Mountaineering Gear Reviews
We tested the latest and the greatest from Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Garmin, MSR, Gregory and The North Face.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
When you are in the mountains, the right gear is often the difference between a sufferfest and something you'd like to do again. Ensuring you have the best down sleeping bag for your budget is a game changer. Lucky you, our dedicated team of testers has bought, tested and compared the rest of the mountainista essentials: from the best mountaineering backpacks, top mountaineering boots and best ice axes. Last but not least, don't forget about our comparative altimeter watch reviews.
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Best Picks in Mountaineering Gear Reviews
Best Gaiters of 2024
We tested a dozen pairs of the top gaiters on the market to help you choose which ones to take on your next trail run...
Best 4-Season Tents of 2024
Looking for a 4-season tent? Let us help. We've researched hundreds of the most popular tents on the market and put...
Best Mountaineering Backpack
For this review, our seasoned field testers took out a collection of the industry's leading mountaineering backpacks...
Best Winter Sleeping Bags
With a plethora of sleeping bags to choose from, it can be hard to know how best to turn your hard-earned dollars into...
Best Mountaineering Boots
Trying to find the best mountaineering boot? We've got you covered. Our testers reviewed 9 of the top products on the...
Best Mountaineering Boots For Women
Are you a woman in search of a mountaineering boot? We tested some of the best mountaineering boots for women...
Best Ice Axes
What's the best ice axe for mountaineering? We tested the best products and compared them head-to-head across a series...Mountaineering Gear Reviews Learning Center
How to Choose the Right Ice Axe
How do you choose an ice axe? Here are some key factors to consider when buying an ice axe for mountaineering....
How to Choose a Mountaineering and Alpine Climbing Backpack
If the ice axe is the posterchild of mountaineering, the backpack is our unsung hero. Mountaineering backpacks must...
How to Choose the Best Mountaineering Boots for Men
Mountaineering boots are an incredibly important piece of gear for the mountaineer, alpine climber, and ice or mixed...
4-Season Tents - How to Choose
We tested both single and double-walled tents. Single-walled shelters have one layer of wind and water resistant or...
How to Choose Gaiters
Love 'em or not, there is a lot to know about this simple outdoor accessory. If you are thinking about trying them for...
How to Choose a Winter Sleeping Bag
If you're lost in a cloud of down feathers trying to find the right bag for your winter adventures, this article sets...Recent Gear Reviews in Mountaineering Gear Reviews
Top Pick
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 Review
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 is an extremely lightweight option for camping in all four seasons. It's made...
Editors' Choice
Samaya2.0 Review
The Samaya 2.0 performed better than any other single-wall, 4-season tent in our review. The wait for completely...
Top Pick
The North Face Inferno 0 Review
The North Face Inferno 0 offers one of the most comfortable sleeping experiences in our lineup of sleeping bags. Its...
Editors' Choice
Osprey Mutant 38 Review
The Osprey Mutant 38 earns top marks again and retains our Editors' Choice Award. This pack defies limits, shifting...
Top Pick
NEMO Sonic 0 Review
The Nemo Sonic is one of the most comfortable bags in our review. It has a super wide cut, a little stretch around the...
Top Pick
Arc'teryx Acrux AR Review
In the past, if you needed a mountaineering boot with a removable liner (for drying out in your sleeping bag on...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme GTX Review
The La Sportiva Trango Tower Extreme GTX is our Best Buy Award winner. What makes this boot a good value isn't just...
Top Pick
Black Diamond Speed 40 Review
The Black Diamond Speed series is an excellent range of reliable backpacks optimized for climbing, mountaineering, and...
Editors' Choice
Rab Muztag GTX Review
The Rab Muztag GTX is one of our favorite gaiters for heavy-duty use. It is fully waterproof and easily adjustable...
Best Buy
REI Co-op Backpacker Low Review
The REI Backpacker Low is a super sturdy, mid-height gaiter that will keep your feet and ankles warm and dry in any...
Top Pick
Petzl Ride Review
As one of the lightest in the fleet, the Petzl Ride is surprisingly versatile for its weight and features a 100% steel...
Top Pick
Petzl Glacier Literide Review
The Petzl Glacier Literide is a surprisingly versatile axe for ski touring, general mountaineering, or moderate snow...
Top Pick
La Sportiva Trango Alp Evo GTX - Women's Review
The La Sportiva Trango Alp is a longtime favorite among our avid mountain athletes. It is not the lightest summer...
Top Pick