Our Favorite Gear of 2024: The Greatest Gear of the Year
Forced to choose just one, our writers share the best of hundreds of pieces of gear they tested this year
"You only get to choose one." That is what we told Treeline Review writers when assigning this article on the Greatest of All Time Outdoor Gear 2024. Here, you will find their single favorite piece of gear they tested this year.
This is our award for gear that is paradigm-changing. The gear here is leagues above anything else out there. This is the outdoor gear we obsessed over and want to tell everyone about.
Our favorite gear items of the year ran the gamut from the apparel, pack, backpacking, camping, bike, and running categories.
Our testers were given the challenge to pick just ONE singular item that stood out to them of the entire year: we thought about gear that impacted our comfort, safety, or maybe ability to perform to our peak outside. But we also thought about how the gear was made, designed, and how it stands out from other items in their respective categories.
Want to hear about:
Our new favorite headlamp for everyday use?
How about a near-perfect design for a gear organization system?
Or a bike helmet that will call help for you if you crash?
The latest (and maybe best) version of Garmin’s messenger device?
What about a camping stove that can do everything, from cook eggs to broil nachos to bake a casserole?
Read about all our favorite pieces of gear from head to toe, socks to helmets, in our 2024 Gear of the Year.
The gear items in this Greatest Gear of 2024 article mostly focused on items released this year, with some exceptions. You can always check out last year's Greatest Gear of 2023 if you're looking for more world-changing outdoor gear items.
We write mission-driven gear reviews. To find the best gear, we combine expert reviews, everyday user opinions, and rigorous independent trail testing—never native ads or sponsored posts. We are 100% reader-supported and may make a small commission from some qualifying affiliate links. Learn more.
Top Winners
Garmin Messenger Plus (jump to review)
Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft (jump to review)
La Sportiva Prodigio (jump to review)
Smith Payroll Mips Aleck Crash Sensor Mountain Bike Helmet (jump to review)
Gregory Alpaca Gear Box (jump to review)
Garmin Edge Solar 840 Bike Computer (jump to review)
Paradis Underwear (jump to review)
The winners
Award of excellence. There’s nothing else out there like this!
Mapping my trips in the woods and sending long descriptive texts and photos of my misadventures to family and friends-whether they want them or not-these are a few of my favorite outdoor things.
Oh yeah, and being able to send for help if things get out of hand.
Until now there’s never been one satellite communication GPS gadget capable of doing all of these things. And more!
Meet Garmin’s new inReach Messenger Plus, one of the most innovative satellite communicators available today. For the first time ever I can carry a 4oz, GPS device in my shirtpocket (or coat pocket or attached to a pack or in a bike frame bag) that can send photos, 30-second- long voice messages, 1,600- character texts and blast off an SOS from anywhere in the world.
As a stand alone device Messenger Plus can send an SOS if I need it, track the progress of my trip and share it with others, check the weather, send and receive messages and do a trackback should I stray from the trail. When paired with my smartphone and using the free Garmin Explore and Messenger apps, I can use Messenger Plus as a GPS for navigation, download maps, create a course, place waymarks and watch where I’m going in real time, compose 1600-character long tests, send photos and create 30-second long voice messages…all on the phone’s larger screen.
The Messenger Plus also offers me increased safety for my wanderings. Utilizing an upgraded satellite system and enhanced hardware and software in the device itself the Plus can send a faster SOS with a more precise GPS location than ever before while offering real-time, two-way communication (and photos) during the rescue process.
Yay!
Why it deserves to win: impeccable comfort in a dialed, compact size
Comparing the thickness of the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft with similar backpacking sleeping bags on the market: the NeoLoft is the thick one in the middle.
I’ve easily spent over 300 nights sleeping on the ground (more if you count car camping or “glamping”). For some, good sleep outside is hard to come by. Not with the NeoLoft sleeping pad. Perfect for side sleepers and a beacon of comfort for anyone, the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft boasts 4.6 inches of thickness, a 73-inch length, and a 4.7 R-value.
