it-on trekking pack, it stands up to that claim. It blends old world craftsmanship with modern updates, using a burly fabric that is free of nasty…

Fjallraven Women’s Keb Agile Trousers

Fjallraven pants are so incredibly durable that they practically dare you to do your worst! The Keb Agile Trousers are a lighter weight version of the famed Keb Trousers and are quite ready for that dare.…

Fjallraven Men’s Abisko Trail Stretch Trousers

We admit it, it’s hard to pick our favorite pair of Fjallraven pants, but these Abisko Trail Stretch Trousers are definitely in the conversation. They’re super tough and they fit as though they were tailored just…

Deuter Aircontact Ultra 35+5 SL Women’s and Aircontact Ultra 40+5

German engineering has long been celebrated for the road but the Aircontact Ultra shows that it shines on the trail too! This pack checks all of a thru hiker’s boxes coming in at a weight of…

Big Agnes Circle Back Insulated

The ground-breaking Circle Back Insulated sleeping pad combines plush, modular comfort with forward-thinking construction that allows for complete repurposing at the end of its life cycle without compromising (and this is important) on performance or durability…

Asolo Tahoe Mid GTX

We love seeing a sleeker, lighter-weight model from Asolo that still delivers the support and traction that we’ve grown to expect from the brand. The synthetic upper is more supple and breathable than traditional leather uppers…