By Michael Lanza
It’s that time of year again, when you’re looking for the right gift for a special person—or maybe you want to give a special someone the right suggestions for a gift for you. Either way, check out my annual list of 25 favorite new pieces of outdoor gear and apparel, with links to my original reviews of these jackets, packs, boots, tents, and other gear.
I spotlight below the 25 best, new pieces of outdoor gear and apparel I’ve tested and reviewed this year; click on bold-type the name of any product or its photo to read my full review of it. (Actually, I’m stretching the truth a bit; the list is more like 30 items, but all deserving.) Below my top 25 picks, I include another list of items I’ve used and like but have not previously reviewed in this blog. Scroll to the Other Stuff category at the bottom of this list to see those.
If you’re purchasing anything in this article, you can support my work on this blog (without it costing you anything) by making your purchase through the BUY IT NOW link that follows each piece of gear and apparel.
Here’s to a well-equipped new year of great adventures. Happy holidays.
Marmot Crux Jacket
Outdoor Apparel
If you’re looking for a rain shell for the backcountry, 2015 delivered a bevy of excellent new models. At just 7.5 ounces, the Marmot Crux Jacket still fends off rain and wind and packs away to nothing, a great pick for ultralight hikers and backpackers.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com
Montane Featherlite Shell Jacket
The Arc’teryx Zeta LT Jacket achieves a form of perfection, from its performance in any weather to its fit and comfort, thanks in part to the suppleness of Gore-Tex’s new C-KNIT technology.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
And the Montane Featherlite Shell Jacket kept me dry on a pair of hut-to-hut treks in one of the wettest places in the world, New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park; credit the exceptional breathability of the newest membrane from eVent, the eVent DV Storm.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
I covered these three models and two other outstanding rain shells in my blog post, “The 5 Best Rain Jackets for the Backcountry.”
Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody
Insulation for the outdoors is getting smarter, and one example of that is the Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody. A hybrid jacket that’s warmer in the front, sides, and shoulders, and ventilates more in the back, sleeves, and the close-fitting hood, and breathable throughout, this lightweight outer/middle layer eliminates the constant on-again, off-again of being on the move wearing traditional insulation. I use it in all seasons.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Similarly, the Patagonia Nano-Air Vest delivers the versatility of breathable, synthetic insulation in the form of a classic vest, a layering piece long popular with all kinds of backcountry travelers for its versatility and comfort.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at patagonia.com.
See all of my reviews of outdoor apparel at The Big Outside.
Osprey Atmos AG 65
Packs
The biggest innovation to emerge in backpacks in 2015—and the most-read gear review at this blog for months (so apparently a lot of backpackers were interested in these new packs)—was the Anti-Gravity suspension in Osprey’s Atmos AG series for men and Aura AG series for women. See my review of the Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Gregory Stout 45
Finding a high-quality, comfortable, super durable backpack for weekend trips, ultralighters, and thru-hikers for $169 is a steal—especially if its from one of the most respected brands in the outdoors. That’s the new Gregory men’s Stout 45 and women’s Amber 44.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
With a huge, zippered front panel opening into the main compartment and six exterior pockets, the Exped Thunder 50 is all about quick access. But it also carried 35 pounds very comfortably, and weighs in just north of three pounds—an all-around pack for weekends to long-distance hikes. Look for my full review of the Thunder 50 this week.
Want your kid to like backpacking? Give her a pack that’s as comfortable as yours with the Osprey Ace kids backpacks, which come in 38L, 50L, and 75L volumes, for young people of all sizes. These are now my kids’ go-to backpacks.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Marmot Aquifer 24
I carried the Marmot Aquifer 24 daypack on dayhikes of up to 25 miles from the Grand Canyon to the Presidential Range, and liked its comfort carrying up to 18 pounds, its volume when you have a lot of stuff for a big day, and its tough construction. Super value: It comes with a 3L/100-oz. Hydrapak bladder.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
See all of my reviews of backpacks and daypacks at The Big Outside.
Shoes and Boots
On that 25-mile dayhike in the Grand Canyon mentioned above, I wore the Oboz Switchback hiking shoes, and they had the support and breathability to keep my feet feeling good that entire distance—meaning they rock for any dayhike under 25 miles.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at sierratradingpost.com.
Arc’teryx Acrux2 FL GTX
From a removable, Gore-Tex booty (that doubles as a camp shoe) to the seamless, thermo-laminated uppers and sticky outsole, the Arc’teryx Acrux2 FL GTX and Alpha FL shoes make a respectable attempt at being the do-it-all footwear for dayhiking, backpacking, scrambling off-trail, ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at rei.com.
