Sure, your backpack, boots, tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, and other backpacking gear matter a lot, and you should put serious thought into your choices when buying any of them. But little things matter, too. Various necessary accessories, convenience items, and small comforts accompany me on backcountry trips. Nearly three decades of field-testing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog—has refined my sense of what I like on certain types of trips and what I will not do without anytime.

Here’s my freshly updated list of essential backpacking accessories, ranging from basics like the best stuff sacks, bladders and water bottles, camp kitchen gear, water filters, tent stakes, and bear canister, to my go-to trekking poles, great values in a headlamp, camp stove, sport sunglasses, and knife, and what I sit on and slip my feet into in camp and lay my head down on every night I sleep on the ground.

I’ve tested this gear extensively on numerous backpacking trips from the Teton Crest Trail and Wonderland Trail, Yosemite, and the Wind River Range to Idaho’s Sawtooths, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, and countless other places.

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I don’t carry everything on this list on every trip, of course. Some, like a bear canister, solar panel and power bank, I bring only when needed; others, like a utensil, mug, and inflatable pillow, I always have with me. But what follows represent the best I’ve found of each type of accessory. You’ll find links below to good prices on many of them right now and you can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by making purchases through the affiliate links in this review. Thanks for doing that.

I think you may find some things in this list that you can’t go without. See also my picks for the best backpacking gear of the year.

I’d appreciate any of your observations about the gear reviewed here, or suggestions on favorite accessories of yours that I’ve overlooked; share them in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Inflatable Pillow

Call me soft (or smart), but an inflatable pillow goes into my pack on all backcountry trips, because these lightweight and compact models help me sleep better at an inconsequential cost in weight and bulk. Why wouldn’t you take one? These are the best I’ve found.

After using it on multiple backpacking trips, including a nine-day hike of about 130 miles through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, trips in the Wind River Range (including the Wind River High Route), in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, and on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier, I have a new favorite. The Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow ($60, 2.8 oz./79.4g) weighs under three ounces but doesn’t compromise comfort: Inflated, it measures 15x11x3 inches. Made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, it inflates with two strong puffs and the soft, jersey blend cover fabric is machine washable. An integrated stuff sack (read: you won’t lose it) packs the Fillo Elite to the size of a tennis ball (4×3 inches).

Another longtime go-to head rest on countless backpacking trips, including in Glacier National Park, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and many more, has been the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow ($50, 2.5 oz./70.9g, large 13x17x5.5 ins.) because of its ample size and cushion and soft fabric, and it stuffs down to the size of my fist.

Yet another I like a lot is the Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow ($55, 2-2.8 oz./56.7g-79.4g), which comes in two sizes that inflate to 18×12.5×4 inches or 15.5x11x4 inches, while packing down smaller than a tennis ball, and the stretch-knit polyester fabric feels soft against your cheek.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow at backcountry.com or rei.com, a Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow at backcountry.com, seatosummit.com, or rei.com, or a Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow at backcountry.com.

Two favorite products pull double duty as a pillow and stuff sack—and both weigh less than all but the very lightest inflatable backpacking pillows.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow ($63, 1.7 oz./48.2g, 12×17 ins.) consists of highly durable, waterproof (although the zipper is not waterproof) DCF8 shell fabric—which will keep contents dry if heavy rain penetrates a backpack or the sack is exposed for a short time to rain—with a soft, Polartec 100 fleece lining. A perfect size for storing extra clothing and small camp items while on the trail, it can be turned inside-out to function as a pillow at night.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sack Pillow at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

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Stuff Sacks and Packing Pods

Stuff sacks protect clothing and gear from any water that penetrates a backpack, and make organizing and loading a pack easier and faster by compartmentalizing clothing and smaller gear items, giving you fewer things to transfer in and out of a pack. They also provide a more effective way of keeping stuff dry inside your pack than a rain cover, which doesn’t fully cover a pack, can blow off, and will wet through in a sustained downpour. I always use stuff sacks, and these are the best I’ve found.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema Composite Fabrics Roll-Top Stuff Sacks ($53-$83, 3.7L to 43L, 1-2 oz./28.4g-56.7g) are incredibly light, waterproof, and tough enough to withstand virtually any kind of abuse. Using the 43-liter Hyperlite Mountain Gear Roll-Top stuff sack ($79, 2 oz./56.7g) as a partial pack liner has kept my pack contents completely dry through steady, wind-driven rain on the Tour du Mont Blanc, Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail, and elsewhere. While they’re not intended to be used as dry bags (they’re not submersible), they keep clothing and gear dry through wet conditions short of full immersion in water. HMG’s Drawstring stuff sacks ($31-$58, multiple sizes) are made with the same waterproof fabric but have drawstring closures that are not watertight; still, they’re adequate for the needs of most backpackers and offer a lighter, more compact alternative to the roll-top sacks.

But the coolest are the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pods ($60-$70, 1.2-1.4 oz./34g-39.7g, 6.8L to 12.3L), which I’ve used many times, including on a five-day hike in the Wind River Range, a nine-day hike of over 120 miles through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, and a seven-day hike in Glacier National Park. Stackable, flexible, super light, zippered units also made of waterproof Dyneema Composite Fabric with a water-resistant zipper, pods are shaped and sized to slip inside a pack wall to wall, leaving no gaps. Convenient for organization with their clamshell design and spacious enough to fit a surprising amount of stuff, they come in small and large sizes for two capacities—2400/3400 for 40-55L packs and 4400 for 70L packs—and fit inside HMG’s packs perfectly but other pack models as well.

I’ve also become a fan of a few other HMG accessories. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa ($85, 0.2 lbs./90.7g, 2.25x6x9 inches) will attach to your pack at the sternum, hipbelt, daisy chains, or on top of the pack secured by compression Y-straps, or you can wear around your waist in front using its low-profile belt. Incredibly light and compact, made from waterproof, very tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics DCH50, it’s hardly noticeable when I’m hiking but highly convenient when I want to quickly pull out my Nikon Z50, a map, or another small item from its water-resistant main compartment or second, zippered pocket.

The regular Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod ($125, 2.7 oz./76.5g, 7×5.5×3.75 inches), made with Dyneema Composite Fabrics and easy to attach to a pack’s shoulder straps, holds my Nikon Z50 body with a small zoom lens mounted on it (dimensions 5×3.7×3.7 ins.), but get the large ($145, 3.7 oz./104.9g, 9.5×6.5×4.25 ins.) for extra capacity.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to purchase Hyperlite Mountain Gear Roll-Top or Drawstring Stuff Sacks and Pods at hyperlitemountaingear.com, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa at hyperlitemountaingear.com, or the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod at hyperlitemountaingear.com..

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On a four-day August backpacking trip in the Wind River Range, Sea to Summit’s 3L Ultra-Sil Dry Bag ($23-$40, 3L/183 c.i. to 35L/2,136 c.i., 1.1-2.6 oz.) kept my puffy jacket dry, and the brand’s Evac Compression Dry Bag UL (see below) kept my sleeping bag dry through an afternoon thunderstorm and a torrential downpour that soaked through my backpack in the Winds—even leaving a small puddle of water in the bottom of the pack. Those two sacks saved me from a cold, wet, miserable night then and easily fended off a more-typical morning rain on a seven-day hike in Glacier National Park in September.

I also used both dry bag models while backpacking the three-day, 22-mile Boulder Mail Trail-Death Hollow Loop in southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which includes a descent of several miles in water in Death Hollow, with pools that came to mid-thigh.

For their low weight, durability, water resistance, and price, it’s hard to beat the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bags. These bags also kept my down jacket dry inside my pack throughout four February days of backcountry skiing in the Sierra mountains around Lake Tahoe, much of the time in heavily falling snow; and most impressively, kept my clothing dry while paddling an inflatable kayak on Idaho’s class III Payette River, even though the boat filled with water numerous times. Ideal for backpackers, the 30-denier, high-tenacity Ultra Sil Cordura nylon, siliconized for durability and packability, has a hypalon roll-top closure that doesn’t wick moisture, plus fully taped seams and reinforced stitching.

The more affordable Six Moon Designs Pack Liner ($20, 50L, 3 oz./85g) has also kept my gear and clothes dry when rain pounded my pack; and I used it to ensure everything inside stayed dry in case I slipped and fell in any deep pool in the canyon Death Hollow while backpacking the three-day, 22-mile Boulder Mail Trail-Death Hollow Loop in southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A roll-top, 50-liter sack that’s treated to repel water, it’s made of 40-denier ripstop nylon with taped seams.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to purchase Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bags at rei.com or seatosummit.com, or the Six Moon Designs Pack Liner at sixmoondesigns.com.

Planning your next big adventure?
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Compression Sack

As I mentioned above, on a recent backpacking trip in the Wind River Range, the Sea to Summit Evac Compression Dry Bag UL ($40-$60, 2-3.9 oz., 5L to 20L) kept my sleeping bag dry through an afternoon thunderstorm and a torrential downpour that soaked through my backpack. The dry bag sat in water pooled at the bottom of the pack for an hour before I unloaded the pack in camp—and my sleeping bag was perfectly dry.

The compression straps make it as compact as possible and this dry bag kept my sleeping bag dry on the wettest backpacking trips—including a nine-day, 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, when an hour-long rainstorm one afternoon soaked through my pack (I didn’t use a pack cover—see tip no. 1 in this story); and trekking hut-to-hut for six days on Iceland’s 33-mile Laugavegur Trail and 15.5-mile Fimmvörðuháls Trail, when we hiked through precipitation on most days. The Ultra-Sil 30-denier Cordura nylon and waterproof-breathable eVent fabric will pass air, so you can squeeze the sack down smaller even after closing the roll-top opening (which you can’t do with traditional dry bags). But like the above stuff sacks, these are not designed for full immersion because water will eventually penetrate the roll-top closure.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to purchase Sea to Summit Evac Compression Dry Sacks at rei.com or seatosummitusa.com.

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Trekking Poles

The folding, 100 percent carbon fiber Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ ($240, 12.7 oz./360g, pair 95-140cm, three sizes) hit a sweet spot for versatility, falling on the cusp between the most ultralight and packable poles and models that are heavier and less packable.

Quickly deployed thanks to an internal Kevlar cord, and adjusted using BD’s reliable FlickLock levers, they have extended EVA foam grips and partly mesh nylon wrist straps. I’ve frequently grabbed them from a large quiver of poles I own for outings ranging from hikes and runs on local trails to backpacking trips of 77 miles on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and 47 miles in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park.

For lightweight and ultralight backpackers, hikers, and runners, and adventure athletes looking for the lightest and most packable adjustable poles, you need look no further.

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ poles and my picks for “The Best Trekking Poles.”

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ poles at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Gear up right for your trips with the best backpacking gear of the year.

Headlamp

Hold the rechargeable Black Diamond Spot 400-R ($80, 2.6 oz./73.7g) up against any ultralight headlamp and try to convince yourself to buy something else. It has all the power most users need at 400 lumens with a range of 100 meters; that’s bright enough to hike off-trail, search for your route in the dark, or identify the large animal going for your cached food. And a full charge lasts four hours at max power.

Then consider the arguably unbeatable feature set, starting with three white and red modes with dimming capability, plus intuitive two-button operation, BD’s cool PowerTap technology, lockout mode, and it’s waterproof up to a little over a meter underwater for 30 minutes. But most of all, at just 15 bucks more than BD’s Spot 400, the rechargeable Spot 400-R soon pays for itself through the money saved not buying (and throwing away) batteries. Besides, why wouldn’t you buy a rechargeable headlamp today?

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Spot 400-R and see my picks for “The Best Headlamps.”

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a rechargeable Black Diamond Spot 400-R at blackdiamondequipment.com or backcountry.com, a battery-operated Black Diamond Spot 400 at backcountry.com or blackdiamondequipment.com, or the Storm 500-R or any BD headlamp at backcountry.com or blackdiamondequipment.com.

Serious adventures demand serious gear. See “The 12 Best Down Jackets”
and “The Best Rain Jackets For Hiking and Backpacking”.”

Solar Charger and Power Bank

Let’s face it, portable power has become an essential backpacking accessory for countless wilderness foot travelers. I carried the BioLite SolarPanel 5+ ($100, 13 oz./368.5g) on a nine-day, 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, with some off-trail segments, to keep my smartphone charged so I could regularly check my mapping app. With direct exposure to peak sunlight, the five-watt SolarPanel 5+ fully charges its on-board 3200 mAh battery in three hours and can recharge a smartphone in as little as two hours, a BioLite Headlamp 200 in 2.5 hours, or the BioLite Charge 20 PD battery in 5.5 hours.

Hiking with it on my backpack and plugged into a device, with its sun exposure constantly changing and sometimes in forest, I found it would often recharge my depleted Android phone to around 50 percent and boost my iPad charge by about 20 percent during the day. The 360-degree kickstand enables positioning it at any angle, while the integrated sun dial allows you to aim the panel optimally for maximum sun exposure—useful when it’s stationary in camp or during breaks. It features a micro-USB input port and USB A output and comes with a USB A to USB C cable. At 13 ounces/368.5 grams and measuring 10.2×8.2×0.9 inches/25.9×20.8×2.3cm, this slim unit is packable and light enough for extended backpacking trips. The IPX4 weatherproof rating means it’s resistant to water splashes from any direction—fine in a light rain but put it away in significant precipitation (when it’s useless, anyway).

I use the BioLite Charge 40 PD power bank ($70, 9.4 oz./266.5g) to augment a solar panel in the backcountry—or instead of the panel when I don’t need more power in reserve than the Charge 40 PD holds. It was all I needed to keep a couple of my family’s phones powered up on a six-day, hut-to-hut trek on Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails, where we rarely saw the sun. And it’s ideal for long travel days.

Rated to recharge 2.5 smartphones—though that performance will vary between phone models—it would, when fully charged, bring my Samsung smartphone (2550mAh battery) from around 20 percent to 100 percent three to four times. The 10,000 mAh battery can be recharged plugging into a wall outlet for 2.5 hours using the USB A-to-USB C cable that comes with the unit. It has a USB-C PD port (up to 18W) and two USB-A quick charge out ports. BioLite advises using and recharging it at least once every four months.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase BioLite SolarPanel 5+ at rei.com or bioliteenergy.com, or a BioLite Charge 40 PD power bank at bioliteenergy.com.

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Sunglasses

Everyone needs eye protection from bright sunshine and UV light. But high-performance, well-fitting, and stylish sunglasses for outdoor sports are not often well-priced. Tifosi has broken that rule. The Tifosi Crit wrap-around sport sunglasses ($50, 1 oz./28.4g), ideal for everything from hiking to running, cycling, and more, have photochromic Clarion red lenses that adjust to shifting ambient light from nearly clear to a red mirror with a smoke tint—wearable in conditions from cloudy to the brightest, shadeless, sunny days of mid-summer. The Crit features an aerodynamic, ventilating design, shatterproof lenses, a light and durable Grilamid TR-90 nylon frame, hydrophilic rubber to grip well even when sweaty, adjustable arm and nose pieces for customizing the fit, and UVA and UVB protection. I wore them every day on adventures as wide-ranging as trekking hut to hut on Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail in July, backpacking nine days through the High Sierra, mostly on a section of the John Muir Trail in August, and on a five-day hike in the Wind River Range the week before Labor Day.

Want to save even more? The Svago ($30), made with shatterproof and scratch-resistant, polycarbonate smoke-tinted lenses, also have hydrophilic rubber, a Grilamid TR-90 nylon frame, and UVA and UVB protection.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Tifosi Crit, Svago, or any other sunglasses at tifosioptics.com.

Time for a better backpack?
See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and the best ultralight backpacks.

All-Purpose Knife and Multi-Tools

The Swiss Army Climber Knife ($45, 2.9 oz./82.2g) provides a basic set of tools that will meet the needs of most backpackers in a light, compact unit just 3.6 inches/9.1 centimeters long, including large and small blades, scissors, bottle and can openers, screwdrivers, wire stripper, reamer and punch, toothpick and tweezers, corkscrew, and a multipurpose hook. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better value in a small, folding knife.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Swiss Army Climber Knife at backcountry.com.

If you need the ultimate multi-tool, I like the Leatherman Wave+ ($130, 8.5 oz./241g). Just four inches long when closed, this updated version of Leatherman’s long-popular Wave boasts a robust set of 18 tools that all lock quickly into position, many of which get frequent use in the backcountry: two knives (straight and serrated), a saw, spring-action scissors, can and bottle openers, a medium screwdriver, regular and needle-nose pliers, and wire cutters.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Leatherman Wave+ at backcountry.com.

Hydration Bladder

It may sound silly to get excited about a bladder, but while Gregory’s original 3D Hydro was exceptional, they’ve improved on it with the Gregory 3D Hydro Trek 3L hydration bladder ($63, 3L/100 oz./2.83kg, 10 oz./283.5g). Wider and shorter, it fits most backpacks and daypacks (some have a bladder sleeve that’s too narrow for it) and is easier to fill completely and screw the cap on without spilling, thanks to the molded handle-spine. A strap enables hanging from a branch as a base camp bladder to dispense water through the valve, which is capped by a dust cap when in a pack.

With a hose that disconnects, a soft, three-dimensional body, and removable mouthpiece, it dries out fully after use as readily as a hard-sided bottle—helping to prevent the buildup of mildew that degrades a bladder. The magnetic bite valve, which locks to prevent dripping, sticks to a magnet on the sternum strap of Gregory packs; and the bladder’s crescent-shaped plastic top handle clips securely onto the mating piece in the bladder sleeve in the brand’s packs. That’s a bladder worth getting excited about.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Gregory 3D Hydro Trek 3L hydration bladder at backcountry.com or any 2L or 3L Gregory 3D Hydro bladder at backcountry.com.

Keep your hands warm on your adventures.
See “The Best Gloves for Winter,” including lightweight gloves for three-season use.

The new Camelbak Fusion 3L Reservoir with Tru Zip Waterproof Zipper ($66, 5.5 oz./155.9g) represents a technological step up. Using the Fusion 3L on spring backpacking trips in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon and along a section of the Arizona Trail, I noticed right away that, besides the typically durable Camelbak construction, I was most impressed with how the integrated handle and pinch grip allows for much easier, one-handed filling compared to some bladders. Hydroguard inhibits bacterial growth in the reservoir and tube, which are also easy to dry and air out to prevent that, anyway. The valve delivers water quickly and has an on-off switch to prevent leaks. The waterproof zipper is predictably a little sticky but absolutely reliable.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these links to purchase a 2L or 3L CamelBak Fusion 3L Reservoir with Tru Zip Waterproof Zipper at backcountry.com.

Want a more affordable bladder? From a four-day, 25-mile backpacking trip on the Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop off the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, to a three-day, 40-mile hike in the Wind River Range and numerous other backpacking trips and dayhikes, I’ve found the CamelBak Crux 3L Reservoir ($42, 3L/100 oz., 8 oz./227g) as tough and utilitarian as they come.

The self-sealing mouthpiece valve delivers water quickly and never leaked or dripped when I left it unlocked, and the cap reliably screwed on tightly and leak-free every time. The valve locking mechanism shifts easily using one hand. It has a baffle to minimize sloshing, a push-button release of the hose for cleaning, and Hydroguard antimicrobial treatment in the reservoir and tube to inhibit bacterial growth. Plus, you’d have to make a concerted effort to puncture or damage this polyurethane bladder.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these links to purchase a 2L or 3L CamelBak Crux Reservoir at rei.com.

Packable and Collapsible Water Bottles

I prefer water bottles in various common situations, like sitting around in camp or hiking in freezing temps, but hard-sided, heavy bottles are soooo 2015. The HydraPak Flux Bottle (1.5L/50 oz., $60, 4.3 oz./122g, and 1L/32 oz., $29, 2.7 oz./76.5g) has taken the packability and low weight of a soft bottle and married it to the convenience of a hard bottle’s rigidity for standing up and refilling.

Developed with mutual goals of creating an alternative to single-use plastic and reducing the bulk and weight of hard bottles, the Flux is constructed with a dual-layer TPU film laminate that lends it the rigidity to stand on its flat base—full or empty. The spill-proof twist cap’s valve lets you squirt water into your mouth one-handed (like a bike bottle), doesn’t leak when closed, and the wide opening is compatible with all 42mm threaded filters (like the Katadyn BeFree). Embossed RF-welded soft walls are easy to grip.

Best of all, it’s half the weight of a hard-sided plastic bottle—and when empty, the Flux flattens, rolls and stows into its bail handle, compressing to one-quarter of its full size (smaller than a fist) to slip easily into any pack’s side, lid, or other external pocket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a HydraPak Flux Bottle at rei.com.

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Water Filter and Water Filter Bottle

It’s hard to beat the speed, convenience, and packability of the collapsible Katadyn BeFree Microfilter soft bottles, available in a 0.6L bottle ($45, 2.5 oz./70.9g), 1L bottle ($50, 2.5 oz./70.9g), and 3L bottle ($65, 3.5 oz./99.2g).

The 0.6L bottle measures just 9x3x3 inches and weighs under three ounces and filters up to two liters per minute just by squeezing the collapsible, BPA-free flask, delivering a strong stream of water. It will even pour through the mouthpiece—albeit more slowly than squeezing, of course—by just tilting it upside-down, even when the bottle is nearly empty.

The Katadyn BeFree Gravity Filter (10L $145, 10 oz./283.5g, 6L, $120, 9.3 oz./263.7g, and 3L, $80, 6.8 oz./192.8g) spares you the work of squeezing the bottle, filtering two liters per minute into another bottle or a bladder.

The .01-micron BeFree microfilter protects against harmful organisms like bacteria and cysts and has a projected life of 1,000 liters. Replacing the filter is easy—it pops out and a new one pops in. No backflushing or tools needed. Clean it occasionally by swishing the EZ-Clean Membrane around in water. For long-term storage, clean the filter by squeezing a flask full of clean (tap) water containing either one Micropur tablet or four drops of bleach through the filter.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any of the Katadyn BeFree bottles or gravity filter at backcountry.com or rei.com.

The convenience factor of the LifeStraw Go bottle (22-oz./623.7g, $45, 7.8 oz./221.1g, or 1L, $50, 8.6 oz./243.8g) has lightened my pack weight by letting me carry less water—and it’s not because I drink any less. The ease and quickness of dipping, filling, and immediately drinking from the 22-ounce Go bottle—and not having to take time to treat water with a traditional filter—means that, wherever there are fairly frequent water sources along a hike, I can chug some water at the creek, top off the bottle or even leave it half-full if the next water isn’t far, and resume hiking. Consequently, I don’t treat more water than I’ll need and my pack’s lighter.

On my most-recent trip on the Teton Crest Trail, I rarely carried water in my pack’s bladder. The LifeStraw Go’s two-stage, hollow-fiber, 0.2-micron filter membrane with activated carbon removes virtually all bacteria, protozoa like giardia and cryptosporidium, and organic chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.

See my complete review of the LifeStraw Go bottle With 2-Stage Filtration.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a 22-oz. or 1L LifeStraw Go water bottle at rei.com or backcountry.com.

Got an all-time favorite campsite?
See “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Of course, there are times when you need a pump water filter in the backcountry, such as when dealing with silted water, or when you have to treat a large amount of water (for a group of three or more people or when water sources are far apart). The MSR Hyperflow Microfilter ($160, 9 oz./255.1g) stands out for its speed and compact size. Measuring just 7×3.5 ins., and lighter than many competitors, this hollow-fiber filter pumps three liters per minute, removing protozoa, bacteria, and particulate matter (though not viruses or chemicals), and leaves no taste. It comes with a Quick-Connect Bottle Adapter for pumping directly into a variety of containers, including all MSR hydration bladders and Nalgene bottles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to buy an MSR Hyperflow Microfilter at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com.

On a 40-mile, mid-September backpacking trip in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, I pulled out the pocket-size MSR TrailShot Microfilter ($70, 5 oz./141.7g) frequently to sate my thirst within seconds, enabling me to carry less water on my back. Small enough to stuff inside a side pocket on a daypack, it cranks out a liter in a minute. It’s ideal for one or two people on a fast-paced outing where time efficiency and minimizing weight are top priorities, like an ultra-dayhike, an ultralight backpacking trip where water sources are frequent, or a long trail run or adventure race. You have to get down low to the ground to place the input end of the hose in a stream or other water source and drink directly from the filter’s spout, or use the TrailShot to pump water into a bottle or bladder. It removes bacteria like E. coli and protozoa like Cryptosporidium. MSR projects its life at up to 2,000 liters.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to buy an MSR TrailShot Microfilter at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com.

Camp Stove

Simplicity often reigns supreme in the backcountry, and that’s typically how I feel about a cooking stove: keep it simple, efficient, and above all, light.

The Jetboil Flash ($145, 13.1 oz./371g) has become my go-to stove for trips with a small group when we just want to boil water fast, most recently including in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon, southern Utah’s Escalante region, the Wind River Range, and Glacier National Park. Cranking 9,000 BTUs, itboils a liter of water in under three-and-a-half minutes in a controlled environment, according to Jetboil. With the insulated FluxRing cooking pot’s fill line limiting each boil to just two cups/0.47 liter—basically just enough to cook for one person at a time—it was fast enough to satisfy for our group of five people on windy mornings in Aravaipa Canyon.

The high fuel efficiency translates to less fuel weight in your pack: Planning our fuel based on Jetboil’s estimate that the Flash will boil 10 liters per 100g JetPower fuel canister, we hiked out of Aravaipa with a little unused fuel. The coolest feature? Jetboil’s thermochromatic color-change heat indicator on one side of the pot shows you how close the water is to boiling. A reliable push-button igniter fires up the stove every time.

See my complete review of the Jetboil Flash.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Jetboil Flash backpacking stove at backcountry.com.

The MSR Pocketrocket 2 ($60, 4 oz./113.4g with plastic case, included) boils water fast, has precise flame control for simmering, holds pots of two liters or larger stably, always fires up, and packs small. That’s why it ends up in my pack on many trips. It’s only shortcoming is that the unprotected burner isn’t nearly as fuel-efficient as stoves with a protected burner.

See my complete review of the MSR Pocketrocket 2.

BUY IT NOW You can support this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to buy an MSR Pocketrocket 2 stove at rei.com or cascadedesigns.com.

Get the right tent for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
and “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent.”

But when it’s time to cook for four or more people—especially in a windy campsite—nothing beats the MSR WindBurner Group Stove System ($260, 1 lb. 5 oz./595.3g). Pressure-regulated to produce consistent heat output, with an enclosed burner, the WindBurner Group System loses virtually no fuel efficiency—it basically performs in wind as if there was no wind. Cooking at elevations up to 11,000 feet, with wind at times and mornings down to around 40° F, I used less than two full, 16-oz. MSR IsoPro fuel canisters in six days cooking five breakfasts and dinners for four people—and barely more than one 16-oz. canister for basically the same number of meals for three people (all just boiling water). Plus, good flame control goes from boiling fast to a low simmer for backpackers who want to do more than just boil water. And the pot has a folding handle and strainer lid with a locking latch.

See my complete review of the MSR WindBurner Group Stove System.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the MSR WindBurner Group Stove System at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com, or other WindBurner stoves and products at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com.

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
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Camp Kitchen

On backpacking trips where I want to carry the lightest stove and pot combo plus have the versatility of a pot that I can cook a meal in and eat out of, I’ll pair MSR’s Pocketrocket 2 stove (above) with the MSR Titan Kettle 1400ml ($75, 5.4 oz./153g). The incredibly light but durable, one-liter pot with silicone-coasted folding handles and a secure lid with a silicone gripper on top for lifting off without burning your fingers, it’s big enough to cook for two, light enough for solo trips—and doubles as a bowl and (giant) mug. Internal graduated markings in 0.2-liter and eight-ounce increments take the guesswork out of measuring water. I like the silicone hanger under the lid to keep it out of the dirt.

You can fit a tiny canister stove and an eight-ounce fuel canister or nest other MSR Titan collection products inside, including the Titan Kettle 900ml ($65, 4.4 oz./126g), a good alternative for serious ultralighters; and the nicely sized Titan Double Wall Mug 375ml ($55, 4.1 oz./116g), which has a very secure sipping lid, with a tab for easy removal, and keeps 12 ounces of liquid hot in cool campsites, as it did for me on cool mornings in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase an MSR Titan Kettle 1400ml and/or Titan Kettle 900ml at rei.com, a Titan Double Wall Mug 375ml at backcountry.com, or those and other MSR Titan products at rei.com or cascadedesigns.com.

When cooking convenience and packability take priority over going absolutely minimalist—as it has on many family backpacking trips—I grab the Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible One-Pot Cook Set ($140, 19 oz./527g, for two to four people). The 2.2-liter/74-ounce pot (10.5 oz./297g by itself) is made with collapsible, food-grade silicone walls and a hardened alloy aluminum base, and the pot’s lid fits securely enough to avoid spills when pouring hot water. The stainless-steel Click Safe Handle attaches to the pot with an audible click and carries any food or liquid weight without loosening; reversing the handle secures the nested and packed set. 

The medium bowls and 400ml cups are small enough to remain packable but most hungry backpackers will refill them at mealtime. I’ve boiled water, cooked pasta, rice, mac ‘n’ cheese and other messy dinners and found the pieces all easy to wipe clean. The walls of every piece lock into place when in use—nothing collapses with hot food or liquid inside—and stack neatly together when collapsed, packing down to 7.8×2 ins./19.7×5.1cm. The set is also PFOA-, PTFE- and BPA-free and the various pieces are also sold individually.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy the Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible One-Pot Cook Set at seatosummit.com or rei.com, other Sea to Summit Frontier cook sets (including non-collapsible, which are less expensive), or a Frontier pot, bowl, mug, individually at backcountry.com, seatosummit.com, or rei.com.

A good two-way radio makes your adventures safer.
See my review of the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio.

Utensil

You gotta eat, and I extend my preference for carrying the bare necessities in gear right down to my utensils. Here are. my top picks.

With hot breakfasts and dinners in the backcountry, I’m virtually always using just a spoon to eat from a bowl or dig into a dehydrated meal packet, so I prefer a long handle like you get with the ultralight, titanium MSR Titan Long Spoon ($18, 0.7 oz./19g), which measures 8.4 inches/21.2 centimeters long and clips onto a mini-biner.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase an MSR Titan Long Spoon at backcountry.com, rei.com, or cascadedesigns.com.

And the very packable Jetboil TrailWare Utensil Set ($17, 1.5 oz./46.7g for all three pieces), which includes a collapsible spoon, fork, and knife.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Jetboil TrailWare Utensil Set at rei.com.

