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THRASHERS WELCOME If traditional mummy bags make you feel straitjacketed, you’ll get relief with this stretchy bag. MontBell sews this sack with elasticized thread and extra shell material, so you can bend your knees, sit comfortably with your legs crossed, and generally toss and turn uninhibitedly all night long. And…

A SOFT SHELL ON STEROIDS Instead of storm-shell-vs.-soft-shell controversy, Switzerland-based Mammut gives us a truce: the Blend, which perfectly splits the difference. The hybrid’s hood, shoulders, and tops of the arms are constructed with a three-layer waterproof-breathable laminate, while the body is made of more-breathable, stretchy Polartec Power Shield. The…

The acrylic Roman, like all the clothing and accessories from this small, Seattle-based company, is hand-knit in small Balinese villages. spacecraftclothing.com…

Thanks to a DIN of 16, an innovative toe-height adjustment, and a beefy plate underfoot, the new Duke outperforms all other AT bindings on the descent. Or, as one tester put it, “The playing field has totally changed.” 5.6 lbs; markerusa.com   Bonus: There's nearly zero ramp angle, so you…

With no fewer than eight pockets (three of them zip-pered), adjustable cuffs, and zip-off legs, these quick-drying nylon pants are ideal for any kind of adventure travel. aigleusa.com…

The upper vents are lined with mesh, while the two in front create good airflow—our goggles never fogged up. But our favorite thing about the Vigilante is the Boa fit system. Just spin a knob at the back of the helmet to dial in the perfect fit.

Pinch Hitter With nine tools (pliers, scissors, two screwdrivers, etc.), this tough little keychain-ready steel number is perfect for all those times a full-size multitool would be excessive. leatherman.com…

Versatile Hybrid Much like the Ruston, the Doublet is a soft/hard shell hybrid. While it’s not 100-percent waterproof, it offers up way more protection than your average soft shell. But don’t get hung up on classifying it. The Doublet’s hood, shoulders, arms, and body are constructed from highly water-resistant ripstop…

Road A hydration shirt? Yes. This three-pocket cycling jersey has an integrated compartment that snugs a 72-ounce reservoir (included) to your back. Some testers were initially skeptical, but being able to carry more water—and not having to reach down for a drink—sold them. Works just as well off-road, too, though…

Best for Beginners One of the hardest things to learn in a kayak is how to go in a straight line. That's why kayaking newbies especially loved this ten-and-a-half-foot plastic boat. It stays on course and maintains speed almost in spite of what its paddler is doing. In rough seas…

You’ll change batteries less frequently with the waterproof (to one meter), three-watt Apex Pro, which is powered by two long-lasting CR123 lithiums. Of course, that’s another type of battery to pack. 6.1 oz; princetontec.com…

VERSATILE THREE-SEASON SACK Now in its umpteenth iteration, the 2007 Cat’s Meow is like its predecessors in one respect only: It’s still one of the most versatile, durable three-season synthetic bags available. The roomy sack is stuffed with lofty, long-lasting Polarguard Delta and wrapped with a tough skin of water-resistant…

SMART AND SIMPLE The Mojave earned the highest praise a soft shell can get when one tester said, “Awesome. The perfect combination of warmth, weather resistance, and breathability.” Credit goes to the fabric itself—the Mojave is made entirely of Polartec Power Shield, a standout for its standard-setting versatility—and the elegantly…

This acrylic beanie is warm and comfy, yes. But it also sends a message: I may or may not be going sledding. smithoptics.com…

Thanks to a smart combination of wool and synthetic insulation, the leather-palmed and waterproof Vector kept our fingers toasty in single-digit temps. gordini.com…

Thanks to a double layer of material on the knee, these quick-drying and stretchy nylon pants are up for every-thing from canoeing to climbing. prana.com Bonus: Available in two inseam lengths.

