Hiking gear and equipment

Gear Guide

Hiking Gear Recommendations

Expert-tested gear recommendations from experienced hikers. We only recommend products we'd use ourselves.

Independently tested & recommended

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page. This helps support SummitSeeker and keeps our trail data free. We only recommend gear we've tested or would use ourselves.

Hiking Footwear

Find the perfect hiking boots and trail runners for any terrain

Editor's Pick
Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

Salomon

Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

Lightweight, waterproof hiking shoes for day hikes

(342)
$165
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Merrell Moab 3 Mid

Merrell

Merrell Moab 3 Mid

Classic comfort and support for all-day hiking

(528)
$145
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Backpacks

Day packs and backpacking packs for every adventure

Best Seller
Osprey Talon 22

Osprey

Osprey Talon 22

Versatile day pack with excellent ventilation

(892)
$150
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Gregory Jade 38

Gregory

Gregory Jade 38

Perfect for overnight trips and light backpacking

(256)
$200
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Navigation

GPS devices, compasses, and maps for safe trail navigation

Safety Essential
Garmin inReach Mini 2

Garmin

Garmin inReach Mini 2

Satellite communicator with SOS and GPS tracking

(1243)
$399
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Suunto MC-2 Compass

Suunto

Suunto MC-2 Compass

Professional-grade compass for navigation

(387)
$50
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Hydration

Water bottles, filters, and hydration systems

Best Value
Sawyer Squeeze Filter

Sawyer

Sawyer Squeeze Filter

Lightweight, reliable water filtration

(2156)
$37
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CamelBak Crux Reservoir

CamelBak

CamelBak Crux Reservoir

Easy-to-fill hydration reservoir

(943)
$40
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The 10 Essentials

Every hiker should carry these 10 essential items on every hike, regardless of distance or difficulty. They could save your life.

  1. 1 Navigation (map, compass, GPS)
  2. 2 Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses)
  3. 3 Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. 4 Illumination (headlamp)
  5. 5 First-aid supplies
  6. 6 Fire (matches, lighter)
  7. 7 Repair tools and knife
  8. 8 Nutrition (extra food)
  9. 9 Hydration (extra water)
  10. 10 Emergency shelter

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