Looking for a classic-style, all-leather boot with support for a heavy backpack and protection in the wettest conditions? I found that in the Asolo Triumph Gv GTX (for men) on the incredibly muddy, often-flooded Dusky Track in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. The women’s version, the Tacoma Gv, is built with the same attention to detail.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Salewa Alp Flow Mid GTX
Hot feet equals wet, unhappy feet, but that doesn’t happen in the Salewa Alp Flow Mid GTX boots, as I found in the Tetons and Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains. The new Gore-Tex Surround technology for footwear kept my feet from overheating and kept out moisture even hiking for miles through wet snow.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
See all of my reviews of hiking shoes and backpacking boots at The Big Outside.
I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
MRS FlyLite
Tents
At barely more than a pound and a half, the single-wall MSR FlyLite tent, which pitches using trekking poles, is roomy enough for two people and light enough to be a capacious shelter for a solo hiker.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Not many double-wall tents weigh under three pounds, but the Exped Mira II Hyperlite tent does that while still having great interior space and good stability.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGLO
You know what’s pretty cool? Figuring out how to install LED lights inside a tent while adding only negligible weight to the design—that’s pretty darn cool, and that’s what Big Agnes did with its mtnGLO series. Look for my full review of the Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGLO tent this week.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 FL
Sierra Designs set out to reinvent the backcountry tent with its Tensegrity series, and one result was an uncanny space-to-weight ratio. See my review of the Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 FL, a spacious shelter for two people that pitches with trekking poles and weighs just 2 lbs., 10 oz.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at CampSaver.com.
See all of my reviews of backpacking tents at The Big Outside.
Marmot Scandium
Sleeping Bag and Pads
Blending water-resistant down feathers on top and synthetic insulation on the bottom, the Marmot Scandium sleeping bag keeps you warm even if it gets wet, and still comes in under $200, a great price for a 20-degree sack.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
The Big Outside is proud to partner with sponsor Osprey Packs, which supports my mission of inspiring families and others to get outdoors. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.
The bar has been raised when it comes to sleeping on the ground since the introduction of the Sea to Summit Comfort Light Insulated Air Mattress, a plush cushion that’s no bulkier or heavier than many backpacking-oriented air mats on the market.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
But if your first priority is low weight, and you still want to sleep comfortably in the backcountry, you want the 14-oz., very compact Exped SynMat Hyperlite Air Mattress.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at CampSaver.com.
See all of my reviews of sleeping bags and sleeping pads at The Big Outside.
Sea to Summit X-Pot
Camp Kitchen
Without question one of the coolest pieces of gear to emerge in 2015, the Sea to Summit X-Pot collapses nearly flat, making it the most packable cooking pot—or rather, the only packable cooking pot ever invented. It comes in a variety of kits and by itself.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at CampSaver.com.
Jetboil MiniMo
On most of my backpacking trips, I want a stove that’s light, compact, and efficient, and the Jetboil MiniMo Personal Cooking System has become the one I grab from my gear room these days. Feeding a family or a group of three to four? Check out the Jetboil Joule Group Cooking System, a staple of my family’s backpacking trips.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at outdoorplay.com.
See all of my reviews of backcountry cooking systems and backcountry cook sets at The Big Outside.
Leki Micro Vario Carbon trekking poles
Trekking Poles
Unlike other lightweight, three-section poles that collapse to a short, very packable length, the Leki Micro Vario Carbon poles are adjustable. Their Aergon Thermo foam grips wear easy on my hands even on very long dayhikes from Idaho to New Hampshire’s Presidential Range.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
See all of my reviews of trekking poles at The Big Outside.
Princeton Tec Sync
Headlamp
If you’re of the mind that a headlamp should be simple, reliable, bright enough, and not take a big bite out of your gear budget, have a look at the Princeton Tec Sync. That’s all.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at CampSaver.com.
See all of my reviews of headlamps at The Big Outside.
Water Filters
I discovered two new water filtering systems that I really like, both of which I used a lot, depending on the type of trip and how many people were with me. The Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L gravity filter is fast and simple and ideal for a family or group of three or more people. (And I’ve become a big fan of gravity filters.)
