Gear Picks is a curated selection of products we’ve tested and heartily recommend. We stand by this gear—and the brands that sell it—and many of our editors and writers use this stuff weekly. We often feature gear we’ve included in our bi-annual Buyer’s Guides and online roundups, presented here in an easy-to-scroll format. We only feature deals on gear we’ve tested ourselves and, whenever possible, provide a link to a past review so you can make sure it’s something that suits your lifestyle—ideally at a steeply discounted price. Happy shopping—and gear-picking.
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These shorts stand out in a crowd, but you’ll barely notice them when they’re on. That's because they’re airy as hell and prevent skin-on-skin friction for a comfy fit. “Credit goes to the breathable mesh liner and a hammock-shaped pouch that keeps the boys in place,” one of our Buyer’s Guide testers wrote.
This jacket is perfect for sudden afternoon showers or for layering over a puffy in colder months. Our writer tested the Ozonic on a climbing trip in the Sierra and appreciated the jacket’s stretchiness. It’s also built with 40-denier nylon, so you don’t have to worry about scraping it against rock and ripping it.
The 20-liter Kompressor keeps Outside’s resident boulderer Jenny Earnest organized at the crag. "It's big enough to haul a day's worth of gear and the frameless design and lightweight ripstop nylon shell allows it to compress and jam into my pad," she wrote.
We're just as likely to sport this shirt at the campsite as we are at the office. That's because it's simultaneously smartly tailored and tough as nails, thanks to the fact it's made of burly, sustainably-grown hemp. During the summer, a couple of these polos is all we need.
We included these jeans in our roundup of retro-inspired men’s gear that we love. This pair is “not only ultra-durable but also insanely comfy due to its built-in stretch,” wrote columnist Jakob Schiller. “I’ve biked, hiked, and worked in these pants, and they look better with wear.”
We featured this folio in our roundup of gear that gets better with age. It has room for a 13-inch laptop, smartphone, business cards, tablet, and notebook to boot. Our tester wrote that the environmentally certified leather "will make you feel like executive material."
This trailblazer was one of our favorite shoes for long and steep runs. “The Caldera 3 serves up road-worthy comfort in a trail-ready package,” we wrote. We found the EVA midsole soft and springy, while a protective toe bumper and mesh upper gives it the mountain chops to flourish on the trail.
The Moab shoes have been around for years now, garnering love and a cult-like following from hikers across the country. This low-volume option for women is completely waterproof and has a Vibram outsole for extra grip and durability.
This shirt jacket is one of contributor Jakob Schiller’s favorite long sleeve layers for shoulder season. The Bedford is heavier than a long-sleeve shirt, but not as warm as a midlayer, so it’s ideal for those in-between days. The durable shirt also stands up to “everything from weekend chores, yard work, woodworking, to tree cutting,” Schiller wrote.
The Wide Mouth was selected by our readers—and by our editors—as one of their favorite water bottles. The Nalgene's tough, BPA-free plastic can take a beating; we've slung ours around at crags, banged them against rocks, and generally abused them for years. Yet they still work just as intended—no leaks and only a few scratches, for character.
Our Gear Guy loves the Hydro Flask 32-ounce tumbler. With one of these suckers, he can “nurse a single pour for hours without having to worry about lukewarm beer.” The same goes for hot drinks—a freshly brewed cup of coffee will stay warm for up to six hours.