Water Bag

No one likes carrying a large amount of water very far in the backcountry, but when I have to do it, I turn to a reliable standby—as I’ve done many times backpacking in the Grand Canyon, including on my most recent trip on the Utah Flats Route and Clear Creek Trail. The MSR Dromlite Bag ($45-$50, three sizes 2L-6L, 4.6-5.7 oz./130.4g-161.6g), the brand’s lighter (and cheaper) but still tough version of its Dromedary, collapses to its cap size. Made with abrasion-resistant Cordura, these tough bags have a temperature threshold from freezing to boiling, a secure cap that ensures effortless filling and pouring, and a sturdy, low-profile handle that enables easy refilling and hanging it in camp.

The classic MSR Dromedary ($52, three sizes 4L-10L, 7-10 oz./198.4g-283.5g), although heavier, offers one larger size (10 liters). These stout sacks have never sprung a leak inside my backpack, thanks to BPA-free, 1,000-denier fabric and a tight seal on the screw cap. Strong perimeter webbing makes it easy to carry or hang in camp, and when empty, they roll up fairly compactly for storage in your pack.

Every backpacker should own one or two of these bags—and two bags give you both a large capacity and the option of carrying less weight when large capacity isn’t needed. There will come a day that you’ll need it—whether you like it or not.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to buy an MSR DromLite at cascadedesigns.com, or an MSR Dromedary at backcountry.com or cascadedesigns.com.

Bear Canister

A bear canister is required in an increasing number of public lands, among them California’s High Sierra (including the John Muir Trail, Yosemite, and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks) and in some campsites in Olympic and Grand Teton national parks.

A canister also provides convenient, infallible food storage anywhere.

Made from an impregnable, transparent polycarbonate, the Bear Vault BV500 Journey ($100, 3 gallons/700 c.i./11.5 L, 2 lbs. 9 oz./1.16 kg) stores up to a week’s worth of food for one person (with judicious packing). It has clear walls for finding items, is built to make it hard for a bear to grasp and damage with its jaws or claws, and has two tabs in the screw-top lid to provide redundant protection against a bear getting into it.

It has also earned the approval of both the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Bear Vault BV500 Journey bear canister at rei.com.

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Ultralight Camera Carrier

As a photographer who likes to shoot people in motion outdoors and perfect light situations—circumstances that are often fleeting—I’ve long sought a way to carry my camera where I can instantly grab it and shoot. Well, I’ve found it. The Peak Design Capture ($80, 3 oz./84g) offers a method of carrying your camera where it’s secure, stable, and always within easy reach on a pack shoulder strap during activities like hiking. Unlike camera packs, with their zippers, when using the Capture, I simply depress a button to pull it off my pack’s shoulder strap, point, and shoot.

The Capture consists of a metal clip that attaches to any pack strap, belt, or bag via two screws you can turn with your fingers (no tool required), and an Arca tripod-compatible plate that screws into your camera’s base. At just three ounces/84 grams and measuring just 3.3×1.6×0.8 inches/8.3x4x2 centimeters, it’s virtually unnoticeable on a pack strap, yet can hold far more weight than you’ll ever attempt to attach to any pack (over 200 pounds/90 kilos, according to Peak Design).

I found it comfortable enough with my Nikon Z50 mirrorless DSLR and a 50-250mm zoom on it, but certainly less obtrusive with the smaller and lighter 16-50mm lens on the camera. Caveats: I found the Capture will twist slightly when not positioned well on a shoulder strap, causing one end of the metal back plate to dig into my shoulder. Also, the screws can loosen over multiple days of use; check it regularly to ensure those are tight (and your camera won’t suddenly drop to the ground—and mine did not).

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Peak Design Capture at backcountry.com, peakdesign.com, or rei.com.

Tent Stakes

Bent stakes suck. Stakes should be extremely light and strong and never fail. Adhering to those simple truths, the Nemo Airpin Ultralight Stakes ($20, 1.4 oz./39.7g, set of four, or $10, 0.7 oz./19.8g, set of two) demonstrated their mettle (or metal, if you will) on various trips, including a six-day traverse of over 90 miles in Glacier National Park. Made of aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum, they have three notches in the head, two facing downward and one facing upward. Run the tent’s stake cord under the first downward notch (labeled “O”), then over the second, upward notch (“OO”), and finally under the other downward notch (“OOO”), creating friction on the cord as you drive the stake into the ground—which is easier thanks to the stake’s tapered shape. No more bent tent pegs or stake cord popping off stakes.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to purchase a set of four or two Nemo Airpin Ultralight Stakes at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com.

Lightweight First-Aid Kit

A first-aid kit can seem like something that just adds bulk and weight to a pack without getting used—but when you really need one, you don’t want to be without it. The compact but well-designed Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .9 Medical Kit ($64, 12 oz./340.2g) resolves questions of utility versus weight. Contained in two layers of waterproof packaging in this kit are various wraps and bandages, a trauma pad and wide elastic wraps, blister treatment, an irrigation syringe and wound closure strips, medications for diarrhea, stomach issues, pain, and inflammation, and, of course, a mini roll of duct tape. I suggest adding a small tube of antibiotic ointment, but otherwise, this is a complete first-aid kit that doesn’t occupy excessive pack space.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this link to purchase an Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .9 Medical Kit at rei.com.

Low Gaiters

For three-season backpacking—as well as dayhiking and trail running—low or mid-height gaiters (not high ones, like you’d use in winter) are indispensable for keeping stones, debris, rain, and splashed water from puddles and wet trailside vegetation out of your footwear.

The DWR-coated, very breathable, stretch-woven nylon and polyurethane Kahtoola Renagaiter Low ($54, 2.5 oz./70.9g) and Renagaiter Mid ($64, 3.3 oz./93.6g, both in two sizes), both available in two sizes, have become the low gaiters I grab for most outings. They easily zip over hiking shoes and boots, fitting snugly to protect against dirt, stones, debris, and water getting inside your shoes. Excellent breathability means they don’t make your feet sweat on hot days—as I’ve found on local trail runs and on a nine-day hike of about 130 miles through the High Sierra in August, mostly on the John Muir Trail and on mornings with wet vegetation overhanging trails on a weeklong September hike in Glacier National Park. The adjustable and tough DuraLink instep strap tucks into any shoe or boot lugs and its rounded shape prevents it snagging on rocks or roots; it also won’t get chewed up by rocks like some lighter nylon straps. While the Renagaiter Low is best for low-cut, lightweight shoes and the Mid for mid-cut boots, both adjust to fit a range of footwear, making them ideal for all backpacking, dayhiking, and trail-running uses.

I wore the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hybrid Gaiters ($39, 2.5 oz./70.9g, two sizes) while trekking hut-to-hut for six days on Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails, when it rained for parts of almost every day and we hiked at times over muddy trail; while backpacking and dayhiking from a base camp for three days in the first week of April in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon, frequently walking in the shallow river and using the gaiters to keep stones and sand out of my boots; as well as hiking through wet trailside vegetation while backpacking in the Wind River Range and on local trail runs and hikes when wet snow covered the trails. Stretchy, breathable, wind- and water-resistant Ferrosi fabric kept my feet dry and is rated UPF 50+ for maximum UV protection. A tough, hypalon instep strap, hook-and-loop attachment for the shoe’s heel, and a drawcord cinch at the top hold the gaiters in place.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these links to purchase the Kahtoola Renagaiter Mid or Renagaiter Low at rei.com, or the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hybrid Gaiters at backcountry.com or outdoorresearch.com.

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Camp Chair

Light and small enough to carry into the backcountry, the Helinox Chair Zero ($140, 1 lb. 1 oz./481.9g, not including 1-oz. stuff sack) will force you to ask yourself why you’d ever tolerate squatting on a rock or log in camp again. The chair consists of a fabric seat that slips over a shock-corded pole structure that forms the chair’s back and legs; and it assembles quickly, like a hubbed tent pole system.

The result is a comfortable seat that’s 20 inches wide, 19 inches deep, 25 inches tall, and whose bottom rises 11 inches above terra firma—unlike chair kits that, while less bulky, are often no lighter, and place your butt at ground level. It also, impressively, has a carrying capacity of 265 pounds/120.2 kilograms, although 200-pounders might find the chair a little tippy, and packs down to 14x4x4 inches, roughly the dimensions of a lightweight backpacking air mattress. Unless you’re ultralight backpacking or thru-hiking, having a comfortable chair in camp may seem well worth the effort of carrying 17 ounces/481.9 grams.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Helinox Chair Zero at backcountry.com, or various Helinox chairs and other products at backcountry.com.

Want an even more comfortable camping chair? While too bulky and heavy for backpacking, the Helinox Sunset Chair ($170, 3 lbs. 8 oz.) will be the envy of your friends when car camping.

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Camp Shoes

I generally consider camp shoes superfluous weight: I often hike in low-cut shoe and just wear them like slippers in camp, with the laces quite loose and the tongue flipped up. But when I need or want footwear for backpacking campsites, water fords, and paddling trips, two different types of footwear have become my go-to picks, depending on the trip.

For cooler backcountry trips, especially when hiking in midweight boots in wet climates, where I want warm, dry footwear in camp, I like the Allbirds Men’s Wool Runners ($110, 17 oz./481.9g, pair US men’s 10). For backpacking in the Wind River Range and elsewhere, on hut and yurt trips, and for river fords, these lightweight, packable, comfortable, warm shoes were perfect. The uppers and insoles are made from super fine Merino wool—keeping feet warm even if wet—and instead of the EVA foam traditionally used in footwear, Allbirds uses SweetFoam, made from sugarcane, and calls it “the world’s first carbon-negative green EVA.” Sizing runs small; buy up one full size in men’s and women’s models. Allbirds.com.

Rhamani sandals ($80, 14 oz./396.9g, pair US men’s 9) come in one style with multiple configurations, thanks to the removable heel and forefoot straps and retractable toe loop—and the strap system is secure enough that I took hikes from campsites, walking faint use trails and splashing through creeks, on a six-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. The contoured footbed feels plush and the outsole grips well on a variety of ground surfaces—packed-dirt trails, pebbly riverbanks, scrambling on rocks. Best of all: They weigh about half of many sports sandals. Sizing is standard whole sizes. rhamani.com.

Sun Hat

On hot days from the Grand Canyon in spring and fall to the intense alpine sun in mountains like the High Sierra, I always wear a wide-brim hat to keep my squash from baking—which makes a big difference in how I feel over the course of hours hiking in such heat. But sun protection isn’t the only performance feature that matters.

In unusually strong winds that blew for three straight days in the Wind River Range, the Patagonia Quandary Brimmer wide-brim hat ($65, 4 oz./113g) stayed put on my head, keeping the alpine sun off it. The semi-rigid, wide brim completely shades your face and neck and resists getting flattened against the side of your head by strong gusts while also having enough flexibility to fold up for stuffing into a pack or exterior pocket. The toggle adjustment in the back enables a snug fit that, along with the adjustable chin strap, prevents the hat from taking flight in wind. The light, 96 percent recycled nylon fabric, breathable crown, and soft, wicking headband keep it comfortable in the heat.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Patagonia Quandary Brimmer hat at backcountry.com.

Windproof, Waterproof Emergency Matches

The UCO Titan Matches ($13, 3 oz./85g). will fire up in any downpour, no matter how wet. Each thick, four-inch-long match provides 25 seconds of wind and waterproof burning; they even relight after being submerged in water. The kit includes 12 matches, three replaceable strikers, a waterproof case that floats, and a cord that attaches to a lanyard.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this link to purchase UCO Titan Matches at rei.com.

See also my recommended backpacking gear checklist and menus of all of my reviews of backpacks, backpacking boots, hiking shoes, tents, and sleeping bags. And don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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Backpacks come in many sizes and designs for a reason: so do backpackers. Some of us need a pack for moderate loads, some for heavy loads, and others, increasingly, for lightweight or ultralight backpacking. Some prefer a minimalist pack, others a range of features and access. Everyone wants the best possible fit and comfort, and almost everyone has a budget. But no matter which type of backpacker you are, this review covers the best packs in each of those categories.

Each of my picks for the 10 best backpacking packs stands out for different reasons. I also point out two excellent packs for kids and small adults (at the bottom of the Gregory Paragon/Maven review). My judgments draw from many thousands of miles and more than three decades of backpacking and a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. Few reviewers have lugged as many packs around the backcountry as me.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

I’m confident at least one of these packs will be perfect for you—plus you’ll find the best prices for them through the affiliate links to online retailers below. Purchasing gear through my affiliate links supports my work on this blog. Thanks for doing that.

I’ve listed the pack reviews below in order by weight because that’s the metric that most defines and influences a pack’s design and functionality. The ratings admittedly tend to favor more-featured packs, which are heavier, and that may not meet your needs; use the ratings as a comparison with packs of similar weight. The pack you ultimately choose may depend partly on weight, but also on design and on your budget. Each pack review in this article links to that pack’s complete review at The Big Outside.

Not sure what type of pack you need? Start with my “5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack.” See also my picks for “The Best Ultralight Backpacks.”

The comparison chart below offers a quick look at stats and features that distinguish these packs from one another.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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The 10 Best Backpacking Packs

Tough, Waterproof Ultralight

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
$395, 1 lb. 15 oz./879 g (55L)
hyperlitemountaingear.com

When the Windrider was delivered to my house, the box looked much too small to contain a backpack. Like the best sub-three-pound, ultralight packs, the Windrider handles 30 to 35 pounds well, but weighs anywhere from a half-pound to nearly a pound less than those competitors. It has the capacity for going several days between resupplies. Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof. The fixed suspension comes in four sizes—more than offered by most high-end pack makers—and the simple harness system works.

Three big, external mesh pockets add nearly 10 liters of capacity, and the roomy, zippered hipbelt pockets offer convenience. A top-loader with a roll-top closure, the Windrider is noticeably bereft of features found on many other packs. But its minimalist design, durability, capacity, comfort, and low weight will appeal to many backpackers who prefer hiking over simply hauling.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest ($395, 55L/3,400 c.i., 2 lbs., four sizes) is virtually identical to the Windrider except that it replaces the durable, tearproof mesh used in the external pockets with a more durable, Dyneema Hardline fabric—same as used in the zippered hipbelt pockets on both packs.

Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com or a Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest backpack at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

Want an ultralight pack with more total capacity than the Windrider and seven external pockets, that weighs and costs less? See my review of the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
or other parks using my expert e-books.

Ultralight With Extras

Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55
Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55
$270, 2 lbs. 11 oz./1.22 kg (Focal 58)
gregorypacks.com

Backpackers who are willing to accept a reasonable weight penalty for some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry up to 35 pounds will like the top-loading men’s Focal and women’s Facet. They sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like good compression and attachments for trekking poles or an ice axe. And they’re made with recycled fabrics.

Gregory’s attention to comfort in its ultralight backpack is evident in the aluminum perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and an HDPE framesheet that lend the pack substantial rigidity, distributing most of the load across the hips. The tensioned, ventilated back panel allows air movement across your sweaty back. That support and comfort kept me smiling on strenuous days of hiking up to 12 miles with over 7,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss—including seven very steep off-trail miles—backpacking for six days in the Grand Canyon. These are well-designed, comfortable packs for ultralighters who want some organizational features of traditional backpacks.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Gregory Focal 58 or Focal 48 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com, or a women’s Gregory Facet 55 or Facet 45 at rei.com, backcountry.com, or gregorypacks.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Ultralight Classic

Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58
$285, 2 lbs. 14 oz./1.3 kg (Exos 58)
Exos 58: backcountry.com
Eja 58: osprey.com

On a nine-day, nearly 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, I found the updated-for-2022 Exos 58 keeps what has made it a classic since 2008 while getting even better. Now with improved comfort, thanks to an adjustable suspension with a four-inch fit range, and made with 100 percent recycled materials, the Exos and Eja come in two torso sizes and three capacity sizes. As before, the LightWire perimeter frame carries 30 to 35 pounds comfortably, while the perforated-foam hipbelt and shoulder straps distribute that weight nicely. And the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back.

Made a bit more durable through little design improvements, the redesigned Exos 58 and Eja 58 have the capacity for weeklong trips and ultralight thru-hiking. At under three pounds, they have smart features like a removable, floating lid with two pockets, spacious pockets on the front, sides, and hipbelt, Z-style side compression, and a handy trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap. The Exos and Eja also come in 48-liter ($240) and 38-liter ($220) versions.

Read my complete review of the Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase any men’s Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or any women’s Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

See my review of another outstanding pack with the same price, weight, and basic design, though differences, the Gregory men’s Focal 58 and women’s Facet 55.

Be comfortable on your hikes. See “The Best Rain Jackets For Hiking and Backpacking.”

Comfort and Low Weight

Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5
$285, 2 lbs. 15 oz./1.33 kg
backcountry.com

Among similar, mid-size, ultralight backpacking packs, Deuter’s Aircontact Ultra 50+5 distinguishes itself for the adjustable, comfortable fit and smart design details that make a difference in your experience carrying it. I found the Aircontact Ultra 50+5 comfortable with up to about 35 pounds inside on hikes of three days on southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons loop and six days on the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route—and I severely overloaded it on the first day of my Grand Canyon trip without it leaving me feeling destroyed, which says something.

Credit for its comfort and stability going up and down very steep, loose trails on both trips goes to a spring steel wire frame that balances slight flex with structural support, plus hipbelt fins and shoulder straps that rotate to absorb your body’s movement, steadying the pack while hiking. Spacer mesh in the back panel, lumbar pad, shoulder straps, and hipbelt deliver nice ventilation and cushioning. This top-loader fit my gear, food, and often extra water for six days in its spacious main compartment, augmented by six external pockets including a large stretch-mesh front pocket as well as side and hipbelt pockets. Light but reasonably tough, 175-denier polyamide fabric makes it as durable as many backpacking packs in this weight class.

Read my complete review of the Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Deuter Aircontact Ultra 50+5 backpack at backcountry.com, or any model in the Aircontact Ultra series at backcountry.com.

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Uniquely Adjustable Fit

Granite Gear Perimeter 50
$250, 3 lbs. 3 oz./1.4 kg
backcountry.com

When I loaded the Perimeter 50 with about 12 pounds of water on the first day of a 45-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite—bumping the pack’s weight over the 40 pounds that Granite Gear rates it to handle—I was pleasantly surprised at its comfort. That seems like a bonus for a backpack with a customizable fit and high functionality that carries a modest weight and price.

Granite Gear’s Perimeter series packs feature adjustability for both torso length and shoulder width, easily accomplished by resetting the position of a clip behind each shoulder strap. A spring steel rod lends the pack an ergonomic shape plus rigidity along the vertical axis and some horizontal flex, while a PE board cone disperses weight. A top-loader, it has eight external pockets, including a removable, floating lid pocket and a bottom zippered flap that can also carry a sleeping pad, and tough, Robic high-tenacity nylon fabric.

Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Perimeter 50.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a unisex or women’s Perimeter 50 at backcountry.com, or a unisex or women’s Perimeter 35 at backcountry.com.

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Most Versatile

Granite Gear Blaze 60
$300, 3 lbs. 4 oz./1.47 kg
backcountry.com

How many pounds can a lightweight backpack carry comfortably? At just a half-pound heavier than some ultralight packs, the Blaze 60 hauled 40 pounds comfortably on a rugged, six-day, 74-mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, and up to 35 pounds on a four-day, more than 40-mile backpacking trip that crossed four passes near and over 11,000 feet in the Wind River Range.

The Air Current framesheet flexes slightly, allowing the pack to move with your torso, especially in steep or difficult terrain. The ventilated back panel fits closely but has channels for air circulation and the Re-Fit hipbelt felt great even on long, arduous days. It has the capacity and support for long trips and the compression and low weight for short trips, plus super access with a wide top-loading mouth, a zipper into the main compartment, and six external pockets. It comes in three unisex and two women’s sizes, all adjustable, and the fabric is bombproof. The Blaze 60 ranks among the top all-purpose backpacks.

Read my complete review of the Granite Gear Blaze 60.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com, or a women’s-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at backcountry.com.

Hike all of “The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest.”

Excellent Fit, Features, and Durability

Mystery Ranch Radix 57
$299, 3 lbs. 11 oz./1.67 kg
backcountry.com

With the Radix 57, Mystery Ranch asks backpackers: How light is just right? I pondered that question carrying the Radix 57 on backpacking trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, southern Utah’s Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, and two classic New Zealand hut treks, the Routeburn Track and the Milford Track, and found much to like and a couple of quibbles.

Mystery Ranch prioritized fit, features and functionality in a design that seems a hybrid of traditional bigger and ultralight packs, including six external pockets; zippered access to the main compartment; wrap-around compression that’s removable if needing repair; attachments for trekking poles or ice axe; a removable 7000 series aluminum frame and hipbelt; highly durable materials and construction; plus an unusually big range of four adjustable sizes each in men’s and women’s packs. On the downside, I found the hipbelt’s comfort limit was just a bit over 30 pounds—which seems low for a pack this heavy.

Read my complete review of the Mystery Ranch Radix 57.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 57, Radix 47, or Radix 31 at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Score a popular permit using my
“10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit.”

Quiver of One Backpack

Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58
$300, 3 lbs. 12 oz./1.7 kg (Paragon 60)
Paragon 60: backcountry.com
Maven 58: backcountry.com

When Gregory rolled out the 2025 update of these popular packs, I took the Paragon 60 on a four-day, 40-mile walk in the Grand Canyon that included humping up the brutally steep Boucher Trail—which convinced me that the fully featured Paragon 60 and women’s Maven 58 still offer everything that many backpackers want for every kind of trip they take.

These packs have support for carrying at least 35 to 40 pounds comfortably, thanks to an alloy steel perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and Gregory’s cushy FreeFloat Suspension System. Adjustable for torso length in two sizes, both have Gregory’s Air-Cushion mesh back panel, consisting of 90 percent air, which helped cool my back on hot afternoons in the Grand Canyon. Their excellent organization includes a zipper providing access to the main compartment, six external pockets—and new for 2025, a stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap that’s sized to hold a Garmin inReach Mini or inReach Messenger device.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Paragon 60 and Maven 58.

BUY IT NOW  You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Paragon 60 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or a women’s Maven 58 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com. And see all Paragon models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or all Maven models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com.

Get the right tent for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
and my “5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent.”

Ultimate  Comfort

Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65
$370, 4 lbs. 11 oz./2.1 kg (Atmos AG 65)
Atmos AG 65: ospreypacks.com
Aura AG 65: ospreypacks.com

These packs feel very different, in a good way, the first time you put one on, and that positive first impression bore out as I carried the Atmos AG 65 on a five-day hike in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, when I was often carrying 8.5 to 14.5 pounds (four to seven liters) of water; on a four-day family hike (bearing some of my family’s gear and food weight) on the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park; and on two treks in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park as well as other backpacking trips. The Anti-Gravity suspension feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack. Consisting of a panel of lightweight, tensioned mesh extending from the top of the back panel to the hipbelt, it fully wraps around your back and hips while delivering ample air movement.

Adjustable for fit, including the hipbelt, they carry 45 to 50 pounds with supreme comfort and come loaded with features like nine pockets, a convenient trekking poles attachment on the left shoulder strap, and an integrated cover panel to replace the removable lid. Weighing well under five pounds, they’re a great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads.

Read my complete review of the Osprey men’s Atmos AG 65 and women’s Aura AG 65.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy any model of the men’s Osprey Atmos AG at ospreypacks.com or rei.com, or any model of the women’s Aura AG at ospreypacks.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Get the right daypack for your hikes. See my review of “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”

Excels for Big Loads

Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60
$350, 4 lbs. 14 oz./2.2 kg (Baltoro 65)
Baltoro 65: rei.com
Deva 60: rei.com

For carrying loads of 50 pounds or more, I want a pack that’s supportive, comfortable, and tricked out. In every respect, the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva packs have long filled the big-pack role extremely well, and trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and on the Teton Crest Trail demonstrated that the latest versions of these two packs are only better.

The Baltoro’s and Deva’s FreeFloat suspension system, updated in 2022, has 3D mesh and a foam-free design that improves air flow across your back; more adjustability in the torso length (in three sizes for men and women), shoulder harnesses, and hipbelt (and the latter two pivot independently, enhancing comfort); enlarged hipbelt pockets; an attachment for a bear spray holster; and a lighter carbon footprint with 31 percent less plastic. And the high-strength aluminum perimeter frame delivers serious support.

Features include a U-shaped zipper that opens up the entire main compartment; nine very functional external pockets; widely adjustable compression straps that cross over the pack bag; and attachments for sunglasses, trekking poles, and ice axes.

Read my complete review of the Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a Gregory Baltoro 65 at gregory.com or rei.com; a Gregory Deva 60 at gregory.com or rei.com; or larger versions of the Baltoro at gregory.com or rei.com or the Deva at gregory.com or rei.com.

See my “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” “Video: How to Load a Backpack,” all of my reviews of backpacks at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year, and avoid leaving anything important behind by using “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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You’re out on an all-day hike or a long climb or trail run or ride in the mountains. The weather forecast looked pretty good before you set out—but no one shared that memo with the wind that just started hammering your summit ridge, or the spitting rain and hail now pelting you as you contemplate the sudden drop in temperature and the miles between you and shelter. The question now is: What’s in your pack?

If you’re smart, it’s an ultralight jacket that takes up little space, but is about to gift you with just the right amount of weather protection when you need it.

This article offers my expert tips on how to choose the best ultralight shell for your needs, followed by my freshly updated picks for the best models on the market today, based on real-world, backcountry field testing and my 30 years of experience reviewing outdoor gear and apparel, including more than 10 years running this blog and previously the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

Ultralight Jackets Explained

What is an ultralight shell jacket? There’s no consensus definition, and considerable variation among today’s models. But basically, the term “ultralight jacket” explains their primary advantage: They weigh under about 10 ounces—and some a fraction of that—and are very packable, often stuffing down to the size of a fist. In other words, they are usually less than half the weight and bulk of a standard waterproof-breathable jacket. While a few may be partly or even fully waterproof, many are water-resistant and windproof, providing a minimum level of protection from the elements.

While these jackets, also known as ultralight wind shells, are marketed primarily to runners, they are often a better choice than a heavier, bulkier rain jacket for dayhikers, climbers, and lightweight/ultralight backpackers who don’t expect to encounter heavy rain. I’ve used many of the models reviewed here for lightweight dayhikes and some of the more durable models for backpacking and climbing when the forecast threatened no more than light showers.

Although they certainly look very minimalist, they deliver all the protection you need from wind and light rain—the conditions many of us often encounter far more often than full-on storms. Some of them are partly or fully waterproof-breathable, and kept me dry in steady rain; but they lack the full hood coverage, features, and degree of waterproofing that a heavier rain jacket provides, and I don’t recommend ultralight jackets for hours or days of sustained rain.

The truth is, because standard, heavier, waterproof-breathable shells are, by definition, not as breathable as shells that are simply water-resistant, they are not the best choice for activities where you sweat a lot, like running or rigorous uphill hiking with a pack on, because they often cause you to get soaked from perspiration. Waterproof-breathable shells have their place, for sure. But they are heavier, bulkier, and more expensive than an ultralight jacket, in addition to being generally less useful in the situations we commonly encounter in the backcountry.

The notion seems counterintuitive, but it’s possible to have too much of a jacket. If you rarely pull on a rain jacket because it’s too much for most circumstances you encounter, then you need an ultralight jacket.

Whether you’re a dayhiker, backpacker, ultra-hiker, runner, or climber, when you choose the right ultralight shell for your activity and climate, it will probably become the jacket you grab and actually wear most often—and possibly the most versatile piece of outerwear you own, useful in a layering system tailored to any season and multiple outdoor sports.

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How to Choose an Ultralight Jacket

While many ultralight shells are similar in appearance and weight, they can vary significantly in functionality.

Simply put, the best ultralight jackets for trail running may be different from the best models for cool-weather hiking, climbing, or ultralight backpacking, and your choice will also depend on the typical weather you encounter.

Here’s what to look for:

• Breathability vs. weather resistance. Ultralight jackets generally trade off fully waterproof protection for better breathability. However, models in this category can vary greatly in how each balances breathability and wind protection, and some have partially or completely waterproof fabrics while remaining ultralight and packable. But “waterproof” in an ultralight jacket doesn’t generally equal the protection of a two-layer or three-layer, heavier waterproof-breathable jacket (like Gore-Tex); sustained hard rain can cause it to wet through.

• Hybrid vs. uniform shell. “Hybrid” in this context refers to the shell blending some fully waterproof-breathable fabric—usually in the shoulders, torso, and hood—with more breathable, non-waterproof fabric in the sides and underarms, allowing the jacket to release body heat and moisture in areas not likely to receive much direct precipitation. These jackets are versatile for a wide range of conditions and activity levels. By “uniform” shell, I mean either a water-resistant soft-shell fabric or a waterproof-breathable fabric—but one or the other, not a hybrid combination of both.

• Insulated or not. While it’s not usually the case, ultralight jackets occasionally feature a light amount of strategically placed insulation—typically in the torso—making them more of a cool-weather, fall through spring garment, but also versatile for everything from climbing bigger mountains in summer to aerobic activities like running, Nordic skiing, or hiking and snowshoeing in winter.

• Hood or no hood. For the most part, I find a simple, uninsulated shell hood almost essential in an ultralight jacket—it provides a noticeable boost in warmth and weather protection at very little cost in terms of weight, bulk, or dollars. Many ultralight shells, but not all, have a hood or a hooded version, and this comes down to personal preference as well as typical usage: If you need a shell simply for local runs of an hour or two in wind or cool temps, with a chance of a light shower, you may not need a hood. If you’re heading into the mountains for hours or days, you probably want a hood.

The Best Ultralight Jackets

I’ve listed the following jackets in order from lightest to heaviest.

My advice: Look at each of the reviews below to narrow your choices to the two or three that sound best for your needs, and then go to the complete reviews of those jackets to help you make your pick. You will support my work on this blog by purchasing any of these jackets through the affiliate links provided here or in the complete reviews, at no cost to you; in fact, you’ll usually find the best prices at those links. Thanks for doing that.

I encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences with any of these jackets, or another ultralight shell that you like, in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Stay dry, happy, and safe. See my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Rain Jacket for Hiking”
and all reviews of rain jackets at The Big Outside.

Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell
Why it’s special: Lightest and most packable protection from wind and light rain.
$199, 3.5 oz./99.2g (men’s medium)
blackdiamondequipment.com

The more I wore the Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell—the lightest and most packable hooded shell in this review—the more I liked and used it. Those outings ranged widely, including running the Grand Canyon 42 miles rim to rim to rim in one day in early October, a five-day June trek through Spain’s Picos de Europa Mountains, a September weekend of rock climbing in cool temps and gusty wind at Idaho’s City of Rocks, and mountain biking through a sudden downpour. And not only does this shell perform well, but it may be the greenest ultralight wind shell on the market.