Performance driven, still packable enough for backpacking, and more comfortable than most pads I’ve tried, the NeoLoft is ushering in a new era when it comes to sleeping pads of this performance, weight, and size. It’s not meant to shave weight or live up to ultralight standards: it’s meant to be as comfortable as possible, while also being competent across three-season use.
If you need any more convincing or want to check out the specs, read our full review on Treeline. Just look at that Loft! You can bet it will be in our Best Camping Sleeping Mattresses guide soon.
La Sportiva Prodigio
Why it deserves to win: These shoes blend capabilities for tough and technical terrain with comfort needed for long distances.
A pre-race photo before running the Moab Half Marathon in the La Sportiva Prodigios.
La Sportiva shoes have long been known for two things: a low cushion design with features meant to tackle tough and technical trails, and a narrow fit. The Prodigio breaks that mold without leaving the technical details behind. This shoe has more cushion than any others in the La Sportiva Line, and is far more plush than models like the Bushido III (in-depth review on this shoe here), which has long been popular as a lightweight hiker or short distance trail runner for tough mountain terrain. The Prodigio has a wider fit than most other La Sportiva shoes, too. This makes it friendlier for folks without super narrow feet while maintaining a precise fit.
The Prodigio are the new overall winner in our Best Men's Trail Running Shoes guide and currently being tested for our Best Women's Trail Running Shoes guide. Every Treeline Review tester who has got their feet in these shoes has raving reviews.
Men's
Women's
The nitrogen infused foam in the midsole is plush yet dense. There is ample cushion for long distances, but the shoes still have a precise feel. The directional lugs make for superb grip, even on loose and steep mountain slopes or slick, bare sandstone. Even with tall stack height, these shoes feel stable in tough terrain. La Sportiva sizing does run weird, and it’s worth going at least a half size up, though the Prodigio shoes don’t seem to run quite as small as other La Sportiva models we’ve tested.
After a long search to find a shoe perfect for long distance mountain runs that actually fits my fairly wide yet super low volume feet, the Prodigios have proved themselves worthy of being “the shoe.” And even after many miles of training and a half marathon in desert terrain under their outsoles, these shoes have a lot of life left. And when they do wear out, I’ll surely replace them with another pair of Prodigios.
Why it deserves to win: because every other inflatable pad I've ever used has popped. This pad doesn't.
The Nemo Tensor sleeping pad (All-Season shown here, though Treeline Review writer Mike Unger used the even lighter weight Nemo Tensor Ultralight).
I gave up on inflatable sleeping pads, like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir, years ago. I would develop a leak within days—sometimes even on the first night of my trip, like during the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)—leaving me on the cold, hard ground for days, until I could reach a town to buy a replacement. Since then, I have used a two-pad system consisting of a short Z Lite foam pad and a short Therm-a-Rest Prolite. This system wasn't particularly light or compact, but it was reliable.
For last summer’s ride along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), I needed to switch to a more compact sleep system. I decided to try the Nemo Tensor Ultralight. The regular mummy pad is 72 inches long, has 3.5 inches of loft, weighs 16 ounces, and has a 2.8 R-value. When rolled up, the pad is about the size of a Nalgene bottle, and easy to pack away in the stuff sack every morning.
I loved the Tensor. It was quick to inflate and provided a comfortable night’s sleep. Most importantly, it never developed a leak.
The Tensor Ultralight’s 2.8 R-value was perfect for a summer trip with moderate nighttime temperatures. However, I could feel the cold ground when the temperatures dropped to the low to mid-20s in the fall. For shoulder-season trips where colder temperatures are expected, I would recommend the similar Nemo Tensor All Season, which has a 5.4 R-value and is the the winner for Most Comfortable Inflatable Backpacking Sleeping Pad.
