Photos: Jason Chen; Illustration: Dana Davis

Before his recent 46-mile hike through the Southwest, editorial director Jason Chen had never backpacked. All the river-wading, sand flat-crossing, and boulder-scaling left his shoulders aching and hamstrings burning. What didn’t hurt? His feet.

“No blisters, no soreness, not even tightness from being wrapped up in a thickly cushioned hiking boot,” Jason writes of his journey in Wirecutter’s top-pick hiking boots. “It was disturbing. If I had a GP, I would have called to declare the discovery of a modern medical marvel (me).”

Excellent boots for beginner and pro hikers alike→

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Photo: Marki Williams

Wirecutter’s experts have spent countless hours trekking many millions of steps to find the very best outdoor gear. We’re giving away $4,500 worth of our favorite recommendations ahead of your next adventure (one bundle for you, another for a friend you’ll drag along to the great outdoors)—including a point-and-shoot camera, a great pair of binoculars, and more. Plus, every entry will get a complimentary month-long trial to AllTrails+, one of our favorite outdoor apps.

Enter to win here→

(Terms and conditions apply.)

A built-to-last cooler The handle and wheels on this cooler are the best we’ve ever tested→

A petite, outdoorsy fanny pack The soft, padded back and comfortable design make it a pleasure to wear→

A great water bottle for camping It’s inexpensive, indestructible, and lightweight→

Photo: Elissa Sanci

In 2021, senior staff writer Elissa Sanci visited no less than 14 national parks—hiking up mountains, venturing in underground caves, and wandering through slot canyons. To do all that successfully, she relied on a few trusted apps. Her favorites, including AllTrails+ and a free one from the National Park Service, helped her find and research all the best paths, find a good place to sleep, organize her travel itinerary, and more.

Create the perfect camping trip→

Photo: Wirecutter Staff and IUGA

These soft and comfortable leggings fit and feel better than any other pair we tried at this price. Plus, they’re seemingly indestructible, sweat-wicking, and actually stay in place. Says Elissa: “They’ve become the only leggings I want to wear, whether I’m grocery shopping, going to the gym, or sliding down the side of a canyon on my butt.”

No more readjusting your pants mid-hike→

For happy campers.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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