When weather rolls in, grab one of these. (Courtesy Outdoor Research) Outdoor Research Interstellar ($299) At long last, the holy grail of waterproof jackets. The Interstellar blew our crew away with an uncanny mix of weatherproofing, breathability, and stretch. “It feels softer than a soft shell but as waterproof as any hard shell I’ve used,” said one tester. “Not to mention that it’s the most breathable rain shell imaginable.” The Interstellar is the product of a new design process Outdoor Research calls electro spinning, which arranges polyester fibers in a crystal-like structure that’s waterproof, breathable, and flexible. The result,

Ditching weight means going farther faster. (Courtesy NW Alpine) NW Alpine Eyebright Jacket ($599) Reaping the benefits of Dyneema’s legendary strength-to-weight ratio, the Eyebright is 30 percent lighter than other jackets we tested. After a year of roughing it up, it has yet to show any signs of wear. Buy Now (Courtesy Snow Peak) Snow Peak Mini Solo Combo 2.0 Pot System ($76) Made of 100 percent titanium, the Mini Solo has a stacking design that fits a pot, cup, and fuel canister into a package the size of a Nalgene, all at a svelte 5.5 ounces. Buy Now

Ditching weight means going farther faster. (Courtesy Sierra Designs) Sierra Designs High Side I Tent ($280) This petite 2.4-pound package is a breeze to set up. And even in a windy late-October Arkansas deluge, the featherlight aluminum poles held securely and kept testers dry. Buy Now (Courtesy Jetboil) Jetboil Flash Stove ($100) Faster than ever, the updated Flash can boil half a liter of water in 100 seconds flat. For maximum happiness, order the coffee-press attachment ($10) and enjoy a quickly brewed cup of joe in the morning. Buy Now (Courtesy Ortovox) Ortovox Cortina Tunika Sleeveless Shirt ($140) Fashion

Inspired by packs, a new breed of coolers are on the rise. (Courtesy Mountainsmith) Mountainsmith Cooloir 24 ($140) Pairing a removable insulation box with an outer shell, the Cooloir was a breeze to hose down and dry out after a trip. It’s large enough to pack lunch for four, but we wouldn’t trust it to keep cheese cold for more than 48 hours. Buy Now (Courtesy Dakine) Dakine Party Block ($100) While the Party Block lacks the cooling chops of others on this page, we found it perfectly adequate for trips to the lake. It’s large enough to swallow

The latest hikers are as cozy as they are bombproof. (Courtesy Tecnica) Tecnica Forge GTX ($250) You’re looking at the most comfortable hiking boot we’ve ever tested. The Forge GTX is also the first heat-moldable hiker on the market, using the same technology that gave us the custom-fit ski boot. But there’s more going on here than just luxe interiors. Tecnica gave the Forge a Gore-Tex layer to shrug off ­weather, a thick wrap cuff for support, and a burly build that offers plenty of stability and traction for serious backpacking. The rock plate stood up to hours of

Heading out on an overlanding trip? Bring one of these. (Courtesy BioLite) BioLite CampStove 2 ($130) We’re always nervous when a company opts to upgrade a favorite piece of gear, but the second generation of the CampStove 2, BioLite’s electricity-generating wood-burning stove, features some outstanding improvements, including an integrated battery and increased efficiency—it generates 50 percent more power while still boiling a liter of water in under five minutes. Buy Now (Courtesy Eureka) Eureka Gonzo Grill ($190) The versatile Gonzo shone during more than half a dozen rafting trips last summer. The ingenious cast-iron cooking surface—grill on one side,

Headlamps and torches to light the way. (Courtesy Monoprice) Monoprice Pure Outdoor Select Series Headlamp ($10) The Select Series is a killer value that deserves a double take. The 215-lumen lamp weighs just 2.2 ounces, and its rechargeable battery is good for 2.5 hours. It has everything a headlamp needs—red and white settings, water resistance, three brightness levels—and nothing it doesn’t. Buy Now (Courtesy VSSL) VSSL Mini Cache Suunto Edition Flashlight ($120) We already loved VSSL’s cache lights—LED flashlights with a hollow space for storing snacks, tools, and even whiskey. Now VSSL trims down its survival edition and adds