We have an in-depth review on why we like the Nemo Tensor All Season sleeping pad. But for warm summer trips, the Tensor Ultralight is all you need.
Taking the Smith Payroll helmet for a spin at Centennial Cone Park.
There’s a lot of incredible gear I got to test out in 2024, from Colorado-made Romp Shepherd Skis to BioLite’s Charge 100 Max power bank and Gordini’s Forge heated gloves.
But when it comes down to it, I think the biggest game changer is the $220 Smith Payroll Mountain Bike Helmet with the integrated Aleck crash sensor. The helmet is a lightweight (400 gram, men’s medium) helmet that uses Mips’ Evolve Core liner to reduce rotational impact in a crash. It also uses Zonal KOROYD’s honeycomb lattice to provide energy absorbing crumple coverage to reduce impact on the head in a crash.
As importantly, the helmet is comfortable, light on the head, and easy to adjust horizontally and laterally. I also appreciated the adjustable visor, which stayed in place even when thundering down rocky mountainsides.
The helmet I tested also included the inconspicuous Aleck Crash sensor—so inconspicuous, in fact that when I first got the helmet, it took me a half hour to realize it was integrated into the Boa-like dial at the back of the helmet—it took me even longer to realize the charging port was in the dial, too.
The sensor, about the size and weight (16 grams) of an Apple AirTag adds a lot of value to the helmet because it will sense any serious crash and, if not stopped within a minute, will use your bluetooth connected smartphone to reach out to your emergency contacts and other Aleck users nearby to your accident. This is good when riding in groups, but really important if you’re riding in technical terrain by yourself. Best thing though, the Aleck crash sensor puck only adds $20 to the cost of the helmet! It’s also available on other Smith Helmets, like the Forefront 2, which we awarded as our Best High Tech mountain bike helmet in 2024.
Why it deserves to win: Amazing organization for anything
Erica’s gear closet complete featuring Gregory Alpaca Gear organizers, and her favorite of the collection, the Alpaca Gear Box.
I’m an absolute nut when it comes to gear organization. Over the summer, my partner and I spent several days getting all of our gear in order and building out a basement gear closet—complete with floor-to-ceiling peg boards, hooks to hang gear, metal shelving for storage, foam floor mats to make packing for camping trips more comfortable to name a few.
But the showstopper, by far, was organizing our gear into the Gregory Alpaca Gear collection of bins, bags, and totes. Not only is the collection extremely cute, but extremely efficient. The eight-piece set includes everything from heavy-duty gear boxes and foldable baskets to padded pods and a rolling wagon (which makes toting the gear around the campsite a breeze). It’s quite expensive to invest in the full collection so I’ve narrowed down my favorite of all the pieces: the Gregory 45-Liter Alpaca Gear Box.
Packing for weekend camping trips is quick, efficient, and tidy thanks to the Gregory Alpaca Gear Box, which stack neatly and are completely waterproof.
Sure, some folks might think this is your average, run-of-the-mill gear bin. But let me fill you in: It ain’t! This super burly, super durable, hard plastic bin has been filled to the brim, banged up, and dumped on by the rain on at least half a dozen camping and fishing trips this summer. And guess what? They’re still in incredible shape. This gear box works wonders for packing up quickly and heading out on a weekend-long camping trip. It’s super sturdy and won’t crumble under the weight of heavier pieces of gear resting on top. I’m a huge fan of the grooves in the top of the lid that lets water pour off even if you leave it out in the rain (this thing is 100% waterproof). And the hinged lid is ingenious: You can hinge-open either side of the bin (or remove the lid completely). If you’re looking to dial in your gear organization, you won’t regret opting for the Gregory Alpaca Gear Box (or the entire collection, if you’re as fussy about organizing your gear as I am). Gregory also sells the gear box in a 2-pack, if you want to invest in more than one.
Why it deserves to win: it makes long rides so much easier.
