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I’m the outdoors editor at CNN Underscored, and I’ve spent a lot of time shopping at REI. Over the years, I’ve bought and tested countless items from rooftop tents and foldable kayaks to water jugs and poop bags. Now I’m compiling my all-time favorites so you know what to buy for your next hiking or camping adventure.
Below, you’ll find the best pieces of gear that I’ve personally used from REI (some of the items aren’t available or are discontinued, in which case I found a similar item from the same brand).
Camping gear
If you're interested in backpacking, I'd definitely recommend this REI Co-op bundle. It comes with three of the most expensive items — a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad — for under $400. And the quality of the gear is surprisingly good for the price too.
I'm always looking for opportunities for a good hammock session, and whether it’s at my local park or the campsite, there’s nothing like dozing off in a hammock. This one from Eno is super sturdy, holding up to 400 pounds, and it comes in a solid variety of colors. If you want even more space, opt for the larger Eno DoubleNest Hammock, which has enough room for two people.
This camping chair costs a pretty penny, but — besides a hammock — it's the most comfortable way to relax at camp in my opinion. The Stargaze's swinging design lets you float and effortlessly recline back to look at the stars. Plus, it comes with a nifty cup holder and can be set up in about one minute.
I have an older but similar version of this tiny portable lantern. It's one of my favorite buys because it’s so small and easy to place anywhere. It isn’t the brightest lantern, but it provides enough light to cook and move around camp when the sun goes down. Plus, it's our pick for the best compact lantern we've tested.
A headlamp is way more useful when the sun goes down than a regular flashlight. This one from Black Diamond is our absolute favorite, thanks to its impressive brightness and easy usability.
During the hot months, I really can’t stand drinking room temperature or warm water. Especially when you’re outside hiking, there’s nothing like a swig of ice-cold water to cool you down. That’s why even when I'm backpacking and saving weight is critical, I carry a Yeti double-insulated water bottle, which is also our pick for the best water bottle on the market.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Yeti water bottle, but recently, I've been using the Owala more and more. It's got an amazing lid that allows you to sip out of a straw or chug through a larger opening, and the colors it comes in are just so cute.
Nothing's better than an ice-cold beer at after a long hike. But if you're sitting out in the sun, your drink can quickly become lukewarm. That's why I always pack along my favorite koozie, the Yeti Colster. I haven't tried the new 2.0, but I use the original can insulator nearly every time I grab a drink.
I have a previous version of this tent, but I actually wish I had waited and bought this new version since Nemo switched its fabrics and uses recycled materials in this new version. However, even the old version is by far the best tent I've ever owned. It’s perfect for backpacking, weighing under 4 pounds, but doesn’t sacrifice on space. The Dagger has more than enough room for two people and a 40-pound dog to sleep comfortably (or not so comfortably if your dog is like mine and crawls up to kick you in the ribs in the middle of the night).
This massive tent turns your campsite into a true home base. The Wonderland X includes a tent that clips into an enormous exterior structure that doubles as a canopy. I love how many different zippers and openings the canopy has, making it the perfect place to schmooze around at camp.
Investing in a $2,500 rooftop tent is a lot, and before trying one, I really didn't get why people spent so much money on them. But after spending six straight nights in the backcountry outside of Moab, Utah, sleeping in the Thule Approach, I was completely sold. I thought I had my sleep system dialed before, but I never have gotten better sleep than in the Approach. It's not right for everyone, but if comfort is your top priority, you'll love this tent.
I've had the Rumpl adventure blanket for years now and absolutely love its warm, durable build. Even when I'm not camping, the Rumpl is my (and my dog's) go-to for a movie night on the couch.
This synthetic sleeping bag is one of my favorites by far. It's ultra warm and comfy, and it even has a draft collar that helps block out the cold air in the middle of the night.
My favorite sleeping pad from Big Agnes is actually discontinued, but this one from Therm-A-Rest is my second pick. It's super lightweight and compact, making it perfect for backpacking trips, but is comfortable enough for casual car camping trips too.
