Welcome to GearLab! We are dedicated to delivering honest, objective, reviews. Our mission is to help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products that our experts test. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Learn More…
Top Sections
Hiking, Backpacking & Camping
Best Backpacking Gear of 2023
If you are gearing up for Backpacking, we've got you covered with our comprehensive list of the best gear of the year.
Best Satellite Messengers of 2023
We have a stellar team of electronics and wilderness experts track down and use every satellite communication product...
Best Hiking Gear of 2023
Our experts list our favorite hiking gear picks so you can have the best experience on the trail.Men's Clothing
Best Hardshell Jackets of 2023
There are a vast number of hardshell jackets available these days. We purchased the most promising and put them...
Best Budget Fleece Jacket of 2023
Are you looking for a warm and lightweight layer to add to your arsenal of cold weather clothing? After investigating...
Best Rain Jackets of 2023
Whether you need an all-around rain jacket or one suited for specific types of applications or budgets, we have a pick...Women's Clothing
Best Ski Jackets for Women of 2023
On the hunt for a new women's ski jacket? We tested 15 top-of-the-line models to help you find the best. We skied...
Best Running Shirts for Women of 2023
Getting ready for summer running and needing a new running shirt for all those miles you have planned? We tested 16 of...
Best Beanies for Women of 2023
Cold mornings mean one thing and one thing only - beanie season is here. What better way to get excited about the...Shoes & Boots
Hiking Boots (Men's & Women's), Hiking Shoes (Men's & Women's), Trail Running Shoes (Men's & Women's) or see all in Footwear
Best Water Shoes of 2023
After combing through 60 of the best water shoes on the market, we purchased and rigorously tested the top 13 to find...
Best Sandals of 2023
Trying to figure out what type of sandal the one you need is? We've spent years testing hundreds of pairs of flip...
Best Winter Boots for Women of 2023
Our expert winter testers took to the trails, streets, and snowbanks to test the market's top-rated winter boots...Climbing
Best Climbing Nuts and Stoppers of 2023
We researched the best climbing nuts and chose the top options to test side by side for months on end. We tested both...
Best Climbing Gear of 2023
Looking for the best climbing gear we've ever tested? Come check out our hand-selected list of the top gear of 2022.
Best Climbing Slings and Runners of 2023
Climbing slings are an invaluable piece of climbing gear that help protect you while leading and attach you to the...Biking
Best Bike Gear of 2023
Whether you've just started riding and want to start with a fresh setup, or you have been on a bike for years and want...
Best Budget Bike Helmet of 2023
Are you in the market for the best budget bike helmet? We researched the best models available today and purchased the...
Best Mountain Bike Shorts of 2023
Sorting mountain bike apparel can be as technical as picking through a rock garden. Our mountain bike experts tested...Snow Sports
Best Splitboard Bindings of 2023
What's the best splitboard binding? We evaluated the market and purchased the top 7, testing them side by side to find...
Best Avalanche Beacon of 2023
An avalanche beacon is an essential part of a backcountry ski kit. But which one is best for you? We purchased 13 of...
Best Ski Helmets of 2023
Buying a new ski helmet can be an overwhelming decision, to say the least. There are so many options for so many...Paddling
Best Dry Bags of 2023
Unless you are willing to risk it for the biscuit, transporting water-phobic gear safely across a body of water...
Best Kayak Paddle of 2023
Want to get your kayak out on the water? Not sure which paddle to buy? Let us share our extensive hands-on research...
Best Inflatable SUP Board of 2023
We bought some of the best inflatable SUPs and paddled them in a variety of conditions to find out which offer the...Fitness
Best Muscle Rollers of 2023
Relieving muscle tightness and soreness is easily accomplished with a muscle roller stick, and we bought and tested 9...
Best Exercise Ball of 2023
Want to know which exercise balls are the best for home workouts, or sitting in the home office? We purchased 9 of the...
Best Exercise Step Platform of 2023
Exercise step platforms add a major facelift to a played-out, home gym setup. If you're looking for a step to add some...Travel
Best Suitcases of 2023
The checked luggage market is huge, which can make finding your next suitcase daunting. Luckily, we've done all the...
Best Travel Backpacks of 2023
If you are in search of the perfect travel backpack, then you've come to the right place. Through ample research and...
Best Messenger Bag of 2023
Whether you need a bag for your commute or for your job, we've taken the top 8 models and tested them in as many...Recent Gear Reviews
See all recent product reviews
Editors' Choice
Spark R&D Arc Pro Review
Hands down, this is one of the best bindings we have ever tested. Its lightweight and simple design thrives on both...
Best Buy
Spark R&D Arc Review
Winner of our Best Buy award, thanks to its simplicity, versatility, and efficiency. If we had one pair of bindings...
Best Buy
Somewear Global Hotspot Review
This device is compact and relatively affordable, especially considering that it uses the same technology employed by...
Editors' Choice
Garmin inReach Messenger Review
The best satellite messenger on the market. It does what you need, in a way that you want, with relatively low cost...
Editors' Choice
Arc'teryx Sentinel - Women's Review
The durable and burly feel of this hardshell is undeniable. Strong wind and moisture were no match for its high-end...
Best Buy
Patagonia Triolet Review
This jacket is an excellent value, offering similar weather protection to much more expensive models.GearLab Learning Center
See all recent Learning Center articles
How to Choose a Personal Locator Beacon
What device should you buy and for what application? Below we break it down. Once finished, however, do read our...
How to Choose Winter Boots for Women
Winter can be exceptional with a solid pair of women's winter boots. Making sure a boot fits and provides all the...
How to Choose Women's Bike Shorts
Need a hand navigating the market and figuring out which pair of shorts or bibs fits your riding style best? You're in...
How to Choose an All-Mountain Snowboard
"C2-banana rocker... what?" It's easy to get overwhelmed with snowboard technology and its surrounding marketing. This...
How to Choose Women's Travel Underwear
What is travel underwear, and do I need it? Arguments could be made for no, but we truly believe a good pair of travel...
How to Choose Long Underwear Bottoms for Women
Not sure where to begin in your search for a great pair of long underwear bottoms? A bomber baselayer sits next to...Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More