by Diane Spicer
Which hiking gear sources can you trust?
Who delivers the goods, quite literally?
Which businesses are easy to deal with when you're hunting for backpacking gear sources?
What are the names of top hiking gear manufacturers?
Do any of them really understand what it means to hike in a female body?
Whoa! Loaded questions!
Let's get started answering them.
"Best" hiking gear sources depends on what you're looking for in hiking gear.
Words like:
should leap to mind.
Ask yourself these questions:
Your answers to these hiking gear questions give you a personal profile as a hiking and camping gear buyer.
And you won't be surprised to hear that there's no ONE GRAND SOURCE of hiking gear.
The best you can hope for is a list of reliable hiking gear sources.
Here's Hiking For Her's short list, with detailed reasons, to get you started.
One place I've had great luck with over the years (as in since 1978) is REI Co-op, a well established, respected gear cooperative based in Seattle, WA.
They carry top rated gear, and if it's new on the market, you'll find it there first.
REI offers gear in a wide range of sizes, too.
You'll need to pay a one-time low membership fee (it's been $20 US forever), but you get a rebate each year on the amount you spend on hiking apparel, gear and footwear.
Take a look at their camping and hiking equipment selection here.
An easy way to locate what you want is to use their left side bar. You can narrow your search by several parameters, which is why I think they're a great place to get started on your gear search:
Use their "compare" feature to look at only the items you want to zero in on.
They mark their gear down as the seasons change, so watch for fair prices to get even more amazing.
And their "outlet" gives you some fantastic options on name brand gear that is discounted year round.
Over the decades this cooperative never lost its roots, always focused on the outdoor experience rather than a corporate persona.
There are at least 14 membership benefits just waiting for you, making that one time $20 investment seem like a brilliant move.
Moosejaw allows you to shop by brand, and carries all of the top names such as Arc'teryx, OR, The North Face, Marmot, on and on...
They have amazing sales, and they're worth keeping an eye on for end of season closeout deals.
Looking for a dose of humor with your hiking gear? They deliver!
Backcountry has been a reliable source of hiking and camping gear, all year round, since 1996.
Their outdoor clothing, footwear, backpacks and everything else you need for the trail are top notch, because the company values safety and comfort.
If you love winter sports like skiing, or pursue other outdoor loves like biking, check out what this company can offer to get you geared up when snow covers the trails.
This company, which carries the top brands and has been around since 1995, has a great name, don't you think?
If you're into other outdoor sports beyond hiking, this is the place to shop.
So if you packraft, or do dayhiking on a rafting trip, check them out for your water plus land gear.
What I like about Outdoor Play is their surprising sales prices, along with their wide range of options in each category of hiking gear.
You can type a question into a chat box on the right side of each page, and get a real live person to engage in a conversation about the gear you're considering.
Because this company is run by staunch outdoor enthusiasts, expect their gear selection to be realistic and reliable.
As each hiking season unfolds, I find myself more and more interested in lightening up the weight of my outdoor gear.
In fact, I've made a vow to go lighter with one major piece of hiking gear each year, with an end goal of replacing all of my older technology with lightweight options.
Ultralight Adventure Equipment (ULA) is supportive of this idea, featuring durable backpacking and hiking equipment hand sewn in the United States.
Their website is simple and easy to navigate, with minimum distractions.
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And be sure to check out their Rain Kilt. You won't find this unisex rain skirt and cover up anywhere else! |
My gear reviews are a good place to start on your quest for the best hiking gear.
Feel free to contact me with your question about gear sources.
I'd be glad to help!
If you're curious about the types of questions I get from other hikers, visit the Hiking For Her hiking questions archive.
Hiking Gear Sources
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And it's used to keep the best hiking tips flowing freely on this website.
Thanks for your support of HFH's mission to get everyone out on the trails in safety and comfort.
Hiking For Her: Hiking tips you can trust!