2024 outdoor gear guide: hiking, backpacking, and more
Buckle up – it’s time for our 2024 outdoor gear guide (aka Gwyn and Ami’s current favorite gear)! In this outdoor gear guide we’ll share links to ALL of our favorite gear and clothing for outdoor adventures. Whether you’re in the market for the perfect pair of women’s hiking pants, an awesome backpacking tent, or the best down jacket, we’ve got you covered! See below for all our favorite gear, or use the table of content to navigate to the section you’re most interested in.
Looking for more? You can find more outdoor gear guides and tips here.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links.
hiking gear – daypacks, hiking boots, and more!
Waterproof hiking boots
Lowa Renegade (for women and men)
Waterproof, comfortable, and offering great traction and ankle support, the Lowa Renegades are our go-to hiking boots.
Daypacks for hikers
Gregory Juno and Citro (for women and men) and REI Trail 25
We love these daypacks! The REI pack comes in a wide range of colors, as has a built-in rain cover. The Juno/Citro from Gregory feature more robust back support via an internal frame, but lacks a dedicated raincover.
Safety and Navigation device
The peace of mind we get from having an SOS device is priceless, and the Garmin InReach Messenger Plus is packed with amazing features for non-emergencies, too! See our full video review of this device and it’s features here.
The best headlamp
Storm 500-R Rechargeable Headlamp
This rechargeable headlamp is lightweight, powerful, and waterproof. What more could you want?
Lightweight hiking poles
LL Bean Hikelite 4 Season Carbon Compact Hiking Poles
We love that these hiking poles are durable and lightweight!
The piece of gear you didn’t know you needed – “pee cloths”
When Amiana got me one of these for my birthday a few years ago I thought it was a joke, but the joke is on me because I love this thing! At the risk of TMI, once you get one of these you won’t have to deal with damp underwear ever again. IYKYK!
Bear spray for grizzly country
If you hike in grizzly country you should always have this on you!
Water reservoirs
HydraPak HydraSleeve Reservoir – 3 Liters
Water bladders are great for cutting weight and hydrating efficiently! We love this option from HydraPak.
The best water filter for hiking and backpacking
BeFree 1.0 L Water Filter Bottle – 33.8 fl. oz.
While they can develop leaks over time, we’ve found these water filters to be some of the simplest, most efficient, and easiest to use. They’re also lightweight!
Our rain gear
Best everyday rain jacket
REI Co-op Flash Stretch Rain Jacket (for women and men)
This lightweight jacket is free from PFAS and provides excellent waterproofing for damp hikes and rainy urban adventures. Jacket has a slim fit.
Best rain jacket for heavy rain and layering
L.L. Bean Pathfinder GORE-TEX Shell Jacket (for women and men)
This rain jacket features impressive GORE-TEX waterproofing, as well as a generous hood and longer length, which makes it ideal for heavy rain! I would describe the fit as “generous,” which makes it great for layering on top of down jackets.
Waterproof hiking boots
Lowa Renegade (for women and men)
Waterproof, comfortable, and offering great traction and ankle support, the Lowa Renegades are our go-to hiking boots for all kinds of weather.
Rain pants
REI Trailmade Rain Pants (for women and men)
Rain pants are a great addition to any hiking gear kit – they make a REAL difference during wet hikes and bike commutes. These rain pants can also double as snow pants in a pinch.
Backpack rain covers
You won’t catch us on the trial without a rain cover for our pack, and the Duck’s Back models from REI have been our go-to rain covers for over 8 years. They’re lightweight, pack down small, and come in a variety of sizes to suit any day or backpacking pack!
The best hiking umbrella (yes, I’m serious)
54″ Vortex Vented Jumbo Compact Auto Open/Close Umbrella
In 2023 I started hiking with an umbrella during wet weather so I could shield my camera from the elements, and I can honestly say I LOVE hiking with an umbrella! It’s a great way to keep yourself and your gear dry, especially in warmer weather when you might not want to wear a rain jacket.
Our favorite adventure clothes: pants, base layers, tops, and more
Gwyn’s favorite hiking pants
Women’s PrAna Halle Straight Leg
I struggle to find hiking pants that fit me, and PrAna is one of the few brands that makes hiking pants that run down to a 00. Outside of leggings, these are the best fitting hiking pants I own! They do stretch a bit with repeat wears, but I find the drawstring on the inside helps mitigate any issues with this.
Amiana’s favorite hiking pants
REI Trailmade Pants (for women and men)
These pants are lightweight, comfortable, quick drying, and won’t break the bank!
Merino wool base layers
Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top (for women and men)
I love merino wool for its natural order repellent properties and for how warm it is! Smartwool tops used to be my go-to, but I’m found that these base layers from REI are a better deal and also high quality.
Long underwear
REI Lightweight Base Layer Bottoms (for women and men)
These are hands down the best base layers. I wear them under hiking pants AND jeans pretty much all winter long. I’ve owned a pair for several years (I recently purchased a second pair) and have found them to be durable and to wash well.
Our favorite sun shirts
Mammut Selun FL Sun Hoodie (for women and men) and REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie (for women and men)
We wear a LOT of sun hoodies, and have strong opinions on them! Our favorites are made by Mammut and REI Co-op. The Mammut Selun FL Sun Hoodie (for women and men) stands out for being slim fitting, and for having a particularly lightweight and breathable material. If you’re looking for a lower price point option the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie (for women and men) are a fantastic deal (they go on sale for 30% several times a year), wash super well, and come in great colors (I have a bright orange I love!). However, they’re a bit heavier and they run long, so if you have a short torso they might not be the best fit.
The best hiking shorts
REI Trailmade Shorts (for women and men) and Toad&Co. Boundless Shorts (for women and men)
I love BOTH of these shorts (pictured below)! Both are comfortable and quick drying. The Toad&Co. shorts come in fun and bold prints, while the REI shorts come in classic solid colors.
Sports Bras
Cute, comfortable, supportive, and washes well. Enough said!
Our backpacking and camping gear
Lightweight budget backpacking tent
REI Half Dome 2P tent and footprint
We bought this tent way back in 2015 during REI’s annual May sale and, 9 years later, it’s still going stong! This will meet the needs of most beginner campers and backpackers. The three person version is also great if you have pets or kids.
Super roomy and ultralightweight 3 person backpacking tent
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Tent
This is the newest addition to our gear collection and has quickly become our go-to tent! It’s super light, easy to set up, and I love the pop of color it provides in the landscape. I also recommend getting the footprint to protect the bottom of the tent from rocks and sticks.
Backpacking backpacks
Amber 68 for women or Paragon 68 for men
Comfortable, durable, and reasonably lightweight, these packs can fit everything you need for a single or multi-day backpacking trip.
Bear canister
Bear Vault BV475 Trek Bear Canister
A bear canister is essential (and often required) when backpacking in bear country! However, we don’t ONLY use bear canisters for bears – they’re also great for keeping rodents and other critters out of your food stash. We own two of these, and just bring one for 1-2 day trips. On longer trips we bring both canisters.
Safety and Navigation device
The peace of mind we get from having an SOS device is priceless, and the Garmin InReach Messenger Plus is packed with amazing features for non-emergencies, too! See our full video review of this device and it’s features here.
Backpacking camp stove and pot
We’ve owned a a Jetboil for over 9 years and it’s still going strong! These systems are durable, lightweight, and– in my opinion– worth the investment. Don’t forget to pack fuel! We prefer the smaller, more lightweight canisters for backpacking.
Super warm and cushy sleeping pad for camping
Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Sleeping Pad for women and Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Sleeping Pad for men
This sleeping pad is super cushy, boasts an impressive R-Value that will keep you cozy in all sorts of weather, and is easy to blow up using Sea to Summit’s Airstream Pump™/stuff sack system. You can see our Instagram review of these sleeping pads here.
Ultra warm sleeping bag for backpacking
Sea to Summit Spark 0F Down Sleeping Bag (unisex)
This sleeping bag is HONESTLY my favorite backpacking item. Ultra warm (rated down to 0F!) and plush, this will keep even the coldest sleepers toasty! You can see our Instagram review of these sleeping bags here.
Lightweight utensils for camping and backpacking
Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Long Handle Spork
A lightweight and long-handled utensil for backpacking and camping. What more could you want?
Go-to camp cups for backpacking
They’re not the lightest option on the market, but they ARE cute and insulated, which makes them a great option for savoring your morning camp coffee or oatmeal.
Fun stuff – bikes and SUPs
Stand up paddle boards (SUPs)
We recently got NRS “Jukdo” inflatable SUPs (REI only carries one size, but you can find additional board sizes here on the NRS website) for summer adventures and we couldn’t be happier with them! They’re extremely well balanced and very easy to inflate and ‘break down.’ Make sure to use a PFD (personal flotation device, aka a “life jacket”) on your SUP adventures — we love these, which are also made by NRS.
Mountain Bikes – DRT 3.3
In spring we added the REI Co-op DRT 3.3 Mountain Bike to our gear collection and WOW! This is the first full suspension bike I’ve owned and it’s a game changer. These bikes are comfortable, quick, and easy to maneuver. We’ve been enjoying taking them out in and around Spokane!
Our favorite down jackets
Warm jackets are one of our most essential pieces of outdoor gear, which is why they’re listed first in this outdoor gear guide. See below for our favorite down jackets for outdoor adventures!
Heavyweight down jacket
L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Down Hooded Jacket (for women and men)
If you want to be warm then this is THE jacket for you! Available in iconic bright colors (and neutrals, too!), this jacket features a cozy hood and impressive 850 down fill, making it my #1 choice for cold weather.
Midweight down jacket
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket (for women and men)
This jacket makes a great mid-weight option, and is available in a range of cute colors (we own mauve and yellow)! It’s perfect for layering or wrong on its own.
Lightweight down jacket
Stio Pinion Down Sweater (for women and men – use code GWYN&AMI for 20% off your Stio order!)
Although this jacket is incredibly thin it’s also impressively warm, and it’s my go-to down jacket for layering in colder weather, and for wearing on its down on cool summer evenings. I’ve had it for over 2 years and it’s stood the test of time, as well as repeated washings! I would describe the fit as slim, and the jacket is available in sizes XXS-XXL.
Our snow gear: hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing
Coming soon!