The Garmin Edge 840 Solar bike computer on the GDMBR.
As I was prepping for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, I was skeptical about investing in a bike computer. Why can’t I just use my phone, I thought?
Well…I was wrong. There’s so much good about the Edge 840 Solar, but here are some highlights:
ClimbPro
The ClimbPro feature alone is worth it to me. When you have a climb coming up, it tells you the distance and elevation gain. During the climb, it shows the grade you’re on and the grade coming up. Some climbs were so heinous that it helped my morale to know I only have a mile to go and 500 feet of gain. It’s also good to know before a climb starts so I can stop, eat, and hydrate. It even tells you how many total climbs you have in the section (in the photo above you can see I was at climb 14 of 15 climbs).
Turn-by-Turn Directions
During the GDMBR, I was kind of shocked that it had all of the forest roads and trails that the route used. All of them. So navigating was easy — no second guessing, do we turn right or left? And if you do miss a turn, it tells you almost immediately.
Build Quality
We rode through some nasty monsoon storms in Colorado and New Mexico, sometimes with heavy hail. I was so paranoid that the computer would fail in the rain, but it was no problem at all. It’s still going strong!
Solar Charging
I never ran out of battery, even after long days.
Why it deserves to win: The best underwear I’ve ever worn.
In 2024, I went from having never heard of Paradis Sport to fully replacing all of my underwear with the Paradis seamless bikini and natural fiber bikini.
This underwear ticks all the boxes for my active pursuits and every day wear alike: full butt coverage, breathes well, and actually stays in place! The super soft natural fiber is my favorite for daily wear and lower intensity activities, while I prefer the seamless bikini for more high output, sweaty outings because of how well it breathes and how quickly it dries. I have recommended it to all my friends (who weren’t asking, but got to hear about it anyway). Those who’ve tried it have also loved it. It seems everyone has discovered Paradis this year – they’ve often been out of stock of many options, but good news: a late 2024 restock has all sizes and colors available again. Go get ‘em while you can!
-Kate Hoch, Treeline Review writer
The Paradis underwear is the overall winner and best synthetic winner in our Best Women's Hiking Underwear guide.
This little headlamp is bright and light for all your winter or summer needs. I tested a lot of lights and headlamps this year for my Running Lights story. This light came out after my review was published, but it is quite a showstopper. It is super lightweight at 56 grams and water resistant at a rating of IP66, one of the higher ratings I have tested. It is really easy to charge, there is a little slot on the side of the light where a USB-C cord fits in. The headband that comes with this light can be easily removed or replaced and there is even an included clip if you wanted to use it on a hat or waistband.
The unique feature of this simple light is that it has three color temperature options for your traditional “white light.” There is a cool blue, true to daylight option, which I love for running on trails and staying awake when I am getting tired outside at night. There is a medium light similar to a “soft white” bulb you may have in your home, which is a nice mellow light. I like this medium light for times where I am using the headlamp around others who have this same color light so our light is blending together well and not competing. Finally there is a warm “yellow light” this yellow light for late night dog potty walks when I want to go to sleep soon after using the lamp. It is also great for use inside a tent at night when you need to see but are trying to wind down. The yellow light is similar to using a blue light filter on your phone after a certain hour to help you get to sleep. There is a red light as well, and multiple lumens of brightness up to 600 which covers most needs.
Overall this light is smaller and brighter than similar models making it my top choice for the year.
Why it deserves to win: Incredible organization, volume, and comfort for just about any trip
The NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack and I have been inseparable this year. From day trips into the mountains to a week of adventure travel in Ireland to crewing for my partner’s ultra in Mexico, this pack has proved my go-to gear for just about everything.
What I love most about this pack is its organization. The main compartment zips up, allowing for easy access to the bulk of your belongings. There’s also a deep pocket at the back with sleeves for laptops or books. Zippered pockets on the interior of the main compartment, a fairly deep top pocket, and a deep bottom pocket all help me stay organized on my trips. My only complaint is that the side (water bottle?) pockets do not stretch much, so it can be difficult to get things in and out.
