Day hiking packs come in a nearly endless array of shapes and sizes, with everything from ultra-minimalist frameless packs to 35-liter monsters with separate sleeping bag compartments. The best day hiking backpack for you will depend on what you’re doing, but after thousands of trail hours, here are some thingsContinue Reading
Ever since I started backpacking in the 1990s, I’ve carried a lightweight fleece jacket. The puffer jacket may have eclipsed it in popularity, and merino wool is sustainable and stink-free. But the humble fleece is durable, breathable, and light. It also costs next to nothing. (I have 30-year-old Marmot fleeceContinue Reading
Every time I slip on a rain jacket, I give thanks that we no longer have to wrap ourselves in thick, smelly sealskin to stay dry. The best rain jackets today are more comfortable and watertight than ever, thanks to advances in weatherproof textiles and apparel design. But depending onContinue Reading
Leggings might as well be my actual skin. They’re my uniform for everything, from working out to working from home to working up an appetite. The best leggings rise to the challenge. But finding those can feel like an Olympic sport. I’ve tested countless pairs, searching for the perfect ones,Continue Reading
Interestingly, the added ounces come despite Helinox opting to use a 300-denier bluesign-certified recycled polyester, which is 50 percent lighter than the 600-denier used in the original Chair One. The added weight appears to come from chunkier mounting blocks and a second tensioning line that runs along the circumference ofContinue Reading
A favorite of ultralight hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is the gold standard in water filters for anyone concerned about weight and universal compatibility. The Squeeze weighs just 3 ounces, has a filtration level of 0.1 microns (which gets rid E. coli, salmonella, giardia, cryptosporidium, andContinue Reading
They’re also modular, so if the strap is just too weird-looking, you can clip in nose pads and arms, which is genius. That alone makes the sunglasses so much more comfortable and useful, especially if you like boating, biking, or other high-speed activities. Ski goggles sit a little farther offContinue Reading
Great Treats Icelandic+ Mini Cod Fish Chips Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Icelandic+ Mini Cod Fish Chips for $10: Open a bag of these cod fish chips, and your room will immediately be engulfed with a fishiness that will linger in your nostrils for hours. On the other hand, your pup willContinue Reading
Honorable Mentions We’ve tried so many sunglasses that not every pair can take a top spot. Here are some of the many pairs we’ve tested over the years that didn’t quite make the cut: Photograph: Ombraz Ombraz Armless Sunglasses for $160: Ombraz has a recycled nylon cord that meets inContinue Reading
The GoRuck GR1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is the pack that launched the company, and still the best and most versatile of the GoRuck lineup. The GR1 comes in 2 sizes: 21L and 26L, I have both, but if I had to pick only one, it would be the 21L. ThisContinue Reading
