There are two features you want out of any piece of backpacking gear. 1. That it weighs next to nothing and 2. That it’s really hardworking. Nemo’s Airpin ultralight aluminum stakes check both boxes. They are self-locking, keep guy wires tight & they’re made of stiff, 7075 aluminum & weigh just 10 grams.

American-made & designed for backpackers and through-hikers committed to the fast & light approach, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 is a minimalist 2-person, three-season shelter made of Dyneema—one of the lightest & strongest fabrics in the world. It features a waterproof floor, 2 mesh side doors for cross ventilation, and a vestibule for cooking & staging undercover. Total weight: just 1.75 pounds.

The foldable, 2-legged Bip chair from Di-Lite Equipment is quite possibly the lightest seat in the universe. For sporting events, outdoor activities like fishing, or simply taking a break when the time is right, this thing is a featherweight accessory you’ll want beneath your butt. It’s can hold up to 300-pounds and yet weighs just under 1 pound. When it’s folded up it’ll slip right into your pack or travel bag like it’s not even there.

Designed to sustain 2 people in any emergency, the Companion Kit from RINO Ready is touted as the world’s most advanced two person, 72-hour emergency survival system. Packed with essentials for first aid, warmth, light, communication & safe sight and air plus food, water, & tools. All of it is packed into a bombproof bag and neatly organized. Basically, it’s portable life insurance. A funded Indiegogo.

The all-in-one Mantis hammock tent from Kammok gives intrepid tree dwellers they need for camping up off the ground, all year round. This lightweight versatile hammock is equipped with customizable features for every season: an insect net, rainfly, and a winter barrier. Smaller than your sleeping bag and lighter than a 1-person tent, it is designed to keep things light & fast for those minimalist strike missions or longer backpacking trips when every ounce of weight makes the difference. Another funded Kickstarter.

The Sprout Mini Lantern from the gear geeks at UCO is an ultra-compact camp light with push button control that allows you to quickly dim or boost it up to the 100-lumen level. It also has a gentle blue Moonlight Mode. The patent-pending magnetic lanyard allows you to easily hang/attach the light to a tent or tree. Powered by three AAA batteries.

The 4-piece mess kit from UCO Gear has been cleverly designed to function flawlessly for picnics, backpacking, and all your outdoor meals. Made of a flexible, durable Polypropylene & TPE material, it includes 1 bowl/container, 1 lid/plate, 1 Spork, and 1 Reusable Tether. The lid has a double gasket to ensures a leak-proof & spill-proof seal. The lid and bowl are curved to match the sides of the 3-in-1 Utility Spork so you’ll never miss a morsel. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Designed for small to mid-size vehicles, Rhino-Rack’s Compact Batwing Awning delivers 69 sq. feet & 270º of coverage from the sun & rain. It’s made of water-proof & mold-resistant fabric that offers UPF sun protection. It can be quickly & easily deployed by 1 person and is supported by lightweight, powder-coated aluminum legs that fold up & away when you’re ready to roll. The whole rack-mounted unit weighs just 40 pounds.

Two years after funding the most successful rooftop tent Kickstarter campaign ever for the Skycamp, iKamper is back with another soft-sided RTT called the X-Cover. The coverless design of this new model eliminates the need for a heavy PVC cover and the inverted platform creates the perfect base for mounting a roof rack, allowing you to haul toys on top of your tent. Inside the weatherproof canvas tent, there’s a king-size mattress & 5 large windows.

The wilderness wizards at Mountain Safety Research have created a new type of waterproof coating that will keep their Hubba NX backpacking tents drier for a lot longer. Traditional seam seals and tent waterproofing break down over time due to exposure to moisture and humidity and eventually start to leak. The brand’s Xtreme Shield polyurethane (PU) coating is better than that. It’s got a molecular chain that was engineered to eliminate deterioration, so your tent stays not only dry but never gets that sticky, flaky residue that inevitably occurs. The Hubba NX tents are available in solo, 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person models.

For camping, RV travels, tailgating, beach parties, and evenings in the backyard, this propane-powered fire pit from Cypress Outdoor heats things up nicely without having to deal with firewood, smoke, & ash. It is 21-inches in diameter and kicks out a bun-warming 58K BTUs. Comes with a cover and carry kit.

Basecamp from Cache transforms your tailgate into a proper place to party, pre-game, & picnic. The modular system mounts to any truck tailgate, offering detachable cushioned seating for two, coolers, and more, like padding for your surfboards, bike shuttles, and a secure payload strap for odd-size cargo.

Designed to out-perform standard headlamps and flashlights the Kogalla Ra Adventure light has a bank of 5 LEDs that crank out 800-lumens of light, plenty to light up the trail ahead after the sun goes down. For ultra-running, backpacking, caving, and other after-dark adventures, this versatile light is powered by a 6700 mAh battery pack that recharges via USB.

The 24-ounce GeoPress water purifier bottle makes it fast & easy to ensure you’re drinking clean, safe water anywhere in the world—even if your only source is seriously suspect. Fill up the outer bottle & press down on the top with the filter bottle using your body weight. This forces the water through the filters which eliminate sediment, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, heavy metals & microplastics. What you get is clean in 8 seconds. It’s also portable.

Designed for the versatility active lifestyles demand, the Headspin Convertible Light System is an exceptionally bright 400-lumen headlight that transforms instantly from its headlamp mount to the included flashlight mount, magnetic mount, or bike/rail mount. One light for all types of action. It also offers 4 intensity modes and has a run time of 40 hours on a full charge. Recharge via wall charging station or Micro USB.

If you ever read the story “To Build A Fire” by Jack London, you’ll want these in your pack for winter adventures. The Sweetfire Behemoth Fire Starters from UCO are made from sugarcane waste, fibrous, flammable by-product used around the world as a renewable bio fuel. They feature stormproof strikeable tips, that can be lit with the in-box striker. Each tin comes packed with 9 fire starters.

Light & power are daily essentials, and when you’re away from home, even more so. The portable Cairn XL lantern delivers it all with effortless ease. It gives you 350 lumens of bright white LED light plus enough juice for four mobile charges in Fast Charge mode plus bluetooth app connectivity. It’s an exceptional light & power source home-base or base camp.

The Orca LiddUp is a premium rotomolded cooler but unlike yours, this one has LED light strips inside that automatically turn on when you open the lid after dark. No more blindly rummaging for that last IPA & coming up with a Pepsi. Available in 35-quart size, this cooler features the brand’s signature rubber T latch closures, nylon carry handles, and the lights run on 4 AA batteries. Made in the USA.

Packable adventure travel gear maker Matador has re-designed their Pocket Blanket to be even better. At 63” X 44” and made of rugged, HyperLyte nylon, it provides a dry, clean place to sit wherever you are. It fits two adults and packs down to pocket-size in its integrated storage pouch. Available in black, red, or alpine green.

The All-in-One Cast Iron Grill from Barebones Living is a heavy-duty grill with a cast iron base and domed lid, grill grate, baking steel, tripod stand, and coal tray comb. But its versatile design also allows it to function as a smoker, skillet, braiser, roaster, deep fryer, slow cooker and stock pot.