New Backpacking Gear for 2026
These products bring cutting-edge design and materials to the backcountry
Here are two backpacking truths: Just as it’s always worth hiking around the next bend in the trail to find the perfect campsite or an inviting alpine lake, you’ll never regret checking out the latest trail technology. Gear brands are continuously iterating and introducing new designs and materials. Even if your kit is fully formed, take a look below at the products that Better Trail is most excited about for the upcoming hiking season. Who knows—you might just find your next favorite piece of backpacking gear.
New Backpacking Packs for 2026
Mountain Hardwear is best known for its apparel, but it has designed some packs that have achieved cult status over the years (the expedition-savvy AMG series comes to mind). The brand crosses into new terrain, though, with the Alakazam: a true ultralight backpacking pack. With its white/gray ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) Aluula fabric and 1-pound, 14.3-ounce weight for the 60-liter version, the Alakazam evokes the designs from Hyperlite Mountain Gear favored by thru-hikers across the continent. However, the Alakazam’s robust feature set is a departure from the Hyperlite ethos, and quite impressive for its weight—the pack has an aluminum frame, a padded hipbelt with dual pockets, running vest-style shoulder pockets, and a cushy backpanel. It seems like Mountain Hardwear is trying to have its ultralight dehydrated cake and eat it, too, although we’re curious if the Alakazam will be it. At $595 for the 60-liter version, it’s one of the most expensive packs we’ve ever seen.
Unlike Mountain Hardwear, Gossamer Gear has always played in the ultralight sandbox, but the Mirage 40 is still an intriguing new model from this small yet nimble brand. Gossamer Gear’s minimalist backpacks hadn’t featured full UHMWPE builds, but its recently introduced Alchemy leans in hard to Aluula’s ultralight, ultra-tough, completely waterproof Graflyte material (the same as found on the Mountain Hardwear Alakazam). The Mirage 40 is the largest model in the Alchemy line, and it weighs a head-turning 1 pound, 3.4 ounces despite having a removable carbon-fiber frame and a fully padded hipbelt. This pack is more pared-down than the Alakazam (although at $450, it’s still quite pricey), and it looks like it’s designed for ultralighters who have their lightweight kit completely dialed. As with all ultralight packs, we’ll have to test how well the Mirage carries a load and how comfortable it actually is, but color us curious regardless.
Tech trend: Aluula fabric
You’ve definitely heard of Dyneema, and perhaps you’ve heard of Challenge Ultra, or Spectra, or X-Pac. All of those are materials that are made with various forms of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene—UHMWPE, for those in the back—which has become the standard in the ultralight community for building backpacks that are extremely durable for their low weights, as well as waterproof (and inherently expensive). Aluula is one of the newer fabric manufacturers on the scene, and both Mountain Hardwear and Gossamer Gear are using its Graflyte UHMWPE material to build the packs we mentioned above.
Unlike most other UHMWPE fabrics, Graflyte doesn’t need to be blended with or laminated to another material (the UHMWPE fabrics you’re probably used to seeing are likely composites). Instead, Aluula’s production fuses UHMWPE fibers together in a unique process that’s meant to produce a material that’s even stronger than UHMWPE composites. Because Graflyte only has one component, it’s also recyclable, which is a big sustainability win as well. Our testing will bear out how Aluula’s products fare in the long run, but we’re keen to find out.
When Yeti acquired Bozeman, Montana packmaker Mystery Ranch, it got a venerable brand that was well-known for its unique designs. The Skala’s heritage is immediately recognizable thanks to its three-way dorsal zipper, a Mystery Ranch hallmark. The design provides easy access to the pack’s main compartment, and this otherwise looks to be a comfort-focused model (Mystery Ranch wasn’t known for skimping on features, either). At more than 4.5 pounds, the 60-liter version of the Skala marks it as a category heavyweight, with pockets galore, an adjustable harness, and water-resistant YKK Aquaguard zippers. It remains to be seen if the Skala can compete with similarly bulky packs, comfort-wise, but one thing’s for certain: At $450 for the 60-liter, it seems to have picked up Yeti’s customary pricing.
