As far as performance/lifestyle sunglasses go, the Wishbone is pure nirvana. No matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t get it to slip, slide, bounce, or feel uncomfortable while cycling and running, and they moved seamlessly from the trail to the coffee shop.
Best for extended, mildly rugged on-trail hikes with light or no pack weight. This was the only low-cut light hiker in the test, but even given some lost stability in the ankle area, this shoe can hold its own on super long, mildly rugged trail hikes.
This shoe has the body of a hiker but the soul of a running shoe. I found that it performed well on mellow, short trails but fell apart on rocky, steep, or very long hikes. This boot is designed for speedy, playful excursions and this is precisely where it shined.
This boot performs at its best on light, mellow, on-trail walks in damp or cool weather. It also makes for a great all-purpose travel shoe due to its elegant look and ability to handle modest terrain in varying weather conditions.
The Yama Mid is a true multi-sport shoe—it has the comfort of an athletic shoe but had a difficult time competing with true light hikers. This shoe is best relegated to short, on-trail day hikes with light or no pack weight.
The Costa del Mar Cocos pairs sophisticated style with light performance. It’s a perfect fit for anglers who also enjoy the scene at cocktail hour.
Given the high cut and overall soft flex, the Gauge probably wouldn’t be your first choice for a winter backpacking or scrambling boot, but it works very well for things like snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or working and standing around in frigid weather.
Built like a running shoe with mid-height uppers, the Snow Junkie Ultradry works well when you’re moving on snow, but it gets a little cold when things slow down.
This low-cost bag fits the needs of backpackers on a serious budget. The Lone Pine provides comfort and durability at a reasonable price, but is quite bulky when packed. It’s not the warmest bag in the class, but is suitable for use well into the low 30s for most campers.
The greenest bag in our test, the Eco 3D uses recycled materials that proved both durable and quite comfortable: the lining and shell are remarkable soft, and the lofty insulation is toasty warm. However, the materials also made the bag bulky and heavy, pushing the weight over 4 pounds, and reducing its compression.
This hybrid bag blends the best of both worlds (down and synthetic), but given its weight and bulk, the Phoenix clearly lives in the synthetic bag world. In this class, it matches up nicely with the other top contenders, with a reasonable warmth-to-weight ratio, good packability, and a comfortable fit.
This 20ºF-rated bag lives up to its rating, while also offering a remarkable degree of comfort and coziness. The modest price is a great draw as well, though the weight (more than 4 pounds) and bulky packed size were issues for all of us.