Switchback Spring, May 22-24, 2027 in New Orleans, LA
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Switchback at TRE, December 1-3, 2026 in San Antonio, TX
Fresh off a midsummer rafting trip, I spent one recent Sunday afternoon shaking dust from my gear and putting everything back in its place, restoring order to my gear shed. Summer has a way of turning me into a perpetual gear shuffler: one adventure ends, another is already taking shape. With a backpacking trip on the horizon, I’m once again pulling equipment from shelves, sorting piles, and taking stock of what I’ll need. My gear list is constantly evolving, but these are the items that have withstood the test of time.
Introduced in 2022 as a lighter alternative to the original Aura AG model, this streamlined frame pack holds everything I need for a long weekend on the trail. Even when loaded down, the anti-gravity suspension system helps the load feel like it’s floating off my back. Intentionally placed pockets, like the side water bottle holders, make organization easy.
My husband recently upgraded from a heavier tent to this lightweight shelter, weighing just 2.4 pounds. It’s quite cozy for two people but the vestibules on each side—each with entrances—keep packs covered so there’s more space for sleeping. One thing we don’t like: the floor is slippery, making it easy to slide downhill at night, even on gentle slopes
I have an unlabeled sample from testing several years ago, but if I had to guess, it’s the mummy-shaped Seamless Down Hugger 800 #5 with a 39-degree lower limit. I bring it on summer backpacking trips only and wear extra pajama layers if the forecasts are colder. Packed down, it’s no bigger than a loaf of bread and weighs 17.7 ounces.
Debuted this spring, this is one of the warmest and lightest sleeping pads available. It packs down to the size of a 1L water bottle but weighs only 15.5 ounces. The face fabric is soft, quiet, and not slippery, and it holds air for multiple nights without needing a top up.
In reckoning with my aging knees, I only recently started bringing poles on hiking and backpacking trips. I’m glad I have these sticks when terrain gets steep, especially on the downhill. Fixed at 110 cm, they fold up easily and weigh only 12.6 ounces per pair. Also available in 100, 120, and 130 cm lengths.
When a flat rock or smooth log is nowhere in sight, this 1.7-ounce foam pad is a godsend. It folds into a tidy brick and unfolds into a padded square big enough for one bum. I also like to use it under my knees when I’m rifling through my bag inside or outside my tent.
More parks and wilderness areas are making bear canisters mandatory. I’ve had my BearVault since a 2016 trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and most recently brought it to Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. It’s not my favorite thing to pack because it’s heavy, but I’m glad to keep bears from getting into my food stash.
This thing hasn’t failed me once in 10 years. I like that it’s small and reliable. The three pot supports are sturdy, even on uneven surfaces, and it’s fast at boiling water. I never have to wait long for a hot drink or water for rehydrating meals
I have an older version of this packable pot but not much has changed in the updated model. If anything, it’s lighter at 8.6 ounces. The hard anodized aluminum hasn’t dented or crushed over all these years, and I love that an 8-ounce fuel cannister easily nests inside.
These titanium cookware pieces are so indestructible that unless I lose them, I plan on having them for the rest of my life. I can stick the single-wall titanium cup straight on my stove, and the long titanium spork reaches all corners of a hydrated meal package.
For staying hydrated, I bring two of these squeeze bottles that fit an attachable filter on trips where I know I’ll have access to a water source (which, in the Pacific Northwest, is always). I drink straight from the nozzle, or I squeeze the full flask into a pot for cooking.
If there’s an alpine lake, I’m getting in. Having a full-size towel makes it easier to warm up after, and this compact pack towel is worth the extra 16 oz. The microfiber is soft and it dries extremely fast after drying me off.
Hikerkind and KEEN’s collaboration is a match made in heaven. These boots are made of nubuck leather with a high-traction leather outsole, weighing 15.6 ounces per shoe. Though they’re a bit heavy, the tradeoff is support and comfort. No sprained ankles for me.
