backpacking & thru-hiking gear reviews

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

We asked Treeline Review writers about their go-to sports bras for hiking and backpacking. Here's what they found in their testing, and the favorites.

Trekking poles are one of the most multi-purpose gear items you can carry into the backcountry. We've tested dozens of models over thousands of miles to find the best.

We test over 25 popular backpacking tents to find the solo, 2-person, and 3-person tents for all kinds of backpackers, hikers, and campers. We tested on 1000s of miles of backpacking in climates from desert to temperate rain forest to find the best backpacking tents for most people.

We interviewed dozens of PCT and CDT hikers to consider dozens of shorts models. Then we tested them over 1000s of miles of thru-hiking to find the best pair of shorts for thru-hikers of all sizes and shapes.

Sun protection is essential when spending time outdoors, so we trail-tested UPF clothing to bring you this review of the 11 best sun shirts for men and women.

We tested a dozen hiking boots for men for fit, support, and traction across day hikes and backpacking trips. Here are the best men’s hiking boots out there.

We tested the best backpacking sleeping bags over thousands of miles on the trail, and chose the best bags based on comfort, warmth, packability, and weight.

We researched and tested backpacking cooking pots—ones with positive reviews in outdoor media as well as users. We found the best cook pots for backpacking including titanium, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and cook sets. We considered cooking efficiency, heat distribution, and weight.

We find the best backpacking stoves after testing 22 of the most popular backpacking stoves side-by-side for 3 years and over 1000s of miles.

We tested electrolyte powders, tablets, capsules, and drops in hot and harsh conditions such as hiking, running, and biking to bring you this list of the best electrolyte supplements on the market.

After testing dozens of socks over thousands of miles of hiking, here are the best wool and synthetic hiking and backpacking socks — hiking socks to prevent blisters, the best socks for hiking in hot weather, compression, and more.

We tested GPS and ABC hiking watches across 400+ days of thru-hiking and backpacking. Top pick: the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, with strong mapping and battery picks from Garmin and COROS.

To find the best sleeping pads, we tested 20 pads over 1000s of miles of backpacking, bikepacking, and bicycle touring. See our top picks for best overall, 4-season, budget, foam, side-sleeper, and hybrid.

A long-term, in-depth review of the updated Nitecore NU25 UL with MCT (Multi Color Temperatures). We consider battery life, comfort, brightness, ease of use and more.

The Six Moon Designs Lunar Orbiter is a freestanding ultralight tent with dual vestibules and a silpoly build. We tested it for 2 years in wind, rain, and snow.

Finding the perfect hiking shirt isn't just about comfort and durability—it's about finding a companion that stands the test of time and terrain. The search for the ultimate hiking shirt led us to test over 10 shirts to find the best in terms of performance, versatility, and more.

We ran 2,000 miles in 24 of the most popular trail running shoes to find the best trail running shoes for hiking and backpacking, road-to-trail running, narrow feet, wide feet, beginner trail runners, and distance running.

We tested rain pants for 2 years from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail to the forests of South America, from Colorado’s high country to winter in New York. Our expert guide provides field-tested recommendations, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable on the trails.

To find the best child hiking carrier for babies and toddlers, we reviewed backpacks and tested the Osprey Poco line, Deuter Kid Comfort, Kelty, Thule, and more

Find the best women's hiking pants for any adventure, including roll-up, jogger, convertible, plus-size, and budget-friendly options, all tested on the trail.

Whether you need a lightweight pair of hiking pants that will keep you cool in high temperatures or a heavy-duty pair that can handle the most demanding of terrains, here are our winners for the best hiking pants for men.

Clean drinking water is essential when you head into the backcountry. An effective, reliable water filter or purifier ensures that you have it. We field-tested 20 systems over 6 years to find the one for you.

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

Discover the best hiking backpacks for women, chosen and tested by the women of TreelineReview for comfort, durability, and trail performance.

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

Looking for a way to stay upright in icy conditions? Sure-footed traction in snow and ice allows you to carry your outdoor life into the shoulder seasons and beyond.

More than just a gear list, read our comprehensive gear strategy for the Pacific Crest Trail. As weather and ecosystems change, so should your gear. Here’s what we’ve learned in 20,000 PCT miles of trial-and-error.

Garmin’s GPSMAP 67i is simply the best all around handheld GPS satellite communication device we’ve tested.

The best long underwear are insulating, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, comfortable, will keep their shape, and will last for years with a little care.