The Distance Wind Shell has a basic suite of features found in other ultralight shells: It stuffs easily into its one zippered chest pocket, packing down tosmaller than a baseball, and has elasticized cuffs, an adjustable hem, and an adjustable, helmet-compatible hood. But it replaces a traditional DWR (durable, water-resistant) fabric treatment with a PFC-free, water-repellent finish that gets permanently hyper-fused to the fabric fibers, making it more durable and greener than DWRs. Best of all, of course, its breathability and weather resistance compare with the best in this category.

See my complete review of the Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell at backcountry.com or blackdiamondequipment.com.

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Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Hoody
Why it’s special: Great balance of high breathability, low weight, packability, weather resistance, and durability.
$165, 5.1 oz./145g (men’s medium)
backcountry.com

After sweating hard on a hot and humid June morning hiking up the brutally steep headwall of Huntington Ravine on Mount Washington, we hit the cool wind in the mountain’s alpine terrain—so I pulled on my Kor Airshell Hoody and it tamed that wind while breathing so well that the wet sun shirt against my skin dried out quickly. And that pattern of sweating and hitting wind continued throughout that two-day hut trek in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range.

A midweight ultralight wind shell at a hair over five ounces,the highly packable Kor Airshell Hoody balances its two superpowers of low weight and excellent breathability with respectable weather resistance and durability, as I also found wearing it running hilly trails and hiking from the Boise Foothills to early spring backpacking trips on a section of the Arizona Trail and in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon. Besides its breathability, the ultralight, recycled, 20-denier Pertex Quantum Air ripstop nylon fabric lends the Kor better durability than the lightest ultralight shells.

With a comfortable fit and soft fabric, an elasticized hood with a low-profile brim that provides decent coverage, elasticized hem and cuffs, and two zippered hand pockets—more than found on many competitors—it’s a great choice for dayhikers, trail runners, climbers, and others who mostly need good breathability but may encounter a range of weather conditions short of sustained, hard rain.

See my complete review of the Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Hoody.

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Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie
Why it’s special: Combo of high breathability and comfort, weather resistance, packability, and durability.
$140, 5.8 oz./164.4g (men’s medium)
backcountry.com

We expect a lot of our ultralight wind shells: We want them to breathe well when we’re hiking or running uphill while, of course, blocking the wind effectively—and feel good. On trail runs, dayhikes, and a backpacking trip from southern Utah’s canyon country in spring to the mountains of Southwest Idaho, in a wide range of weather that challenges any outer layer to keep you comfortable, the Shadow Wind Hoodie did just that quite well.

The Shadow’s distinguishing component is its lightweight but durable, 20-denier, stretch-woven fabric: Impressively breathable and resistant to light precipitation, it feels softer against skin than most ultralight shells—especially the lightest out there, which can feel a bit like a plastic petroleum product.

But it offers so much more, too. The trim fit provides space for a couple of base layers plus light insulation and very good stretch lets this jacket move with you—great for hiking, running, climbing, and other activities. The close-fitting, under-the-helmet hood is adjustable—uncommon in an ultralight shell—protects your face well and stows inside the collar. The Shadow also has three zippered pockets. Just an ounce or two heavier than the lightest hooded wind shells, it stuffs inside the chest pocket to about the size of a softball.

See my complete review of the Outdoor Research Shadow Wind Hoodie.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie at backcountry.com, rei.com, or outdoorresearch.com.

Get the right pack for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and the “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Why it’s special: Very light and packable waterproof-breathable shell.
$170, 6 oz./170.1g (men’s medium), $180, 6 oz. (women’s medium)
backcountry.com

In the world of waterproof-breathable outerwear, the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket pushes the extreme low end in weight and packability—very appealing to hikers, ultralight backpackers, and trail runners. I’ve worn this six-ounce hooded shell on trail runs and hikes in my local foothills, in weather ranging from biting wind and temps in the 30s to heavily falling, wet snow for over two hours. I also wore it at times on an early September, five-day backpacking trip on the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, where it fended off heavy mist and cool winds, and through cold wind and some light rain showers on a five-day hike in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park in early March—and for trips with no serious rain in the forecast, it saved me from carrying twice the weight and bulk in a standard rain jacket.

Constructed from 30-denier ripstop nylon, waterproof-breathable Pertex Shield, it employs Diamond Fuse technology, which uses yarns with diamond-shaped filaments that lock together, lending it relatively good durability and snag-resistance for a fabric this light. It fought off dumping wet snow while I ran and hiked and didn’t build up too much moisture inside; but breathability is not exceptional. It has an adjustable hood, comfortable fit, and one zippered chest pocket that the shell stuffs inside. For anyone needing a just-in-case ultralight shell for wind and rain, the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket delivers waterproof protection in a compact package at a good value for its performance and low weight.

See my complete review of the Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Helium Jacket at backcountry.com or rei.com, or a women’s Helium Rain Jacket at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Which puffy should you buy? See “The 12 Best Down Jackets” and
“How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is.”

Rab Downpour Light Waterproof Jacket
Why it’s special: Lightweight and packable waterproof-breathable shell.
$165, 7.7 oz./219g (men’s medium)
backcountry.com

This ultralight rain shell kept me dry while backpacking through wind-driven rain and hail in a thunderstorm on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. At just 7.7 ounces/219 grams and packing down to the size of a softball, it was also a perfect choice for wind protection and just in case of rain (which only fell early one morning, before we got up) while backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route.

Rab’s 20-denier, 2.5-layer Proflex stretch-woven waterproof nylon fabric also breathes well, and the adjustable hood offers decent face protection. If you generally avoid severe weather, the Downpour Light delivers all the protection you need in a lighter, more packable design that’s far less expensive than that high-end rain shell that’s overbuilt for your needs.

See my complete review of the Rab Downpour Light Waterproof Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Rab Downpour Light Waterproof Jacket at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

Arc’teryx Atom SL Hoody
Why it’s special: Warmest ultralight jacket with good weather resistance and breathability.
$280, 9 oz./255g (men’s medium)
rei.com

The warmest and only insulated shell in this review, the Atom SL Hoody has been a go-to piece for me in situations as varied as backpacking in August in Canada’s Kootenay National Park and in October in Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains; scrambling a 10,000-foot peak in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and hiking to the very windy summit of 10,243-foot Mount Washburn in Yellowstone National Park in September; and numerous times Nordic skate-skiing in temps in the 20s and 30s.

Essentially an ultralight wind shell with some strategically placed insulation, it delivers just enough warmth for being active in cool temps without causing you to overheat. Credit the fleece under the arms and 40 grams of insulation in the torso, but no insulation in the hood or on the outside of the sleeves, where there’s just windproof shell fabric that breathes reasonably well. Arc’teryx’s Coreloft synthetic insulation is very compressible, retains heat when wet, and dries quickly. The adjustable hood stays put on your head, with or without a helmet. Whether I was standing on a windblown 10,000-footer, carrying a backpack through the mountains in conditions that shifted frequently between warm sunshine and overcast with cold wind, or perspiring profusely while skate-skiing, the Atom SL keep me warm but didn’t make me too hot. It’s ideal for cool to cold temps or anyone who gets cold easily in moderate temperatures.

See my complete review of the Arc’teryx Atom SL Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Arc’teryx Atom SL Hoody at rei.com or arcteryx.com.

See all trail-running gear reviews and outdoor apparel reviews at The Big Outside.

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Switching from a standard backpacking tent to an ultralight tent can shave pounds from your total pack weight—which for many backpackers will be the biggest step they can take toward a lighter pack. But it can be confusing to sort through the various ultralight tents out there, and the specs on them can look like a big pot of numeral soup, leaving you wondering: How are they different? And ultimately, which one is best for you?

I’ve tested and reviewed scores of tents of all types over a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for about 10 years and even longer running this blog. I love the best ultralight tents, but I’ve also used some that had flaws or shortcomings not immediately obvious.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

This article will explain all you need to know to find the three-season, ultralight tent that’s best for you. See also my “5 Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent.”

Please tell me what you think of my tips or share your questions, suggestions, or favorite ultralight tent model in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Size Matters

Consumers of backcountry gear have grown accustomed to focusing on the weight of a product—which is smart—but not always paying adequate attention to other performance metrics. Think of your tent’s weight like it’s a prospective spouse’s feelings about starting a family: It’s a critical and potentially make-or-break factor, but it’s not the only question to ask when evaluating compatibility.

An ultralight tent is a two-sided coin: Before getting one, be certain that low weight ranks as a higher priority to you than other metrics like living space, or you might be disappointed.

Fans of them typically include ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers, climbers, and others who focus on the experience outside rather than inside the tent, who often spend much of each day on the move, and who don’t mind dealing with the inconveniences or quirkiness of a non-traditional tent design. Big people looking to trim pack weight may be smart to get a tent that’s not the absolute lightest, but still reasonably light while providing a bit more space (more on square footage below).

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That said, there are ultralight tents and shelters that do have adequate or even abundant living space, especially those employing non-traditional designs. Floorless tents and tarps that pitch using trekking poles weigh mere ounces while offering much more sheltered living area per ounce (or gram) than traditional tents. While not freestanding, when pitched and staked out properly they often stand up to strong wind as well as—and sometimes better than—any heavier, three-season, freestanding tent. Some have a single-wall or hybrid single- and double-wall design (see below) and optional mesh inserts for buggy conditions. Ventilation, of course, is almost never a problem under a tarp.

You may want a light ground cloth, and site selection and an adequately warm bag both become more important when you’re not in an enclosed tent. But if you really want to reduce shelter weight, when bugs aren’t an issue and you don’t anticipate relentlessly wet, windy conditions, a tarp or similar minimalist shelter is unquestionably the best choice. Plus, if you also want to move to a lighter, smaller-volume pack, you have to first reduce the bulk of your two largest pieces of gear: your tent and sleeping bag.

All of which leads to the conclusion: Yes, size matters. There are tradeoffs to reducing weight. For many backcountry travelers, though, the benefits of a lighter pack far outweigh any disadvantages of an ultralight shelter. Once someone switches to one, they don’t tend to go back to carrying heavier tents.

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How Light Should You Go?

What is an ultralight tent? There’s no hard definition, but I would include any kind of backcountry shelter that’s under about three pounds (1.4 kg). While somewhat arbitrary, that cutoff lumps in a wide range of products, from freestanding, double-wall tents that are significantly lighter than traditional models to shelters weighing a pound or less.

I’m not suggesting you ignore all tents over three pounds; there are two-person, three-season tents weighing mere ounces over three pounds that have their merits. What matters more are your personal needs and preferences in a shelter. That will dictate the design features you want, which (along with your budget) will largely dictate the weight of the shelter you choose.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents.”

The weight of any kind of shelter (or any gear) basically depends on the type and amount of materials that go into it—a seemingly obvious fact, but one which affects everything from interior space to price. The visible differences include:

• Interior and vestibule space.
• One or two doors.
• Freestanding or requires staking (which includes semi-freestanding).
• Double- or single-wall.
• Whether it has dedicated tent poles or pitches using trekking poles.
• Whether it has a floor and/or bug-proof mesh walls.

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Freestanding or Not?

Tarps and some tents employ your trekking poles, eliminating the substantial weight and bulk of tent poles from your pack. These models can require a little more time and possibly some practice to pitch correctly—you’ll be wise to pitch it for the first time in your yard rather than during a rainstorm in the backcountry. But you’ll quickly familiarize yourself with the idiosyncrasies of one. And tent poles represent one of the single biggest chunks of weight you can remove from your pack, which is why these non-traditional shelters are the choice for serious ultralighters as well as any backpackers who simply want to pack as light as possible.

Besides, “freestanding” is a somewhat misleading term: While such tents do stand independent of stakes, they virtually always must be staked out, anyway, including their rainfly, to ensure that they stay put in wind and ventilate well.

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See my stories “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,”
and “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

What’s Best for You?

As I’ve basically laid out above, choosing any kind of backcountry shelter, and particularly an ultralight one, requires asking yourself a few questions:

• How high a priority is low weight to you?
• How much space do you need?
• Do you usually backpack in buggy seasons and/or wet and windy conditions?
• Will this be your only tent or an alternative shelter to use in circumstances appropriate for it?

In the final analysis, if your goal is as light a backpack as possible, nothing gets you closer to that goal than your choice of a shelter. Find the lightest one that still serves your essential needs.

See all reviews of ultralight backpacking tents and ultralight backpacking gear, my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent,” and my picks for the best ultralight backpacks at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

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A good backpacking tent not only makes your trips more comfortable by keeping you warm and dry in foul weather—it’s critical safety gear and one of the heaviest and most expensive items you’ll carry. Those facts alone are motivation enough to find the right tent for your style of backpacking. But how do you choose from the many models out there, which come in a huge range of designs, weights, and prices? Whether you’re shopping for your first backpacking shelter or looking to replace an old one, this review will help make that choice easy for you.

I’ve tested scores of backpacking tents over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—including the 10 years I spent as Backpacker magazine’s lead gear reviewer and even longer running this blog. This article covers my picks for the 10 top-performing, three-season backpacking tents available today—eight two-person models and two ultralight solo tents—with links to my complete review of each one. I think you’ll find at least one tent here that’s perfect for you.

Each of these tents is different enough from the others to give you clear choices, and they range from midweight to ultralight—because I believe every ounce should be justified in the gear I carry. The tents are listed from lightest to heaviest. The comparison chart below offers a quick look at specs and features that distinguish these tents from one another and offers an overall rating based on specific criteria that are detailed in a ratings chart at the bottom of each tent’s complete review.

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Spend your money smartly when picking out the right tent for your adventures: Start with my “5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent” and “Ultralight Backpacking Tents: How to Choose One.” (Like many stories at this blog, both of those are partially free for anyone to read but require a paid subscription to read in full.) And see all reviews of backpacking tents at The Big Outside.

Grab one of these tents and your days on the trail—with a lighter pack—will improve as much as your nights in camp.

Please share your thoughts and questions about these tents or others you like in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

The 10 Best Backpacking Tents

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1
$675, 16.8 oz./476.3g
hyperlitemountaingear.com

For three nights in the Wind River Range, this non-freestanding, ultralight, solo pyramid tent stood up to gusts exceeding 40 mph, plus hard, wind-driven rain for hours on our last night in the Winds and rain on a weeklong hike through Glacier National Park. Made with highly durable and waterproof Dyneema Composite fabrics and weighing under 17 ounces, it pitches using one trekking pole and six stakes. With 21 square feet of interior space and a 54-inch peak height, it feels palatial. And the hybrid single-wall design with one mesh wall, two peak vents, and perimeter mesh around the floor creates good high-low venting. The Mid-1 is arguably the best ultralight solo backpacking tent available today.

Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1 solo backpacking tent at hyperlitemountaingear.com, or the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 Tarp at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

See also my review of a modular ultralight tent that can accommodate one or two people, the SlingFin SplitWing Shelter Bundle.

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Gossamer Gear The One
$255, 1 lb. 2 oz./510g
gossamergear.com

Strong nighttime gusts on a six-day, 94-mile traverse of Glacier National Park on the Continental Divide Trail never rattled The One—affirming my impression that it is quite possibly the best value in a solo ultralight tent on the market today. A single-wall, non-freestanding A-frame that pitches using two adjustable trekking poles, with an interior tent featuring mesh bug netting and a bathtub floor, The One’s stability compares with many of the best freestanding, three-season tents. With a tall profile, nearly 20 square feet of floor space, and a 46-inch peak, living space is quite comfortable for a solo shelter. Cross-ventilation minimizes condensation and the vestibule shelters a pack and boots.

Read my complete review of the Gossamer Gear The One.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Gossamer Gear The One at gossamergear.com.

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Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2
$730, 1 lb. 2 oz./510g
hyperlitemountaingear.com

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 Insert with DCF11 Floor
$420, 1 lb. 4.5 oz./581g
hyperlitemountaingear.com

Through nights of steady, cold rain and wind backpacking in the Wind River Range, my 20-year-old son and I enjoyed the cavernous interior of HMG’s Ultamid 2 pyramid-style tarp-tent and Ultamid 2 Insert. Pitching with two trekking poles and weighing two ounces over a pound, this two-person, single-door, well-ventilated, waterproof and highly durable, single-wall shelter sports 63 square feet of floor space and a peak height over five feet—that’s approximately twice the space and half or less the weight of every heavier tent in this review. The separate Ultamid 2 Insert adds a tough bathtub floor and mesh walls while keeping total weight under 2.5 pounds. Although not without shortcomings, it has virtually no competitors for space-to-weight ratio, stability in almost any weather, and durability.

Read my complete review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 and Ultamid 2 Insert with DCF11 Floor.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 at hyperlitemountaingear.com, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 Insert at hyperlitemountaingear.com, any of the various insert or floor options for the Ultamid 2 at hyperlitemountaingear.com, the Ultamid 4 at hyperlitemountaingear.com, and the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid Voile Straps at hyperlitemountaingear.com.

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MSR Freelite 2
$500, 2 lbs./907g
cascadedesigns.com

Key fact about MSR’s updated Freelite 2: This double-wall, two-door, three-season, semi-freestanding tent weighs roughly three to nine ounces less than very similar tents in this category that have basically the same design… and has more interior space. Backpacking Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon in April and on two backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies in August, the Freelite 2’s 29 square feet of floor space and 39-inch peak height proved adequately livable for two of us. It withstood winds of 20 to 30 mph with no trouble and the almost entirely micro-mesh interior walls and the natural cross-ventilation of opposing doors prevented any trace of condensation even on a calm night just above freezing. If you prioritize those qualities in a tent, it stands above the most comparable competitors.

Read my complete review of the MSR Freelite 2.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase an MSR Freelite 2 at cascadedesigns.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or any Freelite tent model at cascadedesigns.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Nemo Hornet Osmo 2p
$480, 2 lbs. 1 oz./948g
backcountry.com

From a section of the Arizona Trail in April to camping in Idaho’s City of Rocks in June and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies in August, the Hornet Osmo 2p illustrated how it carves a narrow niche within a limited weight class of semi-freestanding, two-person, two-door, double-wall tents weighing precisely or barely over two pounds. For starters, Nemo’s proprietary Osmo fabric uses 100 percent recycled nylon and polyester yarns that boost strength and resistance to water and stretching without using chemicals. Set-up is a snap and its space-to-weight ratio compares with the best ultralight, double-wall tents. Features like the Flybar bridge pole and guy-outs on the exterior walls that clip to the rainfly to pull the walls outward create more space inside. Lastly, with poles that dissemble to just 12 inches long, the Hornet Osmo is more packable than competitors.

Read my complete review of the Nemo Hornet Osmo 2p.

Want a solo version of this tent? See my reviews of the Nemo Hornet Osmo 1p and the even lighter Nemo Hornet Elite Osmo 1p tents.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Nemo Hornet Osmo 2p at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com, or any Hornet Osmo tent model at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com, or any Hornet Elite Osmo tent model at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com.

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Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2
$500, 2 lbs. 3 oz./992g
rei.com

At barely over two pounds, the semi-freestanding Tiger Wall UL2 stands out in a small class of two-door, ultralight tents for its relatively comfortable living space, as I discovered sharing it with my wife for four nights backpacking in the Wind River Range. I also found the tent pitches very quickly and intuitively using a hubbed and color-coded DAC Featherlite pole. While its biggest tradeoff is space, the 28 square feet and 39-inch peak height compare with two-door tents that weigh several ounces more. Excellent ventilation, design features like dual zippers on the doors and spacious interior pockets make it a leader in this tiny category. The latest version of the tent features the high waterproofness of the brand’s proprietary HyperBead fabric.

Read my complete review of the nearly identical previous version of the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 at rei.com or backcountry.com.

You deserve a better backpack. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and the best ultralight backpacks.

Sea to Summit Alto TR2
$449, 2 lbs. 9 oz./1162g
rei.com

The semi-freestanding, two-door, double-wall Alto TR2 weighs barely more than two-and-a-half pounds, but on a five-day hike in Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness it proved far more livable than its 27 square feet of floor space suggests. The recipe is vertical walls, a generous 42.5-inch peak height—and most uniquely, a bridge pole with arms that swing upward, boosting headroom. It kept two of us dry in rain, ventilates very well, stood up to moderate wind, and has smart design details like high-low ventilation and two-way zippers on both the interior and vestibule doors. Pitching it requires a little practice and time, but that’s a minor tradeoff for this nice balance of low weight with stability and comfort.

Read my complete review of the Sea to Summit Alto TR2.

BUY IT NOW  You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Sea to Summit Alto TR2 at rei.com, or another version of the Sea to Summit Alto tent at rei.com.

Looking for a three-person tent? Take a look at the Sea to Summit Telos TR3 ($524, 4 lbs. 4 oz., fly and footprint pitch 3 lbs. 6 oz., at rei.com), which has a floor area of 39.5 square feet and a cavernous peak height of over 52 inches.

Lighten up with my expert tips in “Ultralight Backpacking Tents: How to Choose One.”

Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P
$550, 2 lbs. 10 oz./1191g
nemoequipment.com

There are exactly two fully freestanding, two-person tents on this list with two doors and vestibules that weigh under three pounds, so if that’s what you’re shopping for, you already have a short list. With 29 square feet of floor space, a 41-inch peak height and beaucoup headroom, and spacious vestibules, the Dragonfly’s space-to-weight ratio puts this shelter in an elite class with the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 (below). But more importantly, it’s very appealing to backpackers who want to reduce their pack weight without reducing their living and sleeping space. Besides some nice details, the Dragonfly Osmo 2P is also an ounce lighter and 50 bucks cheaper than its main competitor.

Nemo has updated the Dragonfly for 2023 with the Dragonfly Osmo in one-, two-, and three-person models. It’s virtually identical to the model reviewed here but now made with 100 percent recycled Osmo fabric.

Read my complete review of the nearly identical previous version, the Nemo Dragonfly 2P.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog , at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Nemo Dragonfly Osmo 2P at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com, or another version of the Dragonfly Osmo at backcountry.com or nemoequipment.com.

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Slingfin 2Lite
$505, 2 lbs. 10 oz./1191g
slingfin.com

Among the various small companies manufacturing ultralight tents with unique designs, few offer the appealing balance of livability, strength, and two doors found in the 2Lite from Slingfin. Pitching with standard DAC tent poles or trekking poles (trimming the weight to 2 lbs. 6 oz.)—with unique guylines that, when installed internally or externally, reinforce the tent’s strength—it stood up to winds of 30 to 40 mph on a hike of nearly 130 miles through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail. With a 28.5-square-foot interior, a 41-inch peak height, 89-inch length, and dual 10.5-square-foot vestibules, the 2Lite Trek offers more space and features than found in other tents around 2.5 pounds.

Read my complete review of the Slingfin 2Lite.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking these affiliate links to buy a Slingfin 2Lite at slingfin.com and the 2Lite Trek Conversion Kit at slingfin.com.

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Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
$600, 2 lbs. 11 oz./1219g
backcountry.com

Sporting features—including two awning-style doors that can be rolled up for maximum ventilation and stargazing, better buckles, and abundant interior pockets—the Copper Spur HV UL2 remains one of the leading choices for backpackers seeking an ultralight tent that doesn’t compromise on sturdiness or livability. DAC Featherlite hubbed poles create steep walls that make the tent feel roomier than its 29 square feet, 40-inch peak height, and 88-inch length. It pitches easily, the vestibules are spacious, ventilation excellent, and the Copper Spur keeps the weather on the outside. If you’re looking for a freestanding, two-door, ultralight tent that doesn’t feel like a two-person coffin, you have very few options, and this tent remains one of the best.

Read my complete review of the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 at backcountry.com or rei.com or another version of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL series at backcountry.com or rei.com.

See all reviews of backpacking tents, backpacking gear and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Don’t miss my picks for “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year. And make sure you’re packing everything that’s important with “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free. If you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

The choices in tents for backpacking seem to get better every year, with lightweight models continually getting lighter and other advances that make tents sturdier and more livable without adding weight. But with all the options out there, how do you choose? The answer is simpler than you might think: It comes down to understanding the key differences that distinguish tents from one another—which will help you understand what you need.

Like tents, backpackers come in different sizes and their needs in a tent vary depending on their style of backpacking and where they go. In testing scores of backpacking tents over a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for about 10 years and even longer running this blog—I’ve acquired a sense of what to look for in a tent and how to help people pick out one they like.

The five simple tips in this article will help you find the tent that’s best for your needs. Please share any tips of your own or your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this story; I try to respond to all comments.

See also my story “How to Choose the Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent for You,” which explains specific details and design differences that apply to all tents.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
and all backpacking tent reviews at The Big Outside.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

#1 What Kind of Backpacker Are You?

Is tent weight your top priority, or weather resistance, or interior space and livability? You’ll spend countless hours and nights, as well as plenty of waking hours inside that shelter; make sure it’s going to be enjoyable, and it all comes down to your personal style of backpacking.

Consider these three backpacker profiles:

If you’re the kind of backpacker who’s not interested in rising early and rushing out of camp, and who prefers to hike for not much more than half the day and reach your next camp with time to relax in the warm afternoon sun and perhaps take a swim in a lake or creek, you may prefer a tent with good interior space. That becomes doubly true if your usual destinations present the prospect of rain keeping you inside that tent for hours. Weight may not be your top priority. Still, consider weight as you compare tents, because you do have to carry that shelter.

On the other hand, if you are the kind of backpacker who loves to hit the trail early and bang out big mileage every day—like many ultralighters and thru-hikers—then weight probably is your top priority, and you’re willing to tolerate some compromises in your tent to minimize pack weight because you have a higher ratio of hours spent hiking to hours spent in the tent..

Do you fall somewhere between those two descriptions—not an early-rising, big-mileage backpacker, but nonetheless keen to keep your pack weight comfortable? There are tent models that strike a balance between livability and moderate weight.

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#2 Read the Reviews Closely

Yes, there are a lot of gear reviews in the ether and in print. Find sources you consider authoritative and experienced, whose perspective is shaped by having slept in many tents: With tents especially, the average backpacker doesn’t buy or use very many models, and people have a natural bias to want to affirm that a purchase they made was a good one, so they’ll tend to comment positively—but vaguely.

Read reviews for details you can’t glean by simply checking out a tent in a store, like how well it stands up to wind and rain, the ease of pitching it and breaking it down, and whether it has a problem with condensation buildup, especially on chilly, calm nights.

Use reviews in conjunction with your preferences in a tent to narrow your list to a few finalists—or perhaps easily winnow it to one obvious good choice for you. And lastly, look for brands known for making good tents or that you’ve read good reviews about. You may ultimately settle on a tent from a brand after hearing or reading about another model from that same brand.

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#3 The Little Details Matter

But some little things matter more than others. Here are some key details to examine in a backpacking tent:

A tent will typically last for many years. Make sure you’re satisfied with it.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents” and all reviews of backpacking tents, ultralight backpacking tents, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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Here’s an axiom of outdoor layering systems that will never change: No piece of outdoor apparel offers more versatility than a highly breathable, midweight insulation layer. It’s very possible that the only “layer” you will wear more is your skin. Find a highly breathable midweight hoody or jacket that’s soft and fits like it was custom made for your torso and you have something that may spend more time on your body than in your closet—and few compare with Patagonia’s R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody’s versatility for almost any outdoor user, from hard-core backpackers, climbers, and backcountry skiers to the average dayhiker or fitness walker, as I have found time and again wearing it backpacking, dayhiking, various forms or skiing, and camping, as well as countless days around town.

At 12.5 ounces/354 grams (men’s medium), this midweight fleece is designed for wearing as an outer or middle layer in a huge range of cool to cold temperatures, including activities and seasons as diverse as hiking or climbing in virtually any mountains in any month of the year, southern climes from fall through spring, or for any winter activity—skiing, hiking, running, walking, you pick.

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To spotlight some examples of the many times and ways I’ve used this hoody, it kept me warm without overheating—rarely even breaking a sweat—wearing it:

• Hiking in chilly, very strong wind on three-day hikes on both the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park and the Nigel, Cataract, and Cline Passes Route in the White Goat Wilderness of the Canadian Rockies in the first week of August;
• Over one base layer while hiking with a full pack, uphill and downhill, on cool, generally calm mornings and windy afternoons during a weeklong, nearly 70-mile September backpacking trip in Glacier National Park;
• On early January hikes in Idaho’s upper Wood River Valley on days with temperatures in the low to mid-20s Fahrenheit and strong gusts at times. It did not, of course, block the wind, so I pulled a light shell jacket over it when the wind blew hard.
• On breezy, cool evenings in the 50s between waves of thunderstorms while camping in June at Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve.
• On winter days of backcountry and Nordic skiing.

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On those backpacking trips, I also wore it in camp both as an outer layer and, when temps dropped, under a down jacket—meaning the R1 Air Hoody doubled as an on-trail layer and a camp layer that allowed me to bring a lighter puffy and forego a midweight, long-sleeve shirt. To frame it another way: The R1 Air Hoody cut my layering system weight by replacing or reducing two other layers. Few pieces of apparel offer more versatility while reducing your pack weight.

In short, it has become a go-to outer and middle layer for a variety of situations year-round.

The secret sauce is the 100 percent recycled polyester jacquard fleece with hollow-core yarns and a unique zigzag pattern that wicks moisture, dries very quickly, and is about as breathable as any piece of outerwear you’ll find short of much lighter and less-warm base layers. Boosting warmth without compromising breathability means you wear it more.

Cold tolerance varies greatly between individuals, of course. But people who get cold easily will find more situations and reasons to pull on the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody; and people who don’t get cold easily will simply wear it in a bit lower range of temperatures. Nonetheless, thanks to its breathability, virtually anyone will find a variety of uses for it.

The flip side of that superior breathability, of course, is that wind cuts right through it. That works in your favor whenever you need to dump excess heat because your body is producing it faster than the ambient temperature, wind, and precipitation conditions are sucking it away (and that can certainly include very cool, windy conditions when you’re working hard enough). When ambient conditions draw more heat from your body than you’re producing, there’s a simple solution to the R1 Air’s lack of wind protection: It’s called a shell jacket.

I felt its versatility is more limited in a sport like Nordic skiing, where you create wind against the front of your body when going fast downhill, but also exert at a high level going uphill. Example: On a calm December day in the high 20s Fahrenheit that was overcast when I started skate-skiing but the sun came out before I finished, I sweated the usual amount going uphill—the R1 Air’s warmth eclipsed the benefit of its breathability in that combination of ambient conditions and exertion level—and I felt at the edge of comfort skiing fast downhill (even with the hood up) due to no wind protection.

The feel of the jacket may hold more appeal than the performance properties for many people. The close fit almost emulates that of a moderately snug sweater while creating space for one or two base layers—and, from a performance perspective, enabling more efficient heat retention and moisture movement from inside to outside. Off-the-shoulder seams avoid lying directly under pack straps. The quick-drying woven binding at the rear hem and cuffs add stretch and enhance the fit. The sleeves don’t ride up when lifting your arms overhead and the hem extends below the waist.

