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Shelter & Sleep

Tents, bags, quilts, and pads. The gear that decides how well you recover at night.

Backpacking Tents

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 vs NEMO Dragonfly OSMO vs Tiger Wall UL2 vs Hornet OSMO 1P: The Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents of 2026

Copper Spur UL2, Dragonfly OSMO, Tiger Wall UL2, Fly Creek UL1 and Hornet OSMO 1P compared on weight, space, setup, storm readiness and price. Different hikers walk away with different winners.

Brooke Wilder 10 min read

Sleeping Bags

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Sleeping Bags

Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads

These four insulated pads solve different winter backpacking problems, from safest all-around warmth to comfort-first cold-weather sleep and better value.

Brooke Wilder 6 min read

Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

Jul 15
Sleeping Bag vs Quilt for Backpacking: Which Sleep System Fits You?

Jun 24
Western Mountaineering UltraLite Review

Jun 7

Sleeping Pads

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Sleeping Pads

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Review: The Most Comfortable Pad I've Read About, at a Price in Ounces

The NeoLoft is the most comfortable backpacking pad in the reviews I read, at about 25 oz. Buy it if you sleep on your side; skip it if you count grams or camp on snow.

Brooke Wilder 9 min read

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT vs NEMO Tensor All-Season

Aug 13
NEMO Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad Review

Aug 12
Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads

Jul 19

Backpacking Quilts

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Sleeping

Sleeping Bag vs Quilt for Backpacking: Which Sleep System Fits You?

A quilt is not just a lighter sleeping bag with the back removed. It asks more from your sleeping pad, your head insulation, and your tolerance for drafts. This guide is for the hiker still choosing the system, not the person already shopping quilt models.

Brooke Wilder 7 min read

Best Backpacking Quilts: What to Buy and What to Avoid

Jun 13

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Shelter & Sleep

Backpacking Tents

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 vs NEMO Dragonfly OSMO vs Tiger Wall UL2 vs Hornet OSMO 1P: The Best Ultralight Backpacking Tents of 2026

Lunar Solo vs Lunar Duo Outfitter vs Lanshan 1 vs Lanshan 2: Best Trekking Pole Tents You Can Buy in 2026

NEMO Dragonfly OSMO Bikepack 2P Review: A Freestanding Tent That Packs Like a Sleeping Bag

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review: The Roomiest Freestanding UL 2P Tent at Its Weight

Sleeping Bags

Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads

Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking

Sleeping Bag vs Quilt for Backpacking: Which Sleep System Fits You?

Western Mountaineering UltraLite Review

Sleeping Pads

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Review: The Most Comfortable Pad I've Read About, at a Price in Ounces

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT vs NEMO Tensor All-Season

NEMO Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad Review

Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads

Backpacking Quilts

Sleeping Bag vs Quilt for Backpacking: Which Sleep System Fits You?

Best Backpacking Quilts: What to Buy and What to Avoid

Get one honest gear take every Friday.