Our testers’ clear favorite this year, the lightweight Smith looks cool and has a low profile. Smart feature: The venting system can shutter closed on the fly if you get cold or the snow starts coming down hard. smithoptics.com…

Stay Connected When you pair Delorme’s full-featured GPS (topo maps, aerial photos, 3.5 gigs of memory) with the companion Spot transmitter, something very cool happens: In addition to sending standard Spot messages (“I’m OK,” “SOS”), you can also type 48-character text messages to friends, Twitter, or Facebook. Annual subscription starts…

Simple Security Talk to any jacket designer and he’ll tell you the same thing: The more pockets and doodads a waterproof jacket has, the more seams it requires, and thus the more opportunities water has to seep through. That’s why the Stash, part of online gear retailer…

Road Our bib tester, “the Sharkman,” rode 3,653 miles in roughly half a dozen bibs over the past 12 months. These are his favorites. Pearl Izumi will tell you it's the sculpted and seamless chamois and breathable fabric; the Sharkman reported “no hot spots, no bunching,'' and an overall “outstanding”…

Packable Sailboat “I can hardly believe it,” remarked one tester, “but it really does sail like a legit boat.” That pretty much sums up our take on the inflatable Smartkat. It took testers about an hour to assemble, but once on the water this 15'7″ masted catamaran, which is capable…

For easy camp duty—reading, washing dishes, re-staking the rain fly in the middle of the night—the AAA-powered Gizmo is a bargain. Three tiltable LEDs provide plenty of light for the price and weight. 2 oz; bdel.com…

A LUXE BAG FOR BIG DUDES Norway-based Ajungilak (now owned by Mammut) started making sleeping bags nearly 120 years ago, and the accumulated experience shows in this deluxe, full-featured sack. For starters, the Altitude is made with top-shelf materials, like 780-fill down and a burly, highly water-resistant nylon shell. Plus…

WARMER THAN IT LOOKS When warmth matters most, grab the G50. On a late-fall backpacking trip in New Mexico’s Pecos Wilderness, with temperatures plummeting into the single digits, one tester (who had forgotten his puffy) simply battened down the G50 and said, “I’m fine.” The surprising warmth-to-weight is due to…

Hats with built-in speakers have been around for years, but a faux-shearling-lined plaid Bomber that also plays tunes? Who can resist? bulabula.com…

Thanks to interchangeable tongues (one stiff, one hinged for touring) and a sole that's compatible with every AT binding on the market, the Spirit 4's are this year's most versatile boot. 7.6 lbs; scarpa.com   Bonus: Smart touches include tour-friendly Dynafit tech fittings and lighter-weight thermo-moldable liners.   Bummer: Some…

These burly cotton-twill cargo pants are softer than Carhartts but tougher than what you got at the Gap. dickssportinggoods.com/NikeACG…

Because the Bug’s vents are recessed between its two slightly overlapping shells, you get a 100 percent puncture-proof helmet that breathes moderately well. pocsports.com…

Portable Purification We’ve been big fans of Steripen’s UV-light wands for years. You just swish it around in your one-liter bottle for 90 seconds and it zaps everything from viruses like hepatitis to protozoa like giardia. This newest version is smaller, has a new optical water sensor that can sense…

Mountain-Ready Eddie Bauer went all out to create its new line of high-end outerwear, packs, and accessories, enlisting the help of an A-Team of mountain guides like Ed Viesturs and Dave Hahn. You can tell. The Rainier Storm has everything we look for in a versatile shell: easy-to-adjust pit zips,…

Utility Warm early in the a.m., cool at noon, and itch- and stink-free, highly breathable, and water-repellent at all times, the merino-wool Giro impressed the hell out of us. There are also three rear pockets and a full zip for the hottest climbs. ibexwear.com      …

Expert Fisherman Using the underwater pedal-powered flippers and knob-controlled rudder, you can propel the Mirage across the lake hands-free so you can fish, shoot pics, sip a drink. Prefer to paddle? The flippers remove in a snap (OK, the press of a button) and you're free to paddle it like…

