Maya Rivera

A good hiking daypack is not something that all hikers own, but it's the kind of gear that you wonder how you ever did without when you do finally buy a good one.

To test out hiking daypacks we've gone out in the blazing summer heat and snowshoeing in the depths of winter, and everything in between. We've scrambled up mountains and wandered through humid jungles. The daypacks below are the ones...

Bivy sacks are the original ultralight shelter. They're the minimum amount of material needed to keep you comfy and dry in just about any conditions. When you need a really small footprint and you still want to be protected from the weather, a bivy sack is a great option.

To test out bivy sacks we've huddled on mountain ledges and gone fast and light in the mountains. We've also braved swarms of...

Hiking socks are the unpraised workhorse of the hiking outfit. You only really notice them when something goes wrong, but when you get a blister, or your feet feel like they're in a sauna on a hot day, you sure do wish you'd brought better hiking socks.

To test out women's hiking socks we've trekked through tropical jungles and cold winter forests. We've scrambled up and down mountains, gone on...

Snowshoes are a great tool for winter travel in the mountains. Especially when you can get off the trail and start clomping through some untouched powder, a good pair of snowshoes really shines, and open up a snowy world to explore.

To test out snowshoes, we've broken trail and gone off the trail. We've gone up more than a few peaks, trekked to backcountry huts and carried them on our backpack...

Your mountaineering boots are your best friends when you're halfway up a snowy mountain. They're the one thing standing between your toes and the frigid temperatures, so you really, really want to take your time and get a good pair.

To test out women's mountaineering boots we've crossed a whole lot of snow, worn crampons and snowshoes, gone up many mountains in every season, and ventured out in...

If the idea of leaving the trail and heading in to the mountains really excites you, then a good pair of approach shoes might be essential for you. They're that extra bit of grip and traction that can make all the difference in those difficult scramble spots.

To test out these approach shoes we did a lot of approaching on trails, through boulder fields and up scree slopes. We also scrambled up a...

Hut booties are the luxury camping and backpacking item that not nearly enough people are bringing with them. Whether you're heading to a hut or just a campsite, after a long day of wearing a pair of hiking boots or shoes, nothing feels better than slipping a couple of clouds on to your feet.

We've hauled our hut booties on week long backpacking trips and to more than a few backcountry huts....

A good pair of hiking boots will be your best friend, but a bad pair will make you miserable and have probably turned off more than one woman from hiking forever. So, it really is important to choose your boots wisely.

We carried heavy backpacks through mud, over roots and across slippery bridges to test out our favorite hiking boots. We scrambled up mountains and navigated endless boulder...

No one wants to use their rain pants when out backpacking or hiking, but everyone is glad they brought them when a good day turns ugly.

We've dug our rain pants out when a bluebird day turns in to drizzles. We've survived rain storms that felt that buckets being dumped on us, and days living in a pair of rain pants on multi-day trips. These are the pants that we'd do it all again with.

If you don't yet own a pair of long underwear, now's your chance to grab the best piece of gear you don't yet have in your closet. Long underwear works great in a whole variety of outdoor situations.

We've done plenty of backcountry skiing in our long underwear, and some resort skiing too. We've lounged around in backcountry huts after a long day of backpacking and gotten compliments on our...