Sack out in something snug, breathable, and packable. (Courtesy Marmot) Marmot Ultra Elite 20 ($199) We’d never guess that the Ultra Elite 20 is filled with anything but down—it’s that warm and compressible. But Marmot stuffed the bag with a mix of three cutting-edge synthetic fibers layered together in strips: one thin for thermal efficiency, another thicker for durability, and a third less compressible to preserve loft. Near the top of the bag, the insulation overlaps like shingles to optimize warmth and puffiness. On the bottom, it’s in one big sheet, which minimizes seams and boosts comfort. The Ultra

Gear up and send it. (Courtesy Black Diamond) Black Diamond Solution Harness ($70) Whether you’re hanging on a bolt and working out beta or whipping from the crux, padding is premium. The Solution’s waist belt and fixed leg loops have it in spades. Men's Women's (Courtesy Mammut) Mammut 9.5 Infinity Dry Rope ($270) Supremely supple and easy to tie from the get-go, the Infinity plays much thinner than its 9.5-millimeter diameter suggests. Buy Now (Courtesy Prana) Prana Continuum Pants ($99) A gusseted crotch and seams at the knees lend the Continuum an impressive range of movement for such a tough

Haulers big and small that go above and beyond. (Courtesy Gregory) Gregory Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 ($300) We like our packs one of two ways: stripped-down minimalists that excel at specific tasks, or blinged-out haulers that do everything we need and more. The Gregory Baltoro 65 (men’s) and Deva 60 (women’s) represent the very best of the latter. Both offer a full buffet of features along with excellent load-carrying comfort and very low weight, considering that they include just about every bell and whistle you could possibly hope for. Backpackers will love the U-shaped front panel, which allows

Over the past few years, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts in the U.S. have been taking cues from the overlanding crowd in Africa and Australia by sleeping atop their vehicles. Rooftop tents were originally developed to keep folks at a safe remove from apex predators, poisonous snakes, and creepy-crawlies. Americans took notice because they’re easy to deploy, are super comfortable, and look damn cool to boot. RTTs require a bit of work to install—you’ll probably need an aftermarket roof rack rated for your shelter’s weight, which can exceed 150 pounds—and they come in two flavors: hard and soft shell.

The year’s top shelters are quick to assemble and roomier than ever. (Courtesy MSR) MSR Hubba Tour 3 ($750) When it comes to a Gear of the Year–worthy tent, we want something we can trust to keep us covered, comfy, and dry. And if there’s a big storm brewing, we want the Hubba Tour 3. The exterior pole setup lifts the tent and the fly simultaneously, so everything can be up in less than five minutes. The 43-square-foot interior is tight for three adults, but the large vestibule (MSR calls it a gear shed, and that’s no exaggeration) more

Creature comforts for the car-camping set. (Courtesy Lodge) Lodge Camp Dutch Oven ($80) Forget the grill and bring a Dutch oven instead. Cast-iron construction means it will last a lifetime, and the seasoning gets better the more you use it. Four sturdy feet allow you to set the oven right in the fire, and the lid doubles as a griddle. Buy Now (Courtesy GCI) GCI Master Cook Station ($120) Go ahead, bring the kitchen sink. GCI’s cook station is a badass collapsible camp table with an aluminum countertop, a storage rack, four plastic side tables, and, yes, a soft-shell

For every task, there’s the right tool. (Courtesy Full Windsor) Full Windsor Muncher Spork ($50) The 22-gram titanium Muncher is a versatile backpacking companion. Full Windsor took the much-maligned camping spork and beefed it up, adding ten functions and a ferro rod. Testers’ only gripe: having the knife and spork at opposite ends makes it difficult to keep food steady when cutting. Buy Now (Courtesy Morakniv) Morakniv Kansbol Knife ($44) Made in Sweden, the Kansbol delivers the simplicity, quality, and feel we expect from Scandinavian blades, without the brutal price tag. The symmetrical polymer handle offers a five-finger grip

We’re all for traveling light—just make room for these. (Courtesy Gossamer Gear) Gossamer Gear Liteflex Hiking Umbrella ($39) At the risk of inviting Mary Poppins jokes, some thru-hikers use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun and thin out their rain gear. This one uses ultralight fiberglass to cut weight and Teflon-coated polyester for water repellency. Buy Now (Courtesy Epic Wipes) Epic Wipes Shower On the Go Wet Wipes ($2 and up) Short of bathing in a wilderness spring, there’s no fresher feeling after a few days on the trail than a wipe-down with one of these large eucalyptus-infused