Each year I try out a few new outdoor equipment items. Here's my favorites from the 2025 hiking season!

The best hiking/ backpacking boot of my life. Zero blisters in 2+ years. Exceptionally well made with great grip on any surface. Durable and robust so they handled off-trail travel and a heavy pack with ease. My uber-picky feet are happy!

The Catalyst was my go-to pack for three years. Lightweight, durable, and able to carry surprisingly heavy loads comfortably, it is a trusty ultralight pack.

Complete list of all the gear and art equipment I carried on my backpacking trips this year!

Painting outside has unique challenges that led me to gather a lightweight collection of tools that make it easy and fun to create outdoors.

In-depth 4+ year review! The best tent I’ve ever owned. Lightweight, all-season, and insanely durable solo tent I plan to use for the rest of my life.

A synthetic insulation layer that became my favorite jacket. I got this jacket three years ago, and since then it has gone on nearly every adventure, from hiking in France to backpacking in the North Cascades. After 16 months of testing, the results are in. This is the best midlayer insulation jacket I have owned. So good that it has gone on every hike, backpacking trip, and international adventure since I got it. Four year+ update: This jacket is now called the Proton Hoody.