A STOUT, LIGHTWEIGHT HYBRID The split-personality Vario uses a weight-saving design—two sides are single-wall, two are traditional double-wall—to achieve an impressive weight/strength/space ratio. And it’s even roomier than it appears, thanks to a brow pole over the center of the tent and precurved poles that maximize interior space. The only…

BARGAIN SYNTHETIC Confession: I was nervous diving into the 20-degree Klickitat when the forecast called for below-freezing temps. Its uninspiring loft just doesn’t say “sweet dreams.” But I stayed plenty warm, making this inexpensive sack one of the year’s best deals. The trick? A new synthetic insulation, called Climashield XP,…

REFRESHINGLY UNFUSSY When Jackson, Wyoming–based Cloudveil promises a do-it-all mountain soft shell for under $150, the smart money gives it a try. So our Jackson-based tester did everything in it: He biked to work in light rain and snow, boot-packed up Glory Bowl in 20-degree weather with just a lightweight…

Perfect for backcountry or nordic skiing: A touch of spandex gives this soft and lightweight wool beanie a snug fit. smartwool.com…

Because all the LightSpeed’s major seams are sealed, it’s the most waterproof glove we’ve ever tested. mountainhardwear.com…

The perfect summerweight waterproof/breathable rain pants. So light (11 ounces) you’ll always pack them, they’re capable of fending off even the nastiest afternoon thunderstorm. groundwear.com…

Designed specifically for the park and pipe, the Shiv’s eight vents do an adequate job of cooling, and the detachable magnetic goggles clip is a smart feature—just don’t lose it. giro.com…

Pocket Rocket When you want the hyper-efficency of a Jetboil stove, but need to cook for two to four people, it’s hard to beat the Helios. The company’s proprietary FluxRing (a baffle on the bottom of the included two-liter pot) helps conserve energy, while the upside-down canister stand lets you…

Ignore the Forecast All-purpose windbreakers like the nonstretchy Shadowland have been around for a while—and with good reason. More lined than insulated, the Shadowland is essentially what you’d get if you fused your softest, fastest-wicking base layer with your favorite wind shell. Translation: It’s a remarkably versatile and highly wind-…

Utility Whether touring or just pleasure-cruising, these lightweight soft-shell cycling trunks are our top pick for simple, relaxed, chamois-free bottoms. Quick-drying after a rainstorm or roadside swim, acceptable at the bistro or B&B, and sporting four pockets, they're a godsend. outlier.cc      …

Take It Anywhere The greatest thing about canoes like the Explorer LT is their versatility. There's enough room (1,100 pounds of capacity) to tool around with dogs, lunch, and kids—or pack up camping supplies and head out for a week. And because it has a moderate amount of rocker and…

SMALL FOOTPRINT, BIG PROTECTION If high winds—or cramped tent sites—are in the cards, the aerodynamic Viperine is your very sturdy ace in the hole. Thanks to its compact, narrow footprint, we were able to pitch the Viperine in spots too tight for a traditional dome-shaped tent. And when the wind…

BETTER THAN YOUR BED Letting your car do the carrying for you? Sleep like royalty in the Luxor. It has 650-fill down on top and synthetic material underneath, where feathers get squashed. Fittingly, it has a laundry list of creature comforts, such as a flannel-like liner, handy pillow sleeve, and…

DURABLE This puncture-resistant self-inflater is reinforced with closed-cell foam on the bottom. It didn’t leak even after we laid it atop a pile of sticks and jumped on it. 20′ x 72′ x 1.5′, 2.5 lbs; thermarest.com…

Thanks to a breeze-busting layer of fleece-lined Gore Windstopper, this is the warmest hat here. dakine.com…

The Heli Ski Short’s water-resistant leather-and-nylon shell fits so well, it’s hard to believe the liner is removable. hestrausa.com…

