Clothing
3 guides tagged Clothing
Buyer's Guide
Best Hiking Pants (2026): Men's and Women's, Ranked
Hiking pants are the most underrated clothing decision on trail: the right pair stretches where you move, dries before the next creek crossing, and carries what your pockets need to carry, and the wrong pair reminds you of itself every mile. We ranked the pants that actually earn a place in the pack for both men and women: the stretch benchmark most male hikers end up in, the women's pant that balances stretch and structure, the travel-to-trail value pick, the convertible classic, the budget workhorse, the featherweight jogger, and the waterproof over-pants for the days the forecast lies.
Read the guide →~14 min read
Buyer's Guide
The Best Hiking Socks (2026)
Socks are the cheapest gear decision that can ruin a trip or quietly save it. The right pair manages moisture, kills friction before it becomes a blister, and refuses to stink after three days on trail. We ranked the three that matter: the lifetime-guaranteed benchmark nearly every hiker ends up owning, the softer merino alternative for sensitive feet, and the toe socks that solve blisters the others cannot. Plus the value merino multi-pack that makes the rotation advice affordable.
Read the guide →~10 min read
Buyer's Guide
The Best Rain Jackets for Hiking (2026)
A rain jacket is the one piece of gear you buy hoping never to need, and then need desperately, all at once, hours from the trailhead. We ranked the shells that actually earn their spot in a pack: the value benchmark most hikers should buy, the ultralight that disappears until the sky opens, the budget packable that covers day hikers for well under a hundred dollars, and the famous $25 suit that thru-hikers refuse to quit.
Read the guide →~11 min read