The Outdoor Brands Every Traveler Should Know About

A year into the pandemic, our collective thirst for the great outdoors is evident. Road trips, camping, and outdoor exploration have become increasingly common themes for travel during this unusual era. For anyone dipping their toes into outdoor adventure, here's one crucial piece of advice: gear is everything. Without the proper clothing, boots, backpacks, tents, and sleeping pads, you and your grand escape simply cannot thrive. (Though if you aren't ready to buy your own, you can always test gear out and rent first.)

If you’re considering a camping, hiking, or backpacking trip sometime soon, you'll want to ensure you've got a handle on the best outdoor brands to shop for gear from. There are the ubiquitous giants—Patagonia, Columbia, Marmot, The North Face—but if you're keen to add a few more to your roster, continue ahead for 12 lesser-known outfitters recommended by the people who know the space best: adventure photographers, explorers, professional surfers, and more.

NEMO Equipment

Best for: sleeping bags and tents

Worthwhile inventions are often born out of necessity, as was the case with NEMO Equipment. After a “turbulent night on the side of Mount Washington” due to a poorly-designed bivy (a small, lightweight solo shelter used by mountaineers instead of a tent), founder Cam Brensinger created his first airbeam-supported tent. Fast forward 19 years and NEMO now offers a diverse collection of outdoor gear, much of which has picked up awards and recognition from the likes of Time, Popular Science, and even an elite group of Navy SEALs. Outdoors enthusiast and adventure photographer L. Renee Blount recommends NEMO for its quality, durability, and bright colors, and says her most trustworthy sleeping bag is from them.

NEMO Equipment Aurora Backpacking Tent and Footprint

Light enough for backpacking but also a great pick for car camping, this bright and light tent offers two doors and vertical walls to make the tent feel more spacious inside.

Comfortable Adventures

Best for: womxn's clothing

Jeein Shin noticed a deficit in comfortable apparel for the sport when she began outdoor climbing. Citing options that felt either too tight or too technical, she spent 18 months in research and development, then founded Comfortable Adventures. Writer, filmmaker, and nature photographer Johnie Gall swears by their pants. “They are stylish and made with thoughtful but not overtly technical details, like reinforced knees and a belt loop for your chalk bag,” Gall says. “I'm also a big proponent of choosing more regenerative, natural fibers—rip the seams out of these hemp pants and you could compost them.”

Comfortable Adventures Hemp Send Pants

Shin’s star product is made from 55 percent hemp and 45 percent organic cotton and offers a silhouette that’s not tight like leggings nor overly stiff or technical—the Goldilocks of outdoor pants.

Klymit

Best for: sleeping gear

An outdoor adventure can be swiftly spoiled by a poor night's rest; Klymit’s focus is solely on preventing this from happening. “When it comes to backpacking, the best sleeping pad I’ve tried is made by Klymit,” Latinxhikers co-founder Luz Lituma says. “The Static Sleeping Air Pad is definitely side-sleeper friendly, takes way fewer breaths to fill, and is super affordable compared to other brands.”

Kylmit Static V Sleeping Pad

At 18.7 ounces, this lightweight pad is a smart way to add much-needed comfort to your camping trip.

Cotopaxi

Best for: backpacks, clothing

Davis Smith named his outdoor brand Cotopaxi after an active volcano in the Ecuadorian region of the Andes. His clothing and gear are favorites among outdoors enthusiasts, including Travis Welch, an alumni trips coordinator at NOLS, a global wilderness school. “These days, we want more out of our brands than simple good gear and Cotopaxi fits the bill,” Welch says. “They're not scared of using colors, have great corporate values, and fund grants related to international poverty relief.” The product Welch uses most is the Luzon 18L pack: “It's lightweight, compact, and durable, so I have it in my checked luggage all the time,” he says. “My Luzon has been on five continents with me.”

Cotopaxi Luzon 18L Del Día Backpack

Each and every Del Día pack is one-of-a-kind, made from 100 percent repurposed fabric, and comes in its own unique colorway.