Reviews at The Big Outside are based on treating gear roughly in places that are hard on outdoor gear and apparel to give you brutally honest and thorough, field-tested opinions that help you make the best gear choices for your adventures. And that’s exactly what went into these picks for today’s best backpacking gear.
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When the goal is minimizing pack weight on summer trips with cool but not freezing nights, bring this wispy jacket. The 800-fill goose down delivers beaucoup warmth for a puffy jacket that’s barely over a half-pound, and the hood boosts its versatility for nights around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
File this under brilliant. While not the lightest cooking system out there, the X-Pot and its accessories change the game when it comes to fitting your cooking system inside your pack—proving that a cook set doesn’t have to be bulky.
This sub-two-pound, double-wall, freestanding tent has become like the two-hour marathon of the backpacking gear world: the holy grail that some have come close to achieving without nailing it. Now Big Agnes has set the pace with the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum.
MSR
Backcountry stoves come in a variety of designs these days. But in many respects, the simplest design remains the most versatile and reliable, and the PocketRocket 2 continues to embody everything a backpacking stove should be.