Backpacking gear was my original obsession with technology. For even the most minor update to my kit, I read dozens of reviews, talk to my expert comrades, and then finally try it out myself.


After a decade of testing and updating the core set of gear, this particular list shows the best backpacking products available in 2012. I took it all on a brutal five day trip full of rain, hail, wind, and sand, along with several shorter trips in between. Here are the 35 best items for spending a nice night on the trails.

Core Gear

Backpack: Osprey Argon 85




This thing swallows gear like a python. It's a top and side loader with a gigantic sleeping-bag compartment, and a removable top-lid that works as a day pack. It has six exterior pockets for keeping your little things organized. The hip belt can be custom molded to fit you, and it has a pouch for a hydration bladder. The best part, though, is that it's incredibly comfortable and does a great job distributing weight. For a week-long trip with a ton of extra gear, it made an 80-pound pack feel a lot closer to 50. [$400]

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Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2




This is the Goldilocks tent—it's a perfect balance of everything. It has enough floor-space that you don't feel cramped with two people. It has enough head-room that you can sit up comfortably. It has two doors with large vestibules where you can keep you gear from getting rained on. It's strong enough to stand up to storms with howling wind and rain. And for all that, it weighs less than 3.5 pounds and packs down nice and small. The only problems with the tent are the doors. For the main tent, the arch-shaped doors are way less convenient than D-shaped. The rainfly has a double zipper, which is pointless, and it led me to accidentally leaving the fly open when it rained. Those things aside, this is a killer tent. [$360]


Sleeping Bag: Marmot Plasma 30




It terms of insulation to weight ratios, the Plasma 30 is peerless. It'll keep you toasty warm even as it gets below freezing, it has a super thin, but breathable water-resistant exterior, and it only weighs one pound, six ounces. It also compresses down to nothing in your pack. It has unique vertical baffles with flow gates to keep the down in place, a roomy footbox with extra padding, and a down collar around the neck that keeps chills from seeping in. That, and it's silky-soft and super comfortable. It's certainly expensive, but it is our current pick for the greatest sleeping bag of all time. (A 15-degree version is also available if you're going somewhere colder.) [$440]


Sleep Pad: Thermarest NeoAir All Season




I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure this thing is magic. It's the most comfortable backpacking sleep pad I've ever used by a tremendous margin. It's two and a half inches thick, it has an R-value of 4.9 (which means it provides incredible insulation), and weighs only 19 ounces. Inside, over a hundred triangular barriers reflect heat back to your body, with no bulky padding added, so it packs down to almost the size of a Nalgene bottle. You can sleep on your side, on a hard rock slab, and wake up feeling great. A+ [$120]


Compass: Suunto M-3D Leader




If you're going somewhere you might even possibly get lost, you need to take a map and compass, and you need to know how to use each of them. The Suunto M-3D Leader is a terrific choice. Its scales and rulers are well defined, and it has a magnifying glass to help you see the tiny details on a topo map. The banner feature, though, is its adjustable declination scale, so you can account for the difference between magnetic and true north. The 360 degree scale is easy to turn, it's solidly built, and it's a bargain. [$25]


Multi-tool: Leatherman Wave




I've taken the Leatherman Wave with me on every backcountry trip I've done for the last 10+ years. It's 17 tools in one (plus two interchangeable screwdriver bits), and I've used it for fixing tents, cleaning fish, sawing small branches, cutting line, removing ticks, and everything else you can imagine. It's solid as hell and it's backed by a 25 year warranty. Got to like that. Honorable mention goes to the Leatherman Sidekick, which has a couple fewer tools, but has absolutely terrific ergonomics, and is the favorite of our editor-in-chief Joe Brown. [$65]


Hydration Pouch: Platypus Big Zip SL 1.8L




On a long, arduous hike, the best way to drink water is the one that keeps you hydrated effortlessly. Yes, water bottles are cheaper, but a system like the Platypus Big Zip will keep you drinking without thinking about it. The bladder goes into your pack, and the hose clips to your chest strap. It keeps the mouthpiece within inches of your face, so all you have to do is turn your head a little, bite down, and sip. The bladders are BPA free, can handle boiling or freezing water, and the large zip closure makes it easy to fill and clean. There are a ton of sizes, but 1.8 liters strikes a nice balance between capacity and weight. [$26]