Plus, the full-length front zipper not only permits easier on and off than a pullover and enables venting, it also smoothly integrates with the close-fitting, non-adjustable hood, which layers easily under helmets and shell jacket hoods. That means the R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody closes to your nose with the hood up—and the hood remains in place on your noggin in wind or when you turn your head even with the jacket completely unzipped and flapping open. That translates to significantly more comfort and better performance than so many insulated jackets that seem designed with little thought to how the hood interacts with everything below the neck.

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Another versatility detail not to underestimate: The fleece hood punches above its weight in terms of how much it boosts warmth while adding nominal ballast. I think the hood is one of the R1 Air’s best features.

The two zippered hand pockets have a solid fabric lining to provide a little extra warmth by cutting wind a bit and space for a pair of three-season gloves in one pocket or one warm, winter glove in each pocket. The zippered chest pocket will hold small items but is strangely just slightly too small for a smartphone. The jacket doesn’t stuff into any pocket but will roll easily into its hood, packing down to the size of an American football.

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Patagonia has long excelled at insulation and base layers and its R1 line has remained at the top of the field since it revolutioned insulation with its introduction way back in 1999—and I vividly remember wanting to get my hands on one of those early R1 tops. (Fun fact: Tommy Caldwell made the first ascent of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in an R1.)

See R1 Air models at patagonia.com/shop/favorites/regulator-fleece. And for the cold-weather warriors, check out the Patagonia R1 Air Beanie and the Patagonia R1 Daily Beanie.

The Verdict

With midweight warmth, supreme breathability, and excellent comfort, the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody delivers four-season versatility for many outdoor activities, including backpacking, dayhiking, all forms of climbing and skiing, running, and fitness walking.

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody at backcountry.com, rei.com, or patagonia.com; a women’s Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody at backcountry.com, rei.com, or patagonia.com; or a kids’ Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody at backcountry.com, rei.com, or patagonia.com.

Or see all of the Patagonia R1 Air models at patagonia.com/shop/favorites/regulator-fleece.

See all reviews of outdoor apparel at The Big Outside, including “The 12 Best Down Jackets,” “The Best Gloves for Winter—and All Seasons,” “The Best Mittens for Winter,” plus “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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If you’re super fit and strong, hike with a pack of any weight 50 or more days a year, and have never known any sort of injury or ache in your body, then don’t bother reading this article. But for everyone else, knowing how to find the right pack for backpacking and other outdoor activities—and for your body—will make a world of difference in your enjoyment when carrying that pack for hours a day on a trail or up and down a mountain. This article will lead you through five steps to accomplish exactly that—helping to ensure that you spend your gear money smartly.

These tips reflect what I’ve learned from field testing all kinds of packs for backpacking, dayhiking, climbing, trail running, and backcountry skiing over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for about 10 years and for even longer running this blog.

Follow these tips in chronological order and you will find the pack that’s right for you.

Please share any tips of your own or your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

#1 Decide What It’s For

It’s tempting, especially when you’re on a budget, to want to buy one pack that will serve every possible need for which you can imagine using a pack. While that approach is understandable, unfortunately, setting such broad expectations takes you in exactly the wrong direction in this important first step toward finding the right pack.

Don’t sweat the fact that your diversity of interests demands a larger quiver of packs than you can afford; in time, when you can, you will get another pack. (We all do.) Your goal here is to focus down and narrow choices.

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The profusion of pack choices is largely the result of specificity in pack design—companies pursuing customers by making packs intended to be perfect for one purpose or another. Decide the one primary activity for which you’re buying this pack. Backpacking? Dayhiking? Climbing? Backcountry snow sports?

Sure, you can find packs that are more generalist and all-purpose—for example, tough enough for climbing, but with adequate organization and capacity for backpacking, or big enough for weekend backpacking and not too big or heavy for dayhiking, and that may serve you just fine. But if you want a pack that’s ideal for, say, backpacking, then look for a pack primarily designed for backpacking.

See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and the best ultralight backpacks.

#2 Decide on Capacity and Weight

Are you a lightweight or ultralight backpacker, or carrying most of the gear and food for your young kids, or somewhere into between? Are you a weekend backpacker, or planning to take weeklong trips as well, or planning a long thru-hike? Do you dayhike or backpack only in dry, mild climates in summer, or go out in colder and wetter climates, in shoulder seasons (spring and fall), or even in winter, too?

Capacity and maximum weight you’ll carry are two distinct but overlapping considerations. A mid-size pack, for instance, may still be lightweight and intended to carry only a maximum load of 30 or 35 pounds.

Tips:

•    Consider the total weight and the bulk of the gear and food you’ll typically carry, so that your pack has enough space for your needs, can comfortably handle the weight, and isn’t more pack than you really need.
•    Don’t buy the lightest pack if you intend to carry more weight than it’s designed for.
•    If you’re unsure between two backpack capacities—say, 50L or 60L—ask yourself whether you’re ready to size down some bulky gear (like a sleeping bag or tent), or go with the larger pack.

I usually roll my eyes when I see a reviewer suggest that a lightweight or even mid-size pack can carry 50 or 60 pounds. First of all, many people—probably most backpackers—simply cannot carry that much weight with any pack (and don’t want or need to). Don’t trust any suggestion that a minimal frame and suspension system can carry a large weight, or you’ll set yourself up for some painful disappointment.

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How I use packs based on volume and approximate pack weight (there’s overlap between these categories):

•    Packs 65L/3,965 c.i. or larger, weighing four to five pounds or more (empty)—family or gear-intensive backpacking or climbing trips carrying loads of 40-50 pounds or more.
•    Packs 50-65L/3,356-3,967 c.i., weighing three to four pounds—longer trips carrying 30-45 pounds, including several days’ food, when I’m carrying some weight for a partner, or extra clothing and a larger sleeping bag for colder temperatures.
•    Packs approximately 50L/3,051 c.i. or smaller, weighing under three pounds—weekend to multi-day, lightweight/ultralight backpacking with 30-35 pounds or less and lightweight or ultralight, compact gear.
•    Packs 30-45L/1,831-2,441 c.i., weighing 2.5 to four pounds—ultralight weekend trips and gear-intensive activities like climbing and backcountry skiing day trips or hut/yurt trips carrying 30 or more pounds.
•    Packs 20-30L/1,220-1,831 c.i. weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds—dayhikes carrying 15 to 25 pounds.
•    Packs under 20L/1,220 c.i. weighing under 1.5 pounds—longer trail runs and dayhikes carrying under 15 pounds.

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#3 Get the Fit Right

For starters, measure your torso correctly in order to know your pack size. While many hydration packs and daypacks come in only one size, most mid-size and large backpacks come in two or three sizes, each fitting a specific range of torso lengths, or they’re adjustable. Some pack makers offer customization of fit such as different sizes in hipbelts.

How to measure torso length:

Stand straight and have someone use a soft tape measure (or a string which that person can hold against a stiff measuring tape afterward) to measure your spine. Find your iliac crest, which is the shelf-like top of your hipbones on your sides; place your hands there and your thumbs will point to the spot on your spine where your helper should place the end of the tape measure. Have that person run the tape measure along your spine to your C7 vertebrae, which is the knobby bone at the base of your neck when you tilt your head forward. That’s your torso length.

I’ve often found that if a pack model’s sizing is such that my torso length falls on the line between sizes, then either size could be a little small or a little big for me. If I really want that pack, the smaller size often fits me better. But you’ll probably find a more comfortable fit when your torso length falls closer to the middle of a pack’s fit range.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

See my reviews of “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks,” and the best ultralight backpacks, and my “Video: How to Load a Backpack” at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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Are you looking for gloves that keep your hands warm and dry in all seasons—yes, in winter, of course, but also models for spring through fall—and are made to last for years? As a professional gear reviewer who gets cold hands easily and spends many days outside year-round, from resort, backcountry, and Nordic skiing in the deep cold of winter to hiking and backpacking, trail running, biking around town, and working outside in cool temps at any time of year, I’ve used many types of gloves and learned a lot over the past three decades about how to select the right gloves for a variety of uses.

This review covers the best gloves for a wide range of purposes and temperatures in all seasons, from the 40s and 30s Fahrenheit to far below freezing. I’ve tested them in snowstorms, icy wind, every kind of frozen precipitation, and raw, rainy days; and through countless days of various modes of skiing and many types of multi-day backcountry trips, from chilly outings in the mountains to yurts in winter—as well as shoveling snow and doing yard work in the cold.

I bring to this job three decades of experience field-testing and reviewing outdoor gear and apparel, including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

I’ve learned to identify the large and small differences between excellent, mediocre, and poor gear—and even more importantly, to help readers understand what activities or uses a piece of apparel or gear is best for.

Besides coming in a range of prices and styles, the gloves reviewed below have different strengths and weaknesses, making each better for varying activities and circumstances, which I specify in each review. I’m confident you’ll find a pair (or more than one) here that meets your needs—and you’ll find the best prices at the affiliate links in each review below. You can support my work by making purchases through those links (at no cost to you). Thanks for that.

See also my picks for “The Best Mittens for Winter.”

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review or any gloves in it, or other gloves to recommend, please share it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Scroll past the tips on how to choose gloves if you want to jump directly into the glove reviews.

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Two Types of Gloves

For purposes of organizing this article simply, I divide the reviews below into two types of gloves—under-the-cuff and over-the-cuff—rather than seasonal categories (three-season versus winter gloves).

That’s because, while all over-the-cuff-style gloves are designed strictly for winter temperatures and weather—which can certainly occur in late autumn and early spring—some under-the-cuff gloves cross over between three-season and winter use. In fact, you could say that any under-the-cuff gloves could be worn at any time of year—it simply depends on ambient temperatures and conditions.

I believe these simple distinctions will help you identify what you need more easily and quickly.

The two types of gloves:

1.    Under-the-cuff gloves have shorter, closer-fitting gauntlets designed to be worn under a jacket cuff. They vary in degree of warmth and dexterity, but with very few exceptions, are usually less warm, less expensive, and more dexterous than over-the-cuff gloves. They are typically used for high-intensity activities like running and Nordic skiing on groomed trails, but depending on your needs and temperatures encountered, can be used for winter and three-season hiking, climbing, ski touring, and snowshoeing in moderate temperatures from the 20s to 40s Fahrenheit.

2.    Over-the-cuff gloves have longer, adjustable gauntlets designed to be worn over a jacket cuff. They have more insulation and often better water resistance than under-the-cuff gloves—or are fully waterproof-breathable—and usually cost more. “System” gloves, with removable liners, are more versatile for activities like backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, ski touring, climbing, or winter hiking and backpacking, where temperatures and your exertion level often vary greatly. Over-the-cuff gloves that lack removable liners are designed for activities involving moderate exertion levels, like resort skiing and working outside.

How to Choose Gloves for Any Season

How do you find the gloves that are right for your needs? Consider these factors:

• Your activity’s intensity.

• Your usual range of weather conditions and temperatures.

• How easily your fingers get cold.

• Glove weight is a broadly good indicator of warmth, but less reliable when comparing models that are very close in weight but made from different materials.

• Under-the-cuff gloves that are thin and light and have a short gauntlet—the gloves extend basically to the wrist—are designed for temps no colder than slightly below to above freezing, most commonly encountered in spring and fall or cooler environments, like higher mountains late spring into fall. In short, they are primarily three-season gloves but also work well on relatively mild winter days.

• Any gloves that are thicker, heavier, and warmer and have a gauntlet that extends beyond the wrist are usually designed for below-freezing temperatures and wetter environments, more typical of winter, late fall, or early spring.

• Warmer gloves are also overkill for high-intensity activities like running and Nordic skate skiing, except in frigid temperatures.

• Waterproof-breathable and/or windproof gloves are obviously better for inclement weather but also tend to be designed for keeping hands and fingers warm and dry in colder temps and a broader range of weather conditions.

• Under-the-cuff gloves are usually best for outings of a few hours or less.

• Over-the-cuff gloves are usually best for multi-hour or all-day activities, especially when your hands are repeatedly in snow, such as resort or backcountry skiing or riding or snowshoeing.

I’ve listed the products below in ascending order by weight within the two types and pointed out the pros and cons of each and what they’re best for.

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Under-the-Cuff Gloves

Black Diamond Midweight ScreenTap Liners
$45, 2 oz./56.7g (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Very lightweight and breathable stretch fabric, excellent dexterity, touchscreen sensitivity in all fingers and palm.
Cons: Minimal warmth, no weather resistance, unisex sizing.
Best For: Running, hiking, backpacking, walking, and similar activities in mostly dry weather and temps in the 30s and 40s.

No matter how easily your hands get cold, you will encounter conditions at any time of year (not just winter) when you need a light glove. I found this featherweight model ideal for trail runs and hikes in winter sunshine, little wind, and temps in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit. These liners kept my hands warm and breathed so well my hands rarely got sweaty, even on hard runs and fast-paced hiking uphill; and when they did get damp, the fabric dries super quickly, minimizing the conductive cooling that causes hands to rapidly get cold.

The MidWeight ScreenTap liners combine a lightweight stretch fleece on the back with UR Powered conductive material on the palm and fingers, which creates superior touchscreen sensitivity throughout all five fingers and the front of the hand. Suede goat leather palm patches improve grip. The unisex sizing is average for men and some women, with a comfortably close, stretchy fit that helps accommodate different hand types.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Black Diamond MidWeight ScreenTap Liners at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Enjoy your cold-season activities more.
See “12 Pro Tips For Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

Black Diamond Mont Blanc Gloves
$30, 2 oz./56.7g (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Lightweight, very breathable, excellent dexterity, touchscreen fingertips.
Cons: Minimal weather resistance and warmth, unisex sizing.
Best For: Being active in temps from the 30s into the 40s.

Whether for high-exertion activities like running or Nordic skiing in temps around freezing to well above, hiking in cool weather, or long ultra-runs and hikes—BD designed this model with the ultra-race of the Tour du Mont Blanc in mind—these very lightweight gloves are a good pick, although not quite as warm as BD’s Midweight Screen Tap Gloves. With my typically cold fingers, I found them perfect for hiking and trail running in temps in the 30s and 40s, but not warm enough for high-speed skate-skiing in temps in the 30s, because you create your own wind; but my wife, whose fingers don’t get cold easily, found them ideal for skate-skiing in those temps.

A weather-resistant shell fabric on the back of the hand and digits sheds light precipitation and blocks some wind, while the stretch palm and cuff release perspiration and dry quickly; and the cuff seals snugly around the wrist. A silicone grip pattern covers the entire palm and grabbing side of the digits, for easily holding onto poles and bottles. And the thumb and forefinger tips have excellent touchscreen sensitivity. Sizing is average, with a skin-tight fit that doesn’t feel too tight because of the stretch, which also helps accommodate different hand types.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Black Diamond Mont Blanc Gloves at rei.com, backcountry.com, or blackdiamondequipment.com.

Get the right synthetic or down puffy to keep you warm.
See “The 12 Best Down Jackets.”

Outdoor Research Vigor Heavyweight Sensor Gloves
$45, 2.5 oz./70.9g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s S-L
backcountry.com

Pros: Lightweight, warm liner, excellent dexterity, breathable, touchscreen finger and thumb tips, men’s and women’s sizes.
Cons: Not weatherproof, too warm for milder temps.
Best For: Moderate- to high-exertion activities when dexterity is needed in temperatures from below to around freezing.

From cold-weather hiking and trail running to ski touring and Nordic skiing, I have worn these lightweight but remarkably warm gloves repeatedly. OR’s toastiest fleece liner glove, the Vigor sport ActiveTemp thermo-regulating technology, which OR says adjusts to your body’s release of heat to keep hands comfortable during high-exertion activities. Plus, the Vigor Gloves have a double-layer fleece construction, with 265g weight exterior fleece and 100g weight on the interior. They extend slightly beyond the wrist to insulate blood vessels in the wrist that help keep fingers warm.

My hands, which get cold very easily, remained comfortable in temps down into the 20s when ski touring, trail running, or hiking in little to no wind and did not overheat until temps rose into the upper 30s in warm sunshine—partly because these gloves are highly breathable, wick moisture, and dry quickly. Still, people whose hands do not get cold easily may find them too warm for temps around or above freezing, especially for high-exertion activities, and ideal for somewhat colder conditions than I used the gloves.

They have excellent dexterity, with a very close fit and abundant stretch—they’re a little difficult to pull the cuff over my somewhat thick hands, but comfortable when wearing them. With silicone dot grip on the two middle fingers and upper palm and thumb, touchscreen sensitivity in forefinger and thumb tips, and a clip to keep them together when stored, the Outdoor Research Vigor Heavyweight Sensor Gloves are the warmest gloves for their weight and ideal for moderate to high exertion in cold temperatures.

One caveat: These gloves don’t block wind, which can make hands much colder (absent a shell glove or mitten over them)—as happened to my chronically cold hands when skate-skiing, which creates its own wind, in temps in the upper 20s; and on a January hike with temps just above freezing but a steady wind on an exposed ridgeline that made it feel much colder.

OR’s lighter options are the men’s and women’s Vigor Midweight Sensor Gloves ($39) and Vigor Lightweight Sensor Gloves ($35).

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Vigor Heavyweight Sensor Gloves, Vigor Midweight Sensor Gloves, or Vigor Lightweight Sensor Gloves at backcountry.com or outdoorresearch.com.

Need serious warmth? Check out “The Best Mittens for Winter.”

Outdoor Research Sureshot Softshell Gloves
$50, 3 oz./85.1g (unisex medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s S-L
backcountry.com

Pros: Lightweight, excellent dexterity, very breathable, touchscreen finger and thumb tips, men’s and women’s sizes.
Cons: Not weatherproof, less warm than gloves of comparable weight.
Best For: Moderate- to high-exertion activities when dexterity is needed in temperatures from slightly below to above freezing.

Skate-skiing in temps from the mid-20s Fahrenheit to around freezing, moving between sunshine and pockets of shaded, chillier forest—conditions that can quickly make my fingers achingly cold in light, breathable gloves—I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable my hands remained in OR’s Sureshot Softshell Gloves. They’ve also kept my fingers entirely warm on winter trail runs in temps in the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit. And when I wore them through three days of torrential rain on New Zealand’s Milford Track, while they soaked through—they’re not waterproof—they still kept my wet hands warm in strong wind and temperatures in the 40s Fahrenheit.

The Sureshot have all the dexterity of light, close-fitting gloves, as well as touchscreen sensitivity in the fingertip and thumb, goat leather overlays in the palm for added durability, and a stretch cuff that wraps snugly around the wrist and extends a good inch behind the wrist bones—longer than many gloves this light—insulating the blood vessels that help keep fingers warm. The fit is borderline tight for my slightly chubby hands and fingers.

The water resistant, two-way stretch-woven fabric breathes quite well—after high-exertion Nordic skiing, only the wrists of the gloves were slightly damp from sweat, and they had been underneath my jacket sleeve. That high breathability also means more cold wind passing through compared to some (usually heavier) models, resulting in my hands getting cold in the Sureshot in any combo of wind and cold temps that feels below the high 20s (though people whose fingers don’t get cold as easily may find these gloves good in the low 20s). These aren’t as warm as OR’s Vigor Heavyweight Sensor Gloves.

OR’s Sureshot Pro Gloves ($65, 5 oz.) add a waterproof Ventia insert. Winter lovers with chronically cold fingers may want to consider OR’s Sureshot Heated Softshell Gloves ($269, 7.4 oz.). With the AltiHeat technology, which offers three heat settings and rechargeable battery life ranging from 2.5 to eight hours (according to OR—I have not tested these gloves), the Sureshot Heated Gloves provide a rare combination of dexterity and assured warmth in breathable, water-resistant handwear. OR’s Prevail Heated Gore-Tex Gloves or Mittens ($339, 11.5 oz.) add waterproof-breathable, windproof protection.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Outdoor Research Sureshot Softshell Gloves, Sureshot Pro Gloves, or Sureshot Heated Softshell Gloves at rei.com, backcountry.com, or outdoorresearch.com, or OR’s Prevail Heated Gore-Tex Gloves or Mittens at rei.com, backcountry.com, or outdoorresearch.com.

Gorewear Men’s Windstopper Thermo Gloves
$90, 3.2 oz./90.7g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-3XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Lightweight and warm for their weight, excellent dexterity, very breathable, broad range of sizes that will accommodate many women, too.
Cons: No touchscreen sensitivity.
Best For: Moderate- to high-exertion activities when dexterity is needed in temperatures from below to well above freezing.

The temperature sat at 33° Fahrenheit and a relentless, frigid wind blew hard as a friend and I started an 8.5-mile, nearly 4,000-vertical-foot, late-November hike up and down a steep, open ridge in our local foothills. I assumed my fingers would turn white and painful because they typically do in conditions like that. (It takes a while for my hands to warm up because of my severe Raynaud’s.)

But that never happened, thanks to my Gorewear’s Men’s Windstopper Thermo Gloves: My fingers remained warm for the entire hike—including the downhill, when my body produced much less heat in that cold wind. And they didn’t overheat once the temp rose to around 40° F, with warm sunshine, and the wind largely died down. These gloves also kept my hands comfortable on chilly fall trail runs and biking around town in temps in the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit.

The Windstopper Thermo Gloves are clearly made for cold, windy days. Gore Windstopper makes them completely windproof—my fingers never felt that frigid wind on our November hike—while keeping them impressively breathable and somewhat water-resistant (although they wetted through pretty quickly in a light rain). A soft, brushed thermo lining and an elasticized cuff that extends slightly beyond the wrist make them warmer than other models of comparable weight.

They also provide the dexterity of light, close-fitting gloves, fabric reinforcements in the palm for a bit more protection and durability, and a nose wipe on the back of both thumbs. The fit is comfortable for my slightly chubby hands and fingers.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Gorewear Men’s Windstopper Thermo Gloves at backcountry.com or gorewear.com.

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Seirus Soundtouch Xtreme All Weather Gloves
$70, 3.5 oz./99.2g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s and women’s S-XXL
rei.com

Pros: Lightweight, waterproof-breathable, warm, excellent dexterity, touchscreen fingertips, and great value.
Cons: Too warm for some users for high-intensity activities in temps above freezing.
Best For: High-intensity activities in temps below freezing or moderate activity in temperatures above freezing.

Through waves of heavy rain and thunderstorms in chilly temperatures on a mid-September backpacking trip in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, these lightweight gloves kept my hands warm and absolutely dry. They also proved plenty warm enough for a morning near freezing while backpacking in May in Utah’s Dark Canyon Wilderness, as well as chilly mornings of spring backcountry skiing and on frosty days cycling and hiking at home.

With a light fleece lining and a stretchy cuff that extends about two inches behind the wrist bones, these gloves felt quite warm in temps in the low 40s Fahrenheit; even with my cold fingers, I could wear them in temps down into the 20s, so they’re as warm as some bulkier fleece gloves. But unless you get cold fingers easily, they’re too warm for hiking in temps in the 40s or running in temps much above freezing. A waterproof-breathable Pro-Fit insert kept my hands dry through heavy rain during thunderstorms in the Winds, and even when I ran tap water over them; they’ll certainly repel snow. The soft-shell outer fabric’s four-way stretch affords a close fit with excellent dexterity. Soundtouch sensitivity in the thumb and forefinger allowed me to easily tap out text messages and select icons on a phone screen, and PVC in the palm adds durability.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the men’s or women’s Seirus Soundtouch Xtreme All Weather Gloves at rei.com, or the lighter Seirus Soundtouch All Weather Gloves at rei.com.

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Black Diamond Tour Gloves
$100, 4 oz./113.4g (men’s/unisex medium)
Sizes: men’s/unisex XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Lightweight, waterproof-breathable even when repeatedly immersed in snow, windproof, good fit and dexterity, durable materials.
Cons: Not warm enough for deep cold, no touchscreen sensor.
Best For: Temps from below to above freezing while skinning uphill in the backcountry, snowshoeing, bike commuting, or working outside.

Black Diamond’s Tour Gloves have kept my hands warm most of the time and absolutely dry on days of ski touring in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, in temps from the low 20s into the 30s Fahrenheit. Not unusually for me (my fingers are typically colder than anyone’s I ski with), my fingers started out cold on the skin track one morning, partly because we began in flat terrain in temps in the low 20s; but these gloves otherwise kept my digits warm for uphill travel. (I always switch to warmer gloves for the downhill.)

They also kept my hands dry even when getting them in snow a lot, thanks to the waterproof-breathable and windproof Pertex Shield shell fabric in the gauntlet and water-resistant goatskin leather throughout the hand. (I applied leather treatment for water repellency before wearing them.) A fleece lining and a gauntlet extending slightly beyond the wrist, with a hook-and-loop strap to provide a snug closure, makes them respectably warm for gloves this light and dexterous. The goatskin leather’s suppleness, a close but not tight fit, and quality construction lend these gloves good dexterity, enabling me to easily manipulate everything from pack buckles to climbing skins to ripping the wrapper off an energy bar. A clip keeps them together.

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Outdoor Research Extravert Gloves
$85, 5 oz./141.7g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s S-L
backcountry.com

Pros: Versatile balance of warmth, weather resistance, and dexterity and a good value.
Cons: Not warm enough for deep cold, no touchscreen sensitivity.
Best For: Moderate cold while hiking, backcountry skiing or snowboarding, snowshoeing, climbing, bike commuting, or working outside.

The Extravert has become a go-to glove for me on days of backcountry skiing both uphill and downhill in temps in the 20s, at times in heavily falling, wet snow, or just for the up track in deeper cold.

Snow slides off the tough, wind- and water-resistant, stretch nylon shell and the durable goat leather palms, which also lend good grip to the hands and textured fingers. The wool blend lining strikes a good balance of warmth for the snow pit avalanche-hazard assessment, skinning exposed ridges in cold wind, and skiing downhill in moderate temps while wicking moisture and keeping hands from overheating when cranking up the skin track.

The pre-curved fingers are comfortable without feeling at all stiff. The fit runs true to size and is just right: snug enough for good dexterity without choking off circulation to the fingers. A big loop makes pulling them on easy and the hook-and-loop closure and beyond-the-wrist gauntlet lock snow out and fit over the cuff of an insulated jacket or under the adjustable cuff of a shell. They have a carabiner loop on the middle fingers for hanging to dry and a buckle to clip them together.

The Outdoor Research Extravert Gloves hit a sweet spot for warmth, weather protection, and dexterity that makes them useful for everything from backcountry skiing, hiking, and climbing in moderate winter temps to bike commuting and clearing snow—at a good price for this level of performance.

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Smartwool Ridgeway Glove
$90, 5.5 oz./155.9g (unisex medium)
Sizes: Unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Very durable, water-resistant, lightweight, good dexterity.
Cons: No women’s sizes or touchscreen sensor.
Best For: Everything from high- and moderate-intensity activities in temps below and above freezing to all-around, everyday use, including working outside.

For high-speed Nordic skate-skiing in temps down to the mid-20s as well as biking around town, these gloves kept my chronically cold fingers happy, thanks to the warm and soft, Merino wool and nylon lining. And yet they’re low bulk, fitting easily in pole straps and offering good dexterity. With goat leather everywhere but on the back of the hand (to make that area more breathable and the glove more flexible), and a double layer of leather reinforcing the thumb and forefinger, the Ridgeway is an excellent all-around winter glove for everything from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to bike commuting and working in the yard and elsewhere.

The cuff lacks a closure strap or elasticity, leaving it slightly open, but fits easily under any jacket cuff to keep snow and cold out. They’re not warm enough for downhill skiing, except on sunny, warm early-spring days. Sizing runs slightly small, probably to accommodate women’s hands (since these are unisex); men on the cusp between sizes will probably need to size up. But I almost always wear men’s medium, and the medium Ridgeway fit my hands well.

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Black Diamond Legend Gloves
$160, 8 oz./226.8g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-L
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Waterproof, all leather, padded, very warm.
Cons: Too warm for moderate temps, minimal dexterity for under-the-cuff gloves.
Best For: Moderately cold days backcountry or resort skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, ice climbing, and mountaineering, or working outside.

BD’s Legend Glove achieves a successful marriage of the warmth of an over-the-cuff glove with the fit of an under-the-cuff glove. With 170g of PrimaLoft Gold insulation on the backs of the hands and 133g of PrimaLoft Gold Eco in the palms, these are among the warmest under-the-cuff gloves I’ve ever used—and they come loaded with high-end features.

Shoveling out our tent after a night of wet, heavy snowfall, and taking the tent down later—with my hands repeatedly in heavy, sloppy snow—I found the Gore-Tex-lined Legend Gloves lived up to their fully waterproof claim. Ditto when I shoveled about a half ton of wet snow off the deck of a backcountry yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains. They’re built for hard use, with goat leather construction, Kevlar stitching, and compression-molded EVA padding on the backs of the hands. The soft suede nose wipe on the thumbs and a neoprene cuff with hook-and-loop closure close out a rich feature set.

Not surprisingly, I also found these gloves too warm for highly aerobic skate skiing in temps around freezing. They’re best for moderate-exertion, cold-temperature activities like ice climbing, resort skiing, skiing downhill in the backcountry (or skinning uphill in very cold temperatures), or hiking, snowshoeing and ski touring in temperatures well below freezing.

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Over-the-Cuff Gloves

Rab Khroma Freeride GTX Gloves
$180, 9 oz./255.1g (medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XXL
backcountry.com

Pros: Very warm, waterproof-breathable, fully featured, decent dexterity, durable, superior construction.
Cons: Too warm for relatively mild temps or spring skiing, no removable inner glove.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and backpacking in deep cold.

On numerous days of backcountry skiing from Idaho’s Boise Mountains and Boulder Mountains to Utah’s Wasatch Range, I faced weather that translates to great powder skiing but frequently create discomfort in my chronically cold digits: temps ranging from the single digits to the teens Fahrenheit, with periods of cold wind and snow falling heavily much of the time. But through long days out, these gloves kept my hands warm and dry, even when digging into snow pits while evaluating avalanche hazard. They also kept my fingers warm on multiple days resort skiing in temps in the single digits—and have become one of my go-to gloves for the coldest days.

Credit goes to the hydrophobic PrimaLoft Gold insulation—which delivers warmth even when wet from precipitation or sweat—and the three-layer, waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex Plus Warm technology. That Gore-Texmembrane not only kept moisture out when skiing downhill, it breathed well enough that my hands never became sweaty, even when I wore the gloves skinning uphill in the coldest temps, keeping my hands toasty when they likely would have gotten too cold if I had switched to a lighter glove (as I would in relatively warmer but sub-freezing temps).

The high loft pile lining feels comfortable against the skin. I found the unisex medium Khroma fit my hands like men’s medium gloves from other brands: Roomy enough to not inhibit blood circulation in my thick fingers and just the right length. The fit helps create good dexterity for such a warm and beefy glove, enabling me to easily manipulate helmet and boot buckles and food packaging.

