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Outdoors

Looking for outdoor gear to get lost with? We’ve researched and tested the best outdoor accessories to help make any excursion more enjoyable. Explore new trails with our pick for the best hiking boots, head for the shore with our favorite beach towel and umbrella, or light up your campsite with the brightest inflatable lantern.

Apparel

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  • Our pick for best hiking boots, the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex, next to a headlamp and insect repellent spray.

    The Best Hiking Boots

    by Ebony Roberts and Jenni Gritters

    After more than 2 million steps over all types of terrain, we chose Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s sizes) as the best hiking boots.

  • A bike resting against a street sign on a rainy day.

    Gear for Foul-Weather Bike Commuting

    by Wirecutter Staff

    Hard-core bike commuters share seven items—from storm-worthy gloves to rugged tires—that keep them (and their stuff) safe and dry in the winter.

  • Two of our testers walk on a trail while wearing rain pants.

    The Best Rain Pants

    by Jenni Gritters

    The Marmot PreCip Eco Pants, which come in men’s and women’s sizes and multiple lengths, are the pants that kept us comfortable and dry through wet weather.

Camping

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  • A person laying down in one of our picks for the best sleeping bag.

    The Best Sleeping Bag

    by Sam Schild, Kit Dillon, and Kalee Thompson

    After using 41 sleeping bags in the Western wild, we have a range of recommendations for car-camping and backpacking.

  • Four of our picks for our favorite headlamps laying flat.

    The Best Headlamp

    by Jenni Gritters

    The latest version of Black Diamond’s Spot—the bright and reliable Spot 350—is still the headlamp we use to light our way.

Hiking

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  • Several hand warmers we recommend piled together on a table.

    The Best Hand Warmer

    by Kaitlyn Wells

    After testing nine new hand warmers we think the Celestron Elements FireCel+ is the best way to keep your hands warm this winter.

  • A close-up of a person wearing our base layer pick while standing in the woods.

    The Best Thermal Underwear

    by Eve O'Neill and Liz Thomas

    We sent 13 testers out to hike, ski, shovel snow, and run, and we found base layers in a variety of styles and fabrics that will keep all types of bodies warm.

Outdoor Gear

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  • Our three picks for best waterproof tough camera, set out with a blue striped beach towel and sunscreen.

    The Best Waterproof Tough Camera

    by Phil Ryan

    Olympus’s TG-6 captures great images even down to 50 feet underwater and is simple to use. It can also withstand falls of 7 feet and temps down to 14 °F.

  • Two closed stick umbrellas and four regular umbrellas of different colors lean against a pair of black Hunter rain boots.

    The Best Umbrellas for Wind and Rain

    by James Austin, Daniel Varghese, and Sarah J. Robbins

    Through rain, wind, and snow, we tested 48 umbrellas until we found the six best.

  • A white hard cooler full of cans of soda, bottles of beer, and ice.

    The Best Coolers

    by Kit Dillon

    After years of research and gallons upon gallons of melted ice, we have picks for hard and soft coolers, plus backpack and high-end roto-molded options.

Snow

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  • One of our kid testers trying out the the L.L. Bean Sonic Snow Tube.

    The Best Sleds

    by Doug Mahoney

    Looking for a fast-flying snow tube? A plastic toboggan that’ll hold up for years? A minivan-like sled capable of holding the whole clan? We have suggestions.

  • Two pairs of winter boots shown side by side.

    How to Shop for Warm, Waterproof Boots

    by Elissa Sanci

    Here’s how to find a pair of winter boots that’ll keep you warm, dry, and on your feet even in the most treacherous weather.

  • The hands of two people wearing touchscreen gloves while holding coffee and using a smartphone.

    The Best Touchscreen Winter Gloves

    by Nick Guy, Kaitlyn Wells, and Justin Krajeski

    After another year of testing, we think the newly redesigned Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves are the best touchscreen gloves for most people.

Swim

See all Swim reviews
  • The corner of a hot tub, shown filled with water and with the jets on.

    How to Shop for a Hot Tub

    by Tim Heffernan

    This guide will help you plan out the purchase for the hot tub of your dreams.

