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Our staff packed a lot of adventure into 2024: We hiked segments of the Pacific Crest and Colorado Trails and climbed to the top of the highest peak in the Lower 48. We braved one of the most rugged coastlines in North America on the West Coast Trail and trekked from teahouse to teahouse in Nepal. We skied through blizzards, paddled through summer rainstorms, and enjoyed more sunny days outside than we can count.
But we couldn’t have done it alone. Every month this year, our editors picked out the gear that gave us a hand as we chased adventure around the United States and abroad. Now, as 2024 draws to a close, we’re celebrating the personal faves that traveled with us.
Coast RL35R Headlamp
I’ll admit: It felt a little weird at first talking to my headlamp. The Coast RL35R is a full-featured light with 4 different white lighting modes that can blast out up to 1100 lumens, plus blue, red, and green lights, a wheel to easily adjust brightness, and a respectable 80 hour runtime on low. But what really sets it apart is its voice controls, which allow users to simply dictate a setting rather than fiddling with buttons and have the RL35R instantly respond. On a nighttime skin to the 12,400-foot-high ridgeline at Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin, I appreciated not having to break stride to switch my red beam to a brighter light to deal with a boot issue, or to turn it off entirely to watch for shooting stars. The voice controls worked reasonably well even when the wind kicked up, though I did have to repeat myself during the worst gusts; the headlamp even picked up my shouted “Coast maximum!” while I was ripping down the mountain, boosting the output high enough for me to see a solid 300 or 400 feet downhill. If I sounded a little unhinged muttering to my headlamp while I got my gear together in the parking lot, that’s a price I’m willing to pay. —Adam Roy, Editor in Chief
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
I recently went on the biggest trip of my life—a trek in Nepal—complete with 40 total hours of air travel, two 10-hour layovers, and multiple bus rides. Through all of it, I relied on my Allpa Travel Pack to keep me organized. It’s the ideal carry-on with a comfortable backpack carry: A full-wrap zipper allows the pack to butterfly open like a suitcase, granting easy access to the internal pockets (each of which features a zip and mesh so you can see what’s inside without yardsaling gear on the airport floor). A generous pocket on the front of the pack kept my snacks and essentials handy, while the interior swallowed crucial hiking gear like my boots that I didn’t want to risk packing in a checked bag. I appreciated the ability to keep them separate from my clothes. A padded laptop pocket protected my electronics and kept them accessible in the security line. I didn’t hike with this pack, but I must have walked a few miles through the Seattle, Doha, and Kathmandu airports with the Allpa on my back. The padded shoulder straps and hipbelt were comfortable.
The Allpa is rife with thoughtful details that seasoned travelers will love. Grab loops on every side of the pack make snagging it from an overhead compartment or conveyor belt a breeze. The newest version of the pack even features a specially designed strap for attaching it to a roller suitcase. Cotopaxi uses entirely leftover fabrics for their “Del Dia” version of the Allpa, so every pack is vibrant and unique. You can choose your favorite color combination from dozens of options, or choose to be surprised —Zoe Gates, Senior Editor
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
For years, satellite messaging devices were in a slow, neck-and-neck arms race. One brand might shave an ounce or two, while another added a few hours of battery life. The Messenger Plus is a huge leap forward, and probably my most-used piece of gear this year. Texting using the Garmin Messenger app now takes seconds, rather than minutes, as is the case with most previous generation devices, including the regular Garmin Messenger device ($300.) The feeling is not unlike going from dial-up to cable internet. (We’re not quite at fiber optic-level speeds yet.) The Messenger Plus is also the first device that’s able to transmit photos and voice memos. This is huge for emergency and rescue situations. For me, though, it’s meant staying connected to my partner on long backpacking trips where I’d otherwise just be sending check-in texts once or twice a week. One day very soon, I’m sure, we’ll all be permanently connected via low-orbit satellites—no special equipment needed. For now, though, the Messenger Plus is lightyears ahead of the competition. —Benjamin Tepler, Senior Gear Editor
Teva ReEmber Slip-Ons
Every month in the winter, I spend a day rock climbing in Joshua Tree. In the summer and fall, I’ll train in my local bouldering gym and wait until the mercury drops enough to justify making the daytrip. A few weeks ago, conditions were perfect to make my inaugural trip. I decided to pack my Tevas, which have been a solid car and camp shoe, to test their ability on the approach. This trip, they rose to the challenge. On Joshua Tree days, we walk up to a mile from boulder to boulder, so I need a solid shoe that will support the journey. Before, I’d just use my trail runners. But, I quickly got tired of tying my shoe dozens of times each day. The slip-on ReEmbers were comfortable enough to last about 10,000 steps throughout the day, and I appreciated that I didn’t need to use my hands at all to get them on and off. They’re extremely durable, and made with recycled materials, so you can feel good about your purchase. The one downside: I tested the shoe’s traction on some scrambles to hard-to-reach boulders, and they faltered a bit. There were some moments during scrambles that my foot nearly slid out of the stretchy rubber back, so I wouldn’t recommend these shoes on steep surfaces. On flat or moderate ground at camp, between boulders, or in town, though, they’re the best all-around shoes I’ve ever tried. — Emma Veidt, associate editor
Our Favorite Gear of 2024
Browse the gear that we loved this year.