New Backpacking Tents for 2026
Big Agnes raised the bar for lightweight livability last year with the updated Copper Spur UL2, and the brand’s new VST line looks to be another step in the same direction. The line’s three shelter silhouettes all use Big Agnes’s proprietary HyperBead polyester fabric to maintain waterproofing and durability while shaving off ounces, a mandate that’s reinforced by their ultralight designs. Each tent (the String Ridge, a trekking-pole shelter; the Pitchpine, a semi-freestanding model; and the Sarvis, a freestanding design) has a hybrid single-wall/double-wall construction that lowers weight—but which might also result in more internal condensation than true double-wall builds like the Copper Spur.
All of the designs are worth a look if you’re an ultralight or a fastpacker, but the Sarvis and the Pitchpine are particularly interesting. The two-person version of the former weighs 2 pounds, 13 ounces and has 32 square feet of floor space, which makes it both lighter and roomier than the Copper Spur, and almost exactly on par with the thru-hiker favorite Durston X-Dome 2. And the Pitchpine, which is available in a 1.5-person floor plan, is even lighter at 1 pound, 15.1 ounces, and might be the perfect shelter for a soloist who wants to keep weight down but doesn’t want to fiddle with trekking-pole-supported shelters. Add in the String Ridge, a trekking-pole tent which weighs a scant 2 pounds, 2 ounces in its 2.5-person configuration, and you have a line that every ultralighter should want to try.
We’ve already tested and reviewed the Hubba Hubba HD, but are happy to sing its praises again. Unlike the rest of the Hubba Hubba line of tents, which focus on high weight-to-space ratios, the HD (which stands for “Heavy Duty”) leans into durability and weather protection. It trades the full-mesh canopies of lighter competitors for a mostly solid tent body that traps more warmth (this is a good shelter for cold shoulder-season conditions) and increased moisture resistance, which is furthered by its burly fly. Our testers loved the peace of mind the HD granted them in stormy weather, and they also applauded its roominess, which remains a hallmark of the Hubba Hubba lineage. This shelter has 32 square feet of floor space and lots of pockets, and it still comes in under 4 pounds. That’s more than decent for a tent that will feel a bit more substantial than lighter competitors when the weather turns for the worse.
Along with the Big Agnes Copper Spur, the Dragonfly Osmo has been at the forefront of lightweight freestanding tents for a while. In its newest iteration, Nemo took what was already a successful formula—proprietary Osmo fabric that offers both anti-sag rain protection and impressive durability, a weight light enough for long-distance backpacking, and good interior storage—and tweaked it to make the Dragonfly even more appealing. This tent has the same floor dimensions as its predecessor, but a new ridgepole design both shifts the peak height closer to the head of the tent and takes the sidewalls closer to vertical, so the new model has more headroom. The rain fly hits closer to the ground for increased protection, and the Dragonfly’s fabrics are now solution dyed as well. With a neat “Landing Zone” storage tub in the vestibule, easy setup, and a packed weight of 3 pounds, 5 ounces, this is one of the most well-rounded tents on the market.
The Sea to Summit Telos TR2 turned heads (and gave them plenty of space) with its unique canopy design, which spread out the top of the tent like the wings of an eagle. Although the Telos was never the lightest or the roomiest backpacking shelter out there, it still presented high-quality and got the job done on the trail. This new Evo version of the tent isn’t all that different, but designers made some key changes. Most noticeable is its new floor and fly fabric; whereas the old Telos had fairly wispy nylon, this one features Sil-PeU nylon that, similar to Nemo’s Osmo material, should absorb less moisture, stretch less when wet, and offer increased durability. It also makes the new Telos 1.7 ounces lighter (it’s now 3 lb. 9.3 oz.), but that’s countered by a peak height that’s two inches lower than the prior generation. Sea to Summit also changed the vent design at the top, and if you want to check out a shelter that’s a little more off the beaten path and does its own thing, the Telos is worth a peek.
