#1 – Yeti cooler water bottles
Everyone knows that Yeti rules the premium cooler market but it also makes an impressive array of drinkware, including some of the best water bottles around. Available in a variety of colors, the Yeti Rambler is big, good-looking, and virtually indestructible. The Rambler’s new Chug cap makes it easier than ever to drink from, while a host of other accessories — like a carrying sling, stainless steel cup, and straw — give users the ability to customize the bottle to fit their needs.
#2 – Rab Mythic Ultra Sleeping Bag
Rab just made one of the most advanced sleeping bags we’ve seen. While heat-reflective technology is not new, Rab did it in a different way — the bag’s material is made in a room filled only with inert argon gas. Thin fibers are coated with titanium, and when woven into the fabric, the bag reflects body heat back to the sleeper. The result is a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, with the Mythic Ultra 180, a 32-degree bag, weighing 400 g. The Mythic Ultra 360 20-degree weighs 606 g.
#3 – Peak Design Travel Tripod
Peak Design fixed one major flaw of tripods — wasted space — with its newest product. The Travel Tripod packs down small while still offering full-size tripod performance. And while it’s not exactly light (just under 3 pounds), this solid tripod will fit in your kit better than any other we’ve tested.
#4 – Black Diamond Z4 Camalot
Black Diamond gives us one of the most versatile pieces of climbing protection with the Z4 Camalot. The Z4 has a flexible stem, but when you squeeze the cam to retract the lobes, the stem stiffens for accurate placement. When released, the flexible stem is less prone to walk than rigid cams. It’s a great design that we loved in testing.
#5 – Garmin Force Trolling Motor
Garmin has upped the ante in the trolling-motor wars by mating its new Force motor to its existing space-age electronics. Now you can navigate or stay in place with the push of a button on the wireless yet exceptionally responsive foot pedal. The motor, which can be operated on 24 or 36 volts, is designed to thwart brush and weeds, and to be quieter, more powerful, and longer-lasting than the competition’s.
#6 – Altra Provision
Altra brings an entirely new (and patent-pending) approach to a stability shoe with the Provision. While Altra calls it a “guidance” shoe, the goal is to help runners reduce pronation. But instead of using midsole posting or hefty arch supports, the Provision has a system that activates arch support only when the foot pronates. The laces attach to tabs that wrap under the foot with fabric struts inside the shoe. If the ankle rotates inward, the system snugs up below the arch, guiding the runner toward better form.
#7 – Leatherman Free
Could the Leatherman Free be the best multitool yet? We think it’s likely. The Free uses magnetic closures to allow one-hand operation. And the improvements go much deeper.
#8 – Patagonia High Endurance Kit
Tackle “drastic elevation and temperature changes” on rapid ascents with Patagonia’s purpose-built High Endurance Kit. Sold as individual pieces, the kit includes Endless Run Shorts, Strider Pro Pants, and an Airshed Pullover, but it’s highlighted by an all-new Slope Runner Vest and Storm Racer Jacket. The jacket has dual front zippers that fold down the front panel for easy access to the vest’s hydration bottles and allows the wearer to rapidly dump heat. Everything in the kit is designed to be soft and breathable. Plus, all pieces pack down and fit into the vest for maximum lightweight portability.
#9 – Primus Fire Stick
Primus rethinks the lightweight canister stove for 2020 with its Fire Stick. The folding cylindrical design will fit in your pocket. Although it’s small and light, the design will still both block wind and hold pots. A regulated valve yields high fuel efficiency and controlled fuel consumption at low levels. The steel option weighs 3.7 ounces, and the titanium version weighs 3.1 ounces.
#10 – Hilleberg Anaris
Hilleberg builds some of the nicest (and priciest) tents in the world. The Anaris brings a retro A-frame design made for backpacking into the modern era. It’s relatively light at 3 pounds 1 ounce, but there’s a caveat: The tent requires trekking poles in lieu of tent poles for setup. We were impressed with its versatility. The two-person model is spacious, with large vestibules and the ability to transition from an airy “screen porch” mode to a buttoned-down bunker. With Hilleberg’s durable Kerlon 1000 fabric and 70-denier floor, this is a minimalist’s tent built to last.