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Your Southwest Hiker Pal

Your Southwest Hiker Pal

Six Moon Designs Haven Tent set up in a forested campsite, showing sleeping bags and water filtration gear under the tarp.

Ultralight Shelters from Six Moon Designs: Trail-Tested Favorites for 2025

Looking for an ultralight tent that won’t weigh you down? Six Moon Designs offers innovative shelters like the Skyscape Trekker, Haven Tent, and Gatewood Cape—perfect for fastpacking, thru-hiking, and minimalist backpackers.

Back view of a hiker wearing the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 40 pack on a dry trail in desert mountains, walking toward distant peaks.

Gear Review: Windrider 40 Backpack By Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Weighing just 30 oz and built from Dyneema, the Hyperlite Windrider 40 is a minimalist backpack for ultralight hikers. Here’s why it’s a top pick for thru-hikes, long trails, and backcountry adventure.

Person in an olive green Ibex Indie Hoody crouched on snow near a glacier with fall-colored hills in the background.

Gear Review: Indie Hoodie By Ibex

The Ibex Indie Hoodie is a lightweight merino wool baselayer with natural odor resistance, breathability, and a trail-ready fit. This is a go-to layer for hiking, backpacking, and multi-season use. Check out our review to learn more and see how it handles big adventure!

A closer look at the fine-knit alpaca and TENCEL™ blend that makes the COOLPLUS® Crew feel incredibly soft and naturally breathable.

PAKA Unveils Ultralight COOLPLUS® Crew: Redefining Summer Hiking Apparel

PAKA's Ultralight COOLPLUS® Crew combines alpaca and TENCEL™ fibers in a mesh-knit design, offering hikers a lightweight, breathable, and odor-resistant option for warm-weather treks.

AlpenFuel Rebrands to Angry Pika Food Co: Here’s What You Need to Know

AlpenFuel is now Angry Pika Food Co.! Same amazing backpacking breakfasts, new spirited brand. Meet Angry Pika’s full lineup of trail-ready meals.

Southwest Hikes Best Gear of 2025 graphic featuring star rating, mountain background, and silhouette of hiker with trekking poles.

Best Gear of 2025: Top Picks from Southwest Hikes

Discover the best hiking and backpacking gear of 2025, handpicked by Southwest Hikes. These trail-tested favorites are built to perform in wild places. We update this list as we get to know new gear throughout the year!

Hiker wearing the NEMO Persist 45L Backpack while trekking through snowy mountains with evergreen trees in Colorado.

Gear Review: Persist 45L Backpack By NEMO Equipment

The NEMO Equipment Persist 45L Backpack offers a blend of sustainability and performance, featuring CERO™ fabric and CCubed™ cushioning for comfort and durability on extended hikes.