Flashlights: Princeton Tec Quad Headlamp / Mini Maglite




Illumination is too important to bring just one flashlight. Things break, things fall into rivers. You need a back up. For a primary light, go with the Princeton Tec Quad headlamp for hands-free lighting. It has three brightness levels (78 lumen max) plus a strobe for emergencies. It's light, comfortable, and it's waterproof to one meter. For your backup, grab a Mini Maglite. They're small, tough, and cheap. The focusable beam and candle modes are both indispensable. [Quad Headlamp: $29 / Mini Maglite: $12]


Fire: REI Stormproof Matches




Your favorite Bic lighter may be convenient in most cases, but when it's wet or windy, a fat lot of good it'll do ya. Bring the Bic, but definitely also bring some stormproof matches. They light even when they're soaking wet and the wind is howling. Each match is 2.75 inches long, and you get 50 in all, along with a handful of extra strikers. Keep 'em in a Ziploc bag (that's more to keep the strikers dry). These things are clutch. [$6.50] Always have a backup, though, like this magnesium fire-starter [$8].

First Aid Kit: REI Backpacker Plus Multiday




You can grab an old shaving kit and throw in whatever medical supplies you think you'll need, but this is just way easier. The REI Backpacker Plus Multiday has just about everything you could need if something goes wrong on a multiday trip with a small group of people. Gloves, scissors, bandages of all sizes, tweezers, moleskin, some basic medicine... there's too much to name. If you require some personal meds, there's extra room in this case for a few additional small items. [$34]

Trowel: GSI Outdoors Cathole Trowel




Y'know what poops in the woods? You do, when you have to. But you can't just poop on the ground and walk away; you've gotta bury that shit. There are fancy, folding trowels out there, but you really don't need them. The GSI Outdoors Cathole Trowel is super strong, super light, and packs pretty easily. It's made from repurposed polycarbonate and it's serrated edges help it dig through hard ground. Simple product, works great. [$5]


Camp Kitchen

Water Filter: Platypus GravityWorks




This wins for everybody's favorite gadget of the trip. Pump-filtering water in the backcountry can be an arduous, lengthly, and labor-intensive task. This kills all of that. Take the dirty water bag to a stream, open it up, and fill it with four liters of water. Attach it to the hose, hang it from a branch, and let gravity do its thing. Four liters of water gets filtered (and made delicious) in under three minutes into a second bladder, and you don't even break a sweat. Also, it's super compact. This thing is bad ass. The only reason to go with a hand-pump over this is if you're in a location where your only water supply is just a tiny trickle. In just about every other situation, this thing rules. [$100]

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Stove: MSR DragonFly




The DragonFly is the standard-bearer for liquid fuel stoves. It can burn damn near anything: white gas, kerosine, jet fuel, or even plain old unleaded gas. But here's the kicker. Unlike other liquid gas stoves, the Dragonfly can simmer. I was able to cook everybody pancakes without burning a single one of them. And, of course, you can turn it up to a raging inferno if you want for fast water boiling. It's comes with a windscreen, it's field repairable, and it's rugged as hell. It was left outside, in the sand, through five days of frequent rain, and it didn't have a single hiccup. It's also very compact and weighs less than a pound. It can be more economical, too, as buying a jug of white gas is cheaper than getting individual isobutane canisters (though you have to buy the reusable fuel bottles separately). It's a bit on the loud side, but for backpacking foodies, this is a must-have. [$120]


Pots/Pans: REI Campware Nonstick Cookset (Medium)




This set nets you a very versatile cooking setup for under two pounds. It includes a 3.2 and a 2.2 liter pot, which have two lids that double as frying pans (7.5 inch and 8.9 inch diameters, respectively). They have a strong teflon coating and are terrifically non-stick. I scorched some rice one night but it was still very easy to clean. It also comes with a little scrub-cloth, a universal pot/pan gripper, and it all nests together in a mesh bag. Should be plenty for a 4-5 person trip. [$60]

Tableware/Cutlery: Various




We went with a hodge-podge here. For bowls we really like the pricey-but-awesome Sea to Summit X-Bowl. It folds down flat, has measurements marked on the inside, and even doubles as a cutting board [$14]. For a plate, I like the REI Divided Camp Plate. Strong, light, and cheap. [$5]. We also went with REI for the Campware Cup, a tough, inexpensive cup with interior gradations that help you measure water when rehydrating food. [$3]. For cutlery, Light My Fire calls this thing a Spork, but that doesn't do it justice. It's a spoon, fork, and knife all in one. Very compact and durable. [$8 for 4]


