Backpacking season is right around the corner for most people, and since I live in Arizona (where winter basically came and went in a single weekend), I’ve already been out there testing gear I’m excited about for 2026. In this video I run through the standout items I’m either already using or itching to put through real miles—starting with packs. I talk about the Outdoor Vitals Carbon Evo 50 (a mashup of two packs I’ve loved for years), a truly ultralight 13 oz garage-made Virginia Foothill Designs pack that’s going to force me into a “no camera gear” challenge, the expedition-grade Evolved Supply Co Expedition Ranger I’ve been loving for packrafting, and the updated Durston Kakwa 55 I’ve got coming to fix a couple pain points from my older version. From there I hit the small stuff that actually makes a big difference: the new Arcade Mag Belt (stretchy, comfortable under a hip belt, and dead easy to use), my favorite sleep upgrade from Zenbivy (their updated UL Bed Muscovy system), and a budget-friendly way to get that “ultralight bed” feel with their conversion patch kit. I also cover a ridiculously fun 4 oz Suluk46 pull saw for firewood processing, a few trail food upgrades (freeze-dried salsa, dessert-level treats, and my all-time favorite meals from Pinnacle), the Durston X-Dome 1+ (still the best tent development I’ve seen), and the weirdest item on the list: a whole packraft that’s opened up a new kind of adventure for me.