Trail Ready: Our 12 hiking gear picks

Load up, packers. Here’s the stuff our favorite local outfitters recommend for your trek.
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Photograph by Kyle Burdg
Photograph by Kyle Burdg

1  CamelBak daypack, $156, Mountain High Outfitters, 1248-B West Paces Ferry Road, 404-343-1764  2  Ahnu Sugarpine women’s boots, $140, Half-Moon Outfitters, 1034 North Highland Avenue, 404-249-7921   3  Benchmade 585 knife, $135, High Country Outfitters, 3906 Roswell Road, 404-814-0999  4  Hydro Flask water bottle, $26, Mountain High Outfitters  Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody, $299, Patagonia, 34 East Andrews Drive, 404-266-8182  6  Black Diamond ultralight hiking poles, $150, High Country Outfitters  7  Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 LED lantern, $80, REI, 1800 Northeast Expressway, 404-633-6508  8  Suunto Ambit GPS watch, $400–$650, High Country Outfitters  9  Jetboil MiniMo stove, $125, High Country Outfitters 10  Petzl Tikka R+ headlamp, $80, REI  11  Sawyer Mini water filter, $25, Mountain High Outfitters  12  Wetterlings hatchet, $150, High Country Outfitters

What the experts said
On the Petzl Tikka R+ headlamp “When reading a map or searching for a trail, the built-in light sensor automatically adjusts beam pattern and light output, leaving your hands free.” —David Adcock, sales manager, REI Atlanta

On the Sawyer Mini water filter “Small, inexpensive, and hefty! Filters water up to 100,000 gallons, fits in your pocket, twenty-five bucks, and no pumps.” —Tyler Legg, general manager, Mountain High Outfitters

On the Benchmade 585 knife “Whether spreading Nutella on a bagel or creating a shelter from scratch, this American-made workhorse of a knife will get you through the good and bad.” —Glenn Orton, head buyer, High Country Outfitters

This article originally appeared in our October 2014 issue.

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