This completely enclosed and integrated pot-and-burner system is incredibly fuel-efficient, boiling a liter of water in as fast three minutes. 13.6 oz (includes 1.7-liter pot); msrgear.com…

Thanks to its flat seams, jersey knit, and a touch of stretchy synthetic material, this was our favorite lightweight merino-wool top. io-bio.com…

Swift Sticks Three things we look for in trekking poles: light weight, comfy grip, and easy length adjustment. The new Aergons hit the trifecta. At 17 ounces, they’re respectably light. The mostly cork grip is ergonomic, and the newly designed locking levers are strong and simple to use—even with gloves…

Backcountry Staple If you don’t already have a jacket like the Atom LT Hoody in your quiver, it’s time to add one. What’s so great about it? Because it’s lightly insulated with a highly compressible synthetic fill, it’s impressively warm for such a light and packable jacket. Plus its stretchy…

Mountain With one zippered pocket out back, a semifitted cut, and wind-cutting stretch polyester, the soft-shell-like Launch was a tester favorite on fall rides. Of course, truth be told, we saw said tester wearing it around town just as often. pearlizumi.com      …

The Big Easy More than 30 inches wide, with a pontoon-style hull, the open-decked Commander is the perfect stable platform for gear-intensive outings—even if that gear is a good book and a well-stocked cooler in the gaping stern tank well. As a canoe/kayak hybrid, it's not quite stable enough to…

Three-density, lace-up thermomoldable liners and efficient walking mode make skinning up comfortable and effortless, yet it's plenty stiff and powerful to drive big boards like the Sickbirds. 7.9 lbs; garmontusa.com   Bonus: The magnesium buckles reduce ice buildup.   Bummer: A bit roomy for folks with narrow feet.  …

A CLASSIC ULTRALIGHT Thunder Dome? Perhaps something was lost in translation, because there’s nothing Mad Max–like about this tent from Japan-based MontBell. Despite the name, its earth-toned fly, two-pole design, and taut pitch are all rather traditional—in a good way. What’s not traditional is the exceptionally low weight for the…

ULTRALIGHT SUMMER BAG You tend to pay more to carry less in the rarefied class of one-pound, down summer sacks. That’s why the barely-over-a-pound Flash is such a surprise: For packability, weight, and warmth it rivals bags that cost much more. And there’s nothing cheap about its silky shell and…

VERSATILE With nearly three inches of cushion, this sub-two-pound mattress is the choice for ultralight and ultracomfortable. The synthetic fill kept us warm even in the single digits. 20′ x 70′ x 2.8′, 1.8 lbs; orgear.com…

The ubiquitous brimmed hat, done right: The Yukon’s understated style, chunky wool knit, and a band of fleece lining make this best in class. coalheadwear.com…

A new technology from Gore (called 2 in 1) allows you to adjust insulation. Sounds gimmicky, but it works: Flip the insulation to the back of your hand, and dexterity improves dramatically. kombisports.com…

Tiny but powerful: In mild weather at 9,500 feet, we easily boiled a liter of water in less than five minutes. 2.4 oz; optimus.se…

If I were still a boy, this would be my wubby. This midweight merino-wool top is good-looking enough to wear to work but plenty technical (thumb loops, articulated arms, and a front zip) for backcountry skiing and backpacking. icebreaker.com…

Water Wise Getting cold? Tired? It’s started to rain? The answer is the same: hot drinks. This 20-ounce bottle will keep your favorite beverage steamy for up to six hours (or cold for up to 24). Get the combo pack ($4 more) and you’ll also get a “café cap” that…

Packable Half-Zip “It’s as packable as it is practical,” observed one tester. That pretty much sums up the Zephyrus. While it has roughly the same amount of synthetic insulation as the Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody, it was better at shedding light rain and snow, due to its more windproof (and…