Coffee Maker: GSI Outdoors H2jO




Don't be fooled by this simple looking thingy—it's genius. You screw it onto a wide-mouthed bottle, add your coffee grounds, add hot water, invert the bottle and/or shake it, and presto, 32 ounces of cowboy coffee. Yes, it'll be grittier than your posh pour-over, but it'll do. On a freezing cold backcountry morning, it might be the best cup of coffee you've ever tasted. [$13]


Bear Canister: Bear Vault BV500




Certainly not all trips will necessitate this, but some places strictly require that you keep all of your food (and anything else with a scent, like shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm, etc.) in a sealed bear can. Of the three models we tested, the BV500 was by far the favorite. It had the largest capacity (700 cubic inches), the widest opening, and it was the lightest. Plus, being able to see exactly what's inside without opening it is very handy. It doesn't require any additional tools (like a coin) to open it. You just grip the base between your knees and give the lid a sharp twist. [$72]


Water Bottle: Nalgene




This one's a classic. The wide-mouthed Nalgene bottle is perfect for camping. It's almost unbreakable, it can take boiling water, and it has gradations so you can use it as a measuring cup. The wide-mouth design makes for easy filling (and it plays nicely with the H2jO). Get a clear one, if you can. They're easier to read, and in an emergency situation, you can fill it from a clean stream, leave it out, and let the sun's UV rays kill some of the buggies (this isn't guaranteed to work, but it's better than nothing). A sippy-cup top will cost an extra few bucks, but it'll help keep your chest dry. [$8]

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Apparel

Jacket: The North Face Venture Rain Jacket




We tested rain jackets that cost well over $400, and none of them worked as well as this simple jacket from The North Face. It's light and extremely breathable, but it keeps you dry even in heavy downpours. Howling wind doesn't penetrate it either. It has two hand pockets, and two gigantic interior mesh pockets. The hood is big enough to fit a helment, but it's super adjustable, so you can get it down nice and snug. Good looking, too. It's available in men's and women's sizes. [$100]

Pants: REI Endeavor Convertible Pants / Kimtah




These pants are lightweight and super comfortable. A light rain will bead right off of them, and should they get soaked, they dry lightning fast. They breathe extremely well to keep sweat at a minimum. On hotter days, you can zip off the lower legs and turn them into shorts. You don't have to remove your boots to do that, and the zippers are color-coded to make them easy to get back on. Great attention to detail. If you're going to get pounded by wind and rain, you may want to go for the (much) more expensive Kimtah pants (not pictured). They're rainproof and windproof to 60 MPH, and sparks bounce right off them (some other friends by that same fire got holes in their britches). [Endeavor: $75 / Kimtah: $190]

Base-Layer: Smartwool




Y'know what's awesome? Merino wool. It's lightweight, comfortable, and it will keep you warm even when it's wet. Seriously. And merino doesn't easily start to stink, either. I have nothing but raves for the Smartwool undergarments. The Microweight Tee [$65] and Microweight Crew [$75] are hands down the best backpacking shirts I've ever worn. The Microweight Boxer [$48] and Microweight Boxer Brief [$45] kept my undercarriage warm, ventilated, and chafe-free. They're pricey, but you can wear them for a long longer than cotton before they get nasty, and they dont' wear out easily, either. [Smartwool]

Insulating Layer: Smartwool SmartLoft Divide Full Zip




This thing is cool. It looks like some kind of futuristic Marty McFly jacket. It's basically a medium-thick merino wool shirt with an insulated vest sewn onto it. It's full of Smartwool's new SmartLoft insulation and it's tucked behind a DWR coated, quilted nylon front panel. That gives it extra wind resistance and lots of warmth where you need it. The lower pockets do a great job of keeping your hands warm and the inner pockets are plenty big enough for hats and other small items. Nice thumb loops, too. Pretty dang expensive, but very versatile, especially if you're going to be sweating or getting wet. It will be available in late August, 2012. [$200]

