American Gear Guide's Top Picks
This is our favorite gear, the top American made equipment that earns our Editor’s Choice and Best Buy Awards.
We have spent countless combined hours testing and perfecting our gear choices, this is what works best for us and our personal preferences. Keep in mind that certain gear choices like boots are incredibly personal. What fits our feet and is best for us may not necessarily be the best for you so be sure to try on footwear. We hope that our positive experiences (and the lessons learned from negative ones) will help others discover exceptional outdoor gear for getting out and enjoying our world.
Regarding our Best Buy And Editor’s Choice Awards: The Best Buy is awarded to gear that presents the greatest value for the price. The Editor’s Choice is given to the highest quality gear, period.
Backpacks
- Best Ultralight Backpack (Editor’s Choice) – ULA Ultra Ohm
- Best Climbing/Mountaineering Backpack (Editor’s Choice) – CiloGear 45L MOB WorkSack
- More details on – Best Backpacks
Boots
- Best Men’s Backpacking Boots (Editor’s Choice) – Danner Crag Rat USA
- Best Women’s Backpacking Boots (Editor’s Choice) – Danner Mountain Light Cascade
- Best Men’s Light Hiking Boots (Best Buy) – Keen Durand Evo Men’s
- Best Women’s Light Hiking Boots (Best Buy) – Keen Durand Evo Women’s
- More details on – Best Boots
Tents
- Best 3-Season Ultralight Tent (Editor’s Choice) – ZPacks DupleXL
- More details on – Best Tents
Sleeping Bags
- Best All-Around Sleeping Bag (Editor’s Choice) – Feathered Friends Hummingbird
- Best Cold Weather Sleeping Bag (Editor’s Choice) – Feathered Friends Snowbunting EX 0
- Best Winter Sleeping Bag (Editor’s Choice) – Feathered Friends Ptarmigan EX -25
- Best Winter Extreme Expedition Sleeping Bag (Editor’s Choice) – Feathered Friends Snowy Owl ES -60
- More details on – Best Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
- Best Ultralight Pad (Editor’s Choice) – Therm-a-Rest XLite NXT
- Best Winter Pad (Editor’s Choice) – Therm-a-Rest XTherm NXT
- Best Comfort Pad – Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D
- Best Buy Value Pad – Therma-a-Rest Trail Scout
- More details on – Best Sleeping Pads
Water Bottles & Purification
- Best Personal Water Filter – Sawyer Squeeze
- Best Group Water Filter – Platypus GravityWorks
- Best Chemical Treatment – Katadyn Micropur MP1 Tablets
- Best Metal Water Bottle – Liberty Bottleworks
- Best Collapsible Water Bottle – Platypus 2L Platy
- Best Water Reservoir – MSR Dromedary
- More details on – Water Bottles
- More details on – Best Water Filters
Clothing
- Best Midweight Down Jacket – Feathered Friends Helios
- Best Lightweight Down Jacket – Feathered Friends Eos
- Best Expedition Down Jacket – Feathered Friends Khumbu
- Best Shell Jacket – FORLOH AllClima Soft Shell Jacket
- Best Rain Jacket and Pants – FORLOH Airalite Rain Jacket and Pants
- Best Waterproof Winter Pants – NWT3K Custom Snow Pants
- Best Base Layers – FORLOH Deep Space Base Layers
- Best Hiking Socks – Darn Tough Micro Crew Socks
- Best Skiing and Boarding Socks – Darn Tough OTC Padded Cushion Socks
Camp Cooking
- Best Butane Stove – MSR WindBurner Stove System
- Best Liquid Fuel Stove – MSR Whisperlite International
- More details on stoves – Best Stoves
Headlamps & Flashlights
- Best All-Around Headlamp – Princeton Tec Vizz 550
- Highest Quality Headlamp – Surefire Maximus
- Best Flashlight – Surefire Tactician
- Best Ultralight Keychain Light – Photon Microlight II
- More details on – Best Headlamps
- More details on – Best Flashlights
Camping Accessories
- Lightweight Compass – Brunton Truarc 3
- Mirrored Sighting Compass – Brunton Truarc 20
- Bear Proof Food Storage – Ursack Major Bear Resistant Bag
- First Aid Kit – Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Medical Kit
- Multi-Tool – Leatherman Wave Plus
- Budget Pocket Knife – Buck Slim 112
- Premium Pocket Knife – ZT 0452CF
- Lightweight Travel Book – Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite (Not made in USA)
- Bear Spray – Frontiersman Bear Spray
- Sunglasses – Oakley Holbrook
- Hammock – Hummingbird Ultralight Hammock
*Note that this equipment is made in the USA but some may contain a few imported materials, however we don’t want the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We take more satisfaction in locally produced gear and find the quality of our top gear picks to be superior compared with top name brands produced overseas.
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