Our Favorite Energy Gels and Chews for Outdoor Activities

We asked our staff for the best energy gels and chews for electrolytes, vitamins, sodium, carbohydrates, and (sometimes) caffeine. These are the best-tasting, easiest to digest options for running, cycling, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and skiing.

staff picks, backpackingTreeline Review StaffSeptember 12, 2025energy gels, energy chews, food, performance nutrition, nutrition, mary beth skylis, tiffany searsdodd, aubri drake, shawnte salabert, liz thomas, becca downs, chris meehan, stasia stockwell

The Gear That Changed My Mind

Unnecessary? Too heavy? Looks dorky? Too techy? These outdoor gear items changed our mind for the better, so good that we used to never want this and now need this gear.

staff picksTreeline Review StaffSeptember 2, 2025naomi hudetz, liz thomas, sara kruglinski, stasia stockwell, katie hawkes, becca downs, aubri drake, tiffany searsdodd, mike unger, mary beth skylis, meg carney, amy gravlee

Best Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals

Our writers share their favorite camp and backpacking meals—dehydrated and freeze dried dinners tested over thousands of miles of hiking. We test for taste, texture, portion size, time to prepare, calories, protein, packaging and more.