Highlight: Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX Spike “With a Gore-Tex membrane wrapped in a stretchy woven polyester upper, The Spikes are about as comfortable and unobtrusive as my summer trail runners, which is a rarity in the studded running shoe category.”
Highlight: Leatherman FREE T4 Multitool “The four screwdriver tips—small, medium, and large standard drivers plus a Phillips—make tightening down the occasional loose screw a breeze, while the tweezers have come in handy for plucking cactus spines and oyster shell bits out of my shoes’ outsoles and occasionally my own skin.”
Highlight: Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top “On our hike, temps were in the 20s, snow was still falling, and some winds were arriving in anticipation of an evening storm, but I stayed warm and dry thanks to my Smartwool baselayer top.”
Highlight: Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie “For the past five years or so, the Vigor has been the rare piece that I wear year-round, layering it under my shell for wintertime ski tours, wearing it on its own for brisk late-spring paddles on our local reservoir, and stuffing it in the bottom of my pack for summertime hikes on the Colorado Trail.”
Highlight: Altra Women’s Experience Flow “A cushy foam in the midsole helps absorb impact from sharp rocks and roots, but still provides plenty of rebound on hard-packed trails. The sole is cambered, which gently rocks the foot forward on each step. This took a little getting used to, but once I got there, I fell in love with it.”
Highlight: Diorite Gear Telescopic Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles “I’ve been trying to keep my pack weight down while testing new pyramid-style shelters this summer. Unfortunately, most trekking poles don’t extend far enough to pitch taller mids, necessitating the use of extra dedicated support poles. That’s where the Diorite Telescopic Carbon Fiber comes in. ”
Highlight: Cnoc 28-mm Vesica Bottle “The Vesica, from pouch and reservoir-maker Cnoc, is a compact alternative to the ubiquitous 1-liter Smartwater bottle. Weighing only 2.1 ounces, this soft, TPU-sided bottle has a hardened top and bottom, which allows it to keep its shape and stand on its own in your pack’s side pocket.”
Highlight: Osprey Tempest Pro 30 “I’ve used this highly featured daypack all summer—for scrambles, volunteer wildlife monitoring hikes, and even light trail runs. So far, I’ve yet to find a day-length activity it’s not up for.”
Highlight: HydraPak 42mm Filter Cap “Flow rates for the Cap are off the charts (so far), thanks to the long, open cage design of the filter, with clear alpine water filtering at roughly 1 liter every 30 seconds. More testing is needed to see how it fares with consistently mucky water over time, but so far, it’s shaping up to be a winner.”
Highlight: Darn Tough Critter Club Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock “The Critter Club version just adds one more thing to love about Darn Tough’s signature sock. Someone gifted me a pair with what looks like my dog, Juno, complete with backpack and trekking poles.”
Highlight: Nathan Pinnacle 12 Liter Hydration Vest “The pack material was so stretchy and the pockets were so accessible that it allowed me to easily store and retrieve my puffer as conditions changed throughout the hike. No need to rifle around to snag something from the bottom of the Pinnacle: Backpanel compartments can open from the base thanks to their hook-and-loop closures, which let me find my sunscreen without holding up the group.”