Our Reader's Most Popular Outdoor Gear of 2024
top items Treeline Review Readers Loved most in 2024
We ran the numbers on 2024 and here are the top gear items purchased by Treeline Review readers like you. We've long known our readers love buying trail-tested gear.
Our mission is to help you buy right the first time by choosing quality outdoor gear that you will cherish and that will last. Here’s what you loved last year, from GPS electronics to cozy winter gloves.
We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission — without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
darn tough hiker micro crew socks
Men’s and Women’s
We love Darn Tough hiking socks, which fit like a hug, feature fun designs, and come with the best warranty in the outdoor industry.
They’re the overall winner in our Best Hiking Socks guide and you’ll find them in nearly all our Gift Guides.
We like these socks so much that our writers get a pair when they join the team (of the Treeline design, of course!)
We’re thrilled to see Treeline Review readers are gifting these socks to others, too.
garmin fenix gps watches
It's no surprise data-loving Treeline readers turned to the Garmin fenix 7X Sapphire Multisport GPS Watch and the workhorse Garmin Instinct 2 GPS watch.
The fenix is the best upgrade winner in our Best Hiking and Backpacking Watches guide and offer excellent battery life and easy-to-use features.
We do a deep dive on the Garmin fenix 7X watch and why we think it’s the best upgrade watch.
However you use your Garmin GPS watches—running, hiking, biking, backpacking, or overall fitness—it’s an essential gear item that works well in everyday life, too.
dakine fall line ski roller bag
Skis are one of the most expensive pieces of gear you will own, so it’s worth investing in a padded bag to protect them during travel—the time when they’re most likely to get banged up.
Skiers looking to protect their gear in the airport on on roadtrips overwhelmingly turned to the DAKINE Fall Line Ski Roller Bag. It’s the overall winner in our Best Ski Travel Bags for safe transport of skis on airplanes and road trips.
ultima replenisher electrolytes
Hydration is important for performance—whether that is running or hiking or just dealing with high stress day to day.
For optimal performance, it’s important to consume both water and electrolytes: electrically charged minerals that help balance fluid pressure and maintain blood pH in the body.
We think an electrolyte powder should taste good, cost $0.35-0.60 per serving, be convenient to use, be free of common allergens, and (most importantly) include all five electrolytes essential to the human body.
Treeline Review readers agreed and are big fans of the Ultima Replenisher electrolyte powder, the overall winner in our Best Electrolyte Powder guide.
OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandals
OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandals, the overall winner in our Best Recovery Sandals guide were popular with readers who are runners, hikers, skiers, and everyone on their feet.
They rave about these shoes (and we do, too!)
garmin inreach mini 2
The technology exists now to text with loved ones when you don't have cell service and have access an SOS button that works (almost) anywhere.
We’re relieved how many of you turned to the Garmin inReach Mini 2 to stay safe on your outdoor adventures in 2024. If you’re still waiting to pick one up, we encourage you to carry one on your next backcountry adventure.
Sorel Caribou Winter Boots
The overall winner in our Best Men’s Winter Boots and the winner for best for extreme cold in our Best Women’s Winter Boots guide, the Sorel Caribou are in a class of their own.
Durable enough to last decades, warm enough to handle sub-zero temperatures, we love these boots. There’s a reason these are a Treeline Review reader favorite of 2024.
You can read why in our in-depth long-term review of the Sorel Caribou Winter Boots.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Watch
For hikers and runners who love data, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS watches was a favorite this year. It’s the more affordable version of the fenix 7, one of the most popular products of the year.
It’s also the overall winner in Best Hiking and Backpacking Watches guide and offers excellent battery life and easy-to-use features. We liked it so much we wrote a long-term, in-depth review on it.
For folks with smaller wrists, we recommend the Instinct Solar 2S, which is almost exactly the same except for a smaller watch face and wrist.
Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket
The overall winner in our Best Lightweight Rain Jackets guide, the Torrentshell does it all. This rain jacket provides the breathability you’d expect from a more expensive high-end jacket as it is the least expensive 3-layer waterproof rain jackets we tested. Yet, it is waterproof enough for hiking in the Pacific Northwest and stylish enough for every day use.
