Meet the gear that makes us happy. 

Twice each year we hand out these coveted Peak Gear Awards to the very best outdoor gear we put to the test in the field. How do we determine the winners? Simple. We ask our top contributors—who, we are proud to admit, spend far more time camping, hiking, backpacking, biking, climbing and paddling than they do “working”—to name the best gear they used over the past year. What gear can’t you live without? Which gear changed your life? What products made your adventures better? Read on for our Summer 2020 Peak Gear Awards – the Best Outdoor Gear of 2020.

Hala Rival Hoss
Why It Won: The Rival Hoss is the one social distancing fun tool that can get you through a full summer of adventure no matter if it’s close to home or farther afield. The inflatable is stable enough for still lakes and maneuverable enough for rapids.

Where We Took It: Boulder Reservoir and Gross Reservoir for flatwater. The Colorado River for some action.