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Lifestraw and Aquamira water filter bottles
And the Lifestraw Go and Aquamira Frontier Flow Filtered Water Bottle have actually changed how much water I carry in the backcountry, making my pack lighter through their supreme convenience.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking either of these links to buy the Aquamira Frontier Flow Filtered Water Bottle at CampSaver.com or the Lifestraw Go at rei.com.
See all of my reviews of water filters at The Big Outside.
Other Stuff
I’ve worn the Patagonia Men’s Merino Air Crew base layer ($129, 6.5 oz.) on backpacking trips from the Rockwall Trail in Canada’s Kootenay National Park in August to Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains in October, and this light, airy top made of a blend of wool (for warmth even when wet) and Capilene (for wicking moisture) is impressively warm for its weight and comfortable enough that I often wear it around the house.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Another somewhat heavier and warmer Merino wool top I’ve worn quite a bit trekking in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park and at home is the Woolx Midweight X507 ¼ Zip top ($99, 12 oz.), which traps heat effectively and feels super soft against skin.
BUY IT NOW Find this product at woolx.com.
Stio’s Men’s Azura Insulated Jacket
On chilly, October evenings and mornings in Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains, I was happy for the warmth of the Stio Men’s Azura Insulated Jacket ($195, 13 oz.), stuffed with 60 grams of breathable and packable, synthetic Primaloft Gold insulation, which is water-resistant to continue trapping heat even if you get it wet.
BUY IT NOW Find this product at stio.com.
When I wear the Keen Uneek sandals ($100, 1 lb. 6 oz.), I get asked about them, and people inevitably say, “They look really comfortable.” They’re right. With their unusual uppers that use no leather or synthetic materials, no glue or stitching, only a cord that fits the contours of your entire foot whether you’re moving or sitting beside a river, the Uneek is great for paddling rivers, hanging out in camp, or around town.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
A few pieces of REI kids apparel have become staples of my kids’ backpacking trips and offer good values for the price: the REI Sahara Convertible Pants ($45), made with the same quality of adult zip-off pants, the all-season REI Midweight Crew Solid Top ($23), and the REI Salish Fleece Jacket ($70), which my daughter wears regularly at home, too.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at rei.com.
See all of my reviews of outdoor apparel at The Big Outside.
In my years-long quest for the lightest stuff sacks that keep extra clothes and other items in my backpack dry (short of complete immersion), I’ve arrived lately at two brands I like: the roll-top Osprey Ultralight Dry Sacks ($13-25, 0.7-1.9 oz., 3L to 30L) or the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Roll-Top Stuff Sacks ($35-$70, 1-2 oz.) are my choice on backpacking trips with a high likelihood of heavy rain. And I always use one of those roll-top sacks for my sleeping bag because I’ll take no chance of getting it wet.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy the Osprey Ultralight Dry Sacks at backcountry.com.
But for most trips, when the inside of my pack is unlikely to get soaked, I have the Hyperlite Mountain Gear CF8 Cuben Fiber Stuff Sack set no. 1 ($66), in sizes 4×6 (big enough for a phone), 8×10, 9×12, and 10×14, which all together weigh an ounce, but are constructed from tough Dyneema fibers.
BUY IT NOW Find the Hyperlite Mountain Gear stuff sacks at hyperlitemountaingear.com.
Call me soft, but I carry an ultralight, inflatable pillow when I’m backpacking, and I split my loyalties this year between two models: the plush Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow ($37-42, 3 oz., regular and large) and the Exped Air Pillow UL ($49-$55, 2 oz., medium and large).
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
If you want to keep a hot drink hot or a cold drink cold, pour it into a Hydro Flask Insulated 32-oz. Wide Mouth Water Bottle ($34, 1 lb.). It’s too heavy and bulky for multiple days in the backcountry, but makes a great thermos for a long road trip or a day on skis or snowshoes in winter.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
Bear Vault BV500 bear canister
I feel better about the security of my food in the backcountry when it’s in my new Bear Vault BV500 bear canister ($2 lbs. 8 oz.). Updated to add a second tab that must be depressed to unscrew the wide-mouth lid, this cylindrical canister made from impregnable, transparent polycarbonate holds up to seven days of food (with judicious packing).
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking this link to buy this product at backcountry.com.
See also my stories “My 10 Most-Read Gear Reviews,” “The Simple Equation of Ultralight Backpacking: Less Weight = More Fun,” “Buying Gear? Read This First,” “5 Tips For Spending Less on Hiking and Backpacking Gear,” and “Ask Me: How Do We Begin Lightening Up Our Backpacking Gear?”
NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.
I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
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