Top 10 trail gear picks

A fresh spring gear list from Get Out There Magazine lands at the moment a lot of people are swapping winter kit for lighter setups, and the pattern is familiar: shoes get lower and grippier, packs get smaller, and single-use items lose ground to gear that can cover a run, a hike, and one-night camp duty. (getouttheremag.com) The reason those lists usually start with footwear is simple: on short trail days, your shoes do more work than almost anything else, and modern trail-running shoes are now built with deeper lugs, stickier rubber, and rock protection that let many hikers skip heavier boots. (rei.com) (outdoorgearlab.com) That shift has been strong enough that REI’s 2026 trail-running checklist now treats trail shoes, a hydration vest, a light shell, and a headlamp as the core setup for many outings, while its hiking checklist says trail-running shoes can be enough on gentle or even moderately rugged trails. (rei.com 1) (rei.com 2) Packs have changed with the same logic. GearLab’s 2026 daypack testing focused on 16 small packs for day use, and Backpacker’s recent gear picks highlighted the Osprey Talon and Tempest line for carrying about 24 pounds on long day trips without jumping to a full backpacking pack. (outdoorgearlab.com) (backpacker.com) That is why “multi-use” keeps showing up in spring gear roundups. A 5- to 12-liter running vest can handle water, calories, a shell, and a headlamp for a trail run, while a 20- to 30-liter daypack can stretch into summit hikes and fast overnights with the same bottle pockets and pole attachments. (rei.com) (outdoorgearlab.com) The same trimming is happening in safety gear, not just comfort gear. REI still lists a communication device, first-aid supplies, emergency shelter, and a headlamp on its trail-running essentials page, which means the lightweight trend is not about bringing less; it is about bringing smaller versions of the same backup plan. (rei.com) Trekking poles are another piece that moved from “long backpacking trip” to “regular day out.” GearLab’s 2026 pole testing shows how carbon and folding designs have made poles lighter and easier to stash, which is why they now fit the same fast-and-light setup as trail shoes and compact packs. (outdoorgearlab.com) So when a new top-10 list points people toward lightweight shoes, smaller packs, and gear that can cross from trail run to hike to camp, it is not chasing a fad. It is matching where the outdoor market has already moved in 2025 and 2026: faster footwear, more compact carry, and fewer pieces that only do one job. (outdoorgearlab.com) (rei.com)