In addition to organization, the volume of this pack is useful too. With 30 L of volume, I successfully traveled around Ireland for a week with just this bag and a small duffle. Space is plentiful.
The pack itself is also comfortable to wear. The shoulder straps and back are plush, and NEMO uses CCubed cushioning that wicks sweat and helps reduce body heat and moisture.
Best of all? As part of NEMO’s Endless Promise collection, this pack is fully recyclable at the end of its life, and NEMO will take care of that for you. And that life is likely to be long — after using this pack nearly every day in some capacity for the last five months (and really putting it through the ringer in the rural jungles and mountains of Mexico), it still looks brand new.
Why it deserves to win: This stove will up your outdoor chef-ing game
In the winter, I switch from backpacking to cold-weather glamping—complete with a smokeless fire pit, hot toddies, and a downloaded movie on the iPad.
Determined not to eat boxed stuffing and powdered potatoes on our annual Thanksgiving campout this year, I bought a Zempire 2-Burner DLX stove with a built-in broiler.
Even though I haven’t had it very long, it’s my favorite piece of gear for 2024.
I was able to warm up my homemade mashed potatoes and gravy on the stove top while reheating turkey and stuffing in the broiler pan below. The next morning, I made breakfast sandwiches on toasted homemade bread. My foodie heart is content.
I noticed right away that the stove was well-made and thoughtfully designed. I love that the burners have almost infinite adjustment–from the tiniest simmer to a 12,200 BTU blow torch that works great for searing (I am considering adding a cast iron grill plate).
On several winter excursions in the past, cooking in the wind has been problematic. Zempire boasts that their stoves are built to withstand the incessant New Zealand winds. I found the full-coverage wind screens to block breezes nicely, and, unlike many stoves I have seen, the burners are recessed and protected.
My favorite feature of this stove is the broiler. I was skeptical that it was going to be a gimmick and only heat the food along a narrow area. But, the heat exchanger radiates heat evenly across the width of the broiler pan that comes with the stove. You can easily toast bread or brown cheese on top of a small casserole or nachos. You can also use it as a warmer while you wait on other food. I am excited to see what kinds of warm foods I can create.
Granite Gear Crown3 60L
Treeline writer Elliot Koeppel with the Granite Gear Crown3 60L pack on the Colorado Trail this summer.
The Granite Gear Crown3 60L pack is not new on the scene– but backpacking with a pack that weighs under 5 pounds empty was new to me when I switched to this pack for my Colorado Trail thru-hike. I loved my Osprey Aether 65L pack that I thru-hiked the Appalachian trail with. That pack– dubbed “The Smart Car” due to its heft and my theory that like a Smart Car, I could probably fit in it if I needed to– is a beast, but it’s far heavier than needed for my thru-hikes and I’m trying not to wreck my knees too early. Thus, the Granite Gear Crown3 pack– one of the best gear decisions I’ve ever made.
It’s lightweight at around 2 and a half lbs but compatible with heavier loads, and as a non-ultralight hiker this was ideal for me. I found it still comfortable at weights up to 40lbs. Also, a big perk was that Granite Gear sells this pack undyed– not only is this huge for the environment since it avoids using the harmful chemicals involved in the dyeing process for outdoor gear, but it enabled me to try my hand at dyeing and decorating mine myself.
Men's
Women's
The author's art on the Crown3 60 backpack.
It’s water-resistant as-is, and with a compactor bag liner all of my stuff stayed perfectly dry on the Colorado Trail. I like its ability to compress with a plethora of straps– even though they’re a little annoying when not in use– and that it’s easily adaptable with a removable frame and aluminum stay. Due to my tendency to increase my pack weight along the course of a hike, I found this feature highly beneficial and easy to use. As I got used to using it, I began to find it more comfortable than my previous pack, in part due to being lighter and carrying fewer things but also due to its easy adjustability, wide shoulder straps, and load-lifters. Overall, I’m in love with this pack and can’t wait to take it on more adventures.
