Gear

Love them or hate them, these ultralight pad pumps make quick work of setting up camp. Are they worth a few extra ounces? You decide.

We’re no strangers to sweat. We live in Utah, after all, where the desert sun is hot and the air is dry and hiking up mountains regularly happens when it’s over 90ºF. Naturally, that means we’re no strangers to funky smells coming from our clothing, either. So we decided to run a little test to see what fabrics dry fastest and stink less when they get sweaty.

Need a power solution for camping and road trips? The Bluetti Elite 100 V2 delivers with its modern battery technology and low price.

We’ve tested plenty of portable power banks, backup batteries and chargers over the years. But when it comes to keeping devices like phones and high-tech watches powered on backpacking trips, every ounce (and gram) matters. So we put two of backpacking’s most popular ultralight power banks to the test and weighed their pros and cons (literally) to find out which we’ll be taking on all our backpacking adventures from here on out.

Outdoor brands and retailers are constantly running sales and specials. There are so many of them, and they change so often, how on earth are you supposed to keep track of them all? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled some of the best deals on outdoor gear right here in one place. And since the links to specials and sales update automatically, you can check back as often as you please to find out who’s offering the best sales and specials every week!

It’s time for the annual REI Labor Day Sale! Which means from August 22 to September 1, 2025 tons of outdoor gear is on sale! So we rounded up 10 deals on more sustainable gear we think are worth a look AND can be bought with a solid discount this holiday. So if you need some new gear, now’s the time to save some cash. Just don’t forget to check for used gear on REI Re/Supply! And check out our full list of Labor Day deals from brands we know and love. And remember: only buy what you need (i.e. don’t over consume), buy used when you can, support sustainable brands, then get outside and wander on!

It’s that time of year again! Here’s some of our favorite sales from outdoor brands this Memorial Day. Camping and Backpacking.

For the ultralight backpacker, everything comes down to weight. If a piece of gear is going to earn a place in your pack it has to be light, functional and useful. So here are 10 knives, complete with deets about which ones are our favorites after testing, what each is best for, and how much they weigh.

Recycling outdoor clothing and gear is technically and operationally difficult. Here’s why and a few brands who are trying anyway.

Tents are one of the four heaviest items you take backpacking (along with your backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad). And many backpacking tents out there claim to be lightweight, but weigh up to four pounds! Not these superstars. These five ultralight tents are not only some of our favorites (we’ve tested them all and have been packing UL for years), but help keep your pack light so you can go farther, faster. Take a look to see which one might be right for you.