Our Favorite Hiking Gear: 15 Items We Hate to Leave at Home
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There is a lot of cool hiking gear out there. Step into an REI, and the sheer amount of gear might overwhelm you. Backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and even backpacking meals-you can spend hours combing through reviews, and trying everything out before you‘ll feel satisfied with a purchase.
Frankly, I don’t blame you. This stuff is expensive, and you want the best for your budget. Trust me, I’ve been there.
If you’ve visited Hike the Planet! in the past, you know that we love hiking gear. We’ve reviewed a ton of gear. Testing it in all sorts of conditions, we pour lots of effort into bringing you quality reviews. So, if you’re looking for the best hiking gear, read on to find our recommendations for our favorite hiking gear! We’ll help you narrow down the options, based on our all time backcountry favorites.
Related: The Most Affordable Hiking Gear on the Internet.
Backpacking Tent: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 2 person, 3 Season tent
One of our favorite games: on staff trips, try and see how many interns you can fit inside a backpacking tent. It’s how we at Hike the Planet! pass the time, while testing out our gear. So far, the Big Agnes HV 2 person tent can hold the most number of human bodies without breaking. If that’s not a mark of quality, then I really don’t know what is.
Why We Love it:
This spacious tent resists nasty weather, so you can enjoy a cozy rainy day with your hiking partner, or go solo and camp like royalty. In our view, the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV represents the best bang for the buck in backpacking shelters.
Check Out the Big Agnes Fly Creek at REI Big Agnes Fly Creek at Backcountry Big Agnes Fly Creek at Amazon
Hiking Footwear: Altra Lone Peak Trail Runner
Meet the most comfortable, friendly and lightweight barefoot Trail Runner-the Altra Lone Peak. Running isn’t it’s only trick, because the Lone Peak is perfect for hiking, backpacking, and thru hiking.
Why we Love it:
We tried out the Altra Lone Peak when we took a curious dip into the world of trail-runners-as-hiking-shoes subgenre. Since then, the Altra Lone Peaks have become our favorite outdoor footwear. Not only has their comfort, and barefoot hiking style improved our wilderness adventures, but it’s made us into better runners too.
Check Out The Altra Lone Peak at REI Check Out the Altra Lone Peak at Backcountry Check out the Altra Lone Peak on Amazon
Backpack: Osprey Exos 58
With all the benefits of a large, internal frame backpack, the Osprey Exos 58 comes with just half the weight. At only 2.6(ish) pounds, cut your base weight way down, without sacrificing comfort and utility.
Why we love it: This pack is so comfortable, and so lightweight, that you can finally justify packing in the extra 3 pounds of supplemental cake frosting to add to your backpacking dinners.
Check Out the Osprey Exos 58 at REI Check Out the Osprey Exos 58 at Backcountry Check Out the Osprey Exos 58 on Amazon
Daypack: REI Flash 22 Pack
It’s simple, but that’s what makes it great. The REI Flash 22 Daypack has everything you need for a day hike, but at a very friendly price tag.
Why We Love It: If there’s one quality in gear we love, it’s simplicity. Simplicity, and inexpensiveness. Need proof? We spent our whole Netflix Free Trial period binge watching Marie Kondo over and over again.
The REI Flash 22 embodies both qualities in droves. We take it with us on nearly all day hikes, finding that it is roomy enough for any gear, snacks, and clothing that we need.
Check Out the REI Flash 22 at REIWater Filter: Sawyer Squeeze
All hikers need clean water. With the Sawyer Squeeze, forget the chemicals, the UV radiation, the tangled mess of tubes. Fitting into your pocket, the Sawyer Squeeze brings you the cleanest, clearest water from a small, simple device.
Why We Love It: Fitting right onto the threads of your standard, disposable water bottle, the Sawyer Squeeze is incredibly simple to use, and best of all, very cheap. It’s become out favorite way to secure safe, clean water, wherever we may be roaming.
