Looking for a new piece of equipment to add to your ensemble can be a gamble. Will the piece function properly? Endure tough adventures? Impact the environment? Determining all of that with the gear in your hands at a store is hard enough, but the pandemic has made inevitable online gear shopping even more of a challenge. Will the equipment meet your needs or is it just junk? I’ve asked ten outdoor bloggers to share their favorite piece of outdoor gear to give you a top quality recommendation for the things we cannot live without while having fun in the sun (or in the rain, or in the snow). From backpacks to lanterns to shoes, this list will have something every outdoor fanatic could use to add to their kit.
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Deuter Aircontact Trekking Backpack (50 + 10 SL)
The Deuter Aircontact Trekking Backpack has accompanied me for the past 7 years on nearly every hike. It’s without a doubt my favorite piece of hiking gear. This indestructible backpack is one of the most durable on the market. It’s lightweight, yet comfortable and holds everything I need it to. The perspiration reduction system (aka Aircontact) is also an added bonus. From climbing Chachani in Peru to hiking to Song Kol in Kyrgyzstan, this backpack has endured all the elements and stood the test time.
Dabbling in Jet Lag is an adventure travel and photography blog by Jen Ciesielski.
Arc’teryx Norvan SL Hoody
When you’re a devoted carry-on traveler, and you like to combine hiking or cycling (or both) on every trip, travel gear needs to be multipurpose, lightweight, and functional.
Ounce for ounce, one of my best travel purchases is the Arc’teryx Norvan SL Hoody, a packable lightweight rain jacket. It’s waterproof, windproof, and breathable. At 4.4 ounces (124 grams) it packs down to the size of grapefruit. On one trip, it worked for pounding the streets of Toronto in winter (with several layers underneath) to humid, tropical downpours in Cuba. In New Zealand, I wore it on the Banks Track three-day hike and a four-day cycling trip on the West Coast Wilderness Trail. It worked perfectly! For a full review, see a packable lightweight rain jacket for travelers.
Anne Betts blogs at Packing Light Travel, a site that helps travelers pack for carry-on travel.
Nemo Hornet 2P Tent
How many people can say they have slept in a tent for more than 600 nights? That is how many nights I have spent in the Nemo Hornet. When I recently took a look at the Best Lightweight Tents it was the Nemo Hornet that I loved and recommended the most. It was the tent I used most when I completed the Triple Crown of Hiking which included trails such as the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail. It comes in the 1 person and 2 person sizes but I prefer the 2 person version, especially when bicycle touring. If you love bicycle touring and hiking then look no further than this tent.
forest camping on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand 
beach camping in Costa Rica
BikeHikeSafari is a Thru Hiking, Bicycle Touring and Gear Review Blog by Brad McCartney.
Brad wasn’t the only one to recommend the Hornet for this post. Hanna from Moderately Adventurous also loves the Nemo Hornet 2P Tent. Her favorite features include the ability to sit upright in the tent, two doors, and a mesh top for stargazing. You can see her tent in action while hiking the Enchantments in Washington State.
Kachula Adventure Blanket by CoalaTree
This blanket is much more than just a blanket. It is waterproof, sand-proof and stain proof, making it ideal for outdoor adventures. It folds up into a small bag and can then be used as a travel pillow as well. This blanket even comes with a removable hood, converting it into an emergency poncho. The Kachula is perfect for many activities, including picnics, festivals, and camping. I take it on most hikes I go on and use it for a summit picnic. Most recently during a winter hike, we sat the blanket in the snow to make hot coffee, and it kept us completely dry. CoalaTree makes all their products sustainably and eco-friendly. The Kachula is made from 100% recycled materials!
JustAnotherTravelBlogger is a blog about Germany and mountain adventures in the Alps by Marissa Stagg.
Thermos Ultimate Flask 900mL
The Thermos Ultimate Flask accompanies me on every winter outdoor activity. It keeps my tea hot all day long, even when the temperatures are below freezing. At just 400g, it doesn’t add much extra weight to my daypack when I’m hiking around Berlin, and 900mL is the perfect amount to share with my hiking buddy. It even comes with a cup! The two part stopper prevents any spills and ensures no-mess pouring. It’s also a great partner in the summer for keeping my drinks cold (without sweating) while I’m cycling throughout the city in the heat.
This recommendation is brought to you by Chris, the author of this blog, Chris Crossing Germany, which shows you how to get off the beaten tourist trail and into authentic, active adventures in Germany.
Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern
My inflatable lantern always comes with me when I camp. My constant concern when packing for a hike is the weight and space in my backpack. This lantern is perfect because it weighs next to nothing and compresses down to a flat shape that fits easily in your bag. The fact that it is solar powered is also terrific if you are going on a multiday hike. All you need is some sunshine to recharge! Swap the heavy and expensive lanterns for this one!