New Sleeping Pads for 2026
Nemo’s Tensor All-Season is currently tops in our backpacking sleeping pad rankings, but the brand may have topped it with the new Eclipse All-Season. The Eclipse (1 lb. 3 oz.) is only an ounce heavier in its regular size, but it’s even thicker—4 inches to the Tensor’s 3.5 inches—and has a 6.2 R-value, compared to the Tensor’s definitely-not-shabby 5.4. This is a comfortable pad that you could take winter camping if you wanted to—but it’s still light enough for summer backpacking. That’s seriously impressive, and even more so when you consider the Eclipse’s price: only $160, which is much less than the $220 Tensor and another pad all-star, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT ($200). Simply put, we can’t wait to see if the Eclipse lives up to its amazing specs.
Unlike the more versatile Eclipse, the Ultralight XR Insulated is dead-set on lightweight summer backpacking. It weighs just a hair over a pound in its regular size, but it also doesn’t come in the rectangular shape you can opt for with the Eclipse and the NeoAir. Instead, the Ultralight XR’s mummy silhouette and thin, lightly insulated build (it measures 2.6 in. thick and has an R-value of 3.6) place a premium on packability over cushion and warmth. A packed size of 7.5 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches is pretty compact, though, and might go well with a fastpacking setup. Plus, the Ultralight XR’s honeycomb baffle design is a different take on pad design, and it might feel right to some campers.
Along with the Eclipse, the Ultra 6.5R is one of the most eye-catching new sleeping pads on paper. It’s lighter than the Eclipse but even warmer (it’s 12.5 oz. and has a 6.9 R-value), which puts it in rarefied air for an all-season pad that’s insulating enough for winter but that definitely won’t make a big dent in your pack weight. It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that those specs are for the mummy version; the rectangular Ultra 6.5R weighs a bit over a pound. Additionally, this pad is half an inch thinner than the Eclipse (same as the Nemo Tensor, though). The mummy silhouette is still pretty dang light for such a warm pad, though, and it initially looks to be worth the $200 price tag.
New Sleeping Bags for 2026
Outdoor gear design can often feel rote, but sleeping bags are where brands go to let their funkiest design impulses run wild. That’s especially true when it comes to comfort-focused models that, while perhaps a little heavy for long-distance backpacking (3 lb. 10 oz. for the 20-degree version), can have a host of eye-catching features. That’s exactly the chase with the synthetic Wraptor (side note: awesome name), which comes in 20-degree and 30-degree varieties. This bag is designed with a quilt-like double wrap around the torso; with both wings extended, it looks like Dracula showing off his cape, but snug them around you and fasten them with a nifty magnetic button at the shoulder, and you’ll be instantly swaddled. This zipperless design looks pretty sweet for regulating temperature, a goal that’s aided by an envelope-style opening at the foot. Roomy dimensions and a decent price ($239 for the 20°F version) make the Wraptor a bag to watch.
New Water Filters for 2026
We anointed the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze as the most versatile squeeze filter on the market, and this new kit puts together everything you need to take advantage of its adaptability. For less money than it would take to assemble the individual pieces on your own, LifeStraw includes the 650-milliliter Peak Squeeze (owner of one of the fastest flows around, at 3L per minute) and its hollow-fiber filter cartridge, as well as a 3-liter reservoir and a hose for setting up a gravity system. The different uses you can get out of this kit are amazingly wide-ranging: You can sip directly through the filter like a straw, employ it with the squeeze bottle for day hikes or solo backpacking trips, attach the filter to a standard water bottle if you prefer, or have hands-free filtering for a group using the gravity form. Not bad for a product that only costs $100. For comparison, the gravity-only Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L goes for $135.
New Backpacking Stoves for 2026
Backpacking and fine dining usually aren’t mentioned in the same sentence, and they might never be. But the TrailCook brings the two worlds just a bit closer, offering an all-in-one setup for precisely simmering and sauteeing in a setup that’s light enough for the backcountry. The system is centered around a stove head that has a nifty dial for delicately controlling its 6,000 BTY output. The head also has pot supports, which integrate neatly with the included 1.2-liter pot and shallower pan ($180 for that set) or a 2-liter cook pot ($200). The TrailCook is designed for making backcountry meals that are more involved (read: fun to make) and tastier than your usual boil-in-a-bag fare, and when you’re done cooking, everything packs away neatly into the pot. Both sizes weigh less than 1.5 pounds, but that portability may be offset by all the awesome ingredients you’ll now want to carry to camp.
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