My Backpacking Gear List – A Lightweight & Comfortable Approach (2026)
This is my complete list of backpacking gear with info about what I like about each item, updated for 2026.
My Favorite Freeze-dried Backpacking Meals
These freeze-dried backpacking meals are my favorites for their flavor and nutrition – and their lack of preservatives or additives.
Review: Gastro Gnome Backpacking Meals
Gastro Gnome’s flavorful, well-crafted meals set them apart from many backpacking brands, with a comfort-food approach that goes beyond typical freeze-dried meals.
Review: Peak Refuel Meals
Peak Refuel offers freeze-dried meals with homestyle flavors, more protein than many backpacking meals, and plenty of options featuring foods I enjoy on outdoor trips.
Guide to Planning Backpacking Trips
Learn how to plan a backpacking trip, from choosing a destination and route to considering your experience, seasonal conditions, and creating a detailed trip plan.
My Top Picks for Backpacking Sleeping Pads (2026)
With so many sleeping pads available in different styles, sizes, weights, and R-values, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. These are the sleeping pads I’ve used and recommend for different priorities, from lightweight comfort to maximum warmth.
Review: Nitecore AP01 Air Pump
The Nitecore AP01 is an ultralight air pump that uses a USB-C power bank, making it easy to inflate my sleeping pad and pillow without adding much weight to my pack.
Review: Pinnacle Foods Backpacking Meals
Pinnacle Foods freeze-dried meals are a cut above the rest, with a solid lineup of great tasting options that provide plenty of calories for outdoor adventurers.
My Top Picks for Backpacking Quilts (2026)
Backpacking quilts are generally 20-30% lighter in weight than sleeping bags and allow more room to move around, so for those who don't like being confined in a mummy-style bag, a quilt might be a better option.
Best Backpacking Tents for One Person
If you are looking for a new backpacking tent for one person, these are the tents that I've used and recommend – including options for freestanding, easiest setup, budget, ultralight, and most spacious tents.
Review: Bowl & Kettle Backpacking Meals
Bowl & Kettle brings a noticeably elevated approach to backpacking meals, with unique recipes, rich flavors, and a level of quality that sets them apart from most brands.
Review: Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress
The Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress has a high comfort to weight ratio, plus it packs down smaller than most mattresses, making it one of my favorite options for backpacking trips.
Best Backpacking Stove Systems
Whether you prefer to boil water for packaged meals, or simmer food in a pot, these backpacking stove and pot combinations include a range of features, from fast boil times to ultralight packability.
Review: Zenbivy SoftTop Pillow
A modular three-piece backpacking pillow that balances support, height, and softness with adjustable comfort for better sleep at camp.
My Top Picks for REI Brand Backpacking Gear
REI offers a wide variety of their own brand of backpacking gear. These are the high-quality REI items I regularly use and recommend for lightweight backpacking trips.
Review: Outdoor Vitals Carbon Evo 50 Backpack
The Carbon Evo is an ultralight framed backpack that balances low weight with a stable, comfortable carry and supportive suspension for reliable on-trail support.
Guide to 2026 Backcountry Permits for Oregon & Washington
When you are considering a backpacking destination, you’ll need to know whether permits are required for backcountry camping and how to obtain them.
Review: Flextail Tiny Pump 3X
A lighter, more powerful, and quieter update to Flextail’s compact 3-in-1 pump — it inflates, deflates, and doubles as a tent light, making it a practical choice for backpacking trips without adding much weight.
Best Backpacking Pillows
Even a small pillow upgrade can change your experience on backpacking trips, providing support for more restful sleep and helping prevent neck and shoulder stiffness in the morning.
New Backpacking Gear I Tested and Recommend for 2025
As an outdoor gear reviewer, I test new items year-round. These are my top backpacking gear picks from 2025 — favorites I’ve personally used and recommend.
New Backpacking Gear I Tested and Recommend for 2024
This year, I had a chance to test quite a few backpacking gear items for reviews. These are the products that I liked the best and will continue to use for future trips.
Review: Exped Ultra 6.5R Sleeping Pad
The Exped Ultra 6.5R is an ultralight sleeping pad with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio — delivering strong cold-weather performance in a highly comfortable design.
Review: MSR Switch Stove System
An integrated stove system that includes fold-out pot supports for using with other cookware, plus a pressure regulator for fuel-efficient, controlled flame and versatile cooking beyond boiling water.
DIY Lightweight Backpacking Gravity Water Filter Setup
No more pumping or squeezing! Convert a Sawyer Squeeze or Hydroblu Versa Flow water filter and let gravity do the work of filtering water.