Get in Gear

Ultralight Backpacks Hyperlite Mountain Gear (ME)

Founded in 2010 by two Maine brothers in their father’s garage, Hyperlite Mountain Gear made its name by pulling off the near-impossible: creating durable, lightweight packs for both outdoors-obsessed ounce-shavers and recreational day-trippers. Today, Mike and Dan St. Pierre operate their company out of a renovated 1800s textile mill in Biddeford, where Hyperlite produces everything from tents to stuff sacks and, of course, the robust series of backpacks that have earned “best gear” cred from Outside. The secret sauce? Military-grade polyethylene fiber that’s 15 times stronger than steel (!) and unwavering commitment to a pack’s main purpose: to keep stuff dry, not weigh you down, and make you eager to hit the trail. hyperlitemountaingear.com

Fly Rods Orvis (VT)

Inspired by the Green Mountain State’s legendary fishing streams and hand-built just down the road from the Manchester store where they’re sold, Orvis’s fly rods are Vermont through and through. orvis.com

Hiking Boots Peter Limmer & Sons (NH)

There’s a reason hikers from as far away as Tanzania adore these custom hiking boots: Handcrafted from fine-grain leather with single-seam uppers, they’ve been made to the same exacting standard of excellence since 1950. limmercustomboot.com

Wool Socks Darn Tough (VT)

We could go on and on about Darn Tough, but all you really need to know is they make the best socks in the world. Period. darntough.com

Bug SprayNantucket Spider (MA)

What happens when a pair of working attorneys get fed up with insect bites? They make their own bug repellents, of course: all-natural, highly effective, and good for people and pets alike. nantucketspider.com

Jackets Ragged Mountain Equipment (NH)

While Ragged makes all manner of gear and apparel, its comfy, versatile, and seemingly everlasting jackets are exactly what you want hanging by the door when New England weather comes calling. raggedmountain.com

Portable StovesJetboil (NH)

Two decades after Jetboil helped to revolutionize backcountry cooking, the company’s all-in-one backpacking stoves continue to be the industry standard. jetboil.com

Energy Bars O.W.L. Food (VT)

Born out of company founder Allison Wright’s need for a snack to power through her 10-hour days as a ski guide, these tasty, no-bake energy bars are packed with ingredients—raw honey, raisins, organic chocolate—that you’ll actually recognize. owlenergybar.com

Surfboards Hanlon Longboards (NH)

Yes, you can surf in New England. And yes, there are locally made boards, including our pick: Dan Hanlon’s traditional, single-fin rides, designed to take on our piece of the Atlantic. hanlonlongboards.com

Canoes Old Town Canoe (ME)

White-water rafting? Family paddle trips? Old Town canoes do it all, buoyed by more than 120 years of craftsmanship. oldtowncanoe.com

Find more in “Take It Outside,” our 2021 guide to the best ways to love the New England outdoors.