Hat: Mountain Hardwear Dome Perignon




My favorite cold weather hat of all time. Yes, it looks kind of silly, but get over it, this thing is amazing. It's thin, so it doesn't take up much space when it's not on, but it's warm enough to keep your head warm even when it's below zero. It's long enough to cover your ears, and the fleece is super comfortable. The best part, though, is that it's totally wind-proof. It has a Gore-Tex membrane that will keep even the bitterest winds at bay. The only downside is that it's a bit hard to hear when you're wearing it. Grab one now because they've just been discontinued. Yet another sign of the apocalypse. UPDATE: Mountain Hardware has reached out to say that this hat has NOT been discontinued afterall. Joy of joys! [$15-$30 depending on size/color]

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Sunglasses: Revo Headway




Full-disclosure: I am not a big proponent of expensive sunglasses because I almost always break or lose them. For most people, this $20 pair of Chili's will do just fine. That said, these Revo Headways are bad ass. They feature some of the best polarization I've ever seen, cutting right through glare on water and making it easier to see hazards on land. The optics are just incredibly clear. They're built tough and have withstood some hard drops without so much as a scratch. They also come with a snap-in leash and buoy, so even if they fall in a lake you probably won't lose them. [$210]

Socks: Wigwam Hiking/Outdoor Pro




If you're putting in hard miles in boots, you need some serious socks. Truth be told, I'd expected Smartwool to win this category, but Wigwam blew them out of the water. They chafe less than any hiking sock I've ever worn. Blisters and hotspots weren't an issue, even with a heavy pack. They do a great job of wicking moisture away from your feet, so they always feel drier than they actually are. Super comfy, too. [$9-$12 depending on size/color]


Boots: Asolo TPS 520 GV Hiking Boots




Boots really boil down to personal preference. No two feet are the same. That said, the Asolo TPS 520 GV Hiking Boots are the best I've ever worn. The beauty and the beast, all in one. I bought these six years ago for trekking in Central America, where I wanted a single pair that could hack it in the meanest rain forrest jungle, and still look respectable at a decent restaurant. These may be on the heavy side, but they are tough as hell, water-proof, and very comfortable (once you break them in). Plenty of ankle support and some very mean tread. Men's, women's, and wide sizes available. [$230]

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Gloves: REI Spring Gloves




If you're going to be somewhere cold and wet, but not freezing cold, you're going to want some protection for your hands. At the same time, you don't want to sacrifice dexterity with something too thick. The REI Spring Gloves hit the sweet spot on my chilly and wet trek. They kept my hands high and dry, they were comfortable, and the goatskin palms were plenty grippy, allowing me to chop wood without accidentally flinging my axe. You can cinch down the long gauntlets to keep water from getting in your cuffs and running up your sleeves. They're lightly insulated, too, so you don't have to keep your hands in your pockets for them to be warm. [$30]

Stuff You May Want

Axe: Gerber Sport Axe II




Yes, saws are lighter and more packable, but when you have to break down some thick driftwood into logs that will fit in your fire ring you want an axe. Gerber's Sport Axe II is dreamy. Gerber's steel is hard and sharp and it keeps its edge extremely well. The hollow handle keeps weight down. It's short and light enough to pack, but it's long and heavy enough to cut through some serious timber. It comes with a plastic sheath that makes it safe and easy to strap to your pack. Good price, too. [$35]


Towel: PackTowl Ultralite XL




Let's not beat around the bush—PackTowls used to be horrible. It was like trying to scrape water off your body with a brillo pad, and they would reek to high heaven. Those days are gone. The PackTowl Ultralite is super soft and incredibly absorbent. I mean, it's about as thin as a heavy t-shirt, and it can suck up four times its weight in water. Then it wrings out easily and dries quickly. It packs down so small you might lose it in your backpack, and it generally stinks less than a regular towel. I take this on all backpacking trips, or even when I go swimming at the gym or beach. It comes in several sizes, but the 50 x 27 inch XL is my pick. A+. [$30]

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Lantern: Black Diamond Apollo




When you're hanging around base camp at night, whether you're trying to cook dinner or just lounging around, it's nice to have a constantly lit area. The Black Diamond Apollo is perfect for this. It can pump out 80 lumens on high to light an area 45 feet in diameter. Or you can fade it down to as little as 10 lumens. It has adjustable legs so it can stand on uneven surfaces, and a foldable hook on top so you can hang it, but it collapses down to the size of a soda can. 4 AA batteries give it 60 hours of use on low and 15 hours on high, which is very impressive. [$43]


