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!

Oboz Katabatic RT Low GTX

The RT in the Katabatic RT Low GTX hiking shoe stands for “rugged terrain” which is exactly what this shoe is built to tackle. Like all Oboz shoes, it provides a blister-free fit, but it also…

ASOLO Eldo Evo Mid LTH GV

The Eldo Evo Mid LTH GV is one of the most innovative boots we’ve seen in recent seasons. It blurs the lines between a hiking boot and an approach shoe, instead offering a hybrid mix of…

Optimus Gemini II

Who says you have to live with just boiling water over a single burner in the backcountry? Not Optimus. The Gemini II is a uniquely-engineered double-burner backpacking canister stove that lets you play gourmand wherever you…

Salewa Pedroc 2 Max

This shoe looks like a futuristic take on a trail shoe and, well, it kinda is. The designers at Salewa do a great job of melding their long-standing alpine tradition with new advances and outside-the-box thinking.…