An adjustable gauntlet extends well past the wrist to fit over a jacket sleeve and cinches tight and loosens with a one-hand drawcord. Pittards Armortan goat leather provides excellent grip in the palm and abrasion resistance on the backs of the fingers and knuckles, pairing effectively with a stretch Matrix nylon shell fabric through the back of the hand and gauntlet. The Khroma Freeride also come with all the features you should expect from high-performance gloves, including a removable wrist leash with a wide band for security and durability, pre-curved fingers for comfort gripping poles, and nose-wipe pads on both thumbs.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Rab Khroma Freeride GTX Gloves at backcountry.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

Mountain Hardwear Boundary Ridge Gore-Tex Glove
$190, 10.5 oz./297.7g (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm, waterproof-breathable, fully featured, very durable, superior construction.
Cons: Too warm for relatively mild temps or spring skiing, no removable inner glove.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and backpacking in deep cold.

As often happens to me, the best days of backcountry or resort skiing typically correspond with cold temperatures and conditions that make my hands cold. But these gloves kept my hands warm and dry in overcast, snowy weather in the backcountry when the temps plunged low enough that I sometimes had to wear these gloves even skinning uphill (when I’d often wear lighter gloves).

Thanks to PrimaLoft Gold insulation fused with a NASA-developed aerogel technology that blocks heat transfer—keeping your hand warmth on the inside—plus a fleece lining, the Boundary Ridge gloves warmed my hands quickly when I pulled them on after my digits had gotten chilled when the air temp dropped while I wore lighter gloves for skinning uphill. The waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex membrane means hands stay dry through the even wettest conditions, even with your hands in the snow a lot.

Pittards leather on the palm, fingers, and back of the hand—basically, the entire hand except for the soft nose wipe on each thumb—ensures great durability through many days of hard use. Foam padding protects the knuckles. I found the touchscreen compatibility didn’t really work for me in the forefinger but worked well in the thumb: I could actually tap out texts, although very slowly with gloves this big.

The adjustable gauntlet extends well past the wrist to fit over a jacket sleeve and cinches tight and loosens with a one-hand drawcord; it also features a leash with an elastic forearm band, a bit more comfortable and secure than a simple cord, and a big grab loop for using a gloved hand to pull on the other glove. A carabiner loop on the ring finger enables hanging them fingers-up from a pack, so falling snow doesn’t get inside. I normally fit many men’s medium gloves and the unisex sizing medium Boundary Ridge gloves fit me a bit tightly in the pre-curved fingers, which may inhibit circulation for people with bigger hands; but sizing up doesn’t work unless you also have long fingers.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Mountain Hardwear Boundary Ridge Gore-Tex Glove at backcountry.com.

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Black Diamond Guide Gloves
$190, 11 oz./311.8g (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XXL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Very warm and durable, waterproof-breathable, removable liner glove, fully featured, nice fit and dexterity, superior construction.
Cons: Hard to find any complaints.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and backpacking in moderate to deep cold.

For several straight days of backcountry skiing around Idaho’s Galena Summit and upper Wood River Valley in late December and early January, the temperatures stayed stuck in the single digits and low double digits Fahrenheit, with wind chills around zero—and we stayed out for hours skiing blower powder. Wearing BD’s Guide Gloves, I suffered only occasional periods of my fingers feeling uncomfortably cold—when, say, I had cooled off during a short break and they wouldn’t warm up again until I had resumed moving for a while (a common scenario for me and many people in winter).

BD rates the gloves as warm to -15 to 0° F/-26 to -18° C; with chronically bad Raynaud’s, I found the upper end of that rating was my comfort limit. These gloves are among the warmest in this review and have quickly become my go-to for cold days in the backcountry and sometimes for resort skiing (although I’ll often choose mittens on really cold days riding lifts).

The warm, removable inner glove featuring Primaloft synthetic insulation, with a lining that combines soft, boiled wool and 200g fleece, gives the Guide Gloves much more versatility than models that lack this modularity: In warm sunshine and temps in the 20s, I wore only the shell or inner glove skinning uphill. The waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex membrane kept my hands completely dry while skiing in heavily falling snow.

Construction and durability get a superior grade, thanks to the abrasion-resistant, woven, four-way stretch nylon from the wrist through the extended gauntlet and at the middle knuckle on the fingers—which also provides a closer fit that improves dexterity for such a warm glove—and goat leather throughout most of the shell above the wrist. I’ve used few gloves with removable inner gloves that have such good fit and warmth. The adjustable gauntlet extends well past the wrist to slide easily over a jacket sleeve and has a one-hand drawcord; it lacks a leash. Foam padding on the knuckles and back of the hands protects against impact and there’s a soft, suede leather nose wipe on the thumbs.

BD’s Guide Finger Gloves ($190) differ largely in their split-finger design, with the forefinger free for dexterity while the other three fingers share a mitten-like space for better warmth.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Black Diamond Guide Gloves at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com, or the Black Diamond Guide Finger Gloves blackdiamondequipment.com or backcountry.com.

Finding a sleeping bag that’s right for you may be the most confusing gear-buying task. Getting the right one is critical to sleeping comfortably in the backcountry—and in an emergency, your bag could save your life. But with the myriad choices out there, how do you tell them apart, beyond temperature rating and price? This article will explain how to evaluate the key differences between bags to make your choice much more simple.

I’ve slept in many, many bags of all types over three decades of testing gear—including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog. I’ve zipped inside bags in all seasons, in temperatures from ridiculously warm to -30° F. (Ridiculously warm is more tolerable.)

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned about picking out a sleeping bag—or more than one bag—that will be ideal for your body and your adventures.

I’d love to read what you think of my tips or any of your own. Please share them in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments. Click on any bag photo below to read its review.

General Tips For Buying a Sleeping Bag

•    Know your own body. Do you get cold easily or are you a furnace? Women tend to get cold more easily, and this is a simple function of physics: Women often have a higher ratio of body surface area to mass compared to men, so their bodies lose heat more readily. Those women are more comfortable in a bag made for women, which is shaped differently than a men’s bag and typically has extra insulation in areas like the feet. However, it also comes down to body metabolism.
•    If you get cold easily, get a bag rated 20 to 25 degrees colder than the coldest temperatures you plan to sleep outside in.
•    If you don’t get cold easily you may be more comfortable in a bag rated about five to 15 degrees below the coldest temperatures you plan to sleep outside in—and possibly even a bag rated right around the coldest temp you’ll encounter, provided you have extra clothing to put on, just in case. (I’ve spent many nights around freezing perfectly warm enough in a bag rated 30-32° F.) Being too hot is not really any more comfortable than being too cold and having a bag much warmer than needed means you’re carrying superfluous weight and bulk. (See “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.”)

See “10 Pro Tips for Staying Warm in a Sleeping Bag.”

Down Vs. Synthetic Bags

Down has traditionally been lighter, more packable, and warmer than many synthetic insulations; but once wet, synthetics still kept you fairly warm, while down feathers become all but useless at retaining heat. Today, the lines between down and synthetic have been blurred somewhat with the development of high-quality, lightweight and compact synthetic insulations like PrimaLoft, and water-resistant down, which retains its ability to trap heat even when wet. 

Down is more packable and very durable, so it still holds an advantage as the insulation of choice if you don’t expect to get that bag wet; and water-resistant down enhances your bag’s performance in common circumstances where it may get damp, such as when condensation builds up inside a tent. Still, even water-resistant down, once saturated, loses much of its ability to keep you warm, and drying out any bag is extremely difficult, if not impossible, in prolonged, wet weather. Synthetic insulation remains the best choice for extended trips in wet environments.

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High-quality down (rated from 800- to 900-fill or higher) is the warmest, lightest, most packable insulation out there, but expensive, while lower-quality down (usually 600- to 700-fill) still has the advantages of down and makes a bag less expensive but also heavier and bulkier. Manufacturers use lower-grade synthetic insulation in bags priced cheaply, making them much heavier and bulkier than better synthetic and down bags—typically too heavy and bulky for backpacking (unless you’re on a very limited budget and don’t mind carrying a big pack).

So the down vs. synthetic choice still comes down to pocketbook issues and the likelihood of your bag actually getting wet.

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Temperature Rating

In the past, bag manufacturers decided on temperature ratings for their own bags; the outdoor industry lacked a standardized method for measuring that. In recent years, though, the industry widely adopted the EN (European Norm) temperature rating system, internationally considered the most reliable and objective standard.

Found on most new bags, the EN rating typically includes three temperature ratings:

•    Comfort rating, or the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average woman warm (based on the premise that women usually get cold more easily than men).
•    Lower-limit rating, or the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep the average man warm.
•    Extreme rating, or the lowest temperature at which the bag will keep someone alive, albeit not comfortable, in unexpected, extreme conditions.

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See all of my reviews of sleeping bags and air mattresses and sleeping pads that I like at The Big Outside.

See also my related stories:

5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack
10 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear
5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent
A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking
5 Smart Steps to Lighten Your Backpacking Gear

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Let’s start with two truths about mittens: 1. We know they’re warmer than gloves. 2. We often choose gloves over mittens, anyway, for some reasons that make sense and some reasons that, well, don’t make much sense. Whether you need them for resort skiing or snowboarding, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, bike commuting, trail running, clearing snow, or something else, this review covers the best mittens for a wide range of temperatures and cold-weather activities.

As someone who gets cold hands very easily, spends many days outside in winter, and has been a professional gear reviewer for more than 25 years—formerly the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and for even longer running this blog—I’ve used innumerable models of mittens and gloves and learned a lot over the years about how to select the right type of both for specific uses. See also my review of “The Best Gloves for Winter—and All Seasons.”

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my expert e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

The mittens reviewed below include models appropriate for a range of activities. I’ve tested them in temperatures from the 30s Fahrenheit to far below freezing, cold wind, snowstorms, and every kind of frozen precipitation, on numerous days of resort and backcountry skiing, cold-weather hiking and trail running on very chilly days, and shoveling snow and other yard work. I also offer tips below on how to choose the right mittens for your needs. Scroll past those tips if you want to jump directly into the reviews.

I’m confident you’ll find a pair of mittens in this article that meet your needs. You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by making purchases through the affiliate links in each review below. Thanks for doing that.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review or any mittens in it, or other mittens to recommend, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

The Pros and Cons of Mittens

Mittens are generally warmer than gloves of a comparable weight, making them a better choice in colder temperatures when dexterity is not a top priority, which can include resort skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow—although those activities often include moments when the poor dexterity of mittens becomes disadvantageous, such as when lacing up boots or shoes or dealing with some type of bindings.

Similarly, mittens are not an ideal choice for ski touring in the backcountry wherever you may need better dexterity to quickly handle snow-safety gear like a shovel and probe in an emergency. However, mittens can be preferred when in terrain that’s free of avalanche hazard and deep cold—or as backup handwear in your pack in case someone is immobilized due to an injury and deep cold could threaten frostbite in digits.

Still, while the warmest gloves certainly have better dexterity, it’s somewhat limited, and mittens will rewarm your hands much faster than gloves after you pull off handwear for a moment when you need to use your fingers.

Mittens take a back seat to gloves when you’re not dealing with extreme cold and you need or prefer having the use of your fingers.

The benefits of mittens include:

• Keeping hands and fingers warmer by enclosing all your fingers in the same space.
• They’re generally softer and less stiff than the warmest gloves, negating the need to pre-curve the fingers (as on heavier gloves).
• With fewer seams than gloves, mittens typically feature more insulation and better waterproofing and durability.

The drawbacks of mittens include:

• Minimal to poor dexterity and use of fingers.
• No touchscreen sensitivity.

See “12 Pro Tips For Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

How to Choose Mittens

How do you choose between different models of mittens? While many styles can be worn for a variety of activities, consider these factors:

• Your activity.
• Your usual range of weather conditions and temperatures.
• How easily your fingers get cold.
• Sizing differentiated by gender matters somewhat less with mittens than with gloves, although it matters a bit more with larger and warmer mitten designs.
• Lighter mittens with less insulation and a shorter cuff or gauntlet are usually best for activities that don’t require good dexterity in temps ranging from around freezing to well below.
• Heavier, warmer mittens with more insulation and a long, usually adjustable gauntlet are typically best for activities that don’t require good dexterity and that last for several hours in cold to frigid temps, especially when your hands are repeatedly in snow, such as when resort skiing or riding or snowshoeing, but are overkill for moderate temps.

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What to Look For

• Leather thumb and palm for grip and durability.
• A pull loop big enough to grip while wearing a mitten on one hand, for pulling on mitts; or lacking a loop, cuffs or an extended gauntlet that’s easy to grab.
• An elasticized short cuff or some kind of one-hand closure on a gauntlet seals out snow and traps heat inside.
• Whether the mitten’s cuff or gauntlet layers under or over a jacket sleeve—or in some cases, can be worn either way—and its compatibility with the jacket(s) you’ll wear.
• A wrist leash prevents the mittens blowing away when you pull them off for short periods to use your fingers.
• A long gauntlet and more insulation for deep-cold or activities like skiing and snowboarding, where hands are often in snow.
• Durable materials and construction, particularly for activities where you’re using your hands more and mitts can get abused.
• Weight per pair often correlates with degree of warmth, features, and cuff or gauntlet length.

The mittens reviewed below are listed in ascending order by weight.

Active in the cold? See “The Best Clothing Layers for Winter in the Backcountry”
and “How to Dress in Layers for Winter in the Backcountry.”

The Best Mittens

Best Value

Flylow Unicorn Mitten
$70, 6 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm, windproof, water-resistant, and durable.
Cons: Not quite as warm as other mittens, no wrist leash, mediocre dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow.

From resort skiing to local trails, the Unicorn proved itself suited for a variety of activities in all but the most bitter temps. They’re built for durability, with high-quality pigskin leather pre-treated for waterproofing, and tough, upcycled canvas (leftover from Flylow’s pants production) on the back of the hand. A waterproof inner lining helps keep hands dry even in wet snow, while the silky interior lining against the skin and the leather exterior both feel soft on hands and your nose.

The 220g Spaceloft synthetic insulation on the back of the hand and 100g on the palm kept hands warm while resort skiing in the low 20s Fahrenheit and on winter hikes with temps from the 20s to just above freezing in steady wind, and quickly warmed my hands after they’d gotten cold in gloves during a snowstorm and I switched to these mitts. They’re not as burly or nearly as warm as heavier models like Flylow’s Super Mitten (see below), and lack a long, adjustable, weather-resistant gauntlet. But the elasticized cuff extends beyond the wrist, enhancing warmth and making the mitts easy to pull on and off while keeping the design minimalist—no pull tab needed, but there’s also no wrist leash, and it easily layers under the cuff of any jacket.

The unisex sizing falls between sizes for men and women: I normally wear men’s medium in mittens and gloves, but the unisex medium felt snug and the large fit me better.

The Unicorn delivers enough warmth for many resort skiers and riders on all but the most frigid days while being light enough for everything from walking and snowshoeing to clearing snow—at a very good price.

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Best Lightweight Mitten

Outdoor Research Stormbound Sensor Mitts
$110, 6.5 oz. (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm for their weight, water-resistant, good wicking, outstanding construction.
Cons: Too warm for exerting in temps around freezing, mediocre dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow.

Arguably the most intricately design, technical, and versatile mittens covered in this review, OR’s Stormbound Mitts covered my hands while skiing resort groomers, on backcountry ski tours, and on local winter hikes, in cold wind and temps and falling snow. They’re remarkably warm for their low weight, and yet my hands didn’t overheat in them until temps rose above freezing, and they stayed absolutely dry whether dabbing them repeatedly in snow or sweating while hiking steeply uphill.

OR’s warmest mitten for skiing combines three types of insulation: responsibly sourced, 800+-fill goose down surrounded by water-resistant, 340g PrimaLoft Gold synthetic insulation on the back of the hand and 133g in the cuff, plus 133g PrimaLoft Silver insulation in the palm and back of the thumb—meaning the Stormbound Mitts keeps hands warm even when wet. The polyester tricot lining at the back of the hand and moonlight pile fleece polyester with ActiveTemp technology in the palm lining wick perspiration, and individual finger slots inside the mitts seem to enhance wicking.

The breathable Pertex Shield+ shell provides waterproof protection and the palm consists of durable, water-resistant and grippy goat leather. The comfortable and secure rib-knit cuff seals in warmth and the extended gauntlet has a hook-and-loop wrist closure, a large pull loop, plus an adjustable wrist leash, and can be worn over the close-fitting cuff of an insulated jacket or under the adjustable cuff of a shell jacket. The unisex medium fits like men’s medium.

With a thoughtful design and high warmth-to-weight ratio, the Outdoor Research Stormbound Sensor Mitts offer great versatility for a variety of activities.

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Flylow Super Mitten
$135, 7.5 oz. (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Exceptional warmth and durability, waterproof and breathable.
Cons: No wrist leash, too warm for moderate cold, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

While making downhill ski runs in the backcountry through hours of wet snow puking from the sky and wind chills in the low teens (wearing the mittens only when skiing downhill), the Super Mittens were more than warm enough and kept my hands absolutely dry. Flylow’s warmest mitten marries pre-treated fully waterproof cowhide leather on the palm side and thumb to tough nylon on the back and gauntlet and a durable, water-resistant treatment (DWR) to shed snow and water.

Breathable PrimaLoft Black Eco synthetic insulation—240g on the back and 120g on the palm (not quite as much as the BD Recon Mitts)—ranks them among the warmest mittens you’ll find: Like the other burly models, the Super Mittens warm freezing hands moments after you pull them on and are overkill for temps just below freezing, although they release moisture building up inside better than some heavy mitts.

Most uniquely, the adjustable gauntlet, worn over sleeve of any jacket,reaches halfway down your forearm, the longest of this bunch—helping keep hands warmer and drier. The fit runs true to size, not excessively bulky, and the soft lining and leather flexes quite easily; for such a toasty mitten, dexterity is good for basic tasks like handling zippers and buckles. But the Super Mittens have no wrist leash.

The Flylow Super Mitten is best for skiing and snowboarding on frigid days at the resort or going downhill in the backcountry—and they come at a good price for this quality. Flylow now has an updated version, the Super D Mitten.

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Gordini Polar Mitt
$143, 9 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s S-L
backcountry.com

Pros: Exceptional warmth and durability, waterproof-breathable.
Cons: Too warm for moderate cold, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

From days of below-zero wind chills resort skiing to backcountry skiing in heavily falling, wet snow, I pulled on the ultra-fat Gordini Polar Mitt and they kept my hands as warm and dry as if I were lying zipped up inside my fattest sleeping bag. In fact, I failed to find conditions too cold for these mitts, which are good for the frostiest outings that the rest of your body can tolerate.

The waterproof-breathable and windproof AquaBloc insert keeps moisture out, while the water-repellent, 700-fill Downtek feathers on the back of the hand combined with Megaloft synthetic insulation on the palm side retain heat even when damp. That’s likely to only come from perspiration, so the Polar Mitt also has possibly the plushest moisture-wicking lining you’ll find in any mitten. Not surprisingly, the Polar Mitt is much too warm for high exertion like skinning uphill—wear lighter gloves for that—and overkill for relatively mild winter days on snow.

Durability is assured by the deerskin and four-way-stretch nylon softshell. The mitts have a wrist adjustment strap and leash, soft nose wipe on the thumbs, textured palms for better grip, and an adjustable gauntlet that extends beyond the wrist and is worn over sleeve of any jacket. The fit runs true to size and feels spacious, with a soft flex that’s not at all fatiguing for hands the way the warmest and stiffest winter gloves are.

One of the burliest and warmest mittens reviewed here—and consequently, with poor dexterity, although that’s not the strength of any mittens—the over-the-cuff Gordini Polar Mitt is a great pick for those dead-of-winter frigid days resort skiing or riding.

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Outdoor Research Mt. Baker II Gore-Tex Mitts
$179, 9.5 oz. (medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm, waterproof-breathable, two-piece system, glove dexterity with mitten warmth.
Cons: Too warm except in temps well below freezing, no women’s sizes.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Skiing in a wind chill around zero Fahrenheit at times during a four-day, January trip to a backcountry yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, my fingers—which get cold very easily—stayed toasty in this two-piece system of removable, insulated gloves inside a Gore-Tex shell mitten.

The warmth comes from 170g PrimaLoft synthetic insulation in the glove insert, which has a soft, fleece lining. The fully seam-taped Gore-Tex mitten shell kept moisture out and is made with the same 70-denier taslan ripstop polyester used in OR’s tough gaiters. Fit and dexterity in the gloves is good enough to fuss with pack straps, boot buckles, and obviously better than mittens.

The Mt. Baker have smart details, like the one-hand gauntlet cinch on the shell mitten; adjustable straps at the wrist on both the mittens and gloves; an adjustable leash on the mitten shells; and the carabiner loop on the mittens for clipping them to a harness or pack wrist-down, to prevent precipitation from getting inside. AlpenGrip pads on the glove thumb and fingertip enhance grip.

While the Mt. Baker Mitts do not match the warmth of the BD Recon, Flylow Super Mitts, or Gordini Polar Mitt—because the insulation is a glove, not a mitten—the unique, two-piece system gives them superior versatility: You can wear the glove alone (useful for climbing uphill); the glove and mitt together going downhill or in deep cold; and because the mittens have no insulation, they double as three-season rain shells.

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Warmest and Driest for Skiing or Riding

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
$140, 10 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XL, women’s XS-L
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Superior warmth, weather protection, and durability, and year-round versatility with a removable insulated mitten and a waterproof-breathable shell.
Cons: No wrist leash, poor dexterity, too warm for moderate cold.
Best For: Resort skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, or hiking in deep cold.

On overcast, windy, January days resort skiing in falling snow and temps from around 20° F down to the single digits, with a wind chill that dipped below zero—conditions in which my fingers would quickly get cold even in the warmest gloves I own—the Mercury Mitts kept my hands abundantly warm on the lifts and the downhill runs in deep powder. Even as falling temperatures, wind, hunger, and exhaustion toward the end of those days made my body feel a bit colder, my hands and fingers never felt chilled.

That superior warmth results from the 90 percent recycled, 340g PrimaLoft Gold Cross Core insulation and a 100 percent recycled high-loft fleece lining, plus the added insulation provided by a gauntlet that extends halfway down my forearm. And my hands stayed dry for hours in a heavy, wet, nuking snowstorm while riding the lifts at California’s Palisades-Tahoe Resort, thanks to the 100 percent recycled waterproof-breathable BDdry insert. For most people, these mittens would only get too warm in temps above the low to mid-20s Fahrenheit, depending on weather conditions and exertion level.

BD calls the Mercury its “most versatile and popular year-round mitt” because its removable, insulated liner enables wearing the 100 percent recycled ripstop polyester shell as a simple overmitt in rain any time of year. The insulated liner mitt could be worn alone, although it lacks the elasticized wrist and gauntlet closure. Goatskin leather throughout the palm, thumb, and fingers boosts durability and grip. The PFC-free, molecular Empel DWR (durable, water-resistant treatment) uses no water while improving water repellency.

While the spacious fit doesn’t squeeze your thumb or fingers, the elasticized wrist prevents the mitt from slipping around on your hand—improving the fit while also helping to trap heat. The men’s and women’s models run true to size. The over-the-cuff, gauntlet drawcord helps trap heat and keeps snow out and is easily manipulated with one hand. But dexterity is predictably poor and the Mercury Mitts lack a wrist leash.

With superior warmth and durability and waterproof-breathable performance, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are a top choice for cold days of resort skiing and riding or activities like snowshoeing and hiking.

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Over more than 30 years of climbing and skiing in the backcountry, I’ve had a few close calls, some directly due to the inability of my partner and I to hear or see one another. One of my most trusted partners—a longtime friend who once saved me from a potentially long lead-climbing fall by leaping down a steep hill at the route’s base to reel in many feet of rope—also once took me off belay before I reached the top of a pitch and anchored myself; fortunately, I didn’t fall. After relying on the sketchy low tech of shouting and rope signals for much too long, I’ve found a vastly more reliable, light, and inexpensive solution: the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio.

On days of ski touring in the backcountry—where you need to know the location of your partners after skiing separately down runs and confirm that all are safe, and you can often be too far apart to hear or see one another and wind can drown out or distort shouts—I’ve found the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio reliably provides clear communication, eliminating the need for often fruitless and frustrating shouts to one another.

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I’ve also used the Mountain Radio resort skiing at Northern California’s Palisades-Tahoe and Sugar Bowl resorts with my young-adult son, enabling us to discuss which runs to ski whenever we were too far apart to hear one another, or to locate one another when we took different runs. That’s particularly helpful when skiing unfamiliar resorts. (Radios are less necessary with a group who are all familiar with the resort and can plan where to rendezvous after a run and a phone call can usually clear up any miscommunication.)

And I used two of these radios and a third from another brand in a group of six friends on a six-day backpacking trip on one of the most remote trails in the Grand Canyon, where radios were useful when the group was searching for scarce water sources or even simply moving at different paces that spread us out.

The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio is simple enough for a young child to master—and skiing parents know how easily one can lose a fast, young kid on the slopes. Yes, many resorts have cell service. But a cell phone is usually buried in a pocket where its sound is muffled and you have to remove a glove or mitten to operate it, whereas you can clip a two-way radio to a shoulder strap of a small pack—near your ear—where you need only to reach over and press the talk button to speak to a partner and will hear them calling you.

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This two-watt radio’s claimed range of one to five miles in mountains or a half-mile to three miles in forested hills exceeds the range needed in most situations when backcountry or resort skiing, rock or alpine climbing, and off-trail hiking and scrambling, and certainly exceeds the range needed for climbers tied into a rope together. In practice, they’re occasionally (and rarely) limited by line of sight and terrain obstacles at close range: At one point, my son and I were at two different lifts at Sugar Bowl and could not hear each other despite being within a half-mile and at virtually the same elevation. Within minutes, though, we were able to hear each other.

Rocky Talkie gives an estimated range of 25 or more miles in direct line-of-sight circumstances—but the terrain we frequent rarely permits communicating across such distances; indeed, ideal conditions for that much range would almost never occur. Besides, few backcountry users will encounter the need for such range. In most backcountry situations, the realistic range is probably a mile or two in high power mode and a half-mile in low power mode (explained below).

The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio can connect with all other FRS or GMRS radios generally by using channels one through 22 and can sync with another radio’s privacy code. (While GMRS radio transmissions require a license because they are over two watts, FRS and GMRS radios both operate within the frequency range that overlaps on those channels, enabling them to communicate; but GMRS radios must operate at the lower, two-watt power level in that range of channels.)

The radio’s five buttons are each dedicated to specific functions, keeping operation simple and easy the first time you review the instructions or watch Rocky Talkie’s instructional video (at rockytalkie.com/products/mountain-radio). The recessed talk button audibly clicks when depressing it so that you know when it’s transmitting and it’s easy to use while wearing warm gloves.

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The small, recessed flipper button on top scrolls through the 128 channels. Holding it forward for two seconds locks and unlocks the radio, preventing, for instance, accidentally changing the channel; only the talk and volume buttons operate when the radio is locked. Holding the flipper backward for two seconds engages scan mode to search channels one through 22 for other users who are actively transmitting within range; press any button to stop scanning. The flipper is not easy to manipulate while wearing a warm glove, but you’d want to set the channel and privacy code at the outset of your day, anyway. Similarly, the plus and minus volume buttons on one side are too small for winter gloves, but those rarely need adjusting during an outing.

As with other two-way radios, privacy codes filter out transmissions from other nearby radio users who are not on the same channel and using the same privacy code as you and your partners; without using a privacy code, you will hear the transmissions of others on any channel within range. The LED screen displays “CT” or “DCS” to indicate a privacy code is on. Press the power button twice to check which privacy code is active. To select a privacy code to sync with a partner’s radio, hold the volume minus button for two seconds, then release that button and use the flipper to select a privacy code and press any button to set that code. The radio must be unlocked to change the channel or privacy code.

Holding the volume plus button for two seconds changes the radio between high power mode, which is two watts and recommended for normal use and maximum range, and low power mode, which drops the power by a factor of four to 0.5 watt, greatly reducing the radio’s range while saving power, mostly for multi-day outings. Hold the volume plus button to switch between high and low power.

The USB-C rechargeable, 1550 mAh lithium-ion battery runs for up to four days on a full charge, even in temperatures down to -20° F/-29° C. A shatterproof LED screen and thermoplastic housing protect it through very hard backcountry use. The IP56 waterproofing rating means it’s splash- and snow-proof but not immersible.

The Rocky Talkie consists of a single, compact unit that measures 6.4×2.3×1.1 inches/16.2×5.9×2.7 centimeters and weighs only 7.9 oz./224 grams (including carabiners and leash), easily fitting in the palm of your hand and almost unnoticeable attached to a pack.

Rather than a clip on the back of the radio, the Rocky Talkie employs a lightweight, climbing-strength carabiner clipped to a fixed, bomber D-ring on the back of the radio, for easily and securely attaching the radio to a pack shoulder strap or a climbing harness. The coiled leash can be clipped via its small carabiner elsewhere on your pack or harness to avoid dropping and losing it in deep snow, water, or off a cliff; and clipping the bottom end of the cord to your belt area with the radio at your shoulder places tension on the cord to keep the radio from flopping around.

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The Rocky Talkie has obvious limitations, first and foremost terrain: Trees, dense vegetation, mountain ridges, canyon walls, and other natural barriers reduce the radio’s range or completely impede communication. And the Rocky Talkie is strictly intended for communicating across short distances; it shouldn’t be compared to GPS-based transceivers like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 that can transmit your location and a short text message to family, friends, or emergency responders across any distance (and that are more expensive and require a service plan).

But the Rocky Talkie virtually always enables clear communication between partners who are out of sight and voice range, at the relatively short distances that typically separate climbers, backcountry skiers and riders, snowmobilers, off-trail hikers and scramblers, ultra-hikers and runners, and many outdoor users—potentially avoiding or quickly alerting you to any problems as well as making the routine actions of our sports easier and smoother. Whitewater kayakers and others in water sports would benefit just as much from radios, but would need the fully waterproof Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Radio ($165), which requires a license because it’s over two watts.

Having the ability to immediately and clearly speak with your partner(s) radically increases safety: You can confirm immediately, without doubt, that your partner is off belay, is safely at the bottom of a ski run—or is in a tree well or avalanche and needs help. My son shared with me hearing a ski guide opine that radios are as important as any backcountry safety gear—meaning your beacon, shovel, and probe.

Radios also deliver the perhaps surprising benefit of helping you move more efficiently and faster through the backcountry—which also increases your margin of safety.

The Verdict

You don’t have to wait years to greatly improve your safety margins and travel more efficiently in the backcountry. The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio provides a lightweight, reliable, easy-to-operate, and inexpensive means for backcountry and resort skiers, climbers, and others to communicate with partners who are beyond sight and earshot.