-Elliot Koeppel, Treeline Review writer
You can read our in-depth review of the Granite Gear Crown360, which is also the winner for best budget pack in our Best Lightweight Backpacking Backpacks guide.
Why it deserves to win: A comfortable pack that splits the differences between a running vest and a lightweight thruhiking pack, and does it well.
When I went searching for a fast-and-light thru hiking pack that could still reasonably haul 25 pounds, I found this delightful pack. It has running vest-style shoulder straps with lots of storage up front. As someone with a medium torso, rectangular body shape, and short legs, I appreciated the way this pack rides higher than a typical backpack. Other packs have chafed my sides, hips, and lower back in high heat or humidity, but this has never happened with the Kumo. The pack weighs 20 oz, and holds 28 liters in the main compartment with another 8 liters between the side and back mesh pockets (not including the vest storage).
I’ve used this pack to fastpack the Colorado Trail, as well as the northern half of the Arizona Trail. While longer food or water carries sometimes challenge the weight or volume limits of this pack, it performed admirably.
It kept the weight balanced higher on my back and shoulders, allowing me to move my lower body freely. The vest was also very generous in its storage capacity—I happily carried a 1L bottle, my large phone, sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen, headphones case, and half of my daily snacks in the vest, with the other half of my snacks in the waist belt pockets. And despite my initial concerns about durability, I’ve used this pack over 1000 miles of long trails and it has almost no wear and tear to show for it.
- Aubri Drake, Treeline Review writer
The Kumo Fastpack is soon to be a winner in an update of our Best Fastpacks and Running Packs guide.
Why it deserves to win: This unique reimagination of the running vest has more accessible pockets and is more comfortable than a traditional running vest.
Treeline Review writer Sam Schild running in the Ultimate Direction Xodus Vest.
The Ultimate Direction Xodus Vest (and women's version, called the Vesta) doesn’t look like typical running vests. The Xodus looks strange, honestly, but this crop top shirt with nine pockets across the chest and a rear pass-through pocket makes significant improvements to the traditional trail running vest. This vest is incredibly comfortable, doesn’t bounce when you run, and has tons of places to stash stuff that you can reach without stopping. If I wear other fully loaded running vests all day, my ribs are typically sore the next day. With the Xodus, this isn’t the case.
The tank-top shape hugs tightly against your torso, and you can cinch it down as tightly as you need. This prevents the vest from bouncing and reduces chafing. Even when packed for an all-day trail run, the vest remains remarkably stable, eliminating the annoying bounce common in many running vest designs.
Men's
Women's
This vest is slightly harder to take on and off than other running vests, but I rarely need to take it off because of all the accessible pockets. The rear pass-through pocket even makes it possible to shed a layer and stow it away without removing the vest. Since it doesn’t have an open chest, it is slightly hotter. However, wearing only a sports bra or no shirt at all is more comfortable with the Xodus, making it better for hot runs. If you’ve never found a traditional running vest that is comfortable for your body or want more accessible pockets, you should try the Xodus. You’ll look a little goofy, but let’s face it: all trail-running garb looks slightly silly anyway.
Why it deserves to win: Makes it easier to get on the water. Takes the hassle out of owning (and moving around) a kayak
The Oru Kayak Lake Sport is the best piece of gear I tested this year. This lightweight, beginner-friendly kayak folds down to the size of a suitcase, fits in a backpack, and can be checked-in on an airplane. I loved my boat so much, I did all of these things this summer, eager to bring it with me wherever I went.
