Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn MoreTop Sections
Hiking, Backpacking & Camping
The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist
Looking for a quality backpacking gear packing list to help you prepare for an upcoming trip. Our backpacking expert...
Best Hiking Gear
After years of playing in the outdoors and getting our hands on a wide variety of gear, we have had the chance to...
The Best Water Bottles
Water is essential to good health. Experts recommend drinking at least 8 glasses a day to stay properly hydrated. A...Men's Clothing
The Best Down Jackets for Men
We've been putting down and puffy jackets to the test for over a decade to find the best and warmest options. We've...
The Best Fleece Jackets for Men
Since 2010, our apparel experts have tested nearly 100 of the best fleeces available. For our latest version of this...
The Best Winter Jackets for Men
If you need a toasty winter jacket to get you through the cold months, you're in the right place. Our coat crew...Women's Clothing
The Best Down Jacket for Women
Searching for a down jacket to keep you toasty through the cold months? Since 2012, we have tested more than 60...
The Best Running Shorts for Women
Our team of experienced runners researched over 40 pairs of the best women's running shorts before buying and...
The Best Winter Jackets for Women
We tested 15 winter jackets, from soft and cozy cocoons to durable beasts that shrug off winter storms. We wore them...Shoes & Boots
Hiking Boots (Men's & Women's), Hiking Shoes (Men's & Women's), Trail Running Shoes (Men's & Women's) or see all in Footwear
Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
The right pair of trail running shoes makes all the difference to your happiness levels over the miles -- whether...
10 Best Hiking Boots
After trekking thousands of miles in more than 145 pairs of men's hiking boots and hiking boots for women in the last...
The Best Winter Boots for Women
To help keep your feet warm, we bought 18 top winter boots for women and tested each one rigorously across various...Climbing
The Best Gaiters
Looking for a new pair of gaiters to keep your feet dry and your footwear grit-free? We purchased 10 of the best pairs...
The Best Climbing Helmet
We bought and tested 13 of the most popular climbing helmets side-by-side to find the best options. With the...
Best Climbing Gear
Welcome to the Holy Grail of climbing gear lists! Here you will find our top picks: the gear our climber-testers would...Biking
Best Bikes
Looking for a bike to cruise on pavement or hit the trails? For over a decade, our team here at GearLab has been...
The Best Commuter eBikes
We purchased 14 of the best commuter ebikes and measured their range, power output, ride quality, user interface, and...
Best Folding Electric Bikes
We bought 7 folding electric bikes and rode them for hundreds of miles in side-by-side tests. We timed their assembly...Snow Sports
The Best Ski Helmets | Impact Tested
We purchased the top 12 ski helmets available today and had them all impact tested at a professional testing lab...
Best Ski Gear
A successful day on the mountain largely depends on staying warm, dry, and comfortable. Whether you're a beginner...
Best Backcountry Ski Boots
Over the past decade, we've purchased, tested, and reviewed over 50 of the best backcountry ski boots. Our current...Paddling
Best Water Gear
With the right gear, staying active and enjoying warm, sunny days on the water is easy. Our gear list features only...
The Best Kayaks
Our testing grounds for these kayaks were the rivers and lakes of the Tahoe area. We took these boats out on flat...
The Best SUP Paddles
We've evaluated dozens of SUP paddles over the last 7 years with 13 of the market's top options in this review. Our...Fitness
Best Running Gear
We have hands-on experience with almost every type of gear you may need as a runner, and even some that you don't (but...
10 Best Hydration Vests for Running
Looking for the perfect hydration vest for your runs? We've bought and tested over 70 top-rated running vests over the...
Best Running Hydration Vest for Men
We've tested close to 40 unique running hydration packs in the past 8 years, with our top 15 in this review. We sought...Travel
The Ultimate Travel Packing List
Planning your next getaway and wondering what you need to pack for your travels? Our expert travel gear editors have...
Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks
A great travel backpack provides you the comfort of home away from home: a place to organize all your stuff while on...
The Best Carry-On Luggage
The perfect carry-on bag isn't just about fitting your essentials; it's about helping you travel as stress-free and...Recent Gear Reviews
See all recent product reviews
Top Pick
Pakayak Bluefin 142 Review
The Pakayak Bluefin 142 is a long, narrow sea kayak that handles very well on flatwater and serious waves alike. It's...
Best Buy
REI Co-op 650 for Women Review
The REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket is a wallet-friendly and lightweight down jacket with a simple design for casual...
Editors' Choice
Rab Neutrino Pro for Women Review
We've been impressed with the Rab Neutrino Pro since we saw guides wearing it at surprisingly high elevations in...
Top Pick
La Sportiva Bushido III for Women Review
The updated La Sportiva Bushido III is practically perfect for rugged trail running. This shoe has been updated in the...
Top Pick
Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 for Women Review
The Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 is excellent through and through. This hardy trail shoe deservedly earned high scores for...
Top Pick
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Review
If technical trails, rocky summits, and extended periods of off-trail travel are your scene, then take a hard look at...GearLab Learning Center
See all recent Learning Center articles
