The YETI Tundra 45 Cooler is heavyweight, durable, and functional. Despite being very expensive, this cooler does exactly what it claims to do by keeping contents cool for extended periods of time. It maintains an extremely durable exterior, boasts a bear-proof lid, and withstands wear-and-tear.
The Western Mountaineering Versalite Sleeping Bag: 10 Degree Down is a fantastic lightweight sleeping bag that is made to withstand sub-freezing temperatures and compresses easily. The construction of the bag allows you to shift the down and change the warmth factor, making this an extremely versatile and high performing bag.
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad is a very lightweight and compactable 3-season pad designed for light and fast overnight adventures. Beware that the pad’s material is very noisy and that warmer and more comfortable (yet heavier) options exist.
The Marmot Limelight Tent: 3-Person 3-Season is a durable tent that is easy to setup. While it has good headroom, the tent can be a little tight for three people. While it is not ultralight, the Limelight is a good mid-range tent for backpackers.
The Marmot Limelight Tent: 2-Person 3-Season is a great option for those who want a spacious, comfortable, durable, and weatherproof tent. The pre-bent poles allow for greater room inside, making this ideal for the camper(s) who enjoy adequate room after a day of camping, but may not be suited for solo-backpackers traveling long distance.
The MSR DragonFly Stove is an ideal choice for those looking for a durable, fast, multi-fuel, easy-to-use, and well-built stove. The heaviness may not make this the best option for backpackers, but the versatility and simmering abilities make this a top choice for campers.
The Exos family of packs are ultralight, versatile and intuitively designed. The Exos is shockingly lightweight for a pack with a frame and doesn’t sacrifice much when carrying low to medium loads. Some recent updates may not be for everyone, so take a look at our review to see for yourself.
The Jetboil Flash Stove is lightweight, efficient and easy to use. While not the best in cold and windy conditions, nor able to simmer, the Flash provides a reliable option for backpackers looking primarily to boil water quickly.
The Jetboil MiniMo Stove will be the best integrated canister stove for the majority of backpackers. It is well designed, easy to use, and efficient. It can suffer in strong winds but its overall feature set is superior to most competitors.
The Osprey Packs Aether is a workhorse with a thoughtful design. The pack easily carries a heavy load, while providing plenty of bells and whistles. While it is slightly heavier than others, the higher volume versions of the pack make up for it with high performance. There are better low volume packs available.