In suitcase mode, I drove it to a dozen eastern Sierra lakes, carrying it to the lakeside in just one hand. In backpack mode, I hiked it far into the backcountry to alpine lakes where I've never seen a kayak. I also checked it on a plane and flew it out to Chicago, where I paddled the shores of Lake Michigan. This 18-pound folding kayak brought me peace on the water without the hassle I associate with water sports.
Paddling near Mammoth Lakes, CA in the Oru Lake Sport Kayak.
The Oru Lake Sport updates the brand's affordable, entry-level kayak (the original Oru Lake) with features that make it more usable, comfortable and beginner-friendly. The Lake was revolutionary when it came out, but it isn't as easy to set-up or comfortable enough to attract total beginners. The Sport is faster and easier to fold and unfold than other Oru models. The gel seat fixes the problem of butt-ache that was a ding against the earlier model. Essentially, the Lake Sport takes what was a great idea and cool novelty and turns it into a more practical item that everyday people can use on a more regular basis.
-Liz Thomas, Treeline Review editor-in-chief
You can read our in-depth review of the Oru Lake Sport Foldable Kayak or learn more about folding kayaks in our Should I buy an Oru folding kayak? guide.
Why it deserves to win: A sweater that’s lightweight, thermoregulating, and nearly refuses to smell.
Fun fact about me: I’m always cold. Or I was before I finally tried Paka’s The Original Crew on the advice of my colleagues here at Treeline Review.
So many folks here have been raving about this alpaca-fiber blend crew neck sweater (and its hoodie and sock cousins) for quite some time, and I’ll admit to having been a skeptic. I’m a person who sleeps comfortably on a NeoAir XTherm in the summer, for goodness’s sake. So I want you to understand that I was expecting it to be a chilly, high-quality, nice-looking long-sleeved shirt that I wouldn’t have to wash very often.
I live in The Original Crew now.
When it first arrived, I swapped The Original Crew for the wool blend sweater I was wearing - and I felt the difference. Not only was it softer, but within a couple of minutes it was warmer too. Since then, I’ve been hard pressed to swap it out for other shirts. Even in the yo-yoing of Colorado’s weather, it manages to keep me comfortable. And between the thermoregulation, the small packed size for travel, and the lack of smell after I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it number of wears, what’s not to love?
Why it deserves to win: New exposure to delicious treats and tools for those who struggle to fuel on the go.
I eat a lot of outdoor snacks. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, I could hardly stomach certain bars. Yet my love of endurance sports only grew, leaving me with a problem. How would I fuel myself if I couldn’t stomach the mighty Clif Bar anymore? What if standard grocery snacks didn’t cut it anymore?
This year, I decided to try a 6-month subscription of The Runner Box to expose myself to new snacks, and it didn’t disappoint. Each month’s box came with a slightly different mixture of snacks and gear items. The whole concept of The Runner Box is that subscribers get a higher amount of value from each box than they would if they bought the included items separately. Most of the time I found the value to be worthwhile (although there were a few boxes that included an item I’d never use).
Some of my favorite discoveries from this subscription service included the Lenny & Larry’s Protein Pretzels and the ReUp Collagen Protein Smoothie – neither of which had been on my radar as a snack option before my box delivery. I also loved receiving Saltstick electrolyte tabs, and LMNT packets of varying flavors. When I wasn’t obsessing over the snacks in these boxes, I also loved getting the chance to try out some non-edible surprise items like a small water bottle, blister tape, and muscle rub.
When I’m training really hard for a project I dream up, the last thing I want to be doing is spending my mental energy searching for snacks that I’ll actually eat. I find the whole process to be a little bit draining. Adding the Runner Box subscription to my life this year took a lot of the planning out of my hands, and I found a lot of new snacks and drink mixes that have become staples in the process.
Why it deserves to win: A tent with style, substance, and smart engineering
The X-Mid Pro 1 enjoys sunset in the Palisade Basin.
When it comes to backpacking gear, a tent is a utilitarian item: at a base level, it should keep you sheltered from the elements. But what if it can also enhance your experience?
