Our Reader's Most Popular Outdoor Gear of 2023
the 17 items Treeline Review Readers Loved most in 2023
We ran the numbers on 2023 and here are the top gear items purchased by Treeline Review readers like you. We've long known our readers love buying trail-tested gear.
Our mission is to help you buy right the first time by choosing quality outdoor gear that you will cherish and that will last. Here’s what you loved last year, from GPS electronics to cozy winter gloves.
We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission — without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
garmin gps watches
It's no surprise data-loving Treeline readers turned to the Garmin fenix 7X Sapphire Multisport GPS Watch.
It’s the best upgrade winner in our Best Hiking and Backpacking Watches guide and offer excellent battery life and easy-to-use features.
2. OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandals
OOFOS OOahh Slide Sandals, the overall winner in our Best Recovery Sandals guide were popular with readers who are runners, hikers, skiers, and everyone on their feet.
They rave about these shoes (and we do, too!)
3. garmin inreach mini 2
The technology exists now to text with loved ones when you don't have cell service and have access an SOS button that works (almost) anywhere.
We’re relieved how many of you turned to the Garmin inReach Mini 2 to stay safe on your outdoor adventures in 2023. If you’re still waiting to pick one up, we encourage you to carry one on your next backcountry adventure.
4. salomon x ultra 4 mid gore-text lightweight hiking boots
Hikers and backpackers looking for fit, stability, and support turned to the men's and women's Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots, overall winner in our Best Lightweight Hiking Boots guide.
These boots hit the sweet spot on a lot of other criteria we value, including durability, grip, style, and bang-for-the-buck.
5. Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS Watch
For hikers and runners who love data, the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar GPS watches was a favorite this year. It’s the more affordable version of the fenix 7, one of the most popular products of the year.
It’s also the overall winner in Best Hiking and Backpacking Watches guide and offers excellent battery life and easy-to-use features. We liked it so much we wrote a long-term, in-depth review on it.
For folks with smaller wrists, we recommend the Instinct Solar 2S, which is almost exactly the same except for a smaller watch face and wrist.
6. dakine fall line ski roller bag
Skis are spendy so it’s worth investing in a padded bag to protect them during travel—the time when they’re most likely to get banged up.
Skiers looking to protect their gear in the airport on on roadtrips overwhelmingly turned to the DAKINE Fall Line Ski Roller Bag. It’s the overall winner in our Best Ski Travel Bags for safe transport of skis on airplanes and road trips.
7. kahtoola microspikes
For icy trails and sidewalks, the Kahtoola MICROspikes winter traction system is a favorite of hikers, backpackers, and runners in our Best Winter Traction guide.
8. the north face e-tip gloves
For warm, lightweight, touchscreen-friendly gloves, you all turned to men’s and women’s
The North Face E-tip, overall winner in our Best Winter Gloves guide for running, hiking, and living life.
What sold us on these gloves is the versatility. They’re technical enough to cover you during most activities but have enough dexterity and style to use for everyday life.
9. fly fishing rods
If there’s one thing we learned in 2023, it’s that Treeline Review readers are in to fly fish! You are curious about getting outdoors in new ways and trying new activities and fly fishing is a great way to spend time on the water.
The top winners in our Best Beginner Fly Fishing Combos guide were both fan favorites
From our overall winner—the Echo Base Lift Kit—to our Most Versatile—the Reddington Crosswater Combo—you’ve got (almost) everything you need to get started fishing right out of the box.
10. ancient Nutrition collagen powder
Runners, hikers, backpackers, skiers…we can all be hard on our knees and joints. There’s evidence that regular consumption of collagen powder can help.
Treeline Review readers took that news to heart. The Ancient Nutrition Collagen powder is the top winner in our Best Collagen Powder guide and a Treeline reader favorite.
11. ultima replenisher electrolytes
Hydration is important. For optimal performance, it’s important to consume both water and electrolytes: electrically charged minerals that help balance fluid pressure and maintain blood pH in the body.
We think an electrolyte powder should taste good, cost $0.35-0.60 per serving, be convenient to use, be free of common allergens, and (most importantly) include all five electrolytes essential to the human body.
Treeline Review readers agreed and are big fans of the Ultima Replenisher electrolyte powder, the overall winner in our Best Electrolyte Powder guide.
12. therm-a-rest neoair xlite nxt
As reader Chris put it, "Thanks for convincing me to invest in a better night's sleep."
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is the overall winner in our best backpacking sleeping pad guide. It’s so lightweight, it turned skeptics into snoozers.
13. om systems tg-6 waterproof rugged camera
Treeline Review readers value the quality of photo you can get with a real camera.
They also go really hardcore places.
For those situations where your camera will get dropped, will go below freezing temperatures, snorkel underwater, or get exposed to lots of dust, the OM Systems TG-6 (formerly called the Olympus TG-6) is the camera for you.
It’s the overall winner in our Best Rugged Cameras guide: Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof and approved by Treeline writer, the award-winning photojournalist, Dean Krakel.
14. salomon adv skin 12 hydration vest
Treeline Review readers value a long run and hydration. That’s why so many of you turned to the Salomon Advanced Skin 12 running vest for your run.
It’s the overall winner in our Best Running Hydration Vests guide and we liked it so much, we wrote a long-term, in-depth review on the Salomon Adv Skin 12, too.
15. deuter kid comfort child carrier
Treeline Review readers are all about getting more people outside. If you were a hiker before kids, the Deuter Kid Comfort is a comfortable way to get that baby or toddler onto the trails.
It’s a winner in our Best Baby and Toddler Hiking Carriers guide. We like it so much that you’ll find it in our gift guides, too.
16. oru folding kayak: beach LT
Want a portable kayak that is small enough to fit into the trunk of your car? We’ve tested various models of the Oru folding kayaks and the Beach LT is a reader favorite.
It’s featured in our article Should You Buy a Folding Oru Kayak? where we get into the pros and cons of each model and folding kayaks in general.
Made for light, easy kayaking, the Beach LT is made for a lazy river or paddling on flat, clam water with stability as a stand-out feature. It’s beginner-friendly, too.
We love Darn Tough hiking socks, which fit like a hug, feature fun designs, and come with the best warranty in the outdoor industry.
They’re the overall winner in our Best Hiking Socks guide and you’ll find them in nearly all our Gift Guides.
We like these socks so much that our writers get a pair when they join the team (of the Treeline design, of course!)
We’re thrilled to see Treeline Review readers are gifting these socks to others, too.