Check out the Sawyer Squeeze at REI Check Out the Sawyer Squeeze on Amazon Check Out the Sawyer Squeeze at Walmart
Socks: Wildly Good Lightweight Merino Wool Hiking Socks
Hiking without socks is like driving without gasoline. It doesn’t work. Unless you drive a Tesla. Wait, nevermind. This analogy is going nowhere.
Wildly Good, a pluck upstart company out of Massachusetts, weaves the softest, lightest, and most durable Merino Hiking Socks. Treat your feet right.
Why We Love It: Ever since Wildly Good sent us a pair of their awesome socks, we find ourselves reaching for them every time we want to head out to the local trails. Their comfort and durability rivals any other hiking sock on the market, and by purchasing from Wildly Good, you’ll be supporting a locally owned small business.
Find Wildly Good Hiking Socks HereSun Hoodie: Prana Calder Hoodie
The Prana Calder Hoodie is one of the newer additions to our gear loadout. Which is a shame, really, because we wish he had known about this breathable, athletic Sun Resistant Hoodie before wasting our money on a 50 gallon drum of sunscreen.
Why We Love It: Sure it helps plants grow, but what else does it do besides damage your perfect skin? Probably a lot, if you ask the scientists. But we’re no scientists, just hapless hikers with an internet connection.
The Prana Calder Hoodie, thank goodness, provides non stop, UPF 50+ sun protection. Now you can spend hours playing in the sunshine, without worrying about reapplying gooey, slippery sunscreen.
Get the Prana Calder Sun Hoodie at REI Get the Prana Calder at Backcountry Get the Prana Calder Hoodie at Amazon
Trekking Poles: Black Diamond Trailback Trekking Poles
Trekking Poles are more than just for balance. Wield the swords akimbo, and pretend that you’re some sort of backcountry Jedi. Or use them to support a tarp shelter, or chop in snow steps. Don’t judge us.
Why We Love It: The Black Diamond Trailback Trekking Poles are really so simple to use, so durable, and so reliable, that you’d be hard pressed to find a more capable set of poles. Sure, there are lighter, more expensive poles, and there are cheaper poles.
In our experience, these sets break at equal rates. The Trailback Trekking poles are like a Honda Accord-not flashy, but will last you forever.
Get the Black Diamond Trail Back Poles at REI Get the Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles on Amazon
Lightweight Fleece: Patagonia R1 Grid Fleece
What is skin tight, but does not constrict? How about stylish, yet functional? Something that keeps you warm, but never hot? If you answered the Patagonia R1 Grid Fleece Hoodie, then you’d be correct on all counts.
Why We Love it: The Patagonia R1 Grid Fleece is the ultimate example of layerable technical wear. It functions well as a baselayer, midlayer, or fair weather jacket. Backed by Patagonia’s awesome warranty, the R1 moves with you, breathes well, and looks great to boot.
For a little more detail on the R1, check out our comparison review: The Melanzana Microgrid Fleece vs. The Patagonia R1.
Get the Patagonia R1 Fleece at REI Get the Patagonia R1 Grid Fleece at Backcountry
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove
There’s nothing quite like waking to the dawn rising on a beautiful alpine lake. The fish are biting, morning mist is gathering, and your hiking partner has yet to wake up and demand you make them breakfast.
The only thing that this quiet, serene moment needs is a hot cup of morning coffee. That’s why you brought your MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove-just for the coffee. Forget food. All you need is strong, black coffee to get you through the next 7 days, and 100 miles. Food is just extra weight anyways. You’ll sooner gnaw your own leg off than carry around a bag of freeze dried curry. Food is for the bears.
Buy the MSR PocketRocket 2, is what we’re trying to say. Pay us money to buy more coffee.
Get the MSR PocketRocket at REI Get the MSR PocketRocket at Backcountry Get the MSR PocketRocket on Amazon
GPS Device: Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way Satellite Communicator
Never, ever get lost. Bring space age technology to remote desert canyons, and icy arctic fjords. The Garmin inReach Mini fits right in your pocket, and is your guide through vast wilderness.
