A family riding bikes on a path in a park

Expert Advice

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

See the winners
A camper unfurls an REI Magma sleeping bag in a tent.

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.

A person huddles inside an orange and blue backpacking tent.

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.

a hiker wearing a pair of muddy boots along the trail

Care and Repair

How to Clean Hiking Boots

701 reviews with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars

With proper cleaning and care, your hiking boots will last you for many years and many miles along the trail.

A person jumps across a shallow waterway on smooth gray rocks.

Gear Guides

The 7 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 7 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.