Best Backpacking Gear of 2026

Planning a long trek in the woods or an extended backcountry escape? The right gear makes all the difference. We’ve rounded up our top picks for packs, tents, sleeping bags, footwear, apparel, and more—so you can get out there and stay out there. Check out the best backpacking gear for Spring/Summer 2026!

LEKI Makalu Cork Lite

A flagship in the LEKI line of performance poles, telescoping Makalu Cork Lite poles have everything we’re looking for in a hiking or backpacking companion: aluminum construction that perfectly balances weight and durability, extended ergonomic grips…

NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 2P

With an average minimum packed weight of less than 3 pounds and an abundance of top-of-the-line features, the Dragonfly is one of our Gear Specialists’ favorite 2-person backpacking tents. We don’t want to completely sacrifice comfort…

Black Diamond Trail Vista Shock

Folding poles have gained a lot of popularity over the last few years, but we’re still fond of telescoping poles when they’re done right and the Trail Vista Shock poles have everything a hiker or backpacker…

Osprey Kestrel LT 35 and Kyte LT 35 Women’s

The new LT models of the Kestrel and women’s specific Kyte are a streamlined and simplified take on some of Osprey’s most tried-and-true packs. They’re available in a number of different storage capacities, but we’re really…

Sea to Summit Escapist Evo Tarp

This Ultra-Sil nylon and polyester ripstop tarp is the perfect shelter for backpackers or thru-hikers seeking shelter but wanting to add as few ounces as possible to their set-up and take up as little room as…

MSR Hubba Hubba HD 2P

The Hubba Hubba needs no introduction as it’s been a backcountry standard-bearer for decades at this point with its performance-based balance of weight, durability, and performance. But the HD in the brand new Hubba Hubba HD…

Marmot Trailfin 3P w/Footprint

Shaving ounces has its merit and definitely can save fatigue on the trail, but, once you make camp, it’s also really nice to be able to have room for your pack, your boots, and all the…

Big Agnes Salt Creek 3

Let’s face it, climbing in and out of cramped quarters and over your tentmates isn’t the best part of camping out at night. We’ve all gotten used to accepting the inconvenience with one or two doors…

Big Agnes String Ridge VST 2.5

It took a second to wrap our heads around the String Ridge but once we did, we were super impressed. It uses some truly unique architecture and design features to create a hybrid single/double wall tent…

Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated

Our Gear Specialists are big fans of the unique Air Sprung Cells that Sea to Summit employs to keep weight and packed size to a minimum while still delivering a stable place to settle in for…

NEMO Eclipse All-Season

Too often inflatable backpacking pads either lack the insulating warmth necessary for true year-round use or they’re heavier and bulkier than we want to be hauling around in our packs. The Eclipse All-Season isn’t heavy, isn’t…

Exped Versaluxe

The shape-shifting Versaluxe offers modularity for both backpacking and camping. The interior core of the mattress is a truly minimalist TPU inflatable pad that is incredibly lightweight and compresses to an extremely compact packed size. It’s…

Therm-a-Rest Parsec 20 Degree

The Parsec may not be the cheapest offering in this year’s gear guide, but the combination of ultra-lightweight packability and the performance it achieves merits the extra dollars. The recycled nylon ripstop shell and hydrophobic 900-fill…

NEMO Tempo 20 Degree Endless Promise

We can’t get over how much performance and value these Tempo 20 sleeping bags provide at such an affordable price. Using synthetic fill rather than down fill certainly helps keep the price down but the bag’s…

Marmot Wraptor Down 15 Degree

Whoa! This is as innovative a sleeping bag offering as we’ve seen from Marmot. They’ve always produced high-end sleeping bags with premium materials and fill, but we’re used to seeing a more traditional approach to overall…

Big Agnes Sidewinder 20 Degree

Calling all side sleepers! We know that just because you sleep on your side doesn’t mean you want to go without the weight-savings and thermal-efficiency of a mummy style bag. With the Sidewinder you don’t have…