Why We Love It: Of all the personal GPS units available, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is small, light, and more affordable than most other options. Toss it in your backpack, and only take it out when you need to check where you’re going. With the power of this device, you can also check the weather, call for help during an emergency, and even send private messages.
Think of it as a lifeline to the outside world. The only thing it can’t do is be used to order pizza. Trust us, we’ve tried.
Get the Garmin inReach Mini 2 at REI Get the Garmin inReach Mini at Amazon
Budget Option: Gaia GPS App
We’ve talked about Gaia GPS before-a handy app that lives on your smartphone. Using your phone’s built in GPS features, any hiker can make tracks of their hikes, mark waypoints, or look up nearby trails.
The best part of Gaia GPS is the community. Built in social features make it easy to publish your tracks, sharing them with others. Gaia GPS is what we’ve used to record many of the hiking maps seen on Hike the Planet! For a yearly subscription fee that’s far cheaper than any Garmin device, Gaia GPS is a good choice for those looking to save a buck (or two).
As an exclusive offer for our readers, follow this link to get up to 20%off your new Gaia GPS subscription!
Hiking Pants: Prana Stretch Zion
The longtime Gold Standard of stretchy, strong rock climbing pants, the Prana Stretch Zion has become part of the unofficial Hike the Planet! Company uniform. The reason? Not only are they ultra comfy, but they’re breathable, convertible, free wheeling qualities make them incredible hiking pants as well.
Why We Love it: Simple, no frills pants. They’re so comfortable, we wouldn’t hesitate to sleep in them. If Prana made Pajamas, they’d be the Stretch Zion Pants.
Related: Our Review of the Prana Stretch Zion Straight, a sibling of the Stretch Zions, though slightly more form fitting.
Find your Prana Stretch Zion Pants at REI Find Your Prana Stretch Zion Pants at Backcountry Get Your Prana Stretch Zion Pants on Amazon
Camera: Sony a6100 Mirrorless Camera
The Sony a6100 represents the latest addition to Sony’s line of consumer APS-C mirrorless cameras. Within it’s small package is an immensely capable device, ideal for taking your outdoor photography game to the next level.
Why We Love It: If you ever find that yourself in a life or death situation where you desperately need a 24.3 megapixel sensor, 4k video recording, and a wide range of interchangeable lenses, the Sony a6100 mirrorless camera will do the job, but won’t break the bank. Survive with a few dollars in your pocket, is what we’re advocating.
Get Your Sony a6100 Mirrorless Camera at AmazonInsulated Jacket: Arc’teryx Atom LT
Lightweight, versatile, and slim fitting, the Arc’teryx Atom LT is our favorite insulated Jacket for cold hiking adventures.
Why We Love It: We really like the Arc’teryx Atom Lt. Like wine and cheese, peanut butter and chocolate, or butter and more butter, the Atom Lt pairs well with sweaters and rain jackets. It layers like an onion, not unlike an Ogre.
Also, we think it looks pretty nice, and it’s very lightweight.
Get Your Arc'teryx Atom LT at REI Get Your Arc'teryx Atom LT at Backcountry Get Your Arc'teryx Atom LT at Amazon
Rain Jacket: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
The ultralight rain jacket made for every hiker. Take along this handy, packable rain shell everywhere. When your bluebird day turns rainy, throw the Helium on. It’s so light, you won’t hardly notice it.
Why We Love It: We initially purchased this jacket, as we thought that the name Helium implied that we could blow it up like a balloon, making it an emergency party decoration in addition to a rain jacket. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised to find that this lightweight, packable rain jacket repels rain, without adding much to your hiking pack weight.
Get Your Outdoor Research Helium at REI Get Your Outdoor Research Helium at Backcountry Get Your Outdoor Research Helium at Amazon
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