Best Lightweight Rain Jackets of 2026

We spent 6 years testing and reviewing waterproof, breathable, and packable rain gear for hiking, backpacking, and travel to find the best lightweight rain jackets.

Thru-Hiking & Backpacking, backpackingAmanda JamesonNovember 14, 2025rain jackets, hiking, backpacking, amanda jameson, apparel, men's, women's, men's apparel, women's apparel, best of

Best Down Jackets of 2026

We reviewed 44 down jackets to find the 7 best puffy jackets for most outdoor activities: hiking, camping, backpacking—ultralight to extreme cold.

I Tested the COROS PACE 4 on Runs, Workouts, and Hikes — Here’s Where It Impressed Me Most

The COROS PACE 4 is the perfect GPS running and sports watch for people seeking performance, simplicity, and comfort.

1 Pound? Full Frame? How the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L Held Up on the Arizona Trail

We tested the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L to see if its carbon fiber frame, Ultra 100X fabric, and sub-1.5-pound weight deliver on ultralight backpacking performance.

backpacking, backpacking gear, hiking, thru-hikingLiz ThomasOctober 22, 2025liz thomas, zpacks arc haul ultra, backpacking backpack

I Wore the COROS APEX 4 on Hikes, Bike Rides & Daily Wear — Here’s Where It Shines

A significant upgrade from the COROS APEX 2, the APEX 4 has improved mapping capabilities as well as unique features such as adventure journaling.

Tested from the Mojave Desert to the High Sierras: How the VOORMI River Run Sun Hoodie Holds Up

Is the VOORMI River Run Hoodie Sun Shirt worth it? We tested its fit, comfort, breathability, durability, and style to see how it performs hiking, bikepacking, backpacking, and thru-hiking.

backpacking, camping, single product reviewsLiz ThomasOctober 13, 2025liz thomas, voormi river run, sun shirt, backpacking gear, single product review, single product, outdoor apparel, men's apparel, women's apparel

50 Nights, Sub-Freezing to Warm Summer: What I Learned Testing the Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag

The Kelty Cosmic 20 camping sleeping bag combines 550-fill down insulation with durable construction - our review tests real-world warmth and packability for car campers, cabin and summer camp trips, sleepovers, and entry-level backpackers.

backpacking, backpacking gear, Camping, campingLiz ThomasOctober 9, 2025kelty cosmic sleeping bag, sleeping bag, camping sleeping bag, backpacking sleeping bag, kelty, camping, backpacking, single product review, single product, liz thomas

Why the Salomon XA Pro 3D V9 GTX Blurs the Line Between Trail-Runner and Hiking Shoe

We tested the Salomon XA Pro 3D V9 GORE-TEX hiking shoes for durability, weatherproofing, and comfort on long hikes. Here’s how it performed on the trail.

backpacking, hiking, footwearEbony RobertsOctober 8, 2025ebony roberts, salomon xa pro 3d gore-text, footwear, hiking boots, men's footwear, women's footwear, salomon, hiking shoes, single product, single product review

What 8 Years and Thousands of Miles Reveal About the TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Cook Pot

We spent 8 years testing the TOAKS Titanium 750 mL Backpacking Cook Pot on backpacking trips, thru-hikes, and camping to see if its lightweight and durability hold up over time.

backpacking, campingLiz ThomasOctober 8, 2025liz thomas, TOAKS titanium, cook pot, backpacking gear, single product review, single product

My Real-World Experience With the La Sportiva TX Hike—Lightweight Feel, Serious Traction

We tested the La Sportiva TX HIke Mid GTX Hiking Boots for durability, weatherproofing, and comfort on long hikes. Here’s how it performed on the trail.

backpacking, hiking, footwearMary Beth SkylisOctober 7, 2025mary beth skylis, la sportiva hike mid gtx, footwear, hiking boots, men's footwear, women's footwear

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Review

We tested the Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp, which won our Best Battery-Operated Headlamp, for brightness, waterproofness, functionality, and battery life

camping, electronics, hiking, backpackingMike Unger & Liz Thomas & Naomi HudetzSeptember 29, 2025mike unger, naomi hudetz, liz thomas, black diamond spot 400 headlamp, headlamps

For Hikers Who Want a Low-Cut Shoe That Works Like a Boot: The Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX

We tested the Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX hiking shoes, a waterproof hiking shoe that balances the agility of trail running shoes with the stability of hiking boots

footwear, hiking, backpackingEbony RobertsSeptember 29, 2025ebony roberts, oboz katabatic lt low gtx, hiking shoes

Why the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX Hits the Sweet Spot Between Agility and Stability

We tested the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX hiking shoes on a variety of terrains and conditions to assess comfort, traction, durability, stability, waterproofing, and more.

footwear, hiking, backpacking, single product reviewsEbony RobertsSeptember 25, 2025ebony roberts, salomon x ultra 5 gts, hiking shoes

Why the Black Diamond Pursuit Poles Are a Strong Choice for Most Hikers

We tested the Black Diamond Pursuit Hiking Poles to see how they perform for comfort, adjustability, and grip. Here’s how they held up in mountain terrain.

backpacking, hikingAmanda JamesonSeptember 18, 2025amanda jameson, black diamond pursuit trekking poles, trekking poles, hiking, backpacking

When You Need to Cook for Two or More in Harsh Conditions: Our Field Test of the MSR WindBurner Duo

We tested and reviewed the MSR WindBurner Duo stove, an integrated backpacking stove great for group cooking at camp or on the go, no matter the weather.

backpacking, campingLiz ThomasSeptember 18, 2025liz thomas, msr windburner duo, backpacking stoves, camp stoves, camping

Best (and Brightest) Headlamps of 2026

We spent 400+ nights testing the best headlamps for brightness, battery life, comfort, and ease of use for backpacking, hiking, running, climbing, and camping.

BioLite 800 Pro Headlamp Review

A long-term, in-depth review of a reliable, bright headlamp with a rear light, great for hiking, backpacking, running, and other nighttime outdoor activities.

backpacking, hiking, runningKate Hoch and Sara KruglinskiSeptember 11, 2025biolite 800 pro, headlamp, sara kruglinski, kate hoch

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Sleeping Pad Review

Long-term review of the insulated Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Sleeping pad based on thousands of miles of cold-weather backpacking, thru-hiking, snowshoeing, and ski touring on this inflatable, lightweight pad.

backpacking gear, backpacking, thru-hiking, thru-hiking gear, single product reviewsAmanda Jameson and Liz ThomasSeptember 9, 2025amanda jameson, liz thomas, backpacking gear, backpacking, sleeping pad, neoair xlite, therm-a-rest, thru-hiking gear

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad Review

We’ve tested the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT for over 8,000 miles. Long-term review of the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping pad based on thousands of miles of backpacking, thru-hiking, and camping on this inflatable, lightweight pad.

backpacking, backpacking gear, thru-hiking, thru-hiking gear, single product reviewsAmanda Jameson and Naomi HudetzSeptember 5, 2025amanda jameson, naomi hudetz, backpacking gear, backpacking, sleeping pad, neoair xlite, therm-a-rest, thru-hiking gear

From Night Runs to Rainy Campsites: What I Learned Testing the BioLite Range 400

A brand new line of headlamps from BioLite that charge fast and are fully waterproof and dustproof.

electronics, backpacking, hiking, running, trail running, single product, single product reviews, outdoor gear, campingMike UngerSeptember 2, 2025mike unger, electronics, biolite range, headlamp

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