Jackspaks is an experiential travel website run by hiking fanatic Jack Terrell.
Lowa Hiking Boots
The one piece of outdoor gear I cannot live without are my Lowa hiking boots. As hiking is the thing I love doing the most, I knew that investing in a good pair of hiking boots was essential and totally worth it. After trying out a couple of other hiking boots which gave me blisters, wet feet and never sat right, I went to an outdoor gear shop and had them advise me. That’s how I ended up with the boots I have now and couldn’t be happier. They are protecting my ankles from bending over, are completely waterproof, never give me a single blister, and are soo comfortable.
Paradise Found is a German blog for individual travelers who love nature and culture. From bathing in a wooden tub in the Black Forest to reindeer sledding in Lapland to trekking the Moroccan Atlas Mountains – unique, authentic experiences and destinations (if possible) off the beaten path are the central topic of the blog by Kerstin.
Leki Makalu Lite COR-TEC Antishock Hiking Poles
When going on long or steep hikes I find it really handy to bring my Leki Makalu Lite COR-TEC Antishock poles, some of the best hiking poles out there with a comfortable cork grip and long durability. Since my knee is playing up sometimes and I need to bring a hiking knee brace on most hikes, I find it really helpful to get the support from the hiking poles downhill, but also on steep ascents. They’re easy to pack down for hiking sections with scrambling too.
Linn Haglund is the outdoor fanatic behind Andalucia Hiking, bringing you hiking tips, thorough hiking and gear guides, and all things hiking in Spain’s amazing southern region.
Camelbak Crux 3L Reservoir
My favorite outdoor gear is the Camelbak Crux 3L Reservoir bladder. It is so convenient for many kinds of outdoor sports, like hiking, climbing, cycling or running. I’ve used mine for marathon training and it has already lasted 5 years, never leaking once. The great advantage is that you don’t have to stop every time you are thirsty to find the bottle in your backpack. You can just grab the hydration tube which is attached to your backpack straps and drink while walking, running or cycling. By the way: many outdoor backpacks have a compartment for these kind of bladders, as well as a hole for the tube on the side of the backpack.
Maria is a travel addict and nature lover who shows you her beautiful home in Bavaria, Germany and more breathtaking landscapes of the rest of our planet on Ready, Steady, Travel.
Classic Bandana
The versatility of a bandana is unmatched! I began wearing a bandana around my neck while hiking a couple of years ago but have since discovered its many uses. For day-hikes, it’s helpful to keep the sun off of the back of my neck and to submerge in streams to keep me cool. I use them to clean pots, dry hands, or help you wash up on backpacking trips. Most recently, I’ve worn them so that I can pull them up over my nose and mouth when passing people on the trail as a makeshift mask. I love that they dry quickly and weigh practically nothing.
REI offers an inexpensive, albeit stiff version, or you can check out the organic cotton ones they offer. The designs are endless, so I would also check out local retailers or even second-hand stores. And now that I’ve told you my secret, you’ll notice how much I wear one while hiking.
With a focus on outdoor activities like hiking, Hanna Ashcraft created the Moderately Adventurous travel blog to encourage women to try adventurous travel.
Sea to Summit X-Set
My Sea to Summit X-Set goes with me on every long-distance adventure, like biking from Berlin to Copenhagen and hiking the Pembrokeshire Coastal Trail in Wales. These foldable cook sets pack into one another and are excellent for ultralight hiking. The 1.4L X-Pot is the perfect size for 1 person, while the 2.8L X-Pot can feed you and your adventure buddy. The 2.8L pot can fit two bowls and one cup within and fits inside the X-Pan. I’ve used my X-Set on numerous adventures for over 5 years. When the X-Pot lid melted, Sea to Summit sent a replacement because they had updated the materials to be more durable. I can’t imagine an overnight adventure without it.
Sea to Summit X-Pot, X-Pan, X-Bowl, X-Cup
Chris Crossing Germany, written by Christine, helps you get the most outdoor, active, and authentic experience out of your time in Germany.
That’s all folks!
What a list! There are some seriously great recommendations in here (and I’m happy to say I already own a few of them – a Nemo tent, Leki hiking poles, and a Camelback bladder, in case you needed a second or third opinion). Have you tested any of this gear already? Where did it take you? Do you have a favorite gear recommendation of your own? Tell us about it in the comments below 🙂
Thank you!
Thanks so much to all of the bloggers who kindly participated in this collaboration. It was really fun to work with you! All photos are from the bloggers themselves. Cover photo by: Hanna from Moderately Adventurous