gear

We tested sun shirts, button-downs and multipacks to find hiking tops that stay cool, dry fast and cover up, plus the budget picks worth packing.

We tested hiking poles on trails and in packs to find the pair that locks hard, adjusts fast, and fits your height — plus lighter carbon and budget picks.

We tested packable shells for wet trails. The Columbia Watertight II is our do-it-all pick, with women’s, budget, and premium alternatives.

We tested hiking sandals for trail grip, arch support, secure straps, and water-friendly comfort. Here are the picks we trust for light hikes and travel.

Fast-drying budget pairs, long inseams, zip-off legs and a men’s pant that sheds drizzle: the hiking pants worth buying, ranked and explained.

We hiked in eight pairs of women’s hiking pants to find the ones that fit, dry fast and hold a phone in a zippered pocket without sliding down.

We tested hiking first-aid kits for weight, pack fit, and what’s really inside, so you know what to carry on a day hike and what to leave at camp.

We tested hiking jackets in rain, wind and cold to find the best shells and softshells for the trail, from packable raincoats to warm fleece-lined picks.

We tested hiking leggings on real trails to find pairs that stay opaque, hold a phone, and keep their waistband put under a pack.

We hiked, scrambled, and shivered in these leggings to find the pairs that stay opaque, stay up under a hip belt, and carry a phone.