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio at rockytalkie.com.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

See all reviews of outdoor apparel at The Big Outside, including “The 12 Best Down Jackets,” “The Best Gloves for Winter” and “The Best Mittens for Winter.”

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

—Michael Lanza

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Whatever you need an insulated jacket for, there’s a down or synthetic puffy for your needs, within your budget. And whether you want a puffy jacket for outdoor activities like backpacking, camping, skiing, climbing, and hut treks, or just to keep you warm around town or at outdoor sporting events, this review will help you figure out how to choose the right jacket for your purposes, and it spotlights the best down and synthetic insulated jackets available today.

I selected the jackets covered in this review after extensive testing on backpacking, camping, backcountry ski touring, climbing and other backcountry trips. I’ve field-tested dozens of insulated jackets over three decades of testing and reviewing gear, formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog.

Technology has blurred the traditional lines between down and synthetics, with water-resistant down that traps heat even when wet—all but eliminating the weakness that had long been the Achilles heel of down—and synthetic insulation materials that approach the warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility of down.

If you’d prefer, scroll past my buying tips to dive immediately into the jacket reviews.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please leave it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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How to Choose a Synthetic or Down Jacket

Insulated jackets today differ not only in type and amount of insulation, but also in water resistance, breathability, and as always, design features like the hood and pockets. When choosing between down and synthetic models, consider the usual conditions and temperatures in which you’ll use it—in other words, how wet and cold you expect to get, and your body type (how easily you get cold)—as well as the seasonal and activity versatility you require. Some questions to consider:

• Do you want one jacket for four seasons?
• Do you want it primarily for one or two activities like backpacking, camping, climbing, or skiing?
• Does it need to be breathable because you’ll wear it while on the move at times, or will you only wear it while relatively inactive in camp, when breathability doesn’t really matter?

And perhaps the most-important question: How warm an insulated jacket do you need for how, where, and when you will use it?

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Some performance aspects of puffy jackets you should understand include:

• Standard down feathers lose their ability to trap heat once wet, rendering down less practical in wet environments.

• The primary advantage of synthetic-insulation jackets is the ability to still trap warmth when wet—although the wetter the jacket, the less warm it will feel, especially once that dampness reaches your skin.

• However, some jackets are now made with water-resistant, or hydrophobic down feathers that greatly improve their ability to repel water, continue to trap heat when damp, and dry faster. And even those jackets that contain standard down often have a water-resistant shell fabric that repels light precipitation but isn’t designed to withstand a steady rain. (Read more on this below, under Which is Better, Down or Synthetic?)

• The down fill-power rating is a measure of the volume, in cubic inches, that one ounce of that down fills; in other words, an ounce of 800-fill power down will occupy 800 cubic inches of volume. Down feathers are separated during processing according to this measure.

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• Higher fill-power ratings translate to more warmth per ounce of down, so if two jackets contain identical amounts of down by weight, the jacket with the higher fill-power rating will probably be warmer and more compressible (and more expensive). That said, of course, an ultralight 800-fill power jacket may not be as warm as a 700-fill power jacket that contains more down. The price of down jackets usually correlates with the quality of the down.

• Similarly, while synthetic insulation traditionally was not as lightweight and compressible as down, the best modern synthetics—including those reviewed below—have a warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility that compares with mid-grade (700-fill) or better down.

• Some modern synthetic insulations are also constructed in a way that makes them more durable, although, for the most part, down retains the edge there.

Insulated jackets are usually sewn in one of two ways:

• So-called “sewn through” construction stitches the outer, shell fabric to the inner, liner fabric, creating pockets of down, but also potential cold spots at seams where there’s effectively no insulation. This method reduces a jacket’s weight and often its cost, and is practical in ultralight jackets for moderate temperatures (think summer in the mountains).

• The more-expensive method of creating so-called box baffles eliminates cold spots and makes a jacket look puffier, but adds weight and usually cost.

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How Warm a Jacket Do You Need?

As I write in my blog post “How You Can Tell How Warm a Down Jacket Is,” an insulated jacket’s total weight offers a rough idea of how warm it is. But that’s certainly not precise. Warmth (and weight) will vary with factors like type, quality, and amount of insulation, the jacket’s construction, and whether it has a hood.

Still, with down and synthetic jackets, I look at the garment’s total weight as a general guideline to its warmth. Although I encounter exceptions to the following weight categories, they provide a starting point. These guidelines and temperature ranges also apply to my body’s metabolism (my tolerance for cold is probably a little higher than average), and they presume I’m wearing one or two base layers underneath the puffy that are appropriate to the season and temperatures.

• When I’m going ultralight on summer backcountry trips, and I expect temps no lower than around 40° F, I bring a down or puffy jacket weighing seven to 11 ounces. If the temp drops lower, I supplement with my other layers or get in my sleeping bag when necessary.

• For trips when the temp could dip below freezing, I want a jacket that’s 12 to 16 ounces.

• For colder trips and in winter in the backcountry, my insulated jacket weighs roughly 16 to 22 ounces.

Having a hood certainly keeps you warmer and is worth the additional weight and cost. You should consider whether other layers in your clothing system already have a hood, and make sure that any two hoods you’re wearing together pair up well.

I usually consider a hood mandatory in temperatures near and below freezing, but less important on milder trips, when I’ll pack a hoodless, ultralight puffy jacket to reduce pack weight and because I’m bringing a hat, anyway. However, I also consider the activities for which I’ll use the jacket; for high-speed activities in cold temps, I usually wear a lighter, hoodless insulated jacket.

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Which is Better, Down or Synthetic?

In my experience, if you compare a down and synthetic insulated jacket of the same weight and basic design—for example, assuming both have a hood—I still find that down feathers have the edge in pure warmth. I think that assessment bears out in the products listed below.

To simplify your choice between down and synthetic insulation, think of it this way:

• If you want a puffy jacket primarily for warmth when you’re inactive (say, in camp), and expect mostly dry conditions or to wear a rain shell over the puffy when needed, get a down jacket.
• Get water-resistant or hydrophobic down if it may occasionally have to endure a light shower. But many accounts and lab testing, hydrophobic down provides some water repellency and protection until it gets soaked—and most users will not encounter conditions where they would notice any difference in performance between hydrophobic down (whether in a jacket or a sleeping bag) and standard down. (See much more detail on this topic in a comment I posted at the bottom of this story, dated Sept. 13, 2022, responding to a reader’s question about hydrophobic down.)
• If you expect to often wear it in wet conditions, get a synthetic puffy.
• If you will wear it while active in wet conditions, get a synthetic puffy with breathable insulation.

I’ve ranked the following down and synthetic puffy jackets roughly in order from lightest to warmest in each of these two categories. Please share what you think of my review or any of the jackets covered here in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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The Best Down Jackets

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody
$420, 8.8 oz./250g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
rei.com

When my goal is minimizing pack weight on summer trips with cool but not freezing nights, I bring this wispy jacket. The 800-fill goose down delivers beaucoup warmth for a puffy jacket that’s barely over a half-pound, and the hood boosts its versatility for nights dipping into the 30s Fahrenheit (for some people). It has been my go-to insulation for summer backpacking in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness, Nevada’s Ruby Crest Trail, the 96-mile Wind River High Route, and other trips.

When stuffed into one of the two roomy, zippered hand pockets, the jacket packs down to slightly larger than a liter bottle—and lofts up almost instantly. Even better, the 10-denier shell fabric consists of 100 percent recycled nylon ripstop, and the feathers are RDS-certified down—so this newest iteration of the Ghost Whisperer series is as light on the Earth as it is in your pack.

Read my full review of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody.

Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody ($450, 6.7 oz./190g), whacks about two ounces/57 grams off its older sibling’s weight while excelling for many of the same reasons—and still has the hood and two zippered hand pockets. Read my review.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody at rei.com; a men’s Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody at backcountry.com; a women’s Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody at backcountry.com; or other versions of the Ghost Whisperer down insulation at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Get warmth that stands up to winter temps, water-resistant insulation, and a fit aided by stretch materials in the Mountain Hardwear StretchDown Jacket ($290, 1 lb. 2 oz.). Hardwear’s 750-fill Q.Shield down repels moisture and retains loft when wet, and the unique, stretch-welded channel construction moves with you and traps heat more efficiently than jackets with standard stitching. You can support my blog, at no cost to you, but clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mountain Hardwear StretchDown Jacket or Hooded Jacket at backcountry.com or rei.com.

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Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody
$429, 10 oz./284g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

Wearing BD’s Approach Down Hoody on cool, very windy evenings and mornings down to the 40s Fahrenheit backpacking in the Grand Canyon and similar temps backpacking in the Wind River Range, I stayed both perfectly warm and happy that I’d packed a very light puffy that didn’t compromise on warmth or features.

Barely more than an ounce heavier than Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer/2, the Approach bests it with features found in heavier down jackets, like a chest pocket and a hood that adjusts with a one-hand drawcord and stays in place when turning your head side to side. Stuffed with 800-fill power, water-resistant goose down, it has high warmth for its weight and won’t lose loft when damp—expanding its usefulness from three-season backpacking to active insulation in cold temps. Plus, it boasts green cred with fluorocarbon-free, RDS-certified down and a PFC-free and water-free DWR on the 10-denier by 7-denier nylon woven shell fabric that’s more durable than traditional DWRs.

Read my full review of the Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket
$409, 11 oz./312g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XS-XL
featheredfriends.com

If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. In updating its Eos Down Jacket, Feathered Friends made just two minor improvements. Testing the Eos on a windy and chilly June trip in Idaho’s City of Rocks and on cool, windy evenings and mornings in August on the John Muir Trail, I found it just as warm and comfortable as I found the previous version in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, Glacier National Park, and countless other wild places.

Stuffed with 900+-fill goose down and weighing just 11 ounces, the Eos has a warmth-to-weight ratio matched by few competitors. The 12-denier by 20-denier Pertex Quantum shell sheds light precipitation. The updated Eos placed the zippered chest pocket behind a flap and made the warm hood adjustable using drawstrings; it still features two zippered hand pockets, elasticized cuffs, and a drawcord hem. A great fit, superior warmth and packability make it an excellent choice for three-season trips.

Read my full review of the 2022 Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket at featheredfriends.com, or a women’s Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket at featheredfriends.com.

Looking for a more affordable down jacket?
Check out the REI 650 Down Jacket. Read my review.

Rab Mythic Alpine Down Jacket
$390, 11 oz./313g (men’s mediumSizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

A weeklong backpacking trip in Glacier National Park in mid-September presented a quandary: Trimming all superfluous weight from my pack (which began the hike with 14 pounds of food weight) and staying warm in temperatures dropping to near freezing. Rab’s Mythic Alpine Down Jacket achieved both goals—while weighing less than most comparably warm puffy jackets.

Stuffed with hydrophobic, 900-fill goose down, it has one of the highest warmth-to-weight ratios you’ll find in any down jacket—especially for a water-resistant model—as well as being highly packable. With an adjustable hood that really boosts warmth, and stitch-through baffle construction, it’s one of the lightest down jackets that can handle most three-season trips. The 10-denier ripstop, 100 percent recycled Pertex Quantum shell is the lightest shell fabric used in insulated jackets, but it’ll last, as long as you exercise reasonable care with it.

Read my full review of the Rab Mythic Alpine Down Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Rab Mythic Alpine Down Jacket at backcountry.com or a men’s or women’s Rab Mythic Alpine Light Down Jacket at backcountry.com.

Stay dry, happy, and safe.
See my review of “The Best Rain Jackets for Hiking and Backpacking.”

Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody
$400, 12 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XXXL, women’s XXS-XXL
rei.com

From unseasonably cold and windy mornings near freezing in southern Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon in mid-April to September campsites in Wyoming’s Wind River Range and mornings in the mid-20s in the first week of March in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, the Cerium Hoody has immediately warmed me in circumstances that push three-season conditions. While slightly edged out only by the Feathered Friends Eos and Helios in warmth-to-weight ratio, the Cerium adds another dimension of performance: It marries the high warmth-per-ounce and packability of 850-fill power down in the hood, sleeves, and torso, with lightweight, breathable, and compressible Coreloft synthetic insulation in areas like the shoulders and armpits, to keep it trapping heat even when wet.

A close-fitting, under-the-helmet, adjustable hood amps up the warmth. It has two zippered hand pockets, stuffs into a zippered inside pocket, and the shell fabric fends off light precipitation. With a comfortable, athletic fit that allows layering a couple of warm base layers underneath, the Cerium Hoody is a good choice for any three-season adventures or as a middle layer on winter adventures.

Read my full review of the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody at rei.com or arcteryx.com.

Start out right. See “10 Perfect National Park Backpacking Trips for Beginners”
and “The 5 Southwest Backpacking Trips You Should Do First.”

Himali Accelerator Down Jacket
$345, 12.5 oz./354g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
himali.com

On cool mornings and windy evenings in the low 40s Fahrenheit (4-6° C) in campsites while backpacking the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park and the Nigel, Cataract, and Cline Passes Route in the White Goat Wilderness in the Canadian Rockies in August, my Himali Accelerator Down Jacket kept me perfectly warm over just one or two base layers. By many measures, this midweight puffy hits the target for three-season mountain adventures in its balance of weight, packability, warmth, materials and features—all at a competitive price for a high-quality down jacket.

Stuffed with four ounces of RDS-certified, 850-fill, water-resistant HyperDry down, the Accelerator delivers a very high warmth-to-weight ratio that competes with the few very best down jackets at this or any weight. Mapped synthetic insulation in the armpits along with the water-resistant down and DWR-coated, 20-denier Pertex Quantum ripstop nylon shell fabric help the Accelerator continue trapping body heat in wet weather. An adjustable hood, three zippered pockets (one inside), and a great fit arguably make it the ideal puffy for many backpackers, climbers, and four-season adventurers.

Read my full review of the Himali Accelerator Down Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s hooded Himali Accelerator Down Jacket at himali.com, a women’s hooded Himali Accelerator Down Jacket at himali.com, a men’s non-hooded Himali Accelerator Down Jacket at himali.com, or a women’s non-hooded Himali Accelerator Down Jacket at himali.com.

Readers of The Big Outside get an exclusive 10 percent off any Himali purchase by using the discount code THEBIGOUTSIDE.

Need a super versatile fleece hoodie? See my reviews of the ultralight Himali Limitless Grid Fleece Hoodie and the warmer, remarkably breathable Himali Men’s Endeavor Fleece Hoodie. Those jackets, like all Himali products, qualify for the exclusive 10 percent off any Himali purchase for readers of this blog, using the discount code THEBIGOUTSIDE.

Buy smartly. Read my “10 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear” and
“Why and When to Spend More on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.”

Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket
$295, 15 oz./425g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XXS-XXL, women’s XS-XXL
backcountry.com

When rain and chilly wind whipped through our campsites on evenings and mornings around 40° F in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, as well as on a late-September backpacking trip in Yosemite, the Microlight Alpine Down Jacket passed the test, thanks to features designed to fend off wet and raw conditions.

The hydrophobic, 700-fill goose down traps heat even when damp and dries faster than standard down, while the micro and nano stitch-through baffle construction helps reduce the jacket’s weight and cost. With a stiffened brim and close fit around your head, the adjustable hood boosts warmth substantially. The 30-denier Pertex Quantum ripstop nylon shell sheds light precipitation; paired with the hydrophobic down, it makes this a better (read: warmer) choice for wet weather than many down jackets. Green creds: The Microlight Alpine Jacket has a fully recycled shell, insulation, and lining. At this price, it’s a great value.

Read my full review of the Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket at backcountry.com or rei.com.

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Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie
$299, 15.4 oz./437g
Sizes: men’s S-3XL, women’s XS-XL, plus sizes 1X-4X
backcountry.com

On windy mornings and evenings in the deep shade of our camps in Owl and Fish canyons in southern Utah in early May, my Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie kept me quite warm in below-freezing wind chills—even when wearing only a lightweight wool T-shirt under it. This jacket’s 800+-fill down gives it a high warmth-to-weight ratio: At under a pound, it packs enough warmth to push the edges of peak seasons in the mountains and desert—or to keep people who get cold easily warm in typical morning and evening temperatures in the mountains in summer.

The wind-resistant Pertex Quantum nylon shell fabric gets a durability boost from Diamond Fuse technology. It also sets itself apart from many down jackets for the waterproof ripstop fabric at the hood, shoulders, and upper sleeves. The adjustable hood fits nicely and traps heat efficiently and three zippered external pockets plus two spacious internal stash pockets complete a rich feature set. All this at a price that’s hard to beat for this level of quality.

Read my full review of the Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or rei.com.

Score a backcountry permit in popular parks like Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Grand Teton
using my “10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit.”

Feathered Friends Helios Hooded Jacket
$489, 1 lb. 1 oz./482g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XXL
featheredfriends.com

On winter nights in the single digits outside a yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, and raw, wet spring mornings camped in Idaho’s City of Rocks, this fat down jacket felt crazy warm—especially for its weight and surprising packability, spotlighting its versatility as an outstanding down jacket that’s light and packable enough for sub-freezing temps or people who just get cold more easily on three-season trips.

The Helios is stuffed generously with nearly eight ounces (men’s medium) of 900+-fill down, the highest-quality down you can find, which explains its stratospheric warmth-to-weight ratio. The comfortable, adjustable hood seals nicely around the face to trap heat and fits over a climbing helmet. The water-resistant, 20-denier Pertex Endurance LT shell fabric repels light rain, and the jacket has two hand pockets with overlapping stretch flaps in lieu of a zipper, plus one small, zippered inside pocket.

Read my full review of the Feathered Friends Helios Hooded Down Jacket.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase a Feathered Friends Helios Hooded Down Jacket at featheredfriends.com or other Helios apparel at featheredfriends.com.

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to get professional-quality prints of this blog’s most inspiring images!

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody
$399, 1 lb. 1 oz./482g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-3XL, women’s 2XS-2XL
backcountry.com

From backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies and Oregon, hut treks in New Zealand, and spring and summer camping and climbing trips to countless days of resort skiing at Oregon’s Mount Bachelor and in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, plus days of backcountry ski touring, my college-student daughter has stayed warm in Patagonia’s Fitz Roy Down Hoody in temperatures down to around freezing—while demonstrating this hooded jacket’s versatility.

The 800-fill-power down delivers good packability and warmth for the jacket’s weight; it’s warm enough for everything from sitting around camp on chilly nights while backpacking in the mountains in summer to using it as a layering piece for winter hikes or ski tours. The adjustable, helmet-compatible hood has a one-hand drawcord. The fitleaves room for a couple of warm base layers and/or light insulation. The jacket stuffs into one of the two zippered hand pockets and also has two zippered chest pockets and an internal drop pocket.

Read my full review of the Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody at patagonia.com or rei.com, or a women’s Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Got an all-time favorite campsite?
See “Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites.”

The Best Synthetic Jackets

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody
$329, 10 oz./283.5g
Sizes: men’s XS-3XL, women’s XXS-XL
patagonia.com

In cool, strong wind from Idaho’s City of Rocks to multiple trips backpacking in the Wind River Range, the Grand Canyon, and elsewhere, the Micro Puff Hoody delivered more warmth than expected, given that it weighs slightly more than a half-pound. Patagonia’s water-resistant PlumaFill insulation matches the warmth-to-weight ratio of high-quality (800-fill power) down, while trapping heat when wet. That’s because it’s constructed as a continuous strand, which, combined with the jacket’s quilted construction, creates internal spaces that trap heat—imitating how down delivers so much warmth per ounce of insulation.

The water-resistant, windproof, 10-denier Pertex Quantum shell with a DWR shrugged off a couple of hours of very light rain in one camp. The comfortable, well-designed, non-adjustable, elasticized hood clings snugly around your face and fits under a helmet. Appealing to ultralighters and anyone seeking one of the lightest, most packable puffy jackets, the Micro Puff excels for three-season backpacking and camping in moderate temps.

Read my full review of the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody or other Micro Puff models at backcountry.com or patagonia.com.

Want a synthetic puffy that’s warmer than the Micro Puff Hoody? Made with 55 percent recycled polyester, the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody ($289, 13 oz.) features water-resistant PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, which has a warmth-per-ounce ratio similar to mid-grade down, and the jacket zips into its inside chest pocket.

And check out my go-to fleece, the Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Fleece Hoody ($189, 12.5 oz./354g).

What touches your skin matters, too. See my picks for the best base layers for any season.

Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody
$299, 14 oz./397g
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Temperatures around 40° F in campsites in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains proved the warmth of BD’s First Light Stretch Hoody. But this jacket’s synthetic stretch insulation makes it potentially the only insulated jacket you need for a variety of activities year-round, from summer backpacking trips in the mountains to backcountry touring, climbing, snowshoeing, resort skiing, and hiking in winter.

The packable, migration-resistant Primaloft Gold Active insulation offers some breathability during activity and traps heat even when wet from precipitation or perspiration—which becomes particularly beneficial when moving in temps well below freezing. The adjustable hood fits over a helmet, the stretch liner and shell and gusseted underarms provide excellent range of motion, with space for a couple of base layers and a lighter insulated piece, and the jacket stuffs inside one zippered pocket. Consider this a quiver-of-one puffy jacket for bridging three-season backpacking and winter days in the mountains.

The Black Diamond First Light Hybrid Hoody ($299, 12.7 oz./361g) replaces the Primaloft insulation throughout the jacket’s body with Merino wool in the sides and back, for more breathability.

Read my full review of the Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody or First Light Hybrid Hoody at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

See all reviews of insulated jackets and outdoor apparel at The Big Outside. And don’t miss “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

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One of the most immutable truisms about hiking is this: Backpackers, dayhikers, climbers, mountain runners, and others who start using trekking poles almost never hit the trail without them again. No matter how much weight you’re carrying—from an ultralight daypack or running vest to a godawful heavy monster backpack—using poles will lessen your chances of an accidental fall and your leg muscles and joints, feet, back, and body will all feel better, thanks to the reduced strain, fatigue, and impact on them.

Consider this: I do not know a single experienced dayhiker or backpacker who does not use poles.

This review covers the best trekking poles available today. My picks are based on testing all of them (and many other poles) extensively on backpacking trips, dayhikes, mountain climbs and scrambles, backcountry skiing, and/or ultra-trail runs—including backpacking in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, Idaho’s Sawtooths, Utah’s High Uintas, Montana’s Beartooths, Colorado’s San Juans, southern Utah’s Owl and Fish canyons, and on the Grand Canyon’s Gems Route, plus dayhikes from Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks to the Tetons and Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains, to name some places I’ve hiked just in recent months—as well as my experience ambulating thousands of trail miles over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear, formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

In the reviews below:

• The poles are listed in order from lightest to heaviest because weight best distinguishes them in terms of intended uses, making it effectively the key factor influencing your choice.
• I’ve given every pole an overall score—but keep in mind that, with poles, you should first figure out whether you need ultralight, lightweight, or heavier and sturdier poles, and folding versus collapsible/telescoping poles, and then compare the scores and details of the models in your chosen category (which is why I list the poles in order of weight, not score). You will see that some pole models reviewed below have a similar or identical overall score but are very different from one another.
• Traditional collapsible (or telescoping) poles, usually consisting of three sections, typically have a greater length-adjustability range than folding poles and are often (though not always) heavier and sturdier, but do not compress nearly as much as folding poles. Their effective adjustability range is essentially their collapsed length to their maximum length because they still function and can be used by small kids when fully collapsed. They are best for backpacking and dayhiking, and some models cross over to backcountry touring in winter.
• Folding poles, which typically have three but may have up to five sections, typically have limited or no length-adjustability range and are often (though not always) lighter than collapsible poles. They often come in multiple sizes. Most of all, their folding design makes them far more packable—shorter when folded—than collapsible poles. They are good for backpacking, dayhiking, and ultra-running when the goal is traveling very light and being able to store the poles on a small pack without them being obtrusive. They are rarely long and sturdy enough to use to pitch ultralight tents, and few models cross over to backcountry touring in winter.
• For reasons of comparison and intended uses, I categorize poles under 12 ounces (per pair) as ultralight, poles 12-15.9 ounces as lightweight, and poles one pound or more as the sturdiest, for hard use.
• Key point for backpackers who use an ultralight or lightweight tent: If you use a tent that pitches with trekking poles, many require poles that are adjustable and extend to at least 125 centimeters and sometimes 130 to 135 centimeters. (Check the specs and instructions for your tent.) Not all poles meet those specs.
• The capsule reviews below each include a link to my full reviews of the poles.

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I regularly update this review with new poles that belong on this list. I’m confident you will find at least one model of trekking poles ideal for your type of hiking on or off-trail—and you’ll usually find the best prices at the links to online gear retailers below. Those are affiliate links that support this blog at no cost to you when you make purchases through them, so thanks for doing that.

See also my stories “How to Choose Trekking Poles” and “10 Expert Tips for Hiking With Trekking Poles” and these reviews of other top gear picks:

“The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year”
“The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
“The Best Ultralight Packs”
“The 10 Best Backpacking Tents”
“The 12 Best Down Jackets”
“25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories”
“The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks”

Please share your questions, opinions, and experiences with any of these poles or your own favorite model in the comments section at the bottom of the review. I try to respond to all comments.

The chart below compares key metrics and features of each pole covered below, including an overall score. But keep in mind that some models have similar or identical scores even though they are very different; look closely at the scoring categories and specific reviews—and use my expert tips for choosing trekking poles—to determine which poles are best for your purposes. That’s why I list them in order of weight, because that metric most clearly distinguishes the types and best uses of poles.

The Best Trekking Poles

Ultralight Poles

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Score: 4.3
Best for: ultra-runners and -hikers and lightweight and ultralight backpackers.
$200, 10 oz./264g (per pair 110cm, with trekking baskets)
Five sizes, non-adjustable: 110cm/43.3 ins., 115cm/45.3 ins., 120cm/47.2 ins., 125cm/49 ins., and 130cm/51 ins.
blackdiamondequipment.com

Lighter gear can entail tradeoffs, but these ultralight, non-adjustable folding poles are strong enough for many users in most situations. BD’s Distance Carbon Z endured a mostly off-trail, two-day backpacking trip in Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains, and a mostly off-trail, roughly 14-mile and 5,000-foot dayhike of 10,470-foot Horstman Peak in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, among many other hikes and long trail runs.

Quickly deployed to their fixed length (in five sizes), thanks to an internal Kevlar cord, these 100 percent carbon fiber poles have extended EVA foam grips and partly mesh nylon wrist straps. They fold to a tiny 33 centimeters/13 inches (for the 110-centimeter size). Yes, they are non-adjustable, but the broad size range covers most users and adjustability is a modest compromise for weight this loss and packability is more important to this category of users. One caveat: Under rare stresses, carbon will sheer or snap.

See my full review of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

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Gossamer Gear LT5
Score: 4.3
Best for: lightweight and ultralight backpackers and hikers.
$195, 10 oz./283.5g (per pair, without baskets)
One size, adjustable 105-130cm/41 to 53 ins.
gossamergear.com

Weighing (per pair) about as much as a lightweight down jacket—and less than five ounces of water—the minimalist, collapsible LT5 poles stand up to more abuse than they’d receive on many well-maintained trails, as I discovered on a 74-mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, including a 15-mile day traversing most of the rugged Escalante Route; on a seven-day, 96-mile traverse of the extremely rugged Wind River High Route, two-thirds of which is off-trail; on a four-day, 45-mile hike through Yosemite; and trekking hut-to-hut on New Zealand’s Routeburn and Milford tracks in late spring.

The carbon shafts extend from 105 to 130 centimeters/41.3 to 51 inches, long enough for all but the tallest hikers; and while their collapsed length of 60 centimeters/23.5 inches isn’t very packable compared to folding poles, it’s a little better than most collapsible poles. Although the twist-lock mechanism doesn’t lock as securely as a lever, they have rarely failed me. The LT5 poles offer the performance needed by many hikers, backpackers—especially lightweight and ultralight—climbers, and others.

See my full review of the Gossamer Gear LT5 trekking poles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Gossamer Gear LT5 trekking poles at gossamergear.com.

Plan your next great backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton,
and other parks using my expert e-books.

Lightweight Poles

Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ
Score: 4.4
Best for: ultra-runners and -hikers and lightweight and ultralight backpackers.
$220, 12.7 oz./pair (105-125cm, with trekking baskets)
Five adjustable sizes: men’s and women’s 95-110cm/37-43.3 ins. and 110-125cm/43.3-49 ins., men’s 125-140cm/49-55.1 ins.
blackdiamondequipment.com

BD’s folding, carbon fiber Distance Carbon FLZ hit a sweet spot between the most packable, ultralight poles and models only marginally heavier and less packable and offer greater versatility through their adjustability. On dayhikes and trail runs of up to 15 miles in Idaho’s Boulder and Pioneer Mountains and Boise Foothills and a 10-mile, 3,600-vertical-foot dayhike on a trail strewn with wet, slippery rocks and mud in New Hampshire’s White Mountains—as well as backpacking trips on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and in the Wind River Range and The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park—I found they perform very much like the Distance Carbon Z and are tough enough for backpacking.

Quickly deployed and adjusted using BD’s FlickLock levers, they have extended EVA foam grips and partly mesh nylon wrist straps. The five adjustable sizes will accommodate virtually any user. If you’re looking for the lightest and most packable adjustable poles, look no further.

See my full review of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ trekking and running poles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ poles at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

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Montem Ultra Light 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Score: 4.1
Best for: many backpackers, hikers, and climbers.
$90, 14 oz./396.9g (per pair, with trekking baskets)
One size, adjustable 105-135 cm/41 to 53 ins.
montemlife.com

The biggest question with inexpensive gear is always: Will it work? And best way to answer that question is to field test it in places that are hard on gear. From six days on the Grand Canyon’s 60-mile Gems Route to backpacking Utah’s rugged Owl and Fish canyons loop, plus dayhiking in Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks and on two of the steepest, meanest trails in my local Foothills in Idaho, Montem’s Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles stood up to really hard hiking with only the loss of trekking baskets as a demerit.

Like Montem’s even less-expensive Ultra Strong Poles (below), the adjustability range—105 to 135 centimeters/41.3 to 53 inches—beats poles costing much more plus these have flick-lock levers, extended EVA foam grips, and adjustable straps; and the collapsed length of 61 centimeters/24 inches compares to the most packable telescoping poles. But these poles add the low weight and strength of carbon fiber.

See my full review of the Montem Ultra Light Trekking Poles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Montem Ultra Light 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles at montemlife.com.

Get 15 percent off any purchase at montemlife.com using the exclusive discount code BIGOUT15MOG.

Get the right pack for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and the best ultralight backpacks.

