Gear guides
Every guide, in one place.
Rankings and buying advice built from specs and verified buyer reviews, so you pick gear that goes the distance.
Start here · Day Packs
Best Day Hiking Backpacks of 2026
Six day packs from 20 to 26 liters, ranked on fit, suspension and price, plus how to figure out the size and torso length you actually need.
12 min readTop pick rated 4.7
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Buying advice and ranked picks for every category of hiking, backpacking, and trail running gear.
Day Packs
Best Day Hiking Backpacks of 2026
Six day packs from 20 to 26 liters, ranked on fit, suspension and price, plus how to figure out the size and torso length you actually need.
12 min readRead the guide →
Footwear
Best Hiking Boots of 2026
Six mid-height boots from $105 to $190, plus how to size a boot so your toes survive the descents and when a waterproof membrane is the wrong call.
14 min readRead the guide →
Trekking Poles
Best Budget Trekking Poles of 2026
Six pairs under $85, why the lock matters more than the shaft, how to set the length so your knees notice on the way down, and what $200 poles buy that these don't.
13 min readRead the guide →
Trail Running
Best Ultralight Trail Running Poles of 2026
Five folding carbon pairs from $50 to $225, why folded length matters more than weight, how to size a pole you can't adjust, and what the research really says about whether poles make you faster.
12 min readRead the guide →
Fastpacking
Best Fastpacking Backpacks of 2026
Six vest-harness packs from 20 to 40 litres, why the harness is the whole load system once you take the frame out, how to size one, and what the cottage makers sell that Amazon doesn't.
13 min readRead the guide →
Food Storage
Best Bear Canisters of 2026
Six hard-sided canisters from $65 to $120. Why the park's allowed list beats the certification sticker, how many days of food really fits, and what the carbon ones buy you.
14 min readRead the guide →
Navigation
Best GPS Hiking Watches of 2026
Eight watches from $255 to $1,200. Why the headline battery number isn't the one that matters, what onboard maps do that a breadcrumb can't, and when your phone is still the better map.
15 min readRead the guide →
Trail Running
Best Hydration Vests of 2026
Seven vests from 1.5L to 12L, $85 to $179. Why a vest is sized by your chest and not your back, when a bladder beats soft flasks, and how to stop the thing bouncing.
13 min readRead the guide →