Posts in Travel & Lifestyle
Best Base Layers of 2025

We tested 50 lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight men’s and women’s base layer tops over four years. We put these base layers to work, and came out with the best base layers for warmth, durability, comfort, and ability to wick away sweat and odor over time.

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Best Hiking Fanny Packs, Waist Packs, and Lumbar Packs of 2025

We researched 62 of the most-talked about fanny packs in outdoor media and popular news stories. Then we tested the 11 most promising waist packs for hiking. After an estimated 75 miles of hiking, long bike rides, and visits to the farmer’s market, here are the best fanny packs for leisurely strolls, intense hikes, or a ride through town.

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Best Satellite Messengers and Personal Locator Beacons of 2025

Stay safe, stay connected, and stay found in the backcountry with a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon.

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Best Hiking and Backpacking Watches of 2025

We put in 230 hours of research and 620 days of trail testing to review the best GPS and ABC watches for hiking, backpacking, and multisport outdoor activities.

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Best Lightweight Hiking Boots of 2025

We review the best men’s and women’s lightweight hiking boots for day hikes and lightweight backpacking, including the top waterproof and Gore-Tex models.

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Best Instant Coffee for Camping of 2025

We taste test and compare 24 instant coffees to find the best specialty coffee, budget, grocery-store available, bulk, powder, freeze-dried, and most caffeine. Our review compares Starbucks VIA · Mount Hagen · Nescafé · First Ascent · SwiftCup · Four Sigmatic · Canyon · Cascadia · Alpine Start · Voila · Waka · Trader Joe's

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Best Rugged Cameras – Waterproof, Shockproof, Freezeproof

We researched and tested the best tough cameras for your backcountry (and front country) adventures - waterproof, freeze-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof cameras that function no matter the extremes of weather and environment.

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