I’ve owned plenty of shelters over the last few decades, but none have come close to delivering the delight I feel while using the Durston X-Mid Pro 1 tent. It’s small enough (4.5” x 10” packed) and light enough (17.1 oz with a DCF body and silnylon floor) to disappear into my pack, it sets up quickly and in multiple configurations (including a “skinny pitch” that reduces the footprint for tight spots), it’s visually appealing and a conversational beacon for other hikers (not just fellow Durston cult members), and it functions in every way that I wish for a single-wall trekking pole tent to function. It’s got a pair of roomy vestibules (a luxury in single-person tents), a generous length (7.5’) and headroom (3.75’), excellent ventilation at each peak and side, and it requires only four stakes for a solid pitch in most conditions.
The offset geometry, a Durston trademark, means that even in high winds (which I experienced several times this summer and fall on the John Muir Trail / Nüümü Poyo and elsewhere in the Sierra), the X-Mid Pro 1 held its own without a single extra guyline required. Oh, and did I mention how photogenic it is? I’ve never been complimented more on a single piece of gear.
No matter how depleted I feel, setting up my tent each night on trail is no longer a “camp chore,” but an absolute joy.
Why It Deserves To Win: The literal only garlic-and-onion-free backpacking meal I’ve ever found. Delicious, from a great company, and comes in sustainable packaging.
Okay, I know a backpacking meal might seem like a weird pick for my best gear of the year, but hear me out. As someone with an unusual set of food sensitivities, backpacking meals are a minefield where I just try and find the ones that will hurt me the least.
My issue is FODMAPs, which are a group of sugar-related compounds in a huge variety of foods. Everyone with FODMAP issues may have slightly different trigger foods, so it’s important to note that this meal isn’t completely FODMAP-free because it does contain wheat and dairy. However, *my* biggest issues are onions and garlic, and to a lesser extent mushrooms, kale, and everything related to kale (broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, etc). When I eat them I feel ill, which is a huge bummer at all times but especially when backpacking.
And let me tell you, finding a backpacking meal (or any meal I don't make myself) without onions or garlic is quite nearly impossible. So when I found this meal on Garage Grown Gear and had absolutely no ill feelings (physical or emotional!) after eating it, I nearly wept from joy. I will be ordering this repeatedly for as long as they make it. Also it is objectively delicious even if you don’t have specific dietary needs, just spicy enough to be fun and interesting, and vegetarian if that’s your jam. Bonus: it’s a woman-owned company with a sustainable ethos and compostable packaging. What’s not to love??
-Katie Hawkes, Treeline Review writer and data analyst
The Farm to Summit Green Chile Mac and Cheese will soon be a winner in our updated Best Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Backpacking Meals guide.
How We Chose This List
We had a team of 10-15 testers at Treeline Review weigh in on the singular best, most impressive, or most impactful piece of gear they’ve tested all year. Our testers and writers spend their days running, biking, climbing, backpacking, thru-hiking, paddling, skiing, and gear testing year round — but evaluating a standout piece of gear for our Gear of the Year may just be the hardest thing they’ll do.
After selections and cases were made for each piece of gear, a team of writers and editors weighed in on our list as a group. The following is a winning gear list that (mostly) was new to all of us in 2024, and stood out in testing and use throughout the year.
End of Year Reflections
Our Treeline staff and testers are extremely passionate about the outdoors and gear. So when we get excited about something, we want to make sure we share it with our readers.
And it’s not just about cool new innovations or fancy tech — many of our Treeline Gear of the Year winners help each of our testers get outside bolder, longer, safer, more often, and in more creative ways. Want to finally plan that thru-hike you’ve been dreaming of? Want to take your kids on their first camping trip? This is why we love our winning gear the most out of what we’ve tested this year — it helps us fulfill one of our core missions of getting outside and thriving outside, and inspiring more people to do the same.