Sturdiest Poles

MSR DynaLock Ascent
Score: 4.5
Best for: many backpackers, hikers, and climbers.
$190, 1 lb. 1 oz./481.9g (per pair, 100-120cm, with trekking baskets)
Two sizes, adjustable: S 100-120cm/39-47.2 ins., L 120-140cm/47.2-55.1 ins.
backcountry.com

These three-section, folding poles find a unique balance of three qualities: durability, exceptional packability, and adjustability in folding poles. In the backcountry, they stand out for being tough and stable, proving their value on outings from backpacking in the Wind River Range and a 20-mile, mostly off-trail peaks traverse in Idaho’s Sawtooths to a rim-to-rim dayhike across the Grand Canyon, a six-day hut trek on Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails, and some of the hardest miles on the Appalachian Trail.

The toughness owes to their bombproof, Kevlar-reinforced, all-carbon construction; I’ve never seen a hint of durability shortcomings. The adjustability range of 20cm in each of two sizes serves virtually all users. The packed length of a mere 36.2 centimeters/14.3 inches (for the small size) ranks among the most packable trekking poles. The sections lock rigidly with a simple pin and the Dynalock levers never slipped. There’s much to like and nothing to complain about with MSR’s Dynalock Ascent poles.

See my full review of the MSR Dynalock Ascent trekking poles.

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Want a pair of sturdy, four-season poles for just $90? Check out the MSR Dynalock Trail Backcountry Poles (1 lb. 5 oz./590g) at backcountry.com.

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Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
Score: 4.1
Best for: many backpackers, hikers, climbers, and snow sports users.
$230, 1 lb. 1.5 oz./496.1g (per pair, with trekking baskets)
Two sizes, adjustable: men’s 100-130cm/39-51 ins., women’s 95-125cm/37-49 ins.
blackdiamondequipment.com

From a 94-mile traverse of Glacier National Park and a rugged, 74-mile hike in the Grand Canyon, among other backpacking trips, to backcountry skiing and scrambling off-trail up mountains, BD’s collapsible Alpine Carbon Cork poles have proved tough enough for any activity year-round.

The 100 percent carbon shafts have extended grips and provide good durability while keeping the weight modest. Adjustable from 100 to 130 centimeters/39 to 51 inches, they can effectively be used at any length basically down to their packed length of 61 centimeters/24 inches—a range comparable to many poles, serving all but very tall hikers (though not competing with poles offering the widest adjustability ranges). The FlickLock Pro levers are basically flawless. Two complaints: They’re not very packable and adjusting the lever tension requires a tiny Allen wrench, rather than a screwdriver head that would be found on many multi-tools or knives.

See my full review of the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles.

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Leki Makalu FX Carbon
Score: 4.2
Best for: many backpackers, hikers, climbers, and other users.
$230, 1 lb. 1.9 oz./508g (per pair, with trekking baskets)
One size, adjustable 110-130cm/43.3-51.2 ins.
backcountry.com

With their good adjustability, packability, durability, comfort, reliability, and especially versatility, I increasingly found myself reaching for the Leki Makalu FX Carbon folding poles for backpacking in places as rugged as the Wind River Range, High Sierra, Canadian Rockies, and High Uintas Wilderness.

These folding poles extend to a length range that will accommodate most users: 110 to 130 centimeters/43.3 to 51.2 inches, while also packing away to just 40 centimeters/15.7 inches, nearly as compact as the most packable folding poles. While the Makalu FX Carbon weigh 17.9 ounces/508 grams per pair, placing them in a category with the heaviest hiking poles, the comfortable, extended Aergon Air foam grips help the poles seem to feel lighter. Lastly, precious few folding poles—all sharing the advantage of being very packable—possess the adjustability to serve the needs of a wide range of user sizes and can be used with trekking-pole tents. That’s a rare degree of versatility.

See my full review of the Leki Makalu FX Carbon folding trekking poles.

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Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles
Score: 4.1
Best for: many backpackers, hikers, climbers, and snow sports users.
$160, 1 lb. 1.9 oz./508g (per pair, with trekking baskets)
One size, adjustable 100-135cm/39.4-53 ins.
backcountry.com

The price of these hiking sticks might catch your eye first—but their versatility is also alluring. And they performed solidly on steep hikes like Idaho’s high point, 12,662-foot Borah Peak, with 5,262 feet of vertical in 4.1 miles, as well as on dayhikes in places like Capitol Reef National Park and a backpacking trip in Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, where I started out with about 40 pounds, including eight liters (17 pounds) of water.

The adjustability range of 100 to 135 centimeters/39.4 to 53 inches in these telescoping poles is as versatile as you will find, accommodating virtually every user and making them suitable for tents that pitch with trekking poles. The adjustment levers are reliable and extended cork and foam grips and easily adjustable straps are nice features. Bummers: The collapsed length of 67 centimeters/26.4 inches makes them among the least packable hiking poles; and aluminum shafts make them heavier than most poles—but also sturdier.

See my full review of the Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles at backcountry.com, lekiusa.com, or rei.com.

Montem Ultra Strong
Score: 4.1
Best for: many backpackers and hikers on a budget.
$75, 1 lb. 3 oz./538.6g (per pair, with trekking baskets)
One size, adjustable 105-135cm/41.3-53 ins.
montemlife.com

If cost is a barrier, these collapsible sticks are your answer. From the rugged, 25-mile Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop in the Grand Canyon to a four-day hike in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and other backpacking trips, Montem’s 7075 aluminum shafts suffered no damage—although the piece attaching the upper lever mechanism to the shaft broke on one pole after a few years (there’s a lifetime warranty).

The very good adjustability range—105 to 135 centimeters/41.3 to 53 inches—beats poles costing much more. Like pricier models, these have flick-lock levers, extended EVA foam grips, and adjustable straps. While the collapsed length of 61 centimeters/24 inches compares to the most packable telescoping poles, they are not, of course, nearly as packable as folding poles. Tradeoffs: The levers occasionally slipped—in rugged terrain, not on moderate trails—and the poles are heavy. But ask yourself: Do you want to pay a lot more to avoid such minor tradeoffs?

See my full review of the Montem Ultra Strong trekking poles.

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NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

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A headlamp is unquestionably essential gear for hiking, backpacking, climbing, trail running, ultra-running and ultra-hiking, ski touring, and other backcountry activities that sometimes push into darkness (whether intentionally or not). But with so many to pick from, how do you choose which one to buy? Price? Brightness? Weight? Design and range of lighting modes? Go with a brand you know and trust? This review cuts through the information overload to help you pick the right headlamp for your adventures.

I selected the headlamps covered in this review based on extensive testing on backpacking, camping, long dayhikes, climbing, backcountry skiing, and other backcountry trips, and I’ve field-tested dozens of headlamps over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear, formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog.

The freshly updated picks below represent the best models for backcountry users.

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For dayhiking, backpacking, and similar pursuits, I favor models that meet five simple criteria:

•    Lightweight—no dayhiker, backpacker, runner, or climber needs a bulky light that weighs more than three to four ounces.
•    Versatile and bright enough for everything from reading in the tent and managing camp chores to hiking rugged trail in complete darkness—and if needed, for route-finding off-trail.
•    Intuitive and easy to use, so I don’t have to consult instructions more than once, take off my gloves to operate it, or use a tool to change batteries.
•    Projects a beam that’s focused and even, not blotchy and uneven.
•    Preferably rechargeable so I’m not repeatedly buying and throwing away batteries.

I apply those standards when choosing which headlamps I’ll review at The Big Outside, with the exception of being rechargeable, because some rechargeable headlamps cost more up front (although not over time), and this review covers a variety of headlamps at a range of price points.

The headlamps below are listed in order of weight. Please share your experiences with any of these models, or another you like, in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

The Best Headlamps

BioLite Headlamp 325
$50, 1.8 oz./51g
backcountry.com

Look for an ultralight headlamp under two ounces and $40 or less and you’ll find very few choices—with the BioLite Headlamp 325, which I’ve used backpacking in the Wind River Range and elsewhere, arguably the best. It sports four all-you-need lighting modes—white spot and red flood LEDs, both with dimming capability, plus white and red strobe—and cranks out enough brightness (325 lumens) and lasts long enough on a full charge (three hours on high, 40 hours on low) for backpackers, dayhikers, trail runners, and others.

With its nearly weightless front housing integrated into the slender, easily adjustable, no-bounce head strap, the 325 goes almost unnoticed on your head—making it certainly among the most comfortable ultralight headlamps. Intuitive, single-button operation, lockout mode, four-position housing tilt, and an IPX4 waterproof rating complete a high-value package at a very good price.

Read my complete review of the BioLite Headlamp 325.

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Knog Bandicoot 250
$50, 2.1 oz./59.5g
knog.com

I thought this headlamp’s predecessor, the Bandicoot, had the potential to upend this entire category. After using the more powerful and comfortable Knog Bandicoot 250 on a nine-day hike of nearly 130 miles through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, I still think this technology is a game changer.

The Bandicoot 250 is powerful, rechargeable, lighter than most competitors, and cheaper than many. Its unique, very light and durable silicone housing seamlessly merges the strap, body, and LEDs and adjusts to fit a huge circumference range of 30-70cm; you may forget you’re wearing it. Four LEDs—high beam, elliptical beams for broad ambient light, a red light for preserving your night vision, and downward-angled lights for reading—cover the needs of many users, including trail running and biking streets at night. It also has a lockout mode.

Read my complete review of the Knog Bandicoot 250.

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Black Diamond Spot 400
$55, 2.5 oz./70.9g
blackdiamondequipment.com

In any direct comparison, the Spot 400 offers an impressive feature set, power, and versatility at a competitive price. That includes the three modes a backcountry headlamp should have—white beam, white peripheral, and red—and the latest update of the Spot jacks the max brightness up to a powerful 400 lumens. It’ll project a beam 100 meters and has dimming capability in all modes.

It features BD’s neat PowerTap technology that allows you to tap the right side of the casing to cycle between max brightness and the dimmed level you’ve already set—which is not only convenient, but so easy that you’ll power down more often, thus prolonging battery life. The lockout mode prevents accidental turning on in a pack. Plus, it’s waterproof up to a little over a meter underwater for 30 minutes.

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Spot 400.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Black Diamond Spot 400 at backcountry.com, rei.com, or blackdiamondequipment.com.

Want a reliable, basic, easy-to-operate headlamp at a good price? See my review of the Black Diamond Astro 300 and rechargeable Astro 300-R.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
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Black Diamond Spot 400-R
$70, 2.6 oz./73.7g
blackdiamondequipment.com

Virtually identical to BD’s Spot 400, the Spot 400-R adds a feature that keeps on delivering value: it’s rechargeable. Powered by a 1500 mAh Li-ion battery with micro-USB charging port, the Spot 400-R throws a beam 100 meters at its maximum brightness of 400 lumens; that’s bright enough to hike off-trail, search for your route in the dark, or identify the large animal going for your cached food. And a full charge lasts for four hours at max power.

Plus, it sports all the versatility of the Spot 400: three white and red modes with dimming capability, intuitive two-button operation, PowerTap technology, lockout mode, and it’s waterproof up to a little over a meter underwater for 30 minutes. But most impressively, at just 15 bucks more than the Spot 400, the rechargeable Spot 400-R soon pays for itself through the money saved not buying (and throwing away) batteries.

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Spot 400-R.

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Petzl IKO Core
$105, 2.8 oz./79.4g
backcountry.com

When you compare max brightness, weight, and other features, few ultralight headlamps match the rechargeable IKO Core’s appeal to backpackers, dayhikers, climbers, trail runners, and backcountry skiers. From ski touring to a backcountry yurt on a dark, snowy winter night to backpacking in the Wind River Range and the Grand Canyon, its max brightness of 500 lumens—exceptional for a headlamp weighing under three ounces—illuminated objects 100 meters distant.

The IPX-4 rating means the headlamp is resistant to splashed water but not waterproof—not as good as the water resistance of other ultralight headlamps. But three brightness levels, a combined spot beam and proximity light in two of them, simple operation, the versatility to substitute AAA batteries in a pinch, a lockout mode, and the bendable, adjustable, hydrophobic headband’s comfortable and secure fit—all in a light weighing under three ounces—make the IKO Core one of today’s most unique headlamps.

Read my complete review of the Petzl IKO Core.

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Petzl Actik Core
$88, 3 oz./85g
backcountry.com

If you’re willing to spend more up front for a rechargeable headlamp—which eventually pays for itself—the Actik Core ranks among the very best. Equipped with white and red modes and spot and proximity beams, it stands out among rechargeables for two attributes: putting out an impressive maximum brightness of 350 lumens even when using the rechargeable battery and maintaining constant brightness over the duration of a charge—both of which you’ll appreciate on a long slog after dark.

On a September night in the Wind River Range, at max brightness, the Actik Core illuminated trees 300 feet away across a meadow. It’s easy and intuitive to use with one power button to click between modes and the dimming function. It also runs on three standard alkaline, lithium, or Ni-MH AAA batteries and the battery compartment is accessed by lifting a tab—no tool needed. A charge lasts up to 160 hours, long enough for most multi-day hikes.

Read my complete review of the Petzl Actik Core.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a Petzl Actik Core at backcountry.com or rei.com.

BioLite Headlamp 800 Pro
$120, 5.3 oz./150g
backcountry.com

From an 18-mile, 13-hour, four-summit hike in Utah’s Wasatch Range to many evenings biking city streets after dark, I’ve found that BioLite’s rechargeable Headlamp 800 Pro stands out for a rare combination of ultra-bright power, a wide range of modes, and a modest weight for a backcountry headlamp that packs this much power and versatility.

For starters, its multiple lighting modes include dimmable white spot and white flood plus the two combined; white strobe; dimmable red flood, and on the battery pack, rear-facing red solid and red strobe visibility beams, for biking streets after dark (plus a lockout function). The max brightness of 800 lumens in 30-second burst mode exceeds that of virtually any ultralight headlamp—very useful for hikers, climbers, backcountry skiers, and others moving off-trail. For its complexity, operation is very intuitive.

Perhaps most uniquely, it offers a constant mode, an option for setting the headlamp to maintain its brightness level rather than dimming as the charge or batteries drain, which is called regulated power and common in most headlamps for the backcountry.

Read my complete review of the BioLite Headlamp 800 Pro.

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Black Diamond Distance 1500
$220, 7.5 oz./213g
blackdiamondequipment.com

Comparing any hiking-oriented headlamps to the rechargeable Black Diamond Distance 1500 headlamp feels rather like comparing a Honda Civic to a Bradley armored fighting vehicle. At 7.5 ounces/213 grams and putting out a supernova-like 1,500 lumens at max power, the Distance 1500 is at least twice the price, weight, and brightness of most of today’s best backcountry headlamps. Testing this beast hiking, climbing, mountain and road biking, and backcountry skiing demonstrated that, while it’s certainly overkill for many activities, it’s invaluable for both route-finding and high-speed sports after dark.

The headlamp achieves 1,500 lumens only for bursts of 15 seconds using BD’s Power Tap Technology, activated by double-tapping the side of the headlamp. Its maximum sustained power is 800 lumens—still very bright and useful in certain backcountry scenarios (in other words, when you really need a bright light). The Comfort Cradle, with the light on the forehead and a battery pack in the rear, is quite comfortable and works great with any headlamp-compatible helmet. Caveat: Expect to invest some time into learning its many modes and functions.

Read my complete review of the Black Diamond Distance 1500.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a Black Diamond Distance 1500 Headlamp at blackdiamondequipment.com or backcountry.com, or the Black Diamond Distance Headlamp Battery at blackdiamondequipment.com or backcountry.com.

See all reviews of headlamps, hiking gear, backpacking gear, and ultralight backpacking gear at The Big Outside. And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can purchase the e-book versions of “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

With the Radix 57 backpack, Mystery Ranch challenges backpackers with this thought experiment: How light is just right? I had plenty of time to ponder that question, carrying the Radix 57 on backpacking trips in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and southern Utah’s Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, plus two classic New Zealand hut treks, the Routeburn and Milford tracks. While I confess a bias toward ultralight backpacks (and I’ve used many), I found criticisms as well as much to recommend about the Radix 57.

I carried this pack with up to about 35 pounds inside on a four-day, roughly 38-mile, August backpacking trip in Idaho’s Sawtooths, including several miles of off-trail hiking over open ground and a pass over 9,000 feet that entailed a slow descent over steep and loose talus and scree. I also carried it for two days in April (a trip cut short by weather) in Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, starting with about 40 pounds, including eight liters (17 pounds/7.7 kilos) of water; and with loads under 30 pounds on the three-day Routeburn Track and the four-day Milford Track in Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks in New Zealand in early December.

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For starters, Mystery Ranch offers the Radix in an unusually big range of four adjustable sizes each in men’s and women’s packs—even the most highly regarded makers of backpacking packs very rarely offer that many sizes, never mind adding adjustability (and the adjustability of these packs contributes to their higher weight; you don’t usually see ultralight packs with adjustable fit).

The fit adjusts like other MR packs, by pulling up on the yoke and removing the adjuster, using it to break the hook-and-loop bond between the yoke and the pack bag, and then adjusting the yoke to your torso length by aligning the seam between the shoulder strap and yoke body with the top of your shoulder blades. You then replace the adjuster in its original position (because it doubles as part of the frame).

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I like the fit and comfort, especially the pre-curved hipbelt, and the shoulder straps and back padding are adequate for this type of pack. Plus, it delivered the stability I wanted on the steep, loose talus and scree while crossing that off-trail pass in the Sawtooths. But I found that the hipbelt’s comfort limit was, at most, a bit over 30 pounds (and I’m sure that limit would vary between different users, as with any pack). Starting our hike into Buckskin Gulch with about 40 pounds felt like clearly too much weight for the pack, especially the hipbelt; but it carried much more comfortably once the weight dropped closer to 30 pounds.

The 7000 series aluminum frame system and the hipbelt are both removable, should you have such a light load that you don’t need a frame’s structure and support. I didn’t face a situation where I’d carry the pack without the frame. But I have carried frameless packs, and without a frame, all packs basically carry the same: with the weight hanging off your shoulders, because that’s what a frame does, provide structure to avoid that.

I can see a small percentage of users removing the frame, but it wouldn’t take much weight inside to make that uncomfortable; and a 57-liter pack seems too large to want to use it much so underloaded that you don’t want the frame. That might make more sense in the smaller Radix models.

I also like this pack’s organization and access—and it’s worth noting that Mystery Ranch chose a more traditional top-loading design rather than the roll-top closure seen in many ultralight packs, although the Radix also has the pockets layout typical of many ultralight packs. The six external pockets include:

• A spacious, removable, floating lid pocket with an internal, zippered mesh pocket;
• Deep, compressible front and side drop-in pockets, the side pockets large enough for a liter bottle;
• And two smallish zippered hipbelt pockets (too small for a standard smartphone).

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Unlike ultralight packs, the Radix sports an off-center zipper that opens up the main compartment from the top nearly to its bottom, providing access to the interior. Its one drawback is that, when the pack is underfilled, the lid overlaps the zipper pull, making it difficult to grab. It might be more useful if the zipper focused on accessing the middle of the pack bag, without extending all the way to the top of the bag.

The pack also has side compression straps that wrap fully around the bag to compress it when not full and enable you to attach stuff, like a foam pad, to the outside; and adjustable cords on the front for attaching trekking poles or an ice axe. Also, the removable and repairable compression web and repairable trim could help extend the pack’s life.

TheRadix 31L, 47L, and 57L packs are made with lightweight and tough Ultra-PE fabric in the pack’s bottom, 330-denier in the harness, and recycled 100-denier Robic Ripstop fabric in the body—the kind of durable construction Mystery Ranch is known for.

We encountered hours of torrential rain daily on the Milford Track (the trail was flooded up to thigh-deep in places), and water penetrated the pack—which also happened to everyone out there because of the rain’s intensity and duration. But the Radix pack fabric did not appear to absorb moisture, which would have made the pack heavier.

Finally, there’s that niggling question about the weight of the Radix 57. At three pounds, 11 ounces/1.67 kilograms, it’s certainly not an ultralight backpack. And its comfortable carrying capacity of maybe just a bit over 30 pounds seems low for a pack this heavy—certainly when compared to top competitors. It’s interesting that, instead of knocking out an ultralight pack, Mystery Ranch went in the direction of designing a lightweight backpacking pack without compromising their standards on comfort and functionality—and the Radix 57 was born of that process, adding features the functionality that also adds ounces.

I don’t think strict ultralight backpackers will see the Radix 57 meeting their demands, especially with the abundant, much lighter alternatives on the market today. But Mystery Ranch appears to be following a hunch that a sizable portion of backpackers feel that, to some extent, a bit more is actually a good amount more—and they want to see weight reduced wherever possible, while retaining more features and comfort (which largely explains why the Radix packs are heavier than many ultralight models, despite some similarities). MR might be onto something.

Other packs in the line are the men’s and women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 31L and 47L.

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mystery Ranch Radix 57, Radix 47, or Radix 31 at backcountry.com or rei.com.

See my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

What qualities are you looking for in trekking poles? How about good adjustability, packability, durability, comfort, reliability, and especially versatility? Those adjectives all describe the Leki Makalu FX Carbon folding poles—which I increasingly found myself reaching for when choosing poles for backpacking trips in places as rugged as the Wind River Range, High Sierra, Canadian Rockies, High Uintas, and more. In fact, I can point to just one drawback to them—although in this case, I question whether it can even be called that.

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I’ve used the Makalu FX Carbon poles on a six-day, 64-mile hike through the Wind River Range with an ultralight tent that pitches with trekking poles, and a previous five-day, 43-mile hike in the Winds; a four-day, 38-mile backpacking trip in Idaho’s Sawtooths, including several miles of off-trail hiking that involved a fair bit of large, loose talus and scree; a nine-day hike of nearly 130 miles through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail with some off-trail detours off it, starting with 18 pounds of food and a pack tipping a bit over 40 pounds; a four-day, 60-mile hike in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness; three-day hikes on both the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park and the Nigel, Cataract, and Cline Passes Route in the Canadian Rockies, plus dayhikes in those parks; and on three-day backpacking trips on a section of the Arizona Trail and in Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon.

For starters, these adjustable, three-section, folding poles extend to a length range that will accommodate most users: 110 to 130 centimeters/43.3 to 51.2 inches. Length adjusts using a simple push-button mechanism to release tension on the pole and Speedlock 2 Plus lever locks that never failed, even in rugged terrain. The lever’s tension easily adjusts by turning a tiny dial with your fingers, no tool required.

Plus, their max length of 130 centimeters make them usable with many tents that pitch with trekking poles—and that is not the case with many trekking poles, which either are not long enough for those tents (which usually require a pole that reaches 130 to 135 centimeters), or they come in different adjustable sizes, with no size that accommodates both shorter or even average-height hikers and tents that pitch with trekking poles. I pitched my ultralight Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid-1 using these poles for five nights in the Winds and it remained very stable in strong gusts some evenings.

The collapsed length of 40 centimeters/15.7 inches ranks them only slightly longer than the most packable folding poles (which are all far more packable than telescoping poles). That means you can attach them to the outside of any backpacking pack or daypack without them getting in the way and they readily fit even in carry-on luggage.

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The weight of the Makalu FX Carbon—17.9 ounces/508 grams per pair—places them in a category with the heaviest hiking poles. But they are more durable than lighter poles, a selling point in rocky terrain and to backpackers who use trekking-pole tents. Backpacking in Idaho’s Sawtooths, I leaned hard on these poles during an off-trail crossing of a steep slope consisting of large, loose talus and scree, and they didn’t fail me. Also, the carbon shafts strike a balance between good durability while maintaining a lower weight than would be the case with aluminum (which is generally more durable).

Plus, the Makalu FX Carbon have such comfortable, extended Aergon Air foam grips—thanks in part to the oversized head (or top) of the pole, very helpful on steep and/or long descents—that they swing easily and seem to feel lighter than they are. I don’t think ultralight backpackers and hikers would be disappointed with these sticks (though I wouldn’t recommend them to mountain runners—too heavy for that). They also have easily adjustable wrist straps.

Lastly, a key point: Precious few folding poles—all sharing the advantage of being very packable—possess the adjustability to serve the needs of a wide range of user sizes and can be used with trekking-pole tents. Lighter folding poles may be more susceptible to breaking.

These poles also have the usual carbide tips found on all high-quality trekking poles.

The aluminum Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles weigh exactly the same as the Makalu FX Carbon Folding, but have a collapsible/telescoping design and cost $70 less.

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Leki Makalu FX Carbon trekking poles at backcountry.com or lekiusa.com.

See my picks for “The Best Trekking Poles” and my stories “How to Choose Trekking Poles” and “10 Best Expert Tips for Hiking With Trekking Poles,” and all reviews of backpacking gear, ultralight backpacking gear, and hiking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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The first detail to catch your attention with the Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles is likely going to be the price—it’s significantly lower than many leading models of hiking poles. But look deeper into the specs and these poles grow more appealing, including a broad range of adjustability and very good durability. From hiking Idaho’s highest peak and in my local foothills to dayhikes and backpacking in southern Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park and Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, these poles performed and held up in ways that convinced me they may be the best value in trekking poles today.

Borah Peak, Idaho’s high point at 12,662 feet, put these poles to the test as much as my legs: The standard route ascends 5,262 feet in 4.1 miles from trailhead to summit (8.2 miles up and down), or almost 1,300 feet per mile, a relentlessly steep hike where I leaned hard on these poles going uphill and on the endless, quad-pounding descent. I used them on a very similar two-lap training hike of a favorite hike in my local Boise Foothills called Cervidae Peak, where the trail ascends about 2,000 vertical feet in just 2.2 miles; two laps made it about 8.5 miles and nearly 4,000 feet, and I had no slips on the steep descents of pebbly and sandy trail.

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I also used these poles on a 10-mile dayhike in Capitol Reef National Park (Grand Wash, Frying Pan Trail, Cohab Canyon) and an overnight backpacking trip in Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, starting with about 40 pounds, including eight liters (17 pounds) of water.

For starters, these three-section, telescoping/collapsible poles extend to as broad a range of lengths for hiking as you will find in trekking poles: 100 to 135 centimeters/39.4 to 53 inches—accommodating virtually every user from adults well over six feet tall to young kids because the poles are useable even when adjusted shorter than 100 centimeters.

Plus, they are long enough to use with tents that pitch with trekking poles, which is not the case with many trekking poles, which either are not long enough for those tents (which usually require a pole that extends to 130 to 135 centimeters), or come in different adjustable sizes, with no size that accommodates both shorter or even average-height hikers and tents that pitch with trekking poles.

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The SpeedLock+ adjustment levers have proved very reliable, never slipping on me, even on long, steep descents like Borah Peak, and the tension on them is easily adjusted using fingers—no tool required (as with some other poles, which has always struck me as an annoying and unnecessary design shortcoming).

The Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles have two weak points. First, the collapsed length of 67 centimeters/26.4 inches ranks them among the longest telescoping poles when packed (which are much less packable than folding poles). Still, you can attach them to the outside of a backpacking pack without them getting in the way; and you can certainly throw them onto a daypack, but they will simply stick out above the top of most daypacks.

Second, their weight of 17.9 ounces/508 grams per pair ranks them among the heaviest hiking poles—but that also translates to high durability, thanks to the all-aluminum shafts.

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While these poles aren’t the likely choice of ultralight backpackers or dayhikers, that weight isn’t really a deal-breaker for many typical backpackers, hikers, and others.

Lastly, the ergonomic, Aergon Air Thermo cork grips feel comfortable, including the large knob on top for resting palms on when going downhill, and foam grips extend down the upper shaft, ideal for ascending very steep trails, off-trail terrain, or backcountry touring. The easily adjustable nylon straps are comfortable on my wrists for hours and the poles have the usual carbide tips found on all high-quality trekking poles.

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Leki Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles at backcountry.com, lekiusa.com, or rei.com.

See my picks for “The Best Trekking Poles” and my stories “How to Choose Trekking Poles” and “10 Best Expert Tips for Hiking With Trekking Poles,” and all reviews of backpacking gear, ultralight backpacking gear, and hiking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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Since Gregory first introduced the men’s Paragon and women’s Maven packs, I’ve found myself choosing the Paragon repeatedly for a variety of backpacking trips, including pounding out 77 miles in five days (averaging over 15 miles and 8,000 vertical feet per day) on the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier and a more casual, four-day, 36-mile family hike on the Ruby Crest Trail. With the 2025 update of these packs, I took the Paragon 60 on a four-day, 40-mile walk in the Grand Canyon in late March that included humping up the brutally steep and rugged Boucher Trail—convincing myself that the fully featured Paragon 60 and women’s Maven 58 still offer everything that many backpackers look for in a pack for every kind of trip they take.

Updated with some changes for 2025, the Paragon 60 and nearly identical women’s Maven 58 (the only real difference being that the Maven packs are built to fit women) have support for carrying around 35 to 40 pounds quite comfortably and, for some backpackers, pushing loads over 40 pounds. (Gregory claims 50 pounds/22.7 kilos, but for routinely carrying that much weight, if you’re a fan of Gregory packs, I’d recommend the men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva.) After starting our Grand Canyon trip with about 35 pounds inside (including some of our group gear), I concluded that, for me, it would still be comfortable with another several pounds inside. (I also carried the Paragon 60 on a short overnight hike into Lower Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park in April.)

Credit the kind of frame primarily found in high-end backpacks: an alloy steel perimeter frame with a fiberglass cross-stay to improve stability and prevent barreling, plus Gregory’s FreeFloat Suspension System, with elasticized panels—located on the lower back panel, sewn into the hipbelt—that allow the hipbelt to move with your body, independent of the pack’s frame, resulting in a more stable carry and much less of the bouncing that causes fatigue and soreness in shoulders and hips.

Gregory’s newest generation of Air-Cushion mesh back panel consists of 90 percent air, which allowed abundant ventilation that kept my back cooler and drier even on unusually hot afternoons for late March in the Grand Canyon. Gregory has also updated the perforated dual-density shoulder straps with new materials to improve next-to-skin comfort. And the back panel, shoulder straps, and pre-curved hipbelt all have plenty of foam padding for the sort of moderate loads many backpackers usually carry.

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Both models come in two sizes and three volume capacities for backpacking, each with an adjustable suspension with about three inches of range for dialing in the fit. With an 18-inch torso that falls in the upper end of the fit range of the S/M Paragon 60 (15 to 18 inches), I achieved a good fit.

The most conspicuous new feature added for 2025 is a stretch-mesh pocket on the left shoulder strap that’s sized to hold a Garmin inReach Mini or inReach Messenger device or other small item. As someone who routinely carries an inReach, I find the pocket convenient for that; but I’ve also used that new shoulder strap pocket for stashing my sunglasses as needed. (Also, I have a good friend who’s active as a volunteer with a busy search-and-rescue team in Idaho, and she told me that the team updated its protocols in 2025 to advise keeping a device like an inReach on your person—like, in a secure pocket in clothes on your body—because they have seen victims who became separated from their pack, with their in-Reach inside it, and were too injured to even crawl a short distance to the pack, resulting in them waiting much longer for a rescue.)

