Best Paracord 2026: Strong Cord Worth Carrying on Every Trip By GearHound Paracord is the duct tape of the outdoor world — it fixes everything. I have used it to guy out a tent in wind, hang a bear bag, make a clothesline at camp, replace a broken boot lace, secure gear to my pack, … Read more
Best Pocket Knives 2026: Folding Knives Worth Carrying on the Trail By GearHound A pocket knife is the one tool I carry on every single trip, from a day hike to a two-week backpacking expedition. It is not a survival tool — it is a utility tool. Cutting cord, opening food packaging, trimming a frayed … Read more
Best Insect Repellent 2026: Bug Sprays That Actually Work in the Backcountry By GearHound I have hiked in the Alaskan tundra during mosquito season. I have camped in the Boundary Waters in June. I have been on trails in the Smokies where the gnats were so thick I could not see the blazes. After all … Read more
Best Travel Towels 2026: Microfiber Towels That Dry Fast and Pack Small By GearHound A regular bath towel is useless for camping. It is heavy when wet, takes forever to dry, and fills half your pack. The first time I carried a full-size cotton towel on a backpacking trip, it was still damp in my … Read more
Best Camp Soap 2026: Biodegradable Soaps That Actually Clean Outdoors By GearHound For a long time I did not carry soap on backpacking trips. I figured I could go a few days without washing — it was camping, not a hotel. Then I did a 5-day trip where I had to handle raw chicken from … Read more
Best Emergency Blankets 2026: Survival Gear That Actually Keeps You Warm By GearHound An emergency blanket costs less than a cup of coffee and weighs less than an ounce. It can also save your life. If you spend time outdoors, there is no excuse not to carry one. I have used emergency blankets twice in … Read more
GearHound is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Why a Camping Tarp Deserves a Permanent Spot in Your Pack I have been camping in everything from sudden Rocky Mountain thunderstorms to relentless Appalachian drizzle, and if there … Read more
GearHound is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Why Your Dog Needs a Sleeping Pad for Camping I learned this one the hard way. On a early-season trip to the Wind River Range a few years back, … Read more
Best Hiking Compass 2026: Reliable Navigation That Does Not Need Batteries By GearHound I carry a compass on every hike, even when I have a GPS and a phone with a mapping app. Batteries die. Screens crack. Signals drop. A compass is the one piece of navigation gear that always works, in any weather, at … Read more
Best Camp Tables 2026: Portable Surfaces That Actually Hold Your Stuff By GearHound For years I was a “no table needed” camper. I cooked on the ground, ate on a log, and set my stove on a flat rock. Then one trip I knocked over a pot of chili onto my sleeping bag because my … Read more
