Our gear editor put some of our favorite new outdoor apparel and equipment to the test out in the field to give these coveted awards. For your upcoming rides, runs, and rambles, here’s the top stuff that will get the job done and up your fun level.
Redington
EDC 9-foot 5# Fly Rod
$330; redington.com
Why It Won: Redington’s new series of “Everyday Carry” (EDC) rods, which include 4–8-weights, felt sweet and responsive on the river. That performance is thanks to a nano resin that gives the rod strength and suppleness, making it a worthy tool both for gently presenting dries and fighting that big hog. For the most versatility, we choose the 9-foot, 5-weight rod, which is perfect for trout on Blue Ridge streams.
Salewa
Wildfire NXT Mid GTX
$220; salewa.com
Why It Won: No other hiker we tested delivered the same combination of comfort and confidence. Credit that performance to two factors: The Matryx nylon—a soft, breathable material that has become popular in running shoes—upper fits like a glove and a ePE membrane keeps out the wet. Meanwhile, the sturdy Vibram megagrip outsole gives this approach-shoe powers to grip rock. Add it up and you have the perfect shoe for big adventures on the trail and beyond.
Rab
Women’s Aeon ND33L Day Pack
$190; rab.equipment/us/
Why It Won: It starts with the sternum strap, which is easy to adjust to your personal fit. Likewise, the hip-belt and strap systems keep the pack close to the torso and quite stable without adding too much bulk—making this hauler our bag of choice for big hikes and bike rides alike. Inside, it can swallow up a lot of stuff, and smart stash pockets and straps help you keep trekking poles and layers at close range.
Paka
Breathe Mens Zip Hoodie
$139; pakaaparel.com
Why It Won: We have been obsessed with Paka’s alpaca wool baselayers and socks for providing all the warmth and breathability of merino wool with even more of a soft feel. Those qualities come together in this do-it-all hoody that we ended up taking everywhere from hikes to camping trips to e-bike missions to the grocery store.
Livsn
Flex Canvas Pants V2
$77; livsndesigns.com
Why It Won: Quite simply, we wear these pants everywhere. The stretchy canvas makes them ideal for hikes and bike rides around town but they dress up just fine if you head out on a date. We are notoriously tough on pants and have yet to blow these babies out after ten months of abuse. Plus, the zipper front pocket ensures we don’t lose our valuables.
Salsa
Confluence Flat Bars Cues 11
$2,999; salsacycles.com
Why It Won: While there may be some debate over e-bikes on the trail, a gravel version is just the ticket to piece together rides that take in awful sections of tough roads that you might avoid otherwise while not offending anyone by being powered up. As longtime mountain bikers, we prefer the flat handlebars, though other versions of the Confluence come with road-style drop bars. The 40Nm electric assist gives just enough extra oomph to your pedaling to get you through the gnarly stuff and the aluminum frame and carbon fork alongside comfortable geometry make this a pleasant ride no matter where we roamed.
Nemo Equipment
Soul Endless Promise Sleeping Bag
$250; nemoequipment.com
Why It Won: This unisex synthetic mummy bag proved warm and cozy during some dreadful weather—and we loved the ability to vent our feet when it got a bit too stuffy (or stinky). But we admit we have yet to test the best aspect of the bag: When it has finally worn out its welcome (a long time in the future as far as we can tell), you can send it back to Nemo and the company will fully recycle it.
JBL
Tour Pro 3 Earbuds
$300; jbl.com
Why It Won: Let’s start with the sound: These buds provide full, crisp audio as good as any over-the-ear headphones. But the real selling point here is the control system built into the charging case, meaning you don’t have to fidget with your phone. Couple these with the ENO hammock system (also in this review) and you can retreat to your own personal heaven.
Bote
Breeze Aero 11’6” Classic Mangrove Inflatable SUP
$699; botaboard.com
Why It Won: Whether we were exploring downstream or goofing off on flat water, this inflatable SUP, which weighs a manageable 22 pounds, felt right at home. Stable-yet-maneuveable, the board was a hit with newbies who were just learning how to stand up on it, as well as experienced paddlers who put it to the test on windy days and easy rapids.
Jetboil
HalfGen
$220; jetboil.johnsonoutdoors.com
Why It Won: First off, it boils water in a hurry—a godsend when we got to a wet camp and needed hot tea. Beyond that, we’ve always loved JetBoils, but the tight space in the usual cooking vessel can be a bummer when you are cooking for more than one. Not so here; in this light stove with a built in 9-inch fry pan that performs more like a bigger car camping range. Plus, it can piggyback on other JetBoil JetLink stoves to create a bigger system.