It’s also available in kids’ and toddlers’ sizes, meaning this is among the few pieces of gear we’ve tested where you can equip the entire family in high-quality gear.
Garmin Forerunner Running Watch
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is one of the best bang-for-your-buck pieces of gear we’ve ever reviewed. This running watch is affordable for a wearable and is a running coach in your watch.
In our in-depth, long-term review of the Garmin Forerunner 55, we talk about how this is the running watch for technophobes and people who are running watch skeptical. It made us a convert.
And if you’re already sold on the Forerunner, there are fancier models with longer battery life that are Treeline Review readers’ favorites, too!
fly fishing rods
If there’s one thing we learned in 2024, it’s that Treeline Review readers are in to fly fish! You are curious about getting outdoors in new ways and trying new activities and fly fishing is a great way to spend time on the water.
The top winners in our Best Beginner Fly Fishing Combos guide were both fan favorites
From our overall winner—the Echo Base Lift Kit—to our Most Versatile—the Reddington Crosswater Combo—you’ve got (almost) everything you need to get started fishing right out of the box.
ancient Nutrition collagen powder
Runners, hikers, backpackers, skiers…we can all be hard on our knees and joints. There’s evidence that regular consumption of collagen powder can help.
Treeline Review readers took that news to heart. The Ancient Nutrition Collagen powder is the top winner in our Best Collagen Powder guide and a Treeline reader favorite.
Hex performance Detergent Sports Wash
The our winner for Best for Deep Cleaning in our Best Sports Detergent guide is also one of our bestsellers of 2024. Hex Performance Detergent is the only sports wash we tested that can get out truly funky smells from outdoor apparel and workout clothes. When nothing else works, Hex can take out baked-in odor.
If you’re on the fence about giving something a deep clean or throwing it out, we’ve been impressed by how well Hex can bring our favorite outdoor and gym clothing back to life. And so have Treeline Review readers, who bought so much Hex that it made our top gear list of 2024.
om systems tg-6 waterproof rugged camera
Treeline Review readers value the quality of photo you can get with a real camera.
They also go really hardcore places.
For those situations where your camera will get dropped, will go below freezing temperatures, snorkel underwater, or get exposed to lots of dust, the OM Systems TG-6 (formerly called the Olympus TG-6) is the camera for you.
It’s the overall winner in our Best Rugged Cameras guide: Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof and approved by Treeline writer, the award-winning photojournalist, Dean Krakel.
re/stop portable toilet bag
Yup, we one of Treeline Review’s bestsellers of 2024 was a human waste bag. The overall winner in our Best Human Waste Bags and WAG bags guide, this all-in-one odor-free toilet bag is an essential item for overlanders, climbers, and having in an emergency kit.
If you backpack or hike in places like Mt. Whitney, slot canyons like Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, or desert national parks, you’ll need to use a human waste bag. These stink-free bags come with toilet paper and hand sanitizer and make clean-up quick and easy. That’s why they’re a Treeline Review fan favorite.
Advanced Elements Solar Shower
The Advanced Elements Solar Shower is a well-designed camp shower that wins best overall solar shower in our Best Camp Showers guide.
While seemingly minor, hanging a shower bag can be a challenge (it weighs at least 30 pounds), so anything that makes the process easier is a plus. The Advanced Elements camp bag has a hook system that latches onto anything.
It was one of the fastest solar showers to heat up. Although not unique, the Advanced Elements has an on-bag temperature gauge that is accurate.
For this reason, it’s one of the top sellers among Treeline Review readers in 2024.
Sunscreen
We’re proud to say that Treeline Review readers are investing in their health by getting quality sunscreen that they actually will want to use everyday.
We have several sunscreen guides and of all the sunscreens we tested, our two top winners are some of the bestsellers at Treeline Review.
The overall winner of our Best Reef Safe Sunscreen guide is the Badger Sport. With few but effective ingredients, it goes on smoothly and doesn’t feel sticky or oily.
We also tested dozens of sunscreens for our guides to Best Face Sunscreen and Best Sunscreen for Your Body. The best bang for your buck sunscreen is Sun Bun, which is our overall winner. That’s also one of the 2024 best sellers among Treeline Review readers.