  • A kid wearing goggles jumps out of a pool. Palm trees are in the background.

    The Best Swim Goggles for Adults and Kids

    by Chris Dixon

    We tested 33 goggles in South Carolina and the Dominican Republic, and found the Aqua Sphere Kayenne to be the best swim goggles for most people.

  • Three of the sunscreen brands that we tested to find the best sunscreen, shown with a pair of sunglasses.

    The Best Sunscreen

    by Nancy Redd

    It takes a shot glass’ worth of sunscreen to adequately cover a swimsuit-clad body. Look for “broad spectrum,” SPF 30 or more, and a scent and feel you like.

More Outdoors Posts

  • Three commuter bike lights attached to the handlebars of a bicycle.

    The Best Commuter Bike Lights

    by Lindsay Warner and Michael Zhao

    After testing some 110 lights over the past nine years, we can recommend the best headlight and the best taillight for most people who commute by bicycle.

  • The Best Bike Helmet for Commuters

    by Eve O'Neill

    After nearly four years of consecutive testing, we still think the Specialized Echelon II is the best helmet for commuters.

  • Our pick for best bike lock, the Kryptonite New-U Evolution Mini-7 With Double Loop Cable, shown installed on a bike.

    The Best Bike Lock

    by Duncan Niederlitz and Eve O'Neill

    We tested 33 bike locks, and the Kryptonite New-U Evolution Mini-7 is the most affordable lock that will most likely need a power tool to be defeated.

  • Three kids scooters in blue, green, and black standing next to each other near a wooden step stool with a kids water bottle on it.

    The Best Kids Scooters

    by Katharine Gammon

    We’ve compared 16 kids scooters over the past five years, and we are confident that the popular Micro Maxi Deluxe is a worthwhile investment in longtime fun.

  • Two people wearing Patagonia Down Sweater Vests, in front of a grey backgroud.

    The Best Insulated Vest

    by Liz Thomas and Jenni Gritters

    On cold and windy days, the Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (men’s and women’s) is the vest we choose to stay warm.

  • A heated mug, a space heater and snow shoes

    Our Favorite Cold-Weather Essentials

    by Truth Headlam

    It’s cold outside, but we have you covered with 50 of our cold-weather must-haves—like hand warmers, ice cleats and snow shovels.

  • A Solo Stove smokeless fire pit, shown burning a log.

    The Best Smokeless Fire Pits

    by Kit Dillon

    On a chilly evening, we like to cluster around the Solo Stove Bonfire (for smaller yards) or the Tiki Fire Pit (for larger yards).

  • A person wearing the Montbell Alpine Light Down jacket, while standing in a wooded area outside.

    The Best Down Jacket

    by Catherine Harnden and Jenni Gritters

    To weather the cold, damp, and ice of winter, Montbell’s Alpine Light Down Jacket (available in women’s and men’s sizes) is the one we want to wrap up in.

  • A person looking through a telescope in a field.

    The Best Telescopes for Beginners

    by Signe Brewster and Colin Rosemont

    We’ve tested 14 top-rated telescopes over the years, and we’re certain the Celestron NexStar 5SE provides the best functionality for a dedicated beginner.

  • The Best Portable Hammock

    by Colin Rosemont

    We spent 35 hours testing 10 packable camping hammocks on hikes and in the park, and found that ENO’s SingleNest Hammock is the best choice for most people.

  • Our four picks for best action camera, laid out on a green surface next to a passport, foreign currency and some credit cards.

    The Best Action Camera

    by Geoffrey Morrison

    If you want to take photos and videos in any situation, even extreme weather, we think the GoPro Hero10 Black is the best option for most people.

  • pair of winter boots with nonslip traction devices on a sheet of ice outside

    The Best Ice Cleats for Shoes

    by Lisa Maloney and Eve O'Neill

    After slipping and sliding on roads and trails in Alaska and the Sierra Nevada, we’ve found the best ways to stay upright while walking, hiking, or running.

  • A person's foot strapped into the the Evo Trail Snowshoes, standing on a purple surface.

    The Best Snowshoes

    by Eve O'Neill

    If you’d like to get outside more this winter in spite of (or maybe because of) the snow, we recommend the MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes.

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