Gear made in the US provides jobs and requires fewer resources to transport. Each of these items was made by an outdoors enthusiast looking for a solution to a problem. Here are some of our writers' top Made in the USA outdoor gear items – from ultralight to everyday apparel.

Our writers attended the 2026 Switchback outdoor gear show in New Orleans. From backpacking gear, running apparel, footwear, and more, here’s the new gear we’re looking forward to.

We tested minimalist barefoot shoes while running, walking, hiking, at the gym, and as casual, everyday shoes to find the most comfortable, flexible, grippy, and stylish ones.

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.

The REI Flash Shade Hoodie is lighter and faster-drying than the beloved REI Sahara. We tested both to help you pick the right UPF 50 sun hoodie for the trail.

Take your camp cooking to the next level with a portable camping grill, whether you like propane, charcoal, wood, electric, pellet or a fire pit.

Sub-15oz ultralight weight vs. setup complexity—our Zpacks Plex Solo tent review covers its Dyneema construction, thru-hiking performance, and premium value.

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.