Tanya Malik

I spent the last three months testing the best hiking backpacks on real trails in the Smokies, the Cascades, and a five-day section of the Appalachian Trail. Our team loaded each pack with 30 pounds of gear, hiked over 200 miles, and tracked comfort, ventilation, and durability the whole way. This guide breaks down the … Read more

The best hiking poles give you a steadier third and fourth point of contact without becoming awkward baggage on the side of your pack. For , I narrowed this list to eight supplied models that cover long adjustable aluminum poles, compact folding poles, and very light carbon options. Hiking poles and trekking poles are the … Read more

Finding the best camping water filters starts with an uncomfortable truth: clear-looking creek water is not proof that it is suitable to drink. A portable treatment system gives hikers, tent campers, and emergency planners a practical way to manage uncertain water, but its job changes with the contaminants you may face. I look for three … Read more

The best handheld GPS for most serious backcountry users is the Garmin GPSMAP 67i because it combines multi-band GNSS, a 3-inch display, long listed battery modes, and inReach two-way messaging with interactive SOS. If you do not need satellite communication, the GPSMAP 65 is the cleaner button-operated hiking choice, while the eTrex SE makes a … Read more

The best satellite messengers give you a way to call for help, share your location, and send a message after mobile coverage disappears. They are not magic: a clear view of the sky, an active service where required, a charged battery, and a person at home who knows your plan still matter. For this guide, … Read more

I spent the last six weeks testing 12 different two way radios on mountain trails, in crowded urban areas, and around job sites with thick concrete walls. The results surprised me in ways I didn’t expect. Some $20 budget radios beat radios costing five times as much in real-world conditions. One premium radio had a … Read more

When Hurricane Helene knocked out cell towers across western North Carolina in late 2024, the families who had a NOAA weather radio at home got evacuation warnings hours before their phones ever buzzed. That single piece of information saved lives. I have spent the last three years testing emergency radios in storm simulations, blackout drills, … Read more

The best hammock tents give you a dry, bug-protected place to sleep when the ground is rocky, muddy, sloped, or simply unpleasant. A good system hangs from two sound trees, puts a rainfly above you, and often adds an integrated bug net so you can camp off the ground without turning your sleep setup into … Read more

I spent the last 90 days testing every Jackery portable power station I could get my hands on, from the tiny Explorer 300 to the beastly HomePower 3600 Plus. After charging phones, running CPAP machines, powering mini fridges, and surviving a 14-hour blackout, I have a clear picture of which Jackery models deserve your money … Read more

If you want the short answer, the best RV surge protectors are sized for your RV’s shore-power service, show you whether a campground pedestal is wired correctly, and offer the level of protection you actually need. A basic plug-in device can help identify faults and absorb a surge, while an electrical management system RV owners … Read more