Mountain Most of the mountain-bike shorts we tested had a lot going on: multiple pockets, vents, and doodads. Not the streamlined Rambushes: They're easy to adjust, have just one pocket, and, most important, they're made of a comfy wool chamois that's naturally odor-resistant. smartwool.com      …

Light and Tough The 13-foot Revolution is part of NRS's new series of urethane boats. With ample rocker and sporty tubes, the Revolution doubles as a high-performance whitewater paddle raft and, as an oar rig, a stable deck for fishing and lounging. We put the 13-footer pictured here to the…

Aigle Shems – Midweight Jackets: Reviews   With a soft fleece interior and warm, durable merino wool/nylon exterior, this jacket combines our favorite fabrics in one versatile top. 1.9 lbs; aigleusa.com         Patagonia Pau – Footwear: Reviews (Terry Heffernan) The coolest mocs we’ve ever laid eyes…

THE LIGHTEST TENT ON THE BLOCK Some solo tents weigh more than this spacious two-person shelter. By utilizing ultralight materials and an every-ounce-counts design—notice the lack of fabric at the corners—the three-pound Evolution is in a class by itself. Which, considering it has two doors, a roomy interior, and four…

ALL BUSINESS Sporting a mini (12-inch) zipper and an aggressively athletic fit (looks like it’s designed to fit a lollipop), the Epic is the leanest, meanest bag here. You can even use it sans tent: Its waterproof, taped shell was unfazed by damp nights. The catch? It’s probably too constrictive…

LIGHT Die-cut foam reduces weight and bulk, and raised “berms” along the perimeter, which prevent you from rolling off, make this featherweight feel wider than it is. The minimalist cushion is best for smaller (or tougher) hikers. 20′ x 72′ x 1′, 1.2 lbs; pacoutdoor.com…

1. Black Diamond rolled out an impressive 11 new models this year. But our tele and alpine testers agreed: Of all the new skis we reviewed, the redesigned Verdict was the most versatile, wide enough for the deepest days and stable on hardpack yet still lightweight enough for touring. 2.

Lightly lined with fleece and reinforced in all the right places, the synthetic/leather Exum won the all-purpose award. Supple but durable goatskin won’t crack like hardware store specials. marmot.com…

The Lander runs on either white gas or a butane canister but works best in liquid mode in sub-zero weather. 11.2 oz; brunton.com…

In a galaxy of mostly boring base layers, the 100 percent polyester Esse has a refreshingly cool look. Caveat: It’s the only piece here without any sort of no-stink properties. 686.com…

Fast Clip Not only is this pocket-size, water-resistant flashlight impressively bright (25 lumens), but its included alligator-style clip accessory lets you attach the light to just about anything. 1.6 oz; nagear.com…

The two big things to take into consideration when choosing a kayak: the kind of water you will be paddling and for how long. Some boats, like the Emotion Comet (seen here) and the Necky Rip, are great for day trips, while some, like the Current Designs Infinity, are better…

Utility Multi-Purpose Marvel A water-resistant, breathable, seamless soft-shell upper, rubberized toe box, and an aggressive ride/hike sole made this a favorite multi-condition shoe, and testers loved that its runner-like profile meant it was inconspicuous and comfortable for walking around (quietly) off the bike. 15.4 oz; pearlizumi.com…

Patagonia redesigned its flagship line of base layers, and it claims the new fabric wicks and dries faster than ever. We couldn’t confirm that, but one thing’s for certain: Thanks to an antimicrobial treatment, this slim-fitting layer did a much better job of fighting funk than our decade-old Capilene.

Ounce for ounce, the lightweight and stretchy Contours are the toughest pants here. A DWR coating easily fends off rain, and hard-duty Cordura/Lycra fabric is still breathable enough for hot days. orgear.com…

LONG AND LIGHT A single pole arcs the length of the Zonda, acting like a spine to give it strength. Two shorter brow poles complete the structure and create a decent amount of headroom (39 inches), while the Zonda’s 100-inch floor length (many two-person tents are about ten inches shorter)…