Pillow: Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core




For years I just used a rolled up jacket as my backcountry pillow. It wasn't comfortable, but it was the woods, what do you want? Then I stumbled onto this pillow and I'll never go without it again. If you're a side-sleeper, I can't recommend this thing enough. You can blow it up to be as soft or firm as you want, and it has insulation in there so it doesn't feel like an inflated plastic bag. It has a plush microfiber side and a strong nylon side. Best of all, it weighs only four ounces and it packs down to the size of your fist. I've never slept so well while camping. UPDATE: I regret to inform you that one trip after this article published the Cocoon pillow utterly failed on me. My girlfriend had bought a brand new one and it, too, won't hold air. Based on this, we can no longer recommend this pillow without reservations, which is a shame since it really was the most comfortable one I tried. The search continues. [$18]


Knife: Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Fine Edge




I know, I know, it has Bear Grylls' name on it. I hate that, too. Look past that, though, and you have an excellent Gerber knife. It's got a 4.8-inch high-carbon, stainless steel drop-point blade that retains its edge extremely well. I had to whittle a ton of tinder from big chunks of wet wood, and it stayed sharp the full five days. The rubberized handle is strong and extremely grippy, and at the base is a steel pommel you can use for hammering. The nylon sheath keeps the knife safe and easily accessible, but it also hides a diamond-coated knife sharpener, and a ferrocerium rod fire starter for emergencies (and yes, it worked). [$40]


GPS Beacon: FastFind




We hate thinking about it, but in the wilderness, things can go very wrong, very quickly. If you're going to be embarking on a potentially dangerous trip, it may be worth bringing a personal location beacon (PLB). There are some expensive options that require service subscriptions and give you two-way messaging, but all you really need is for people to come and get you if you're in trouble. The FastFind 210 requires no subscription, the battery lasts for five years, and it's waterproof to 32 feet. You activate it, it sends an emergency signal to a global network of satellites, and the closest search and rescue is given your position to within 100 feet. The FastFind 210 has just been discontinued which means you can get them for half price right now. The 220 will be out soon to replace it, but the 210 should still last you a good few years. [$100]

Solar Charger: JOOS Orange




Personally, when I'm in the backcountry, I want to be as far away from electronics as possible. That said, sometimes you need some USB power in the middle of nowhere. The JOOS Orange is simply the best portable solar charger ever. Yes, it's a bulky, heavy brick, but the solar cells it uses don't need direct sunlight. It doesn't even need indirect sunlight. This thing was capable of charging gear in the middle of a very dark thunderstorm. It is waterproof, and it is bullet proof. I mean, you can literally shoot it five times with a .22 cal rifle and it will still charge. It's a freakin' beast. It has a 20Wh, 5,400 mAh battery inside so you can charge it by day, then charge your gadgets at night. I just wish it could charge larger items like digital cameras. [$150]


Fishing Gear: Shimano Sedona 400FB Reel / 8' Telescoping Hurricane Rod




If you're hoping to catch some of your dinner on the trail, you're going to need a light weight, compact kit. There are a tons of ways to go, but since I planned on a mix of fresh and salt water fishing, I went with the Shimano Sedona 400FB Reel and the 8' Telescoping Hurricane Rod. The rod has stainless steel hoods with ceramic guides, and it can support 12 to 30 pound test line. It extends to eight feet, weighs only nine ounces, and collapses down to 22 inches, making it highly backpackable. The Shimano Sedona 400FB a solid performer for heavy lines and rods, but it's nimble enough to deal with just about anything freshwater thows at it. It's incredibly strong, easy to use, and it's just amazingly smooth. It even comes with an extra spool which you can pre-load ahead of your trip. Great all-around reel. [Rod: $20 / Reel: $50]

Odds and Ends

There are of course other things. Biodegradable soap, toothbrush/paste, a big plastic serving spoon, a spatula if you're cooking fish or pancakes, lip balm, condoms, sunblock, map, spare batteries, extra cordage (as readers have pointed out in the discussion below paracord or 550-cord is essential), duct tape (also essential, roll it onto a pencil then snap off the ends to save space). Binoculars? Sure, why not. But this list at least offers 35 items to get you started.


Top Image credit: Stefanie Daehler