10 of Our Highest-Rated Hiking Boots, Jackets, and Sleeping Pads Are 25% Off Right Now

“The Targhee has long been one of our top picks for a sturdy, traditional hiking boot thanks to its full-leather construction, waterproof-breathable liner, and killer price point,” writes our lead tester. “The newest iteration comes with a lifetime guarantee against delamination of the outsole, which means you’ll rarely have to replace these duds. Thanks to a new mechanical bonding process, there’s much less of a chance of having your outsole detach from the midsole, as is the case with traditional glueing methods. And after a full season of hiking on trails, in scree, and across beaches, the boots show little sign of wear, from outsole to cuff.”

25% Off Danner N45 Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Best Hiking Boot for Backpackers

“While the N45 Mids are the sharpest (dare we say coolest?) boots we tested, with a sleek, futuristic upper, they feel old-school in the best of ways: tough, supportive, and resilient enough for multi-day trips with a 40-plus-pound pack,” says our lead tester.

25% Off REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket

Best Budget Rain Jacket

“Given the price, we were happily surprised with the Rainier’s feature set,” explains our lead tester. “REI Co-op outfitted the jacket with pit zips, cinching cuffs, internal dump pockets, and a Velcro storm flap over the main zipper (some Outside testers like this belt-and-suspenders approach, others judge it overkill). During a Teton rainstorm, zippered hand pockets kept [our tester’s] paws dry. REI Co-op also revamped the hood, switching from an internal collar to a slimmer, more standard hanging hood.)

25% Off Altra Lone Peak 9 Trail-Running Shoes

Best Minimal Feel Trail Runner for Backpacking

“For hikers who like the feel of a minimal shoe, the Lone Peak 9 is the closest thing to barefoot while still offering some cushioning, support, and protection,” writes our lead tester. “25 millimeters of Altra’s proprietary foam blend from heel to toe gives the Lone Peak just enough cushioning for comfort, but still allows plenty of feedback. ‘I could feel some of the terrain underfoot,’ said one tester, who noted that it made her feel connected to the trail. A full-length rockplate sandwiched within the midsole helps protect from underfoot jabs and adds structure and support to the shoe.”

Up to 25% Off Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT

Runner-Up, Best Sleeping Pad for Backpackers

“With an R-Value of 4.5 and a weight (in regular mummy size) of 13 ounces, [the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT] is still one of the lightest three-season pads available,” says our lead tester.” It also packs down as small as any of its competitors—about the size as an overstuffed Chipotle burrito. Our testers routinely say that the NeoAir XLite’s warmth compares favorably to pads with R-values in the 5-6 range.”

25% Off Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated ASC Sleeping Pad

Most Comfortable Sleeping Pad for Backpackers

“The XR comes with a few quality-of-life features that testers appreciated,” our lead tester points out. “The stuff sack doubles as an inflation bag, and was among the most efficient we tested, with no narrow bottlenecks to reduce airflow. We could inflate the bag with one breath, and the pad with 2-3 compressions of the bag. And for anyone with a Sea to Summit pillow made after 2019, the XR comes with Velcro attachments to keep your pillow and pad connected. Finally, it’s quieter than most other top-rated pads, besting the Therm-a-Rest XLite and NEMO Tensor All-Season—but not the Exped Ultra 6.5R—in terms of crinkle factor.”

25% Off MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles (Pair)

Best Trekking Poles Overall

“We named the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon the best trekking pole for its combination of low weight, durability, and packability,” summarizes our lead tester. “It’s a combination hiking pole, with three folding sections and one quick-lock to adjust the length. It felt rock-solid through a year of testing that included hikes in Idaho’s Hells Canyon Wilderness and ski tours in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, and we never felt like we hit the pole’s limit in terms of stability.”

25% Off Sea to Summit Spark Pro Down 30

Best Ultralight Bag

“Sea to Summit’s top-of-the-line bag, a whopping 900-plus fill power goose down mummy, comes with a price tag that’ll make your eyes water,” acknowledges the lead tester of its pre-sale price. “But for backpackers looking for a unicorn—a roomy, feature-rich mummy bag that can still get lost in your pack—it’s worth it. A longtime tester and former sleeping bag category manager was especially enthralled by the Spark Down Pro’s packed size and weight: roughly the dimensions of a cantaloupe and a bit over a pound—impressive for a bag with a multitude of zippers, a thick draft tube, and deep hood pocket.”

25% Off Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus

Best Satellite Communicator Overall

“Garmin’s inReach Mini and Messenger lines have dominated the category since 2018—the tiny orange gizmo is a common sight on long trails all over the country,” notes senior gear editor Benjamin Tepler. “And while previous iterations were category-leading, the brand’s Messenger Plus is a full evolution for satellite messengers. It allows users to send 1,600-character messages (the previous limit on Garmin devices was 160) as well as photos and voice memos when connected to the Garmin Messenger app on your smartphone. All that, and it still packs down to the same dimensions as the previous inReach Messenger (3.1 x 2.5 x 0.9 inches) and weighs only 4.1 ounces.”

25% Off MSR Guardian Purifier

Best Water Filter for Really Bad Water

“Normally, we try to avoid clogging water filters at all costs,” admits our lead tester. “But during trips on which we pumped some 1,000 liters, from the silty Colorado River to Turkish ponds filled with moss, mud, and goat poop, we couldn’t get the Guardian to clog. How does it work? With every stroke of the pump, 10 percent of the water backflushes the filter, so it’s self-cleaning. We never detected any slowing of the flow (it’s fast, about two liters per minute). ‘The lever handle is way easier to use than traditional pump-style handles,” said one tester.’”