Most of what we carry for the trail was chosen by people who complain loudly when gear fails halfway up a hill. Here is the short list that stopped the complaining.
A hydration vest that does not bounce, trekking poles that collapse small enough for a carry-on, and a headlamp with a red mode you can actually find in the dark. None of it is exotic; all of it has been on more than one trip.
The jacket in our hero photo is the one item every person on the team owns. It is not the lightest shell we sell, but it is the one nobody has returned.
Sample post shipped with the Solidshop quickstart.