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Expert Advice

Tested and trusted. Get the gear deemed best-in-class by our experts.

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Gear Guides

The 9 Best Sleeping Bags for Backpacking: Staff Picks

4 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars

Our experts recommend these nine sleeping bags for backpacking, including top picks from REI Co-op, Mountain Hardwear, Big Agnes, Therm-a-Rest and NEMO.

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Buying Advice

How to Choose a Backpacking Tent

360 reviews with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars

Learn how to shop for backpacking tents: We'll cover tent capacity, seasonality, weight, livability, setup and materials.

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Gear Guides

The 8 Best Hiking Boots of 2025: Tested

406 reviews with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars

Our testers spent months putting the best hiking and backpacking boots sold at REI through their paces. These 8 are the best hiking and backpacking boots.

A hiker wearing the Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX gaiters scrambles in Colorado.

Gear Guides

The 6 Best Gaiters of 2025: Tested

22 reviews with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars

Our list of the 6 best gaiters at the co-op includes over-the-ankle options and knee-high options for hiking, running and mountaineering.