Arc’teryx
Beta AR Jacket Storm Hood
$600; arcteryx.com
Why It Won: No rainshell we tested kept out the elements while also looking this good. Arc’teryx and Gore collaborated on the material and membrane combo meant to withstand abuse while still proving protection–and it did. The jacket endured climbs and scrambles, ski trips, and countless stuffing into packs on every adventure we undertook, and never lost any of its waterproof abilities.
NestOut
Carabiner Battery
$45; nestout.com
Why It Won: Electronics always seem to die faster out in the wild, but you can keep the juice running with this nifty charger that clips on to your pack strap or belt loop. Sturdy and water-resistant, it also serves as a handy phone stand. We always keep it in our pack.
ENO
Nomad Hammock Stand
$275; eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com
Why It Won: This stable and extremely portable stand—weighing in at an easy-to-haul 15 pounds, 8 ounces—makes setting up your hammock anywhere, from the woods to the beach to the park, a snap. It all fits in a comfortable custom backpack, and the system allows you to set up a sun shade with it as well.
Chaco
Men’s Z1 Rapid Pro Vibram Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal
$130; chacos.com
Why It Won: Because the classic river sandal is still exactly what we want for water adventures and general summer fun. But don’t underestimate the strength of this open-toed shoe: The straps let you dial in a fit that’s even comfortable on short hikes, and the solid footbed keeps you confident on wet rocks when you need it to stick.
Merrell
Nova 4 Waterproof
$150; merrell.com
Why It Won: We felt just as comfortable hiking in this light (10.2 ounce), comfy kick as we did running serious miles in it. With 8mm of drop, it rolls underfoot no matter your pace and the outsole lugs eat up the trail. And the breezy recycled mesh upper felt right straight out of the box. That all made it our No. 1 choice for day-to-day exploits on the trail.
LaSportiva
Tarantulace
$89; lasportivausa.com
Why It Won: To start, it doesn’t hurt, making it the ideal climbing shoe for those less serious ascenders with feet that don’t appreciate being jammed into climbing shoes. But don’t think it doesn’t perform: The reliable Tarantulace can take on cracks, smear on smooth faces, or handle laps at the gym thanks to sticky FriXion RS rubber. Aggressive climbers will want something else, but this is the ideal shoe for beginners and weekend warriors—and it rings in at a nice price.
Gregory
Baltoro 75
$270; gregory.com
Why It Won: A mainstay in the Gregory backpacking lineup for years, the big Baltoro has continued to be the backpack we grab out of a garage full of options when we head out for a few nights in the wild—especially when we are hauling extra gear for the family. It simply rides well for a big pack, thanks to the easy-to-adjust FreeFloat A3 suspension system, and we appreciate smart, simple features like the massive stuff-it pocket up front and ability to clip a minimalist Nano 14 Daypack inside and use it for day jaunts out of camp.
CEP
The Run Compression Mid Cut Socks 4.0
$20; cepcompression.com
Why It Won: Compression socks work wonders to keep your feet feeling refreshed. With support in the arch and ankle, these winners made each step feel more stable on hikes and runs. Plus, the socks wicked sweat and didn’t stink.
American Backcountry
Field Guide Great Smoky Mountains National Park Repreve Crew T-Shirt
Why It Won: We need to support our national parks and public lands now more than ever. Made of a fabric blend that includes recycled polyester and cotton, this tee feels good to wear as well as proclaiming what you think is important.
Norrøna
Falketind Alpha 120 Zip Hood
$219; norrona.com
Why It Won: It’s the coziest midlayer we use for all sorts of athletic endeavors—from stiff hikes in cool temps to layering during ski season. The (more than 50%) recycled fabric wicks away sweat, keeps out the chill, and feels plush. That makes it a must-have on road trips and travels across the globe, as well as something we grab when walking the dog.
Sawyer
Squeeze Water System with Cnoc Premium 2 Liter Bladder
$65; sawyer.com
Why It Won: Whether we used it as a squeeze filter to fill up our bottles on the go on the trail or set it up as a gravity filter in camp, this simple, lightweight (under 6 ounces) system got the job done without any fuss.
Zwift
Ride with Kickr Core
$1,300; us.zwift.com
Why It Won: We are handing out these awards as the winter fades, and this trainer system made sure we kept in top cardio shape during the cold months. Controls on the handlebars make changing programs and adjusting workouts simple, and a magnetic key that allows for all adjustments makes it simple to swap fit for different users. Best of all, you can link the system to Strava to track your progress, tick off personal bests, and compete with friends.
Cover photo: Osprey