Access is excellent in the top-loading Paragon 60 and Maven 58. The wide mouth and pack bag make it easy to insert one of the largest bear canisters—a Bear Vault BV500 bear canister—into the pack horizontally (on its side, the more space-efficient way to load a canister into a pack). Plus, top and side compression straps compress the packs when not full.

A half moon-shaped side zipper provides quick and convenient access to most of the main compartment—a must-have, in my opinion, in any fully featured backpacking pack in this weight class. Six external pockets include two spacious zippered hipbelt pockets that can each fit a large smartphone plus an energy bar or two; a roomy zippered pocket on the floating lid; a stretch-mesh front pocket that easily fits a rain jacket; and stretch-mesh side pockets large enough for a liter bottle. One of those side pockets opens to the top and forward, allowing me to stuff a liter bottle into it and grab it while wearing the pack.

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As usual, Gregory employs durable fabrics: 100-denier and 210-denier high-density nylon in the pack body and 300-denier nylon ripstop in the bottom that utilizes a 40 percent recycled nylon ripstop nylon (producing an average carbon footprint reduction of 25 percent, according to Gregory), all made without PFAS.

The Paragon and Maven also sport these features:

• A molded attachment loop and upper shock lock for trekking poles or an ice axe on the front.
• A safety whistle on the sternum strap.
• Zippered access to the segmented sleeping bag compartment.
• An internal hydration sleeve with SpeedClip hydration hanger compatible with Gregory’s 3D Hydro reservoir (reservoir not included).

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Although four ounces heavier (and with slightly more capacity) than the previous iteration, the Paragon 58, at under four pounds, the Paragon 60 and Maven 58 fall into a kind of super middleweight category among backpacking packs: They remain versatile enough for trips from overnighters up to a week without seeming either overbuilt for the short outings or inadequate for longer ones; but backpackers generally carrying no more than 30 to 35 pounds may want to compare these packs with lighter options and gauge whether those possess all the features they want.

Other packs in the line are the men’s Gregory Paragon 50 and Paragon 70 and the women’s Maven 48 and Maven 68.

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You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Paragon 60 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or a women’s Maven 58 at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com. And see all Paragon models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com, or all Maven models at backcountry.com, gregory.com, or rei.com.

See all reviews of Gregory packs, my picks for “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The Best Ultralight Backpacks,” my “Top 5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my stories “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be,” “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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What do you need to pack for a three-season backpacking trip? While the specific items depend in part on factors like the time of year, your companions and backpacking style, the trip’s length and the weather forecast, this story provides a core checklist of essential gear to help you organize and efficiently pack—and avoid overpacking—for virtually any backpacking trip.

I use the checklist below for just about every three-season backpacking trip I take in the U.S. and around the world. I’ve developed it over more than three decades of multi-day backcountry trips and more than a quarter-century of writing about backpacking trips and testing and reviewing backpacking gear and apparel, including the 10 years I spent as a lead gear reviewer and Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

The list below is preceded by some insights on how I make gear choices. The links in this story and checklist will take you to menus of product reviews; photos link to stories about those trips.

See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your next trip—including answering all of your questions. Please share your thoughts on my list and tips and offer your own suggestions in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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How to Decide What Gear to Pack

I pare my checklist for any specific trip down to just essentials, which vary from trip to trip. As examples, I will carry a warmer down jacket on some, a lighter one on others, or a synthetic puffy jacket if I expect wet weather. On most trips, it’s just one puffy jacket; I don’t need an extra fleece or a vest on most three-season trips because, if it’s cool in the morning, I’ll hike in my long-sleeve jersey over my T-shirt, with my shell jacket on to trap a little extra warmth if needed, and then typically for no more than an hour or two until it’s warm enough to shed one or two layers.

I bring a tent when I expect bugs or significant rainfall, but a tarp for late summer or early fall if I only need protection from possible rain—for instance, after Labor Day in Yosemite or Sequoia national parks and any of the numerous wilderness areas in the High Sierra, like the John Muir Wilderness, when you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes and rain is not common.

For base layers, I’ll bring one T-shirt and one midweight long-sleeve jersey, which I’ll usually only need hiking on cool mornings, so I can keep it dry for sleeping in when needed. I’ll bring two pairs of socks for trips of up to five days and at most three pairs of socks for trips of more than five days—and if I expect very dry conditions, two pairs may suffice even on long trips.

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I allow myself a few luxuries on many backpacking trips, including a comfortable, lightweight or ultralight air mattress augmented by a short, folding foam sleeping pad that I use for lying around camp, as a stretching/yoga mat (which helps me feel better), and under my air mat when sleeping; plus an inflatable pillow and often an ultralight camp chair.

Incidental items like permit, passport, bug nets, gaiters, type of hat (it’s usually one wool hat and one ball cap or wide-brim sun hat), and pack cover also depend on the trip’s circumstances. I virtually always carry one DSLR body and two lenses. I’ll often have just one eating utensil and one mug/bowl that pulls double duty, and one pot, and I may just eat out of the pot. (See my reviews of cooking systems for backpacking.)

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Backpacking Gear Checklist

See my review of backpacking gear accessories for my favorite picks for many items on this checklist and click on links in this list for menus of reviews at The Big Outside.

___ GPS or mapping app (like Gaia)
___ Trail map(s)
___ First-aid kit
___ Permit and passport if needed
___ Camera, batteries, camera pack
___ Book or e-reader
___ Backpack, pack cover optional
___ Daypack if needed
___ Sleeping bag, inflatable pillow
___ Air mattress/sleeping pad
___ Chair kit
___ Tent/tarp
___ Toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste
___ Double-bagged toilet paper
___ Stove, fuel
___ Cooking kit
___ Utensil
___ Mug/bowl/plate
___ Water bottle, bladder
___ Water treatment
___ Trekking poles
___ Headlamp, batteries
___ Compass/GPS/altimeter
___ Matches/lighter
___ Multi-tool/knife
___ Stuff sacks
___ Lashing straps, mini-biners
___ Sunglasses, eyeglasses, case
___ Bug repellent/bug nets if needed
___ Sunscreen, lip balm
___ Boots/shoes, camp footwear if needed
___ Gaiters/low gaiters
___ Gloves/mittens
___ Warm hat, earband, sun hat, rain hat
___ Rain shell
___ T-shirt, long-sleeve shirt
___ Shorts, pants
___ Long underwear if needed
___ Underwear
___ Insulation/puffy jacket
___ Socks

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See “5 Smart Steps to Lighten Your Backpacking Gear” and this menu of stories with expert tips on backpacking.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all my reviews and expert buying tips.

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Whether backpacking, dayhiking, climbing, trail running, fishing, paddling, or active outdoors in myriad other ways, sun protection becomes critical not only for preventing skin cancer, but also because the hot sun can wear you down and exacerbate the effects of heat, elevation, and dehydration—especially in the mountains and desert.

While there are a variety of styles of sun shirts, for active pursuits in warm to hot temperatures, nothing really beats a lightweight, breathable hoody for maximum protection and keeping you cool—while adding minimal weight and bulk to your kit. This review spotlights the best sun shirt hoodies.

I’ve tested these hoodies dayhiking, trail running, rock climbing, paddling rivers, backcountry skiing in spring, and on backpacking trips from trails around Idaho to Zion, the Teton Crest Trail and John Muir Trail, the Grand Canyon and Wind River Range, Arizona’s Aravaipa Canyon and a section of the Arizona Trail, the High Uintas Wilderness and Ruby Crest Trail, Idaho’s Sawtooths, and many other places where the sun sometimes gets too hot. While they are designed to keep you cool under hot sun, the hoods can provide just the right amount of added warmth when moving in cool temps and wind, too.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

My experience includes over three decades of hiking, backpacking, climbing, trail running, and backcountry skiing, and more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing outdoors gear and apparel as a past lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog.

Whatever your modes of play outdoors, I think you’ll find one of these sun hoodies ideal for you—plus you’ll find some at good prices now and links to online retailers below. The reviews are arranged from lightest to heaviest. Purchasing one of these hoodies through any affiliate link below supports my work on this blog (without costing you more). Thanks for that.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

Two Most Breathable

Himali Eclipse Sun Hoodie
$90, 4 oz./113.4g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
himali.com

Nothing like honest-to-goodness New England humidity to test base layers. I sweated hard into the Eclipse Sun Hoodie hiking up steep, rocky trails on a two-day, 21-mile hut trek in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, with about 6,000 cumulative feet of elevation gain and loss each day, and this shirt dried quickly and remained comfortable once we reached the breezy mountain tops.

I also wore it on trail runs up to 10 miles in my local foothills on sunny days in the high 70s F; on a nearly eight-mile dayhike to Lake Agnes and the Plain of the Six Glaciers in Canada’s Banff National Park on a hot, sunny afternoon; a six-day April backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon, with temps from the 40s to 80s F; and under a fleece layer for several hours of spring backcountry skiing in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, with temps from around freezing to the mid-30s and a hot sun reflecting off snow; after getting damp with sweat skinning uphill, the light, the wicking fabric dried quickly under a breathable shell jacket when skiing downhill.

The hood’s ideal depth provides good face shading without drooping over my eyes; it fits over a billed cap, never blew off my head, and kept me cooler in hot sun. The UPF 20 rating, while lower than that of heavier sun shirts, still means the fabric blocks 95 percent of UV light. The enveloping pocket, with an overlapping-flap closure, is good for a key or other small, light item, but a phone doesn’t fit and would be too heavy and bounce around.

Best For: The uber-light, fast-drying Himali Riverstone Eclipse Sun Hoodie is best for high-exertion activities like trail running and hiking in hot temps.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s Himali Eclipse Sun Hoodie at himali.com or a women’s Himali Eclipse Sun Hoodie at himali.com. Readers of The Big Outside get an exclusive 10 percent off any Himali purchase by using the discount code THEBIGOUTSIDE.

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Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
$85, 4.5 oz./127.6g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XXL, women’s XXS-XL
backcountry.com

While there’s no better sun protection than covering your skin, some sun shirts get too warm when you’re exerting in hot temps. Enter OR’s Echo Hoodie. I’ve worn it while backpacking in sweltering heat in the Grand Canyon, in warm sunshine dayhiking in Zion National Park, rock climbing under a hot sun in Idaho’s City of Rocks, on trails runs in intense sunshine—and on a 21-mile, 11,000-vertical-foot, one-day, rim-to-rim run-hike across the Grand Canyon.

It’s one of the coolest and fastest-drying sun shirts I’ve used, thanks to the super light, fast-wicking 100 percent recycled mesh polyester fabric with AirVent moisture management. The hood fits snugly around your head (and under a helmet). The flat-seam construction feels smooth under pack shoulder straps and thumb holes hold the cuffs over your hands for added sun protection. Plus, the fabric is treated to prevent odors. (The collar drawstrings shown in the above photo have been eliminated from the hoody’s latest version.)

While the UPF 15 rating isn’t nearly as protective as some thicker sun shirts, those other sun shirts are also too warm for high exertion in hot sun and temps.

Best For: The ultralight, fast-drying Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie is best for high-exertion activities like trail running and hiking in hot temps.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Echo Hoody at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or rei.com.

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Two Light and Versatile Hoodies

Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody
$79, 5.5 oz./155.9g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

Wearing it under a hot sun from rock climbing and hiking with heavy climbing packs in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains and City of Rocks National Reserve to backpacking Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness, Nevada’s Ruby Crest Trail, a five-day, late-summer hike in the Wind River Range, and on August hike on the 96-mile Wind River High Route, plus kayaking the whitewater of Idaho’s Payette River under a hot August sun, the Crater Lake Hoody kept me cool and comfortable even with the hood up much of the time.

Among the lightest hoodies on this list, its polyester and elastane fabric feels lighter than most and smooth and soft against skin. It also wicks moisture quickly: Hiking with a pack loaded with climbing gear under a hot sun, I sweated but the shirt never got very wet. With very stretchy fabric, this shirt fits closely and yet easily pulls over a short-sleeve base layer, and one of the deepest hoods on this list stays put even in strong wind—and helps this sun shirt protect me from annoying mosquitoes, as it did on a buggy, six-day backpacking trip in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness in mid-July. A UPF 50+ rating translates to maximum sun protection—impressive for this light fabric.

Arm gussets and dropped shoulders allow for maximum range of motion when reaching high while climbing. The men’s version has thumbholes at the cuffs and the women’s has drawcord ties at the hem.

Best For: Light, quick to dry, with great fit and comfort, ultimate sun protection, and a deep hood, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody offers great versatility for almost any activity in warm to hot temps.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody at backcountry.com or rei.com.

Planning your next big adventure? See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips”
and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie
$115, 5.6 oz./159g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-3XL, women’s XS-2XL
backcountry.com

From hiking and rock climbing at Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve in June, in the hot sun at times and temperatures ranging from the 50s with light wind to the 80s Fahrenheit, to trail runs of up to 15 miles, often with 2,000 feet of uphill and downhill under a hot sun at the City of Rocks and in my local foothills, I found OR’s Astroman Air Sun Hoodie comfortable in a wide range of conditions from warm to hot.

The lightweight and nicely breathable, 84 percent nylon and 16 percent Spandex stretch fabric hardly got damp even though I sweated a lot on long uphill climbs running trails and it dried quickly; it remained comfortable with the hood up running uphill under a warm sun, including on a 15-mile run on a day when the temp reached around 80. The Astroman is three ounces lighter than the one other sun shirt in this review that has a deep, venting front zipper (the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody, below). The loose-fitting hood fits comfortably under a helmet and allows more cooling airflow when it’s up—preferable in a hoodie made for warm to hot temps—and it stays on my head when running into a slight breeze only with the front zipper closed nearly to the top.

The hoodie carries a UPF rating of 30 in the light colors and 50+ in the dark colors—which are, of course, warmer on sunny days, for better or worse. The zippered chest pocket is more than large enough for a smartphone.

Best For: Light, quick drying, with nice fit and comfort, a deep hood, and solid sun protection, the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie offers excellent versatility for almost any activity, including dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, and fishing, in warm to hot temps.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or rei.com.

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Soft and Affordable

Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
$69, 6 oz./170.1g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-3XL, women’s XS-2XL
patagonia.com

On back-to-back, 21-mile and 23.5-mile, rim-to-rim dayhikes across the Grand Canyon over two days in October, and on a six-day backpacking trip elsewhere in the Grand Canyon, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody protected me from the relentlessly oppressive sun and kept me cool in temps into the 70s Fahrenheit.

The 100 percent recycled, loose-fitting, stretchy polyester fabric moved with my body, got damp but never wet with sweat, and stayed cool with the hood up when I hiked under a hot sun in the Grand Canyon. The hood shades your face and has a loose fit that causes it to get pulled off your head in moderate wind. But it doesn’t, of course, get blown off when under a climbing helmet or any kind of hat. Patagonia originally rated the Cool Daily Hoody UPF 50+ but has since reported that testing confirmed a UPF range of 17 to 45, averaging 34 UPF, and announced a recall of specific products. The sun shirt still blocks UV rays: A garment rated UPF 17 blocks 92 percent of UV.

The minimal seams reduce rubbing and chafing and the Polygiene odor control keeps the stink at bay. While it got a bit too warm when I was hiking uphill in temps in the 70s, especially with the hood up, it’s good for hiking in mild temps, and certainly for climbing, fishing, and paddling.

Best For: A super all-around sun shirt, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody and Patagonia Long-Sleeved Capilene Cool Daily Shirt ($49) have the versatility and comfort for everything from dayhiking and backpacking to climbing and fishing.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody or Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt at backcountry.com, patagonia.com, or rei.com.

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A Versatile Sun Hoody

Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen Hoodie
$80, 7 oz./198.4g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
hellyhansen.com

Wearing the Solen Hoodie on local hikes and rock climbing at Idaho’s Castle Rocks State Park under a hot spring sun, I immediately loved the athletic yet free-moving fit—especially the hood, which may have the best, closest fit of them all, moving with my turning head and staying in place even in wind, although that also prevents moving air from cooling your head.

The Solen’s stretch Lifa fabric wicks moisture away, dries very quickly, and feels comfortable alone or over a short-sleeve T-shirt in a wide range of temps, from cool and windy to sunny in the 70s; I only found it too warm when the thermometer bumped into the upper 70s. Conversely, because it’s a little heavier than many other sun shirts, it blocks cool wind a little better than lighter models and has proved itself on days of spring skiing under a warm sun in Utah’s Wasatch Range.

With a UPF 50+ rating, it delivers maximum sun protection. The fabric also resists building up a stink after multiple uses and launderings.

Best For: Slightly heavier and more durable than most sun shirts, and yet cool and comfortable, the Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen Hoodie offers superior comfort and a close-fitting hood for dayhiking, backpacking, climbing and other moderate-exertion activities in a wide range of temperatures.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen Hoodie at hellyhansen.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

Don’t Forget Anything Important!
See “An Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist.”

Best Overall

Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie
$95, 7.2 oz./204.1g (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
backcountry.com

Picking a best overall sun hoodie admittedly seems dubious, given how similar they are. But I lived in this sun hoodie day after day on two trips that would prove or disprove the value of hot-weather layers like few environments can: for six sunny and hot days backpacking in the Grand Canyon in early April, in temps ranging from the 50s to the 80s F and rare shade, and backpacking nine days and about 130 miles, mostly on the John Muir Trail, under the wilting afternoon sun of the High Sierra in August. I also wore it under hot desert sun backpacking the three-day, 22-mile Boulder Mail Trail-Death Hollow Loop in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in early October and on several days of rock climbing and hiking around Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park in June, as well as other hot outings.

Although heavier than most, it’s one of the coolest and most comfortable. Carrying a backpack uphill under a blazing sun and temps in the 80s, I found the ActiveIce Hoodie comfortable enough to keep the hood up. The natural performance of the breathable, wicking, fast-drying, and stretchy 94 percent polyester fabric is amplified by the ActiveIce treatment, a USDA-certified biobased, vegetable oil-derived polymer that absorbs heat energy, producing a cooling sensation that continues as long as your body generates perspiration. OR reports the fabric cools by up to 5.4° F/3° C.

It’s rated UPF 50+—but just as critically, the shirt provides great coverage, with its deep hood that shades your face and long sleeves that don’t ride up when reaching overhead, plus thumb holes. The fit is comfortably loose and flat seams feel good under pack straps. Lastly, the heavier weight will likely prove more durable—especially for abusive activities like climbing.

Best For: Cool, comfortable, fast-drying and durable, with a nice hood, the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie is ideal for dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, fishing, or paddling.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie at backcountry.com, outdoorresearch.com, or rei.com, and other ActiveIce apparel pieces at outdoorresearch.com.

Get the right gear for your trips. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs”
and “The 10 Best Backpacking Tents.”

Warm-to-Cool Weather Option

Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody
$109, 7.5 oz./212.6g (men’s medium)
Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody
$149, 8.5 oz./241g (men’s medium)
Sizes (both): men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

From three full days backpacking a 36-mile traverse of the Teton Crest Trail in late August to backcountry skiing in under a hot spring sun reflected off the snow, and a 21-mile, 11,000-vertical-foot, one-day, rim-to-rim run-hike across the Grand Canyon (in temps that never got oppressively hot), the Alpenglow Hoody surprised me with how cool it feels for its weight, in temps as warm as the 60s Fahrenheit backpacking and the 70s hiking in the canyon. BD says the 87 percent polyester fabric reflects 71 percent of near-infrared rays and actually cools your skin.

The Alpenglow Pro kept me comfortable on various outings, including a seven-day, nearly 70-mile, mostly sunny backpacking trip in Glacier National Park; three days of backpacking the Skyline Trail in Canada’s Jasper National Park; dayhiking in Banff National Park, even under a hot sun hiking a steep 3,400 feet uphill on the Cory Pass-Edith Pass loop in Banff; and a weekend of rock climbing in Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve, with moderate early-fall temps and warm sunshine.

On trail runs up to two hours in my local foothills on days when the temp climbed from the mid-50s in early morning into the 70s by the time I finished, with a blazing sun and virtually no shade, I liked opening the front quarter-zip to vent, although the light bouncing and wind generated by running is enough to push the hood off my head when the zipper is down because it leaves the collar wide open (not usually a problem when hiking). The hood stays up with the shirt zipped up. The 92 percent nylon stretch fabric never felt too warm for those temps even as I sweated heavily and is soft enough that I didn’t get any nipple irritation.

Both hoodies have a UPF 50+ rating for sun protection, a fit and sleeves that allow full range of motion for climbing, and odor-minimizing treatments. The Alpenglow’s loose-fitting hood fits under a helmet comfortably, while the Alpenglow Pro has an elasticized hood that fits over a helmet. Besides the quarter-zip, the Pro also adds underarm mesh panels, a concealed chest pocket, thumb loops, and an Empel environmentally friendly PFC-free water-repellant finish.

Best For: The BD Alpenglow Hoody and Alpenglow Pro Hoody are best suited to moderate- to high-exertion activities like trail running, hiking, and climbing in a range of temps from cool to warm but not excessive heat.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody or Alpenglow Pro Hoody at blackdiamondequipment.com, backcountry.com, or rei.com.

See my picks for “The Best Ultralight Hiking and Running Jackets,” “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks” and all reviews of hiking gear and backpacking gear at The Big Outside.

And don’t miss “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

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Since getting my first Micro Puff Hoody when Patagonia rolled it out eight years ago, I have zipped into this lightweight, synthetic jacket in countless circumstances that include: sitting at campsites on cool, windy evenings and mornings while backpacking in the Wind River Range and on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim; wind blowing over 40 mph while belaying a climbing partner and in camp at Idaho’s City of Rocks; on winter days (wearing it under a shell) when skiing downhill in the backcountry; and at kids’ soccer games on blustery autumn and spring days.

Most recently, I wore the latest update of the Micro Puff Hoody on three mornings in the 40s Fahrenheit on an August backpacking trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains; and three mornings and evenings in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit, with strong wind at times, on a late March backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon—affirming again that it remains one of the lightest and most versatile insulated jackets on the market, and remarkably warm for its weight.

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The water-resistant, 65g PlumaFill synthetic insulation, made entirely from recycled polyester, doesn’t loft quite like high-quality down feathers, but it approaches the warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility of 800-fill down. It accomplishes that by essentially mimicking the structure of down in a continuous synthetic material. That gives it the warmth and packability of down, while retaining synthetic insulation’s advantage of continuing to trap heat when wet (traditionally the Achilles heel of down feathers, although there are now highly water-resistant forms of down insulation). The quilted construction, resembling a down jacket, helps to maximize the insulation’s heat retention and prevent it from migrating, which could create cold spots.

Plan your next great backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail, Wonderland Trail,
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The Micro Puff’s hood delivers an almost surprising boost of warmth, given how light it looks. Although not adjustable—again, every element of the design aims to minimize weight—the hood’s elasticized, under-the-helmet design clings snugly around your face, moving with you as you turn your head even with the front zipper fully open. The elasticized cuffs and hem similarly seal tightly enough to keep drafts out.

The regular fit is true to size and, for me, at five feet, eight inches and 155 pounds, it allows one or two light to midweight base layers and a light insulation piece underneath. Thelength extends well below the waist, another warmth-boosting detail that’s nice to find in an insulated jacket this light.

The ultralight 10-denier Pertex Quantum shell—made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop from recycled fishing nets (reducing ocean plastic pollution)—is water-resistant, windproof and treated with a DWR (durable, water-repellent coating) that contains no PFC or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often called “forever” chemicals).

When I’ve worn the hoody in light rain, letting the shell get damp to see what would happen, the fabric appeared to either keep the insulation dry or at least prevent it from getting damp enough to have any noticeable impact on warmth.

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The two zippered hand pockets warm up cold digits, and the jacket stuffs easily into the left pocket, packing down to a good size for a backpacking pillow. Two internal drop-in pockets are convenient for stashing items you want to keep warm or dry, like gloves. While lightweight, the front zipper appears durable—I’ve never seen one break, but again, a little extra care isn’t a bad idea.

We all want lighter gear—but only when it performs well. Beyond broad differences in amount and type of insulation, which dictates the temperatures and conditions they’re made for, many insulated jackets are similar. The models that break new ground do so in how much warmth they deliver relative to their weight and bulk. That’s what Patagonia has achieved with the Micro Puff Hoody.

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The Verdict

Whether you’re a backpacker or climber trying to trim ounces in pack weight without compromising on performance in your layering system, or you simply want one of the lightest, most packable, water-resistant puffy jackets for late spring through early fall, the Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody ranks among the very best.

BUY IT NOW

You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase a men’s or women’s Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody or other Micro Puff models at backcountry.com or patagonia.com.

See my picks for “The 12 Best Down Jackets,” which includes synthetic models like the Micro Puff, and all reviews of insulated jackets and outdoor apparel at The Big Outside.

NOTE: I reviewed gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips.

—Michael Lanza

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Wonder why I’m smiling in the above photo? Well, sure, two friends and I were hiking the incredibly scenic Besseggen Ridge in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park; that had something to do with it. But the other big factor was that I was comfortable—and how well my pack carried had a lot to do with that. And how I loaded it greatly affected how well it carried on my back. In this four-minute video, I’ll show you how to properly load a backpack to make your backpacking trips much more enjoyable.

I have refined my method for loading my backpack over more than three decades of backpacking—including the 10 years I spent as Backpacker magazine’s lead gear reviewer and even longer running this blog. In the four-minute video below, I will demonstrate how to pack all of your stuff into your backpack in the most efficient way and to maximize your comfort on the trail.

If you have not been using good technique when loading your backpack, you may be surprised at what a difference it makes. But even if you have been following what you understand to be the recommended way to load a pack, you might learn some new tricks from this video.

There are two basic goals when loading a backpack:

1. Organize it so that the items you want to get to quickly while on the trail are readily accessible;

2. Balance and distribute the weight in the pack to maximize your comfort.

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Watch the video below to see me demonstrate how to properly load a backpack.

Don’t miss the comments section below, where I have a good exchange of questions and answers with some readers, and please type in your own questions or suggestions.

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See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs,” and all reviews of backpacks and backpacking gear at The Big Outside, plus “5 Tips For Buying the Right Backpack,” which includes instructions on how to measure your torso and properly fit a backpack, and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

And find all gear reviews organized by categories and expert tips on buying gear at the Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside.

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You need a new backpack, backpacking tent, rain jacket, boots, or a sleeping bag. You’ve read reviews. You’ve winnowed your short list to a handful of possible choices—with a significant difference in prices. That’s when you struggle with the question that pushes the frugality button in all of us: Why should I spend more?

This story will explain why some gear is more expensive and give you specific advice on buying five big-ticket items: packs, tents, rain jackets, shoes and boots, and sleeping bags.

Over the past three decades of reviewing gear, including the 10 years I spent as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine and even longer running this blog, I’ve learned what separates the expensive from the moderately priced from the cheap.

Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-books to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

Should you always spend more? Certainly not, and this story will explain why and when it’s worth spending more and when it’s not. The insights below will help you make smarter buying choices, stretch your gear budget farther, and feel better about it when you do spend more. And my “10 Tips for Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear” shares specific strategies for saving money—even sometimes without compromising on quality.

Before you spend another dollar, read on.

Like many stories at The Big Outside, this one is partially free for anyone to read, but reading all of the tips below is an exclusive benefit of a paid subscription to The Big Outside.

Please share your thoughts on my tips or your own, best gear-buying advice in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

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What Makes Some Gear Expensive?

•    Lightweight: Lighter gear is often more expensive because of the materials used, like wafer-thin but strong fabrics in jackets, tents, and (sometimes) packs, and carbon fiber or high-grade aluminum tent poles.
•    Construction: Superior workmanship, materials, and technologies raise the price tag. Expect to pay more for, say, cutting-edge waterproof-breathable membranes in jackets and footwear, boots with one-piece or full-grain leather uppers, a super comfortable backpack suspension available in multiple sizes to achieve an optimal fit, or lamination used instead of stitching in jackets and footwear. But that also translates to high-level performance and, often, improved durability—which can save you money in the long run.

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•    Special Features: You want a rain jacket hood that stays in place in strong wind and when you turn your head? A pack with multiple backpacker- or climber-friendly features? Shoes with sticky outsoles? Or a sleeping bag or down jacket with the lightest and warmest insulation? Open your wallet.
•    Durability: Sometimes a higher price tag equates with materials and construction that translate to greater durability, but not always. Some lightweight materials are very strong and some are not. Especially with big-ticket items that receive heavy wear and tear—your pack, tent, shoes, and rain shell—low weight is sometimes achieved through, for example, the use of thinner fabrics that will tear more easily, or zippers that are less burly and will break sooner. Find out why one product is lighter than another and choose based on whether you’re willing to swap durability for lower weight.

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Packs

Why They’re Pricey The top pack makers—whose backpacks and daypacks generally cost the most—compete with one another primarily to make the most comfortable packs to carry. Beyond that objective, they try to distinguish their products through specialization (packs for specific purposes like climbing, ultralight backpacking, distance trail running or ultra-hiking, etc.), and through features, weight, and certainly superior construction that results in greater durability.

When They’re Worth the Price How important is comfort on the trail to you? How important is weight? How about specific features? Yes, you can make do with a pack whose fit is imperfect or that lacks a supportive hipbelt, a zipper offering quick access to the main compartment, or convenient, external pockets on the hipbelt and elsewhere.

But if you hike a lot of miles, the hours spent wearing and using a pack add up.

As anyone who’s upgraded knows, once you have a backpack that’s comfortable and designed for the way you use it, you’ll never go back to an inferior pack.

Get the right pack for you. See “The 10 Best Backpacking Packs” and “The 10 Best Hiking Daypacks.”

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See the best-in-category reviews and expert buying tips at The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page.

Why Spend More?

If you can’t afford more-expensive gear, just get cheap stuff and get outside. You’ll be fine. If you can afford better gear later, you’ll appreciate it that much more.

But if you’re an avid outdoorsperson and you can afford good gear, why settle for less?

No, price does not always correlate directly with quality—but it often does. Whenever a friend who can afford good gear asks for my advice, I always say that he or she would be foolish to buy cheap, because they don’t need to put up with inferior comfort or performance.

And ultimately, if you’re out regularly and buy good gear, the cost per day of use over the life of that gear will be low, more than justifying the enjoyment you gained from it.

See all reviews of backpacks, daypacks, backpacking tents, outdoor apparel, rain jackets, hiking shoes, backpacking boots, sleeping bags, down jackets and insulated jackets, and backpacking gear and hiking gear at The Big Outside, plus “5 Smart Steps to Lighten Your Backpacking Gear.”

And don’t miss my popular reviews of “25 Essential Backpacking Gear Accessories” and “The Best Backpacking Gear” of the year.

NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.

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