Outdoor Research Helium UL Gaiters

We’ve been using Outdoor Research Helium Gaiters for a long-time but these new UL versions are next level. The Pertex Shield NetPlus recycled nylon fabric is the perfect balance of waterproof protection and built-in breathability, so…

Katadyn BeFree AC 0.7L Bottle

This new bottle employs the same filter-on-the-go technology our Gear Specialists have been using in the backcountry for years with Katadyn’s soft flask filters but offers it in a more robust bottle with a drink-friendly flip-top…

Big Agnes UL Recovery Sleeping Bag Liner

We’ve always been huge fans of sleeping bag liners as they extend the life of your sleeping bag by protecting against the oils of your body, odor, and general wear-and-tear. And you can throw them right…

Salomon Men’s Quest 5 GTX

This is the latest iteration of one our favorite bomber hiking and backpacking boots. It has the look of a traditional boot and grants that same reliable stability and long-term durability, but it also borrows from…

Rab Syclon XP 30

Talk about a technical pack! The Syclon XP is both ultra-lightweight and waterproof, two characteristics we’re used to having to choose between not find rolled into one. The combination of high-tenacity recycled nylon and Spectra ripstop…

Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 Women’s

There’s a reason, many actually, why the Baltoro and Deva have garnered so many awards over the years. And those are the same reasons you encounter so many of these beloved packs on the trail. Load-carrying…

Fjallraven Kajka X-Latt 45

For a brand with such great tradition and history, Fjallraven doesn’t just sit back and rest on its laurels. Instead, their designers are always looking for ways to add modern twists to classic foundations. The X-Latt…

Exped Typhoon 15

The Typhoon is the rare truly waterproof pack that actually incorporates other features and carries like a functional daypack rather than just a drybag with straps. We really love the sleek 15-liter version which is sized…

Deuter Aircontact Lite 50 + 10 and Aircontact Lite 45 + 10 SL Women’s

The Aircontact Lite backpacking packs don’t ask you to choose between lightweight design, storage capacity, or carrying comfort. They offer all three! They have classic top-loading access but also zippered front access to a lower sleeping…

Salewa Pedroc Wind Light Hooded Jacket

Salewa is renowned for building super athletic apparel for ski touring and mountaineering and the Pedroc Wind Light Hooded Jacket employs that alpine expertise in a silhouette and design that is perfect for trail running, fast-and-light…

Rab Borealis Hoody

One softshell to rule them all! Perhaps that’s a bit of an overstatement, but the Borealis certainly is as versatile a softshell layer as you could hope to find. Its Matrix fabric has so much stretch,…

Marmot Trailway Pant

Let’s be honest, when it comes to hiking pants, we just want something that fits well, holds up, and doesn’t leave us sweating or fighting to move while wearing them. Checking all of those boxes, the…

Marmot AirFleece Performance Half Zip

There are a lot of gridded fleeces out there, but the AirFleece has a truly unique pattern that impressed us with its ability to breathe and insulate at the same time. Worn under a shell or…

Fjallraven Abisko Wool Hoodie

When don’t we wear this hoodie? Warm weather, cool temps, middle of winter, regardless of the season, this layer has a role to play. The blended fabric is much softer and forgiving than you might traditionally…

Fjallraven Keb Latt Wind Jacket

We almost hesitate to call this jacket a wind shell because that often implies a wispy, less-than-robust layer and that would give the wrong impression of the Keb Latt Wind Jacket. It’s definitely lightweight and packable,…

Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell

Gone are the days that being truly protected from the elements meant living with a stiff, boardy shell. The Fineline makes those jackets of the past seem like dinosaurs with a stretch woven nylon fabric that…

Topo Athletic Terraventure 5

The Terraventure has been a favorite amongst Enwild’s trail running Gear Specialists for seasons on end. This latest update carries on the Terraventure’s hard-earned reputation for durability, excellent ground feel, Vibram premium traction, and low-drop (3mm)…