I love Smartwool's Merino wool base layers. They're versatile and can really help trap in your body heat in the cold. Even during the summer, I like to bring a set of base layers to sleep in, that way I can change into clean clothes and it helps keep my sleeping bag clean. Check out the bottoms here.
This pullover isn't super thick or warm, but it's a super-cozy layer to throw on at the end of the day. My favorite feature is the massive kangaroo pocket in the front, which helps me keep all my random gadgets on hand at camp.
Whether you're bird-watching or you just want a better view of the mountain skyline, these binoculars come in super handy on all sorts of outdoors adventures.
While these aren't great for hiking (I did try once on a whim and wouldn't recommend it), I absolutely love my Blundstone boots and wear them everywhere. They're super versatile and you can wear them casually to the climbing gym and the bar or dress them up for parties and dinner dates. After a little trouble with the sizing (I read that they tend to run small, so I ordered a half size up, which was too big) and a few weeks of breaking in, I wear these boots basically everywhere.
As an avid climber, I've loved using these shoes from Scarpa. They’re soft and relatively comfortable for such an aggressive shoe. If you’re new to climbing, check out the La Sportiva Finales, a roomier, much comfier shoe.
One of my least favorite parts about hiking and camping is packing and unpacking all my gear. That's why I love this Rux bin, which has tons of different carrying options and fits basically everything I need for a weekend trip. I keep it packed in my closet so all I have to do is throw it in the back of my car and I'm nearly ready to go. You can carry it as a backpack, on your shoulder or by its side handles — plus, it's collapsible for simple storage when not in use and waterproof to keep your gear bone-dry.
Keeping your phone juiced up all weekend is critical these days, which is why I always bring a portable power bank with me. I've been really enjoying this one from BioLite, which is rugged and can charge up your devices super quickly.
This is the simplest, best camp table I've tried so far. It's quick to setup and take down, stable enough to cook dinner on and packs down small enough to fit in your car. It's simple, but an essential if you want to set up base camp comfortably.
Hiking gear
This is one of my favorite daypacks because whether you’re using it for a day around the campsite or on a strenuous hike, it’s got everything you need. It opens and closes in an instant with a quick-pull drawcord, it’s got a chest strap and it even features a sleeve for a water reservoir so you can stay hydrated without having to stop and pull out your water bottle every 10 minutes. The best part? It's only $50.
I love backpacking, but if you’re going to hike into the middle of the woods and camp, you’re going to need a great pack. I love this one from Osprey, as it’s got tons of storage, it distributes weight in an incredibly comfortable way and the top part of the pack even detaches to turn into a little daypack.
Staying hydrated is a must, and I've loved this CamelBak bladder for more than three years. It's got a large, 3-liter capacity so you can stay hydrated all day, and it has never broken or leaked.
If I'm not backpacking and need the extra ankle support, I'm a big fan of hiking in trail running shoes since they're lightweight and have so much traction. I've worn these runners from La Sportiva for the past year and absolutely love them. They're super comfortable and so grippy it feels like my feet are grabbing the trail. One thing to know: La Sportiva's sizing is a little weird and runs narrow, so I'd definitely recommend going in-store to try the shoes on before you buy them.
Good socks can make a huge difference in hiking comfort. I've tried a few different brands, but these Darn Tough ones remain my favorite for their balance of comfort, thickness and support.
This is one of my favorite lightweight jackets, thanks to Arc'teryx's detail-oriented design, stellar insulation and weather-resistant DWR finish. It's the perfect jacket for shoulder season and is a critical piece of my layering system.
It's amazing how much trekking poles can help on a long or precarious hike. Once you get used to using them, you'll never want to hike without them. I like these because they're not super expensive and they're good enough for almost any hike.
For winter hikes, or especially rocky ones where I want extra ankle support, my new go-tos are the Hoka Kaha 2 boots. They're extremely burly and protective but still feel lightweight enough to prance around on boulders.
CNN Underscored's winner for the best rain jacket, the Patagonia Torrentshell is an amazingly waterproof, packable and durable jacket. I've used it for over a year now and have zero complaints.
If you're going on long hikes or a backpacking trip and can't carry all the water you'll need, a water filter is a must. I love this filter that comes attached to a collapsible bottle from HydraPak. Its flow rate is super fast and the outer material is extremely durable.
For me, a Swiss Army knife is an absolute essential for any trip. Even though the knife blade isn’t very big, you just can’t beat the number of useful tools you’ll find on the nifty little thing. My favorite tools are the can opener, the corkscrew (you never know when you’re going to need to open a bottle of wine!) and the scissors.
I hike and camp around Moab, Utah, quite often where, due to the delicate ecosystem and high visitation, catholes are an unsustainable solution to human waste. I always carry one of these bags in my pack in case of emergency and I can't dig a hole. Plus, packing out your waste is better for the environment anyway.
Cooking gear
My full-size stove has since been discontinued, but I also own this smaller GSI stove, which is perfect if you’re camping by yourself or with just one other person. It isn’t as small as an MSR Pocket Rocket, but its sizable burner gives you plenty of room to balance your cookware. Plus, you can adjust the level of the flame so you can do anything from boil water in minutes to simmer over low heat.
Please don't drink instant coffee when you're camping. Upgrade your setup with this easy-to-use, easy-to-clean AeroPress. The AeroPress Go is slightly smaller than the original and comes with an included cup that the maker nests into for ultimate portability. The coffee is so good and it's so easy to clean I use it at home too.
If you’re planning on cooking at the campsite, you can definitely bring your cookware from home, but it’ll probably take up a lot of room and it might get a little extra wear and tear. That’s why I think it’s a good idea to get a separate pan just for camping. The GSI pan I have isn’t carried at REI anymore, but it has a foldable handle like this one so it takes up a lot less room when you’re packing.
When camping for more than just a weekend, it's important to make sure you're bringing enough water. It's even more important for me, since I go camping with my partner and two dogs. I love this low-cost water cube because it's simple and it works.
I own the normal Tundra 45, but it's so heavy I desperately wish I owned the Tundra Haul instead. Besides the weight, Yeti makes some of the best coolers out there, and they can keep all your food and drinks cold all weekend long.
I hate going through my normal kitchen utensils trying to find what I'll need, which is why these live in my camp cooking box so I can just grab and go.
I always end up with random odds and ends scattered around the campsite, which is why I love bringing along this super-durable tote. It's especially good for a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients I inevitably forget when packing.
This ultralight pot is great for boiling water for coffee or dehydrated meals. The lid also doubles as a tiny pan, which we don’t use that often but would be good to cook something small like one burger. My only problem with this pot is that the handles can get hot if the flame you’re cooking on is too wide. But since it’s titanium, the heat will dissipate quickly if you take it off the flame.
S'mores are great and all, but if you don't have time to build a fire and break out the marshmallows, these dehydrated ice cream sandwiches are surprisingly tasty.
Dog gear
A harness is a really good piece of gear to have if you're hiking with a dog. My pup is barrel-chested, so I love the sleek and lightweight design of Ruffwear's Flagline. Plus, unlike another of Ruffwear's popular harnesses, the Front Range, the Flagline has a handle on the back so you can scoop your dog up difficult obstacles if you need to.
Of course, if you’re going outdoors you’ll want to bring your pup along. I used these dog boots not only for hikes but also for the dirty (and dangerously hot in the summer) New York City streets.
You don't want your dog running off chasing a squirrel or something bigger at your campsite, so keep them restrained while giving them tons of mobility with this dog hitching system from Ruffwear. With a 28-foot rope, just tie it in between two trees and your dog can roam worry-free.
Not only is this light-up necklace great for the campsite, but it's also a colorful and fun way to keep track of your dog on nighttime walks.
This sleeping bag can keep your pup warm and cozy in the woods, but honestly, my dog uses it more frequently as a second dog bed in the house. It’s durable and water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your furry friend ruining it.
