Gear

When it comes to backpacking, few filters can compete with Sawyer and Lifestraw. But which one is the ultralight king? Let’s break it down.

If you’re ready to ditch traditional laces and step into the world of minimalist shoes, the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Boa is a solid choice. With a lightweight build, excellent traction, and a micro-adjustable Boa Fit System, it blends barefoot freedom with everyday comfort—perfect for trail runners, barefoot-curious walkers, and anyone who hates tying shoes.

Come summer, we’re all about barefoot sandals. We explore in them, travel in them, wander in them, and definitely hike in them. Yes, we hike in sandals (but only purpose-built sandals designed for the task). So just like last year, we got our hands on a bunch of different brands and styles, tested them all on dirty, rocky, uneven trails in Utah, plus on gravel and asphalt, and sized them up to determine which ones are best for what activities, which are most comfortable, durable, have the best groundfeel, you name it. So if you’re ready for a new pair of barefoot hiking sandals, here are some of the best money can buy.

Are you team water bottle or hydration reservoir? Sound off! Well we tested a hydration system that’s truly the best of both worlds: It has the functionality of a bladder with the ease-of-use of a water bottle. It’s the One Bottle Hydration system, essentially a hydration tube for a water bottle, and it may be our new favorite way to stay hydrated on long hikes and backpacking trips. Read on for our full review.

You’ve probably heard of the 10 Essentials—those classic must-haves for outdoor safety. But let’s be real: not every hike requires every item on that list. And some things are not on the list that can make your hike way better.

Thinking of swapping your tent for a hammock on your next camping or backpacking trip? Or are you new to this whole camping thing and trying to decide which sleep setup is going to provide the ultimate backcountry experience? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Because choosing between hammock camping and tent camping is…nuanced? They’re just different, OK? And offer very different experiences. Fortunately, in the battle of tent vs hammock, there are distinct pros, cons and insider tips to help you choose the ultimate sleep setup for your next outdoor adventure and we’re gonna break ’em down to help you make the right decision for you.

Ultralight backpacking gadgets are everywhere these days, constantly vying for your attention and begging you to spend on more innovative new gear that promises to make your time on the trail better! We love perusing pages of these items, dreaming of how we might use them all on our next adventure. But are they actually worth it? Especially for ultralight backpackers whose goal is to carry less? We put 10 ultralight backpacking gadgets we found on Garage Grown Gear, our favorite website for all things ultralight, to the test to see which ones are actually worth the weight, and which ones are a waste of space.

Spring and summer are everyone’s favorite times to play outside. And for good reason. But just because the sun’s out and temps are rising doesn’t mean every inch of your delicate epidermis should be on display. On the contrary, the best way to protect yourself from damaging UVA and UVB rays, sunburn and early aging (without having to slather on sunscreen every hour) is to don a breathable sun shirt. A sustainable one, of course. But not all long sleeve sun shirts are designed with hot weather in mind. Fortunately, we found five comfortable, breathable sun shirts for women and men to keep you cool and happy on every type of adventure.

Every camper’s got one—or a dozen. Those familiar green 1 lb propane bottles that fuel your trusty camp stove or portable heater. But here’s the truth: they’re garbage.

Hammock Camping? In the cold? Is that even possible?! Turns out, yeah. Yeah it is. We’ve done it. So have plenty of other intrepid outdoorists who don’t let a little cold stop them from sleeping outside. But here’s the thing: hammock camping in cold weather is a lot different than hammock camping when it’s hot. It’s also different than tent camping in cold weather. We’re gonna break down exactly why and how that’s the case, plus share a few tips for comfortable winter hammock camping so you can sleep comfortably any time of year.