Looking for the best outdoor gear of 2026 and 2027? Below are some of my favorite products from the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo!

In August I got to attend the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo, which is the biggest outdoor trade show event in North America! The expo featured some of the best outdoor gear of 2026-2027, and today I’m sharing my favorite outdoor products from the show. And the best part? Most of these products come from small, independent brands in the outdoor recreation space!

See below for my favorite outdoor gear of 2026 and 2027, plus a recap of the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo!

2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo: product highlights and event recap

2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo: what is it, who attends, and what did I think? 

Historically, the Outdoor Retailer Expo has been a space for brands and institutional buyers to come together, and for brands to share novel products in the outdoor recreation space. The event also includes learning sessions and networking events for attendees.

In 2026 Outdoor Retailer also partnered with Popfly to bring creators like me to the event! This gave me a behind the scenes look at an event usually reserved for industry members. It also meant a LOT of social media exposure for the brands attending.

For me, some of the highlights included hearing Reene and Tim of the Thru Hikers reflect on the state of media and the outdoor industry, and learning about how the industry is elevating women as both sellers and buyers of outdoor gear. Most of all, though, I LOVED getting to be on the expo show floor – I met dozens of brands and saw so SO MANY cool products I never would have known about otherwise! Some of that exposure came through Garage Grown Gear, which had a large section of the show floor dedicated to their vendors. There were also fun and interactive events throughout the expo to help attendees mingle and get outside.

2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo product highlights: the best outdoor gear of 2026-2027 

My favorite part of the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo was getting to connect face-to-face with so many outdoor brands. A huge portion of the brands at the show were actually smaller, independent outdoor brands that are doing really cool and innovative work in the hiking and backpacking gear space. In fact, during the show the general consensus was that the best outdoor gear of 2026-2027 is being made by small, independent outdoor retailers… 

With that in mind, see below for a few of my favorite pieces of outdoor products. I review my top gear picks across gear, apparel, technology, and food.

My favorite brands and products at the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo: spotlight on the best small outdoor brands

If you’re looking for the best outdoor gear of 2026 and 2027, below are some of my favorite products from the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo! I’ve broken the best outdoor gear into four categories: gear, apparel, technology, and food.

Independent small brands selling cool hiking and backpacking gear

• Gear Envie Hikas hiking gaiters: stylish, cozy, and lightweight hiking gaiters made with oyster shells and recycled plastic bottles – no down! 
• TrailBrush from Trail Stuff: an ultralight toothbrush attachment that works with most backpacking spoons! 
• WildBatch Co powder soap: biodegradable powder soaps, perfect for backpacking, camping, and even hiking!
• Alpenglow Gear fuel transfer valve: SUPER small and lightweight; perfect for thru-hikers and home transfers of partially used fuel canisters!
• Babygami ultralight collapsible baby bottle: perfect for travel and hiking, this lightweight collapsible baby bottle is made with silicone.
• Brautigam Expedition Works tiny titanium tweezers: These tiny tweezers are a must-have for any backcountry first aid kit – great for splitters and ticks! And at $15, they’re a great deal.
• The pStyle stand to pee device: The pStyle is a plastic device that allows users to pee while standing up – without undressing. I, for one, wish I had had this when I had to pee on sub-dome in Yosemite National Park… I couldn’t find a place to hide to drop my shorts! Ugh!
• Clean Trek litter-pickup hiking pole attachments: These trekking pole attachments turn your hiking poles into litter cleanup tools.
• Chicken Tramper Gear ultralight water bottle sleeve: These sleeves make accessing water on your pack WAY easier. Plus, they’re ultralight!
• Hyperlight backpacking and hiking packs: Hyperlight is well-known for their ultralight backpacking and hiking packs, and I FINALLY got to try one on at the show. Needless to say, I was impressed. 
• Boom boom aromatherapy inhalers: Simple and effective! Breathe better with these nasal aromatherapy inhalers. They’ve been popular in Europe for ages, but are just catching on in the USA.
• PillowStrap: These handy straps keep your pillow from moving off your sleeping pad, PLUS they provide you with a washable fabric cover.

Independent hiking, backpacking, and outdoor lifestyle apparel brands

• SkyGOAT: Technical outdoor apparel that will keep you cozy (and light) at camp, or on the trail! 
• Sambob: A personal favorite, this Maine-based company makes technical-but-cozy fleece layers for hiking, backpacking, and more. I’ve worn their shirts for years!
• Gnara: Gnara makes amazing outdoor pants. But the real standout is their pee-friendly GoFly technology! 

Innovative outdoor technology brands for hiking and backpacking

• Hypershell Exoskeleton: This exoskeleton can be used to help you hike, OR to provide resistance for training! 
• OutIn portable espresso maker: Does what it says – quality espresso on the go!

Small brands making amazing backpacking and hiking food

• Angry Pika Food Co: high calorie backpacking granola: 
• COBA caffeinated chocolate bars: We LOVE these full-flavor single serving caffeinated chocolate bars  
• SEND bars: Superfood protein bars – I LOVED the lemon cherry flavor.
• Bowl and Kettle dehydrated backpacking meals: Delicious and FULL of flavor – I just wish they had more vegetarian options! 
• Farm to Summit dehydrated backpacking meals: A longtime favorite of ours for backpacking, and they have TONS of vegetarian and vegan options! 
• Louisville Jerky Co. vegan jerky: As a vegetarian I’ve been a longtime fan of their jerky, and now they have even more flavors and packaging types.
• NoMaste dehydrated backpacking meals: Indian flavors, made portable! High-fiber vegetarian backpacking meals. 

2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo: final thoughts

Attending the 2026 Outdoor Retailer Expo with Outdoor Retailer and Popfly was honestly a dream come true. As a gear nerd, I loved getting to see the innovations in the hiking and backpacking space. But, more than anything, I loved meeting people that love gear as much as I do. I met dozens of brand founders whose passion for their small outdoor businesses really shined on the expo floor.

I hope to attend the Expo again in 2027, and would definitely say that the Outdoor Retailer Expo is a must-visit for outdoor gear businesses and enthusiasts. However, because it’s a trade show, casual outdoor recreation consumers might find the show less interesting, and less tailored to the straight-to-consumer sector. 

If you have questions about the gear I saw or my experience at the show, please leave a comment below or email me at